(Update at 23 February 2012: )
Welcome to the restructured site which came on line early in December. We plan ongoing additions and improvements (please send your comments and suggestions to info@tamingwar.com .)
Purpose
The purpose of the Non-Lethal Weapons for Peace Campaign is to reduce the damage of war.
Aims
- Reduce death and injury in warfare by promoting the use of non-damaging technology in conflict resolution
- Influence peace-keeping agencies (such as the UN) to move progressively from lethal to non-lethal weaponry
- Subsequently influence defence forces in nations around the world to make the same transformation to non-lethal defence
- Over the course of time, change world culture from lethal to non-lethal conflict resolution, with the result that the nuclear weapons that threaten our species will finally be eliminated
- By removing lethality from conflict resolution, help to lower the overall level of violence in society, promoting a more peaceful and just world.
Why do we need to develop Non-Lethal Weapons?
From the NLW for Peace Campaign BLOG:
Syrian Sorrows (21 February 2012)
There is much death and pain in Syria at present. First of all the shelling of civilians. The Syrian army has been firing high explosive shells at the country’s own citizens. Men, women and children are being blown apart, hit by shrapnel or buried under rubble.
We are also seeing increasing evidence of torture. ‘Security’ forces are not hiding this. They have recorded scores of ‘trophy videos’ of themselves savagely beating their captives. Young children have been among the victims. See Syria Exposed the Channel 4 program broadcast on ABC TV Four Corners on 20 February 2012.
How would a non-lethal weapons approach reduce these activities?
First of all, lethal shells would not be used in civil conflicts.
Secondly, soldiers armed with non-lethal weapons might be less acculturated to violence and less prone to torturing their fellow citizens (and one might hope – other prisoners). (We can’t be certain of this, but it seems likely and would be an added benefit to a NLW approach to conflict.)
See the rest of the Non-Lethal Weapons for Peace Campaign BLOG
Strongly recommended – the December issue of The New Internationalist magazine which has articles on the arms trade and on drones.