Global Women United for Peace Against NATO Newsletter #21
Posted: 16th December 2024
Dear Friends and Comrades,
What a year. The US sponsored genocide in Gaza continues apace. The Zionist bombing of Syria continues. The corporate media barely mention either, and the newly imposed ruler of Syria is the sabre-wielding Abu Mohammed al-Golani ex member of al Quaeda with a shiny new CIA makeover. All together it has been a very hard year for those of us who care about human existence.
1. The Potsdam Institute already sees intrinsic organs of our existence as having passed the tipping point. Climate change is baked in. We are incapable of limiting our carbon and methane emissions to a safe(ish) 1.5°. Horrifyingly we’re on the way to 2° or even 3°. Climate change will likely bring resource wars, and NATO, with it’s huge presence in member military bases across the world is positioned to control many of those resources. (diagram from the Potsdam Climate Institute)
2. NATO wants a return to Cold War-level military spending. Governments need to make more orders and defense contractors have to take more risks, NATO’s secretary-general said. Apparently the current 2 percent goal is not enough to implement regional defense plans and meet NATO’s capability targets. https://www.politico.eu/article/nato-secretary-general-mark-rutte-cold-war-military-spending-defense-budgets-russia/ (So that’s more bombs less butter, as they say – Ed)
BRUSSELS — NATO countries need to return to Cold War-era defense budgets to fend off Russia, Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Thursday. Speaking at his first public appearance in Brussels since becoming chief of the defense alliance, Rutte was clear about the need for a boost in military budgets following reports that NATO will set a new spending target of 3 percent of GDP by 2030.
4. German far-right leader questions NATO membership “Europe has been forced to implement America’s interests. We reject that,” the AfD’s Tino Chrupalla told German daily Welt. AfD is polling at around 18-19% but unlikely to form a government. (The Right/Left labelling in politics is beginning to be misused – Ed) https://www.voanews.com/a/german-far-right-leader-questions-nato-membership-/7901894.html
Berlin — The co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party on Sunday said Germany should reconsider its membership of NATO if the U.S.-led military alliance did not consider the …
- Reminder of the Peace Camp at Lakenheath: Lakenheath is an American Air Force base in Eastern England. The camp aims to prevent the return of nuclear weapons to the base and will feature a peace conference on the 24th of April, with a focus on analysing and resisting US nuclear expansion. The camp is expected to attract international participation, with potential attendees from Japan, South Korea, and other countries. The organizers are seeking support from various peace organizations and is open to suggestions for workshops and nonviolent actions during the camp. The camp will provide free meals, accommodation, and transport to participants. Please contact Angie Zelter at [email protected]. Apologies to Angie for not including this in the final draft of our last minutes.
7. Trump’s plan for Ukraine comes into focus: NATO off the table and concessions on territory ( Trump has repeatedly said he will end this US/NATO proxy war in 24 hours. He didn’t say which 24 hours- Ed) https://www.reuters.com/world/trumps-plan-ukraine-comes-into-focus-territorial-concessions-nato-off-table-2024-12-04/
Trump’s advisers would try forcing Moscow and Kyiv into negotiations with carrots and sticks.
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- Stay Strong!
Pippa
Pippa Bartolotti
On behalf of Global Women United for Peace Against NATO