Stopping NATO, Stopping the Profits of War

Stop the Weapons, Stop the War, Stop NATO

Days of Action June 24-30, 2022

by Peace and Justice Network

 

June 22, '22

 

We urge people across Canada to join us to protest the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and demand an end to the war in Ukraine between June 24 to June 30. We will be holding “Stop the Weapons, Stop the War, Stop NATO” rallies across Canada to coincide with NATO’s Summit in Madrid, Spain.

 

We will be standing in solidarity with the European activists who are organizing a major demonstration against NATO outside the summit and dock workers who are blocking weapons shipments to Ukraine.

 

We are opposed to NATO because it is an aggressive, US-led, military alliance of 30 Euro-Atlantic countries that has launched deadly and destructive interventions in the former Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and Libya. These NATO wars have caused profound misery and a massive refugee crisis.

For years, NATO has been provoking conflict with Russia and China. NATO’s expansion to Russia’s border and its training and arming of Ukrainian security forces have instigated the devastating war in Ukraine. We call for an immediate ceasefire and negotiations with all parties for a democratic peace and neutrality in Ukraine.

We are opposed to NATO’s demand that allies increase military spending to meet the 2% GDP target. At $1.1 trillion, NATO accounts for 60% of global military spending. Since 2014, Canadian military spending has increased by 70%. Last year, Canada spent $33 billion on the military, which is 15 times more than on environment and climate change. Defence Minister Anand announced it will increase by another 70% over the next 5 years.

NATO’s demand that allies buy new interoperable weapons is leading to a costly arms race. Carbon-intensive weapons systems like fighter jets, tanks and warships are exacerbating the climate crisis.

This military spending prevents Canada from investing adequately in public health care, education, housing and climate action.

NATO’s reliance on a dangerous nuclear deterrence and first strike policy puts us all at risk and is the reason that Canada is refusing to join the United Nations’ Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.

NATO’s provocative war exercises and extension into the Asia Pacific are raising tensions with China and destabilizing the region. 

The NATO military alliance is undermining global peace and human security. It is time to for Canada to withdraw from NATO and develop an independent foreign policy. Canada must end arms exports and economic sanctions. Canada needs to show leadership for diplomacy and disarmament.

We need international cooperation, nonviolence and common security for all countries. It begins with ending the sanctions, peace in Ukraine and peace with Russia and China.

Stop the weapons. Stop the war. Stop NATO.

Join a Stop the War, Stop NATO Action Near You

Are we missing an event? Can we help you organize one near you? Get in touch with us at canadapeaceandjustice@gmail.com

 

BRITISH COLUMBIA

VANCOUVER

◉ Saturday, June 25 at 11:00, CBC Vancouver, 740 Hamilton St @ Georgia St.

◉ Organized by: Vancouver area members of the Canada Peace & Justice Network: Just Peace Committee, Global Alliance for Peace, World Beyond War, Mobilization Against War and Occupation, Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice. Supported by the Victoria Peace Coalition, East Indian Defence Committee and Canadian Voices of Women for Peace & Justice.

◉  Facebook event: https://www.facebook.com/events/5179559515461944

VICTORIA

◉ Sunday, June 26, 1PM, at the BC Legislature, corner of Belleville & Government to say No to NATO! 

◉ Organized by the Victoria Peace Coalition and the Vancouver Island Peace Council

NANAIMO

◉ Wednesday June 29th at noon at Diana Krall Plaza in Nanaimo

◉ Come out to participate in “No to NATO”, a national campaign from June 24th to  30th to raise consciousness about  the dangers of belonging to an aggressive nuclear-armed alliance with first-strike capacity. We will likely walk briefly to the corner of Commercial street and the highway near Port Place Mall.

◉ Organized by WILPF, Womens’ International League for Peace and Freedom, Nanaimo chapter