CONVOCATION 29 APRIL 2012: REDUCTIONS? YES, IN THE MILITARY

Women in Black against war denounce the misguided policies relative to the crisis we are experiencing. While the majority of the population is suffering a worsening of their conditions of life, various States are taking advantage to cut rights and advances achieved for labor and to reduce appropriations for the social good. At the same time, they maintain or covertly increase the military apparatus.

This crisis has not produced a reduction in militarism and social control, seeing that 2012 has begun with budgetary items inherited from the previous year. Therefore, although the budget for the Ministry of Defense is nominally lowered by 7%, the real reduction for military expenditures and social control is roundly false. Example: The Ministry of Industry helps to make up the Defense budget with the so-called Special Armament Programs, which has generated a debt of 30,000 million Euros, about 3% of the GDP of Spain. Between Interior, Industry and Foreign Affairs, the expected budget climbs to 17,000 million (much above the 8,500 planned for Defense). While there are general reductions in education, health or social services, not only are military investments not canceled, other new programs are included, such as acquiring the 5th Frigate F-100 or an increase in investment for the anti-missile shield.

Women in Black of Madrid against war reject, as usual, the commitment to militarization, for its economic, social, environmental, ethical and human consequences. In addition, it seems especially serious in the current context, as such a commitment is produced at the cost of reductions that promote an increase in inequalities and condemn the people to social exclusion and poverty.

We support, more emphatically than ever, the campaign for Fiscal Objection to the Military Expenditures as one submits the income tax return for 2011, which is beginning around this date (more details at www.nodo50.org/objecionfiscal). We do not want the money from our taxes to finance wars.

Considering all this, we ask the government for:

♀ An increase in the budget for Education, Health and Social Services, taking this appropriation from the reductions for the Ministry of Defense.

♀ Immediate cessation of the policies of social oppression and reductions in rights.

♀ Respect for the will to not finance military expenses as manifested by the people who participate in the campaign of Fiscal Objection to Military Expenditures.

We ask the people for:
♀ Support for the initiatives that work for peace, opposing militarization of our society.

♀ Participation in the campaign for Fiscal Objection to Military Expenditures.

NOT ONE WOMAN NOR ONE MAN NOR ONE EURO NOR ONE THOUGHT FOR WAR

Translation: Trisha Novak, USA