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Demilitarization of the World

Knowledge Base

by Roy Posner and MSS

Status of Militarization

Stock Pile of Weapons Compels Its Use
The stock pile of weapons (e.g. nuclear weapons) has a power to compel people to use it. (MSS)

Weapons of Atomic Energy as Crime Against Humanity
To utilize the higher for a lower purpose is a crime against humanity, just as releasing atomic energy for the destruction of the population. (MSS)

Atomic Bombs are a Greater Evil than War and Must Be Abolished; End of Ego Abolishes Such Evil
Now that the wars are over and humanity is lucky enough or maybe wise enough to avoid the Third World War, the approaching 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan is an opportunity to think of the future.

War is evil. The atom bomb is a greater evil. The greater evil helped to end the rule of the lesser evil. The stockpile of nuclear bombs threatening the world is the greatest of evils. Disarmament is proceeding at the level of positive decisions, decisions not to use the weapons. The existing bombs must be dismantled.

Also, there are other weapons equally dangerous, such as chemical or biological weapons. It is a great thing to destroy one form of evil. Still, it can sprout as another form of Evil. Will evil disappear after humankind ceases to produce these lethal weapons? Evil lies in the human heart, at its very bottom. Evil is in Nature as the tiger's ferocity and the destruction of an earthquake. Before trying to abolish evil from Nature or human nature, one needs to understand what evil is.

Religions or philosophies have not been hopeful of abolishing the fundamental evil. They advised mankind to avoid evil. Sri Aurobindo says there is no evil in creation and there is evil only to the experience of the ego. When man abolishes his ego, there will be no evil in his view or his experience. Leaders of thought in religion, philosophy, and science should address this issue in the light of the rich experiences of the twentieth century. (MSS)

Proliferation of Nukes in Rogue & Other States Mirrors US-Russian Failure
With the US and Russia proliferating 5000 Nukes, there is less and less reasons for rogue or other nations to pursue a nuclear-free future. Our hypocrisy is attracting these situations, and we wonder why. It is a wonderful example of the law of karma (what you sow is what you reap) in action.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki

On the 59th anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb, the Mayor of Hiroshima spoke about the danger of encouraging the development of smaller nuclear weapons. Historians studying the events of the twentieth century more than confirm the misgivings expressed before World War II or at the time of the Versailles Treaty.

Even if Germany was the culprit in WWI, exacting reparations of undue proportion would lead to vengeful emotions in Germany which were expressed after the first war. Now they are confirmed in more than one way. Another opinion is that even the First World War could have been avoided. War is Evil. It is not inevitable, if humankind is mature.

Now that the wars are over and humanity is lucky enough or maybe wise enough to avoid the Third World War, the approaching 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Japan is an opportunity to think of the future.

War is evil. The atom bomb is a greater evil. The greater evil helped to end the rule of the lesser evil. The stockpile of nuclear bombs threatening the world is the greatest of evils. Disarmament is proceeding at the level of positive decisions, decisions not to use the weapons. The existing bombs must be dismantled.

Also, there are other weapons equally dangerous, such as chemical or biological weapons. It is a great thing to destroy one form of evil. Still, it can sprout as another form of Evil. Will evil disappear after humankind ceases to produce these lethal weapons? Evil lies in the human heart, at its very bottom. Evil is in Nature as the tiger's ferocity and the destruction of an earthquake. Before trying to abolish evil from Nature or human nature, one needs to understand what evil is.

Religions or philosophies have not been hopeful of abolishing the fundamental evil. They advised mankind to avoid evil. Sri Aurobindo says there is no evil in creation and there is evil only to the experience of the ego. When man abolishes his ego, there will be no evil in his view or his experience. Leaders of thought in religion, philosophy, and science should address this issue in the light of the rich experiences of the twentieth century.

