Public Comment

Can demilitarization put an end to global hunger? 

That question is about to go viral with the imminent appearance of six massive billboards coming soon to Oakland and Berkeley. The eye-catching message on the billboards is one that could stop traffic as drivers brake to reread the startling rooftop message: "3% of U.S. Military Spending Could End Starvation on Earth.” (Click here for a PDF of billboard graphic.) 

The advertising campaign is the work of World BEYOND War, a growing global anti-war, pro-peace organization that is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month with a growing number of members and chapters worldwide—in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, the South Pacific, the Middle East and Africa. 

But the "3% campaign" wouldn't have gotten off the ground without the support of Ben Cohen, the first half of the radical grassroots duo that founded Ben & Jerry's, the beloved ice cream empire. 

B&J has already been a voice in the anti-war movement. In addition to offering quirky flavors like Chunky Monkey and Karamal Sutra, the company has also offered tasty cartons of Imagine Whirled Peace. And thanks to Ben Cohen's generous support, WBW's billboards will soon be raising the startling connection between Pentagon spending and world hunger. 

So What's With This 3% Figure?

"A trillion dollars is not a concept one can easily visualize, but it is a very conservative underestimate of what the U.S. government spends each year on the military, including the Pentagon base budget, plus war budget, plus nuclear weapons in the Department of Energy, plus the Department of Homeland Security, and other military spending. 

"This does not include various additional spending bills, such as those now under consideration to put over $100 billion into more weapons for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the border of Mexico. 

"Three percent of a trillion dollars, or $30 billion, is still not easy to visualize, but it could end starvation everywhere, or hire 33 thousand teachers at $90,000 each, or provide 3 million units of public housing at $10,000 each, or provide 60 million households with wind power at $500 each. And those alternatives would not only benefit huge numbers of people, but also have greater positive economic impact. 

"Far from being the jobs program often claimed, military spending produces fewer jobs than other public spending, and fewer jobs than never taxing the money from working people at all." 

Where Will You Find the Billboards?

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Planned for Jan. 28 

Events are being planned in partnership with CODEPINK and other organizations starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 28th, in front of the First Congregational Church of Oakland at 2501 Harrison St, Oakland — near one of the billboards. A reception will follow inside the church from 2:30 – 3:30 p.m. with speakers, music, and food. The gathering will serve as a fundraiser for Food Not Bombs, which provides food to those in need. 

Among those taking part will be: 

David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War
Keith McHenry, Founder of Food Not Bombs
Francisco Hererra, musician
John Lindsay-Poland, American Friends Service Committee
Paul Cox, Veterans For Peace
Cynthia Papermaster, CODEPINK S.F. Bay Area
Jackie Cabasso, Western States Legal Foundation
Jim Haber, War Tax Resistance
David Hartsough, Co-Founder of World BEYOND War 

ACTION: RSVP to reserve your spot and to support Food Not Bombs. 

For updates check this page: https://worldbeyondwar.org/oakland 

(Full disclosure: The author is a member of the WBW board.)