On the one hand, NATO, meeting in Ankara, where the 32 allied countries discuss a further strengthening of military capabilities and new investments in the defense industry. On the other hand, in Rome, the world of pacifism and the Third Sector is relaunching an opposite proposal: build security through civilian, unarmed and nonviolent means. Two images that tell profoundly different visions of international security.
Billionaire agreements with the arms industry are expected at the Atlantic Alliance summit in Türkiye: over a billion dollars for 200 Patriot missiles destined for Poland, more than a billion for new guided artillery shells and other contracts for satellite systems, surveillance and defense for over 12 billion dollars. The general secretary Mark Rutte aims to consolidate the allies’ commitment to increasing defense spending, in a context marked by the war in Ukraine, tensions with Russia, China and Iran and the already shared objective of allocating 5% of GDP to security by 2035.
Belgian Defense Minister Theo Francken and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on stage during defense investment announcements, at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, on the sidelines of the NATO Leaders’ Summit in Ankara
(REUTERS)
Other contracts for 12.8 billion dollars include Arctic satellite communications systems along with GlobalEye, Airbus and Triton systems, which will also be announced. Meanwhile, Rutte will highlight the $139 billion increase in core defense spending by Europe and Canada in the last year alone, meaning an increase of 20%.
The proposal presented to the Senate
It is in this scenario that the campaign was presented on Monday 6 July in the “Fallen of Nassirya” Room of the Senate of the Republic. “Another defense is possible”, promoted by Italian Peace and Disarmament Network, National Conference of Civil Service Bodies (CNESC) and Sbilanciamoci!on the initiative of Senator Aurora Floridia.
The initiative accompanies the collection of signatures for the popular initiative law proposal which proposes the establishment of the Department of Civil Defense, unarmed and nonviolent. Subscriptions have already exceeded 14 thousand, more than a quarter of the 50 thousand needed to allow the proposal to reach Parliament by the deadline of 15 September.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks at the NATO Summit Defense Industry Forum, on the sidelines of the ongoing NATO leaders’ summit in Ankara
(REUTERS)
Four pillars for defense without weapons
The bill imagines a different way of understanding the defense of the Republic, based on the implementation of articles 11 and 52 of the Constitution.
There are four qualifying points: the strengthening of the universal civil service as an instrument of civil defense of the homeland; the establishment of the Civil Peace Corps, prepare to intervene in crisis areas before military escalation; the strengthening of civil protection in responding to environmental and climate emergencies; the birth of a research institute for peace and disarmament.
The project also provides a stable multi-year fund and the possibility for taxpayers to allocate 6 per thousand of the Irpef to civil defense activities.
«Defend yourself by preparing peace»
«The “Another defense is possible” campaign is the unifying political program of the many nonviolent, pacifist, cultural associations for disarmament, solidarity and cooperation», he explained Mao Valpianapresident of the Nonviolent Movement.
Valpiana recalled the path started by Aldo Capitini and Pietro Pinna with conscientious objection and the figure of Don Lorenzo Milanirecalling his famous statement according to which «the only weapons that I approve are noble and bloodless».
«The common objective – he underlined – it is the full implementation of article 52 of the Constitution in light of article 11 which repudiates war: to defend oneself by preparing peace.”
According to Valpiana, the current international situation makes it even more urgent to equip ourselves with tools capable of preventing conflicts before they degenerate. «The more signatures we collect, the more our proposal will gain strength. The parties will have to take a position, civil society will have to express itself and Italians will have to decide whether they prefer to pay for war or peace.”
Prevent, mediate, reconstruct
Also Giulio Marconfor Sbilanciamoci!, and Rossano Salvatoreof the CNESC, insisted on the paradigm shift proposed by the law.
The idea of civil defense, they explained, goes beyond a conception of security based exclusively on the possession of weapons and develops along three lines: preventing conflicts by intervening on the root causes of tensions – such as inequalities, violations of rights and competition for resources – managing them through mediation, bottom-up diplomacy and civil peace corpsand finally encourage the reconstruction of relationships in the affected communities.
The call of Pope Leo
During the press conference, the recent speech of Leo XIV was also recalled, who expressed strong concern about the growth of military spending in the world. According to the Pontiff, “rearmament cannot be passed off as defense of the homeland”, because allocating ever greater resources to armaments means taking them away from healthcare, social services, education and the common good. A call that fits fully into the philosophy of the campaign, according to which security does not arise only from military deterrence but also from social cohesion, crisis prevention and peace building.
Membership from the world of culture
Numerous personalities from the world of culture, information, entertainment and