SAMPLE WOMEN’S AGENDA TO END POVERTY AND INJUSTICE CAN BE DONE AT A REASONABLE COST

Kumkum Sangari, Neeraj Malik, Sheba Chhachhi, Tanika Sarkar , Movement in India for Nuclear Disarmament, 2001, Why Women Must Reject Nuclearisation

New York NGO Committee on the Status of Women Working Group on Peace.

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WHAT WOMEN OF THE WORLD WANT...WHAT IT WILL COST...(Cost in billions)

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Safe, clean water                        50

Shelter for all                          21

Food for all-an end to hunger            19

Health care for all                      15

End of illiteracy                         5

Education to stabilise the population    10.5

Clean, safe renewable energy             17

Prevention of soil erosion               24

Protection of the environment :

Prevent acid rain                         8

Prevent global warming                    8

Stop ozone depletion                      5

Stop deforestation                        7

Total                                   189.5

(Source: 1991 World Game Institute)

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...AND HOW TO PAY FOR IT !

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Whereas all the things that women and children want can be achieved at a cost of approximatley 25% of the worlds total annual military budget;

Whereas military budgets have increased, programmes for education, health, housing, job creation and environmental protection have been slashed;

Whereas many countries spend more on their military than on research for breast cancer, food for pregnant women and infants, aid to poor families and childcare programs;

Whereas developing countries could have a package of basic health care servives and clinical care that would save 10 million lives a year at a cost of less than half of their military expenditures.

Therefore:

All governments should reduce their military budgets by 5% this year and each succeeding year until the year 2000, and transfer those saved resources to meet the human needs of women, girl children and all society.