The aim of the campaign is to push the government to invest money in the sector of health, education, employment and climate change rather than military. More precisely, the IPB calls for an annual, minimum reallocation of 10% from the military budgets of all states; and advocates the reduction of arms production and international weapons trade. The GCOMS also incorporates into its program the Global Day of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS ) which is now in its 7th year running. To reach this change, IPB’s intention is to foster synergies both within each country and internationally so as to gradually strengthen the global movement challenging militarism.
This can be done in many ways and each activist or group may have a different focus. The GCOMS campaign aims to help its participants move step by step, each time into a higher gear.
Right now, the issue of military spending is not prominent in the context of national discourses– it emerges at the top of the media agenda only on select occasions: for instance when a war is announced, a budget decision reaches a crunch, or geopolitical tensions rise. Our aim is to make it a controversial debate in which every citizen’s voice can count. Over the next few years we will give the issue more visibility through:
- Ongoing campaigning;
- Future, greater GDAMS campaign actions;
- A new campaign: Cut Milex
Ideas for this event are already being developed: location, timing, partners, media engagement and funding are all under consideration.
For more details, please visit the specific pages on the main GCOMS campaigns:
