David Swanson
The Vow From Hiroshima Should Be From Everywhere
By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, July 10, 2020 The new film, The Vow From Hiroshima, tells the story of Setsuko Thurlow who was a school girl in Hiroshima when the United States dropped the first nuclear bomb. She was pulled out of a building in which 27 of her… »
The Democrats’ Disastrous, Militarist Climate Plan
The habitability of the earth and the viability of lesser evilism are on the ropes, and incrementalism is thriving even in the current moment of increased activism for radical change. Just take a look at the new “Climate Crisis Action Plan” from the Democratic Party’s Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. »
Hey Congress, Move the Money
The past month’s activism has changed a great deal. One thing it’s helped with is brushing aside the tired old argument over whether government should be big or small. In its place we have the much more useful argument over whether government should prioritize force and punishment, or focus on… »
U.S. Trails World in Coronavirus Response and Almost Everything Else
Data from around the world on how nations are handling Coronavirus makes clear that, as in most things (this claim is documented below), the United States is exceptionally awful. Among wealthy countries, only Sweden, which has chosen to intentionally allow the disease to spread, has done worse. A handful of countries… »
Bernie, Amendments, and Moving the Money
Senator Bernie Sanders has finally done something that some of us thought would give his presidential campaign a big boost four years ago, and again this past year. He’s proposed to introduce legislation to move a significant amount of money from militarism to human and environmental needs (or at least human… »
The Good, the Potential, and What Might Happen
Already we’ve seen, as a result of people taking to the streets in the United States: Four policemen indicted. More racist monuments dismantled. Some minimal and inconsistent limit on what the New York Times editorial page will defend having done in the way of spreading evil. Some minimal and inconsistent limit on… »
The War Industry Threatens Humanity
I’m adding Christian Sorensen’s new book, Understanding the War Industry, to the list of books I think will convince you to help abolish war and militaries. See the list below. Wars are driven by many factors. They do not include protection, defense, benevolence, or public service. They do include inertia, political… »
How Many Revelations Does It Take to Make a Light Bulb Go Off?
The U.S. government is certainly in the running for worst handling of coronavirus on earth. Where did this grotesque incompetence and indifference to human lives come from so suddenly? What if it was always there? What if it’s to be found in long-standing U.S. policies on environment, energy, labor, healthcare,… »
Antiwar Congressional Candidates 2020
In September 2018, I wrote an article about four women who were running for Congress in four separate districts, each speaking against wars and militarism in highly unusual ways. They later all won their elections, joined together, and called themselves a squad. Since taking office, they’ve all been far superior to… »
Mapping Militarism 2020
By David Swanson, World BEYOND War A new collection of maps found here displays what militarism looks like in the world. Here’s a brief guide to using and understanding them. Across the top are 10 drop-down menus on these topics: Wars, Weapons, U.S. Weapons, Money, Nukes, Chemical and Biological, U.S. Military, Air… »