Every two weeks the world spends on arms the same amount of money that could satisfy the basic needs of the world’s poor for water, food, and education for one whole year. This situation shows clearly that the collective mind of the world’s present leadership is completely divorced from reality.

Greens support a peace policy for the 21st century which focuses on providing security for all human beings. World security is under constant threat from terrorism, regional military conflicts, nuclear weapons proliferation, failed states, competition for raw materials, organized crime, nationalism, non-recognition of minorities as well as attempts to impose cultural uniformity. However this list does not include the root causes behind the eruption of violence and military conflicts.
Peace in this century can only be achieved if security takes into account:

Ø Tensions created by environmental problems;
Ø Agriculture shortages;
Ø Water stress;
Ø Depletion of fisheries;
Ø Destruction of biodiversity;
Ø Social injustice; and, last but not least,
Ø Violation of human rights.

An increasingly dramatic cause of destabilization is linked to diminishing oil reserves and increasing oil prices. In this context Greens are not embarrassed to say that Green politics is a policy for peace. Our strategy of moving away from oil and gas and against nuclear energy responds also to concerns regarding security of energy supply and therefore has a conflict prevention character.

The Greens’ unconditional support for democracy and human rights also contributes to reducing conflicts. Greens strongly condemn any deployment of armed forces to take the control over raw materials. They also reject the revival of nuclear power in part because there is no wall between peaceful and military use of nuclear energy.

The failure of disarmament initiatives in 2005 at the UN Millennium Summit and the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference was shameful. Greens call for nuclear disarmament all over the globe in full respect of the NPT. Greens will work to promote the expansion of nuclear-free zones, and a strict ban on chemical and biological weapons.

Greens are concerned that worldwide arms exports increased by 50% from 2003 to 2007. Arms production and international arms export must be severely curtailed. Greens favour a global code of conduct that forbids the sale of arms to crisis regions. Cluster bombs and depleted uranium ammunitions must be banned, together with land mines and white phosphorus munitions.

Greens also consider that any kind of military use of space, including the Missile Defense System, accelerates militarisation all over the world and may cause a new Cold War in Europe, Asia and other regions. Greens acknowledge that the space does not belong to human beings, but that human beings belong to the universe. Greens reject the militarisation of space in the name of defence. All kinds of resources and technologies have to be used for the well-being of human beings, conservation of biodiversity and prevention of climate crisis and not for militarisation.

Non–military instruments must be the main means of overcoming political tensions. Conflict prevention, reconciliation and civilian crisis intervention must be fostered including by financial means. The involvement of women in civil crisis prevention and civil conflict management as well as post conflict resolution has to be instrumental at all stages and at all levels, as stipulated in UN Resolution 1325. Greens commit to lobbying their respective governments for implementation of National Action Plans according to UN Resolution 1325. Greens will work for the development and reinforcement of civil Peace Corps.

The development of the non-violent culture, the peaceful management of conflicts or disagreements, the basic confrontation of every nationalistic, racist, militaristic and violent policy or behaviour, remain a key Green principle.
The responsibility to protect populations against genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and ethnic cleansing was clearly and unequivocally acknowledged by the UN member states at the 2005 Millennium Summit. Such protection becomes an international responsibility only in case of the failure of a nation state. The Millennium Summit requires that all preventing measures be exhausted before deploying the military as the ultimate step in preventing genocide. Inevitable intervention mandated by the UN Security Council must always remain a last resort.
A peace building process must follow any military intervention. Criteria for the legitimacy of the peace building process should include:

Ø The neutrality of those overseeing the peace-building process;
Ø Compensation for damages, especially those incurred by civilians;
Ø Reconciliation among the actors and victims of the conflict and their integration into the post-conflict society;
Ø Social and economic justice in the process of rebuilding society;
Ø Full compliance to international human rights law.