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Peace Action is working on a national campaign that calls on our elected officials to take leadership in shaping a new foreign policy that is safer, less costly, and more reflective of our values as Americans. We have created a three point platform with guidelines for a more responsible and proactive approach to making Americans, and the world, a safer place.
1. Support Human Rights and Democracy
We should exhibit international leadership by opposing the policies of human rights abusers, not rewarding them with weapons. Sadly, our country leads the world in providing arms sales and military training to human rights abusing governments and dictatorships that are hated by their own people. Our troops have faced dictators we previously empowered through military support in our last seven consecutive conflicts, yet we have increased the amount of military support we give to these types of governments. This does not make us safer and is in direct conflict with the values most important to Americans. We call on our elected officials to:
a. Oppose Arms transfers and military training or assistance to human rights abusing governments as deemed by the state department.
b. Actively support efforts to regulate and control the international arms trade
2. Reduce and Control the Nuclear Threat
Our nation should lead a worldwide campaign to reduce and control the threat from weapons of mass destruction - a policy we could be proud of. Instead, the Bush Administration is pressuring Congress to approve the research, testing, and creation of new, “more usable” nuclear weapons, as well as allocating billions of our tax dollars to a missile defense system that won’t work. This increases the nuclear threat by encouraging other nations to develop and use nuclear technology in self defense, causing a new arms race. We can not ask other nations to reduce their nuclear stockpiles, or abandon the creation of nuclear weapons, if we are actively developing and using them ourselves. We are calling on elected officials to:
a. Oppose funding for the development or testing of new nuclear weapons.
b. Support programs and agreements designed to reduce and secure the world’s existing nuclear stockpiles.
c. Oppose missile defense and space weapons that increase the pace of nuclear proliferation.
3. Cooperate with the World Community
We should play a positive leadership role in the world community, planning strategies for a future we can all live with. Our allies in the world community make us stronger, yet during a time when we desperately need their support, we are isolating ourselves rather than the terrorists. Our elected officials have abandoned or blocked a host of international agreements on arms control, human rights, the environment, and the International Criminal Court, as well as promoting a policy of “preemptive attack” that is in direct conflict with international law. We are not conducting ourselves in a democratic manner when dealing with issues that effect the world community, which only causes anti-American sentiment. We are calling on our elected officials to:
a. Comply with treaties such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty and
b. Strengthen international law and stability by opposing the doctrine of "preemptive attacks."
c. Promote and support international systems which foster global cooperation such as the UN and the International Criminal Court.
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more information on the campaign and the issues.
Peace builders present petitions in Oak Ridge
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