End this Immorality: 1.5 Trillion US Dollars Wasted in the Arms Industry Annually

Secretary General’s Statement on the Global Day of Action on Military Spending - April 12th 2011

Annual Military Spending surpassed the 1.5 TrillionUSD mark in 2009. This constitutes a 50 per
cent growth from 2000. At the same time, most countries in Africa have lagged far behind in the
achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

It is unacceptable that most populations in Africa, Asia and Latin America remian in abject poverty
even as these expenditures are still tolerated by governments. This must stop.

Only a fraction of the resources used in the military industrial complex can meet all the development
needs outlined in the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

ACRL—RfP calls upon all governments to reduce their military expenditure by only 1 per cent for
the next ten years, and redirect these funds toward meeting the Millennium Development Goals. If
this is done, extreme forms of poverty will be completely eradicated.

ACRL—RfP urges religious leaders and their communities in Africa to take leadership in mobilizing
against over-expenditure in military spending, and ask governments to re-direct these funds for
development purposes.

ACRL—RfP is further committed to facilitating and supporting efforts by religious communities and
their leaders in stopping or reducing the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons
(SALW) in the continent. The youth-led Arms Down! Campaign on disarmament and shared security
is one of the advocacy initiatives from faith communities to reduce military spending.

We ask state, non-state actors and stake-holders to increase their efforts in reducing the demand for,
availability and supply of arms through advocacy, lobbying, public education and necessary
Demobilization Disarmament and Reintegration.

We appeal to all religious leaders to advocate for a just and harmonious society.

Yours in Partnership

Dr. Mustafa Y. Ali

Secretary General
African Council of Religious Leaders – Religions for Peace