... a  glow  bookworm ...

...thought provoking review of Malaysia's military spending since independence...

Working towards an end to war involves putting an end to the culture of war. It involves finding ways to resolve conflicts through changing our own attitudes and behaviour. Leaders have the responsibility to initiate that fundamental change and involving everyone in that peace-building process. It involves overcoming the fears, prejudices and other contradictions that give rise to misunderstanding, violence and conflict. It involves  re-ordering our financial priorities away from wasteful and destructive arms to the social well-being of all our peoples.  

Facilitating greater democracy in our society also creates a culture of peace since the more that citizens have the opportunity to participate in the running of their society and the freedom to express their aspirations and criticisms, the less likely are they to take up arms to overthrow the government. 

To achieve a culture of peace would require a profound reformation but reform we must. Cooperating in shared goals and nurturing positive interdependence can help to build this culture of peace. A culture of peace should be our nation’s vision. It is a vision that is only attainable in a society that respects human dignity, social justice, democracy and human rights. It is an environment that can settle conflict and differences through dialogue and democracy and not through threats and repression.  

Social change will only happen when the people are mobilised in a movement for peace. Only such a movement and consciousness can divert the billions spent on unnecessary and wasteful armaments to peaceful and socially useful production. Thus we also need the participation of an active labour movement pledged to promote socially useful, alternative production rather than armaments manufacture. 

p/s... This book brings together in one volume, the key issues and events connected with defence spending in Malaysia....the unanswered questions surrounding the murder of Altantuya…to the high incidence of accidents involving the Sikorsky Nuri helicopters. Malaysians are called upon to seriously consider the question of war and peace; the justifications for arms procurements; procedures of accountability and the choice of alternative socially useful production. Anyway, read it with much sensibility and not get emotionally affected...

I managed to read this twice; yet do have my very owned unanswered questions regarding the issues brought up...The issues are something interesting to know; regardless my not in the organisation. Anyway, military is on the brink of a green revolution as it shifts energy strategy to green technology and renewable sources. BTW, to me, when the country's and the nations' security is of concerned and priority, there is no and never a compromise

(The Tenth Malaysia Plan (2011-15) has allocated RM23 billion for defence and security).

 

...NO COMBAT-READY UNIT HAS EVER PASSED INSPECTION. IF OUR ATTACK IS GOING TOO WELL, WE'RE WALKING INTO AN AMBUSH...HENCE, WHEN THE PIN IS PULLED, MR. GRENADE IS NO LONGER OUR FRIEND... 

Bravo pour les malaisiennes armees forces pour votre courage,

de sacrifices dans la sauvegarde de la nation. 

Que Dieu vous benisse tous les soldats

 Governments around the world now have to battle virtual armies

whose weapons of choice are worms and viruses