No to NATO

Yesterday, I spoke at a meeting focused on peace education and active promotion of peace. As part of the debate, I highlighted the Scottish Green Party's commitment to the ending of Scotland's participation in the outdated nuclear alliance of NATO. Remaining part of NATO would continue military oppression when Scotland could be a world leader in humanitarian endeavours.

NATO has a two billion euro rocket defence system which threatens to trigger a new arms race and the militarisation of Space. Funds required for the continuing peaceful Space exploration have been used for the design, implementation and deployment of Space hardware including the Strategic Defense Initiative. Greens support only the peaceful and sustainable exploration of Space and the signing of the International Treaty for the Demilitarisation of Space.


PEACE 
can ONLY be 
secured 
by JUSTICE 
never by 
force of arms. 
William Penn

As a way forward, it is suggested that Scotland considers membership of non-military security structure such as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). OSCE grew out of the Helsinki process which brought together the rival blocks of the Cold War. With 56 member nations, OSCE has worked to promote peace and human rights. Most of its 2,831 staff are deployed in the field in South-Eastern Europe, Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia.

Useful link:

Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) - http://www.osce.org/who

Northern Friends Peace Board - www.nfpb.org.uk