IMPLEMENTING THE DECLARATION OF THE

 60TH ANNUAL DPI/NGO CONFERENCE

WORKING GROUP ON 

"NO WAR NO WARMING"

Focus is on the impact of climate change on war and war on climate change!

Description of the issues:

To instill a culture of peace instead of a culture of war. The focus is on how war and violence exacerbates climate change and then connect peace activists with environmentalists to alert the world of the impact of war on climate change.

Main themes:

Right to use environmental resources causes conflict Conflict exacerbates poverty and causes environmental damage.  The two combine creating a cyclical effect leading to further conflict.

Background:

War is a major cause of man's destruction of life. The military industry including weapons development and use leads to a culture of violence and war. Global militarism is a hard mindset to change because of the widely accepted concepts that violence is power leading to domination over others and nature.

The Earth stands today in imminent peril and major changes are cried for! Real security and international cooperation, so necessary for achieving freedom from weapons of mass destruction are a must in
today's world if we are to survive.

It is time to bridge the divide between the peace movement and the climate change movement. We must acknowledge the ways in which these issues are linked. People throughout the world need to take action to
end war, global warming, and environmental degradation.

Acknowledgement that oil is the critical link between war and climate change. One can see this evidenced in the countries that are engaged in conflicts and/or have large military establishments. The US Military is the largest single consumer of petroleum. Thus, as the military grows so does our addiction to fossil fuel. Oil consumption by USA military forces accounted for 133 million barrels in 2005, more than their total consumption of oil in countries such as Sweden or Finland. So one might ask, "Where does the responsibility lie?"

It is clear that climate change could increase the risk of conflict  which military forces will have to confront. Water shortages will increase with rising temperature and living in water "stressed" areas will bring about mass migration and conflict over those resources. Key changes are needed now not later.

1. Activate peace and environmental groups and other NGOs to coordinate their efforts in behalf of these changes.
2. Lobby and provide information to governments regarding conflict over water, fossil fuel, fertile lands, deforestation and its impact on global warming.
3. Make the connection between peace and environmental groups to point the way toward a Culture of Peace.
4. Emphasize change in lifestyle -- Conserve! Reverse disproportionate consumption of earth's resources, particularly energy by the industrialized countries and emerging countries.
5. Educate community about the causes and dangers of climate change.  Provide information to the community at large through meetings, seminars and all other outreach techniques.
6. Make expert use of the media.
7. Most importantly, form collaborative efforts with other groups to strengthen the message.