G8 ALTERNATIVE SUMMITRostock, 5-7 June 2007
G8 ALTERNATIVE SUMMIT
Contribution by Panos Trigazis, SYNASPISMOS - GreeceDear comrades, dear friends,
We are taking part in the events of this G8 ALTERNATIVE SUMMIT with strong feelings of internationalist solidarity. The Greek Social Forum has composed a strong delegation, including many young militants, and we are fully participating in it.
The European Left has a multi-form presence here, but this workshop is on one of the most serious issues.
What is required from us is both to debate the issue and to act without delay. "The future begins today", was a slogan of the anti-nuclear movement of the ‘80s which also reflects the urgency of today.
1. What is officially known as the "National Missile Defence" (NMD) project of the US government is neither "national" nor "defensive". It is becoming a global threat and a major European issue especially after a recent decision by the Polish and Czech governments to participate by installing a radar and 10 interceptors on their soil. The reaction of the part of the Russian government testify to this.
2. The NMD is the resurrection of the so-called "Star Wars" plans of Reagan, 25 years ago, when the cold war was at its height. It represents a great step backwards in the efforts to revive the international process of nuclear disarmament. In fact, a new nuclear arms race has been set in motion. Important nuclear disarmament agreements such as the historic USA-USSR treaty of 1987 for the abolition of Euro-missiles (INF), are being seriously questioned, to say the least.
3. It is obvious that the aim of the Bush administration is not to protect but to divide Europe. And the recipe is the same as the one used on the eve of the Iraq war by Rumsfeld: the "new" versus the "old" Europe. The message is clear to the European "allies" of the US that they have no choice but to stay under the "atlantic umbrella". Furthermore, the Bush administration wants to thwart a much needed course towards an all-Eurpean cooperation, based on a new relationship between the EU and Russia. Cooperation, which is becoming more and more imperative by the energy issue.
4. Cold war of a new type is "ante portas". And I say "of a new type", because the bipolarism which existed during the second half of the 20th century cannot be revived. The world is moving towards multi-polarism, despite the US efforts to retain its role as the "sole super-power" and impose unilateralism within the framework of the so-called "new world order". After 9/11, these efforts assumed a more aggressive character with the so-called "war on terror", which led to the illegal and barbarous invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq. Yet, these war adventures are becoming a boomerang for the Bush foreign policy.
5. Nuclear threat is increasing. As a matter of fact, the end of the cold war has not been followed by nuclear disarmament, as many had expected. Hans Blix, the well known former chief UN weapons inspector, in an article in the International Herald Tribune. (9/6/2006) wrote that "while the foreign ministers talk about Iran, they don’t seem to devote any thought to the fact that there are still some 27,000 real nuclear weapons in the United States, Russia and other states, and that many of these are on hair trigger alert". Mr. Blix went on by saying that "the stagnation in global disarmament is only part of the picture.
In the US, military authorities want new types of nuclear weapons".
In Britain, the government is considering the replacement, at tremendous cost, of one generation of nuclear weapons by another - as defense against whom?"
Similar concerns are voiced by Robert McNamara, US Secretary of Defence form 1961 to 1968, who points out that "current US nuclear weapons policy is immoral, illegal, militarily unnecessary and dreadfully dangerous".
6. Militarism is growing globally. It is part and parcel of the neoliberal capitalist globalisation under the US hegemony. World military spending has already exceeded the 1 trillion dollars, the US portion being 46%. NATO asks its member states to spend more for the plans of the Alliance and the pressure is growing. At the same time, the promises for assistance to the third world, especially to Africa, to combat poverty remain on paper, despite the fact that they represent 5% of the annual world military spending. Recently, the Guardian (25/4/2007) reminded us that two years ago the G8 promised to increase assistance to Africa by 50 billion dollars annually, by 2010, but so far only 10% of this promise has been realized.
Dear friends, dear comrades,
The struggle against war, militarism and imperialism is at the heart of all struggles for a different world. It represents the slogan "People before profits» of this alternative summit more truly and urgently than any other issue.
Action against the US "anti-missile shield" is required urgently and it is our task to make it as broad as possible. The GUE/NGL group has already provoked discussion of the issue in a plenary session of the European Parliament, following a proposal by SYN MEP D.Papadimoulis.. The pressure must increase on European governments to oppose this plan. Atlanticism and militarism are not the road to a united Europe.
A multi-form campaign of an all-European character must be promoted by the left and the social movements, which may embrace a broad spectrum of social and political forces. Peace is everybody’s business.
However, it is not enough to say "NO". It must be followed by "YES" to a real and comprehensive nuclear disarmament. YES to a nuclear weapon-free Europe and a nuclear weapon-free world.. YES to reducing military budgets in favour of social development. YES to an all-European security system on the basis of the OSCE.
We submit a proposal to the EL and other forces represented here to designate this year’s Hiroshima Day as an all European Day of Action against the "anti-missile shield"
Those who pay "lip service" to the danger of nuclear proliferation must get the strongest possible message that the medicine for proliferation is abolition.
Nuclear weapons are not for defence and there is no defense against nuclear weapons. This was stated 50 years ago, by Einstein and Russel in their famous joint Manifesto, which inspired one of the greatest movements for nuclear disarmament, especially in Europe.
We have to act without delay, through out our continent. But at the same time we need allies elsewhere, especially in the USA.
Let us build our own Euro-atlanticism for peace, disarmament and justice.