Therefore, we work for peace.
But peace is not simply the absence of war. Therefore we work for a broader understanding of peace through the following issues:
Just War
The weapons industry and trade
Poverty and war
Changemaker believes that war is the last option when all other means of diplomacy and economic sanctions are unsuccessful. War can only be justified if it is based on self-defense, collective defense against attack, or stopping genocide or other grave human rights violations.
Currently, private security companies have too much importantance in international politics and NATO is given too much priority in Norway’s international decisions. Changemaker believes that UN is the most important security and humanitarian organization and should be the international body in which Norway puts its military and diplomatic weight.
Past events:
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After the attacks of September 11th, there was a call for a "war on terrorism" and Afghanistan was invaded. We do not believe threats or terrorism were handled properly.
Although we renounce terrorism, we believe that the issue is very complex, and often occurs for extremist ideology that emerges as a reaction to poverty and oppression.
Therefore we believe that Norway’s resources should be applied to humanitarian efforts and cooperation, rather than bombs and clashes.
But Norwegian Defense Minister Kristin Krohn Devold was willing to support the U.S., with Bush in the lead, and we saw this as a dangerous development. |
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What Changemaker did
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In 2004 Changemaker launched it’s “Call in your Order for Peace” campaign. Because Devold was so willing to be a puppet for the U.S. President, we figured the man responded to orders – so we called in our own! We had three major orders:
- NO to Bush and preventitive war,
- NO to international military operations without a UN mandate,
- YES to limiting the military’s role in counter terrorism as a recognition of the complex causes of terrorism including lack of democracy and redemption of human rights.
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We called in orders by phone or mail and held actions throughout the country; we dressed in camoflague and displayed puppets of Defense Minister Devold and Bush as parents in bed with baby Prime Minister Bondevik to prove our point.
Results
In the Decisions of Defense long-term plan of 2004 it was declared that;
“Norway (...) must abstain from participation in preventive war and pre-emptive war that do not have a clear foundation in international law.”
The UN was also given a more important role than before – our two black and white demands were met! We celebrated this victory with balloons and marzipan cake outside of Parliament, although we recognize there is still a lot more to do to fix the problems in the Norwegian defense policy.
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We believe that the enormous quantities of nuclear and conventional weapons in the world is a great threat to humanity, and Norway must be clear and actively support international disarmament agreements. We’re against all forms of weapons of mass destruction and say existing nuclear weapons must be destroyed and the radioactive explosives must be stored properly.
Norway must work from our role in the UN and other international bodies against nuclear weapons, and for the preservation and further development of a non-proliferation treaty.
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We must also look at Norway’s involvement in war and weapon’s trade.
Several Norwegian companies play a role in conflict and occupied territories by conducting business with regimes that violate human rights and / or act contrary to international law.
Norway also makes money in opposition to peace through its arms industry.
Changemaker wants state control of Norwegian arms exports, military loans, rent and gifts of weapons and munitions to the Allies. |
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Norway is a large exporter og weapons and ammunition. |
We believe Norway must require end-user declarations of all the countries we sell arms and ammunition to, and establish control and sanction mechanisms.
Current action
Approximately 500,000 people are killed each year with handguns. As of today there is not a comprehensive and adequate system for marking and tracking Norwegian small arms and ammunition production or international regulations for the sale of these products.
Weapons can easily go astray without these regulations, and inevitably these weapons affect poor people the hardest. Since 2004, Norwegian exports of weapons and ammunition almost tripled and Norway is now one of the world's largest arms exporters. Therefore we believe, that although the tourist industry says otherwise, it is “typically Norwegian” to make money off of war!
We have done a variety of stunts and campaigning around this theme. To launch the campaign, we held our own 17th of May celebration in Bergen, where over 100 youth marched in traditional dress with the tab, flags and machine guns, to show how Norwegian it is to make money from weapons sales.
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At a later event, wearing blindfolds and holding Norwegian flags, we “sold” guns outside of the arms industry in Kongsberg, to demonstrate what they do every day, by not requiring end-user agreements.
But we don’t ignore the major decision makers on this issue. During Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s election campaign, we placed changemakers in the crowds all around the nation to ask him about Norwegian arms exports.
By the end, he knew that arms exports was an issue important to us and the nation and he has guaranteed that regulations will be evaluated in the next parliamentary term. |
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It is clear that we can change the Norwegian arms exports, and we plan to keep on working on this issue until we do!
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War does not affect people only in times of armed conflict. The threat of war and the aftermath of war can break down all areas of the country, restrain development, and cause lots of human suffering.
There are many ways in which we can limit this human suffering. Because civil society suffers during war, we support the securing of humanitarian zones in order to protect civilians and aid workers. Women also suffer a lot due to war, where systematic rape is used as a weapon. Even in peace time, 1 in 3 women worldwide are affected by gender-based violence.
Therefore we believe Norway must support Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security and mobilize other international organizations and humanitarian actors to actively combat violence against women.
Norway can also do work at home. We believe that Norway’s asylum policy should promote solidarity and be conducted humanely, especially in light of our role as an arms exporter. Unaccompanied minors should not be granted only a temporary stay with possible deportation when they turn 18 because it is inhumane.
Holistic approach to peace
Peace is clearly not an independent issue, but depends upon a variety of factors. Changemaker works for a holistic view of peace that moves beyond just the absence of armed conflict. Therefore are peace initiatives are also carried through in our work for fair trade structures, cancellaction of illegitimate debt, fight against the spread of HIV and AIDS and climate justice. As we fight for a more just world, we also bring peace.
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