"Addressing conflicts ...

solving problems in our groups and associations Open letter to the future Prime Minister, on the economic crisis and military sp ending Construyendopuentes 19/11/2011 by Mr. President, We realize that will take the task of chairing the Government in a difficult eco nomic context of distance between citizens and politics and who has to give conv incing answers to the multiple challenges. The public lives bewildered feeling that lly yield to demands that do not emanate lobal economic interests. Demands in the end up benefiting a few. Thus, it seems pays the piper for a party that did not the democratic world government eventua from some of popular feeling but of a g middle of the opacity and deregulation, difficult to avoid people thinking that decide any food or guests.

Unregulated economic globalization has led to a democracy plagued by weak market s and credibility. The international community, beyond urgent measures to react to what happens, should undertake a thorough review of the agreements, mechanism s and structures which it is based on the current economic system. If, as seems, choose to reduce public spending and investment, we can not attend impassive to cut social benefits, health and education-all of them always but e ven more critical in a crisis that involves more precarious in much of the popul ation, or investment in science and innovation. It is essential to generate othe r economic system that can be more just, sustainable, productive and strong. No impervious to assist investment and reducing costs crucial to the welfare and protection of the quality of life while still maintaining a huge military spend ing. We know that there is a specific case of Spain. The main countries of the world, led by the United States, maintain a huge military machine. Considering the ser ious deficiencies that affect the majority of the inhabitants of the planet, thi s enormous arsenal cdesarrollo is a real insult. Unfortunately, this model is st rongly driven and emerging countries strive to copy the same models. Therefore, the increase in military spending, production of new weapons systems or acquirin g new weapons in the international market are common patterns in many countries. We must remember that, as stated in the recent Report of SIPRI, world military spending despite the economic crisis 4 years, rose worldwide a year, reaching th e scandalous figure of 1.6 billion. Meanwhile, the Millennium Development Goals, which remind us of the pressing nee ds that we should attend to if we want to reduce the threats of hunger, ill heal th or education pose to the world's population still non year after year. This i s a flawed policy favored by the large weapons manufacturers, which confuses sec urity with militarism. How can you pass that to deal with alleged military threa ts spend so much money and to avoid real risks that take the lives of millions o f people accept that there are no means unmoved? In the Spanish case, we note bitterly some decisions of successive governments h ave always considered wrong, but now also impacting severely on the economy. It was decided to engage in major weapons projects (European fighter aircraft Eurof ighter, Leopard tanks, etc..), Without considering whether they were really need ed and were correlated with a global vision and modern security. In any case, re gardless of their convenience, have been a financial disaster. Spend more than 16,000 million euros for 2011 military spending taking into acco unt all the games, which manages not only the Ministry of Defense seems an injus tice. Possible international missions usual argument to justify a higher provisi on of weapons to armies that do not require huge expense and, in particular, the

acquisition or manufacture of weapons, imposed by membership in NATO, the EU is amazing is not yet self-security and, to a large extent, are typical of past co nflicts. When 14 months ago in these pages published article 'Crisis, military spending a nd disarmament' (El Pas, August 2, 2010) wanted to warn of the serious economic cr isis and the need to establish appropriate priorities when considering cuts publ ic spending. During these months we have seen how the economic crisis deepened w ithout austerity measures have achieved military spending. But while we have witnessed two events of great significance. On the one hand, thousands and thousands of women and men in the Arab world have said "Enough!". They also shouted to the world that want to live with dignity, justice and hope to enjoy freedom. They did shake, and fall in some cases dictat ors who unfortunately had the support of much interest in Western democracies. W ith modern information technology and communication that allow free expression a nd distance participation, citizens not only be counted in the election. They mu st have afterwards. May influence and decide. And they should. On the other hand, in Spain burst with force the movement of 15 M, international ized months after the mobilization of 15 0. A disagreement arising from the prot ests and outrage of many people to the degradation of the quality of life, loss of democratic capacity to direct the economy and policy away from their real res ponsibilities. For the above seems to protect social spending and lead to possible cuts militar y spending is a measure that strengthens democracy, improve the welfare and the public sends a positive message, to prioritize the social agenda in a context of acute crisis . Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that consider these thoughts and suggestions. Irman this article: Federico Mayor Zaragoza, President Foundation for a Culture of Peace Santiago Alvarez Cantalapiedra, director CIP-Ecosocial Jordi Armadans, director Fundaci per la Pau Alfons Banda, Committee Coordinator Fundaci per la Pau Interenacional God Manuel Diz, president Galician Seminar for Peace Education (SGEP) Vicen Fisas, director of Peace Culture School of the Universitat Autnoma de Barcelon a (UAB) Rafael Grasa, president International Institute Catal per la Pau (ICIP)

Manonelles Manuel, director UBUNTU and Peace Culture Foundation Barcelona Vicent Martnez Guzmn, UNESCO Chair in Philosophy honorary director Pau University Ja ume I of Castell de la Plana Masllorens Xavier, President Fundaci per la Pau Manuela Mesa, president of the Spanish Association for Peace Research (AIPAZ)

Beatriz Molina, Director Institute of Peace and Conflict University of Granada Arcadi Oliveres, Barcelona president Justice and Peace Pere Ortega, president Catalan Federation of NGOs per la Pau Gorka Ruiz Santana, president of Education Association Forum on Human Rights and Peace in the Basque Country.