Whatever the outcome of such a consideration, the very analysis by applying the best minds to this issue will be beneficial. Sri Aurobindo speaks from His spiritual experience in Alipore Jail. His vision of Narayana had no negative side of evil. Bharat Mata beckons her children to realise this TRUTH.  (MSS)

 

Merchants of Death
In the fine French film Persepolis, a little girl grows up in Tehran amidst vast changes in her country. First, the Shah comes into power, then he is disposed, then the religious government emerges, and then there is a terrible war between her nation Iran and rival Iraq. Often her family find themselves hunkering down during Saddam's air raids.

At one point in this animated film, the little girl almost casually says that the West is supplying both sides of the Iran-Iraq War with arms. They do not care about the destruction they are wreaking on their countries. The same dynamic was occurring throughout Africa and other conflicted regions of the world. Every one of these nations became the victims of the evil perpetrated by the Merchants of Death.

America will do nearly anything in the name of profit. Great Britain when she oversaw an Empire where the sun never set would do anything to expand trade. Other nations in Europe from Germany to the Czechs to Russia were not much different. Unfortunately, in these situations there is little concern about the aftermath of these transactions, only the quantity of weaponry itself. The human suffering it creates is a mere afterthought.

America is supposed to be the world leader, but she only has sense to be the economic leader. Her values essentially stop at that point. She may publically advocate freedom, but deeper down she is enamored with profits, which includes the transfer of arms shipments to any willing buyer. Nearly all harsh news America reports about its enemies can be traced back to its past insincere diplomatic efforts, its support of the types of leaders it publicly condemns, and for being distributors of small and sophisticated weaponry. And then she nervously calls out, ''see, there are terrorists everywhere!" Is it any wonder?

Let the nations of the world through new institutions agree to halt these harmful transaction. Let the world leaders embrace deeper human values, not merely economic ones. Let the superpowers take down their nuclear arsenals, lest they too are one day used against them, or their friends and allies. For after all, unintended consequences is the logical outcome of the activities of the Merchants of Death.

 

Demilitarization and Economic Development

Reducing Military Spending, Deficit Reduction, and Economic Prosperity
Since 1988, world military expenditure has fallen by about a third, $400 billion. If the current peaceful status is sustained, it could free up even more capital for investment and reducing the inflationary pressure of burgeoning government deficits. The long feared negative impact of reduced military expenditure on economic growth has been much less than anticipated. Falling defense spending has been followed by a surprisingly rapid recovery in defense-dependent states such as California and an unexpectedly long period of national economic expansion in the USA. This experience should help reduce the resistance to further cuts. (MSS)

Ending Poverty through Reduced Military Spending
UNDP has calculated that $40 billion a year would be sufficient to eradicate global poverty within ten years. Yet long after the end of the Cold War and at a time when there is not even a serious potential enemy in sight, world military expenditure remains at $850 billion a year. The war is over, but a costly, wasteful, unproductive anachronism persists. (MSS)

Energy of Military Disengaged Can Only Be Absorbed by Raising the Masses
The enormous energy absorbed by the military is now disengaged. It is there for us to use. Except in raising the masses, it cannot be fully absorbed. (MSS)  [I.e. As a result of the end of the Cold War a lot of energy is available to humanity. However, the only way it can be absorbed and utilized is if is used for the rising up of the masses.]

Assuring Non-Use of Weapons through Economic Gains for All
Suppose the economic gains of the society are to be extended to all, the society in greater part has to develop several institutions and the individual has to acquire a host of capacities simultaneously overlooking the original rule of individual to society and again to all individuals. This is a must. Solving this challenge even in theory is a major step forward.

In the world conditions of this decade facilities of training, communications, follow up, organisational support, psychological milieu exist in enough measure to achieve this as the expectations have reached the very fringes of the society. The leadership should rise to the occasion to render this into an ordered transition without which the change will come about through chaos, breakdown, goondaraj, terrorism etc. The military stockpile will leak into the hands of the revolution completing the process. This is avoidable. The first step is Guaranteed Employment in the West, abolition of hunger in the East. (MSS)

 

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Upward Social Mobility Defuses Conflict
Opportunities for upward social mobility are known to have diffused intra-state as well as inter-state conflicts. For some reason, it has not gained the attention of the world. A study of the phenomenon will give the world a permanent solution to such conflicts and the consequent terrorism. A dynamic man who is unable to move up is a menace to the society. His moving up ensures social stability. The rule for nations as well as individuals is the same. (MSS)

Linear View of Military Strength as National Security
The Mind tends to think in a linear, unidimensional manner and pursue one line of truth, ignoring other complementary sides, viewing all reality from a single viewpoint. The view that national security is only a question of military strength is an example of this. [There are of course many other factors.] (MSS) 

Also See Thoughts on Recent History (WWII, The Cold War, the UN, Terrorism, etc.)

