{"id":103909,"date":"2021-04-02T05:25:03","date_gmt":"2021-04-02T05:25:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dissidentvoice.org\/?p=115018"},"modified":"2021-04-02T05:25:03","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T05:25:03","slug":"lets-end-the-insanity-of-colossal-military-spending-during-a-global-health-emergency-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/radiofree.asia\/2021\/04\/02\/lets-end-the-insanity-of-colossal-military-spending-during-a-global-health-emergency-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Let\u2019s end the insanity of colossal military spending during a global health emergency"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Imagine what could be achieved if just a portion of the money spent on military expenditures were pooled into a global fund, and redirected towards ending hunger and massively investing in public health systems.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

If nations had a referendum, asking the public if they want their taxes to go to military weapons that are more efficient in killing than the ones we currently have, or if they would prefer the money to be invested in medical care, social services, education and other critical public needs, what would the response be?<\/p>\n

Probably the majority of people would not have to think long and hard, since for many life has become an endless struggle. Even in wealthy countries, the most basic social rights can no longer be taken for granted. Social services are increasingly being turned into commodities, and instead of helping ordinary people they must serve shareholders by providing a healthy profit margin.<\/p>\n

The United States is a prime example, where seeing a dentist or any medical doctor is only possible if one has health insurance. Around\u00a046 million Americans<\/a>\u00a0cannot afford to pay for quality healthcare\u2014and that is in the richest country of the world.<\/p>\n

In less developed nations, a large proportion of people find it hard to access even the most basic resources to ensure a healthy and dignified life. One in nine of the world\u2019s population go hungry. And the Covid-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this crisis of poverty amid plenty, with the number of people facing acute hunger\u00a0more than doubling<\/a>.<\/p>\n

There are now 240 million people requiring emergency humanitarian assistance, while\u00a0over 34 million people<\/a>\u00a0are already on the brink of starvation.<\/p>\n

But the United Nations\u2019 funding appeals are\u00a0far from being met<\/a>, condemning thousands to unnecessary deaths from hunger this year. With aid funding falling as humanitarian needs rise, aid agencies are being forced to cut back on life-saving services.<\/p>\n

Does it make any sense for our governments to spend billions on defence while fragile health systems are being overwhelmed, and the world is facing its worst humanitarian crisis in generations?<\/p>\n

Outrageously misplaced priorities<\/strong><\/p>\n

Global military spending continued to reach record levels in 2020, rising almost 4 percent in real terms to\u00a0US$1.83 trillion<\/a>, even despite the severe economic contractions caused by the pandemic. The United States spends two-fifths of the world\u2019s total, more than the next ten countries combined, and still cannot afford to prevent 50 million of its own citizens suffering from food insecurity. Most shamefully, the United Kingdom is\u00a0massively boosting its arms budget<\/a>\u2014the largest rise in almost 70 years, including a vast increase to its nuclear weapons stockpile\u2014while cutting aid to the world\u2019s poorest by 30 percent.<\/p>\n

Consider what a fraction of military budgets could achieve if that public money was diverted to real human needs, instead of sustaining the corrupt and profitable industry of war:<\/p>\n