Confronted with increasing geopolitical tensions, some politicians and international institutions are now translating this into a discourse and a systematic policy of militarization.
At the end of June, under pressure from the United States and NATO, the Belgian government pledged to allocate 5% of its GDP to military and related expenditures by 2035. This would currently correspond to 32 billion euros or a quadrupelling of the 2024 military budget.
The Service for Peace platform opposes our government’s decision to invest billions more in weapons. Established on the initiative of youth organisations, we stand against the introduction of a voluntary military service, which serves to encourage our generation to join the army.
This money could be used to create stable and well-paid jobs for young people, improve education, or invest in saving the climate.
More weapons lead to more wars. And in those wars, it is always the children of working people who are sent to the front line to serve the interests of the super-rich.
Service for Peace is opposed to the voluntary military service, to the massive funding of war at the expense of fundamental social rights, and to the culture of security. Instead, it is fighting for a society based on peace, social cohesion, respect for workers' rights, and a future for young people.
Signatory associations
CNAPD, Intal, Vrede, Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes (MJS), Jeunes FGTB, Jeunes CSC, Jong Groen, RedFox, Comac, EcoloJ, C-Paje, Quinoa, Scouts et Guides pluralistes, Arc-en-Ciel, JAgora, Les Ambassadeurs d’expression citoyenne
Geconfronteerd met de toenemende geopolitieke spanningen, vertalen sommige politici en internationale instellingen dit nu in een discours en een systematisch beleid van militarisering.
Onder druk van de Verenigde Staten en de NAVO heeft de Belgische regering eind juni toegezegd om tot 5% van het bbp aan militaire uitgaven te besteden, ofwel 34 miljard euro.
The Service for Peace platform opposes our government’s decision to invest billions more in weapons. Established on the initiative of youth organisations, we stand against the introduction of a voluntary military service, which serves to encourage our generation to join the army.
This money could be used to create stable and well-paid jobs for young people, improve education, or invest in saving the climate.
Meer wapens leiden tot meer oorlogen. En in die oorlogen zijn het altijd de kinderen van de arbeidersklasse die naar de frontlinie worden gestuurd voor belangen die de superrijken ten goede komen.
Service for Peace is tegen vrijwillige militaire dienst, tegen de massale financiering van oorlog ten koste van fundamentele sociale rechten, tegen de veiligheidscultuur, en strijdt voor een samenleving gebaseerd op vrede, sociale cohesie, respect voor de rechten van werknemers en een toekomst voor jongeren.
Signatory associations
CNAPD, Intal, Vrede, Mouvement des Jeunes Socialistes (MJS), Jeunes FGTB, Jeunes CSC, Jong Groen, RedFox, Comac, EcoloJ, C-Paje, Quinoa, Scouts et Guides pluralistes, Arc-en-Ciel, JAgora, Les Ambassadeurs d’expression citoyenne