Also See How War Purges the Low Consciousness of the Nation

Foundation of Wealth & Physical Security in West and US
It is noteworthy to see that the necessary foundation in wealth and physical security is abundantly laid in USA. Seen from this perspective, the history of the West, particularly that of USA, will explain itself in the light of the theory of social evolution. (MSS)

Also See Economics, Prosperity, and Money

 

TO BE CATEGORIZED

 

Weapons Proliferation

On Nuclear Weaponry

-The greatest evil ever devised by man is nuclear weaponry.

-Nuclear weaponry is a bi-product of scientific invention where the whole was not considered, as people were fully absorbed in the part.

-The longer the nukes are in deployment, the more likely they are going to be used, one way or another.

-All efforts to radically reduce their deployment will guarantee safety for the world. (2009-2011 Q1)

 

On Nuclear Weaponry

-The greatest evil ever devised by man is nuclear weaponry.

-Nuclear weaponry is a bi-product of scientific invention where the whole was not considered, as people were fully absorbed in the part.

-The longer the nukes are in deployment, the more likely they are going to be used, one way or another.

-All efforts to radically reduce their deployment will guarantee safety for the world. (2009-2011 Q1)

 

Monument to Insincerity

It is said that Einstein was tricked at the end when those in power did not keep their word. They told him that if Germany did not develop the Bomb, the US would never use it against an adversary. The Germans did not succeed, yet the bomb was used. 100,000 bombs followed, kept in reserve -- a monument to man's insincerity and lack of foresight. (2009-2011 Q1)

 

Nukes and the Law of Karma

The law of karma says that what you reap is what you sowed. We can see this in the world of nuclear disarmament.

The US and the Russian have 5-10,000 nukes deployed. It gives the world, i.e. each individual country, free license to have their own nukes. Iran, N. Korea, Pakistan, India, Israel, and others see the US-Russian nukes and say, "why can't we have them also to protect ourselves." And there are more nations to come, friendly and hostile to the West (who can each easily flip to the other side.)

We have sowed nukes. As a result, we reap nukes being created by more and more countries. It is the law of karma in action; i.e. sow/reap. Some call it the law of attraction. I.e. we attract negatives outside ourselves that we embody within us.

The remedy is simple. The US and Russia need to draw down nukes to a few 100. Then countries of the world will then begin to walk in our footsteps. Otherwise rogue and friendly (who will later turn rogue) nations will appear with nukes in ever increasing order.  (2009-2011 Q1)

 

US on Climate and Nuclear Arms Agreements

The US needs to come on board and agree to environmental change as the European nations have, and not demand that China and others do so simultaneously as the US Senate has required in the past. When the US is free to continue to pollute, then other nations will feel unfettered to do so as well. The same is true for Nuclear Arms. The US should commit to radical reductions of missiles, otherwise other countries, friendly or otherwise, will feel free to develop theirs as well. If the US does not make the change, then life will respond opposite of its interests with other nations opting for pollution and arms. The result of this is a movement toward inevitable catastrophic events in the future.   (2009-2011 Q1)

 

Merchants of Death and Negative Response from Life

The Western Merchants of Death and their mercenary weapons sales, helped instigate WWII, fueling the Dark enemy. Likewise, they were there at the end to create the greatest evil ever devised by Man -- nuclear weapons. And we supposed peace loving, democratic nations wonder why we attract such negative circumstance, from the Kaiser to the Fuehrer and beyond. (2009-2011 Q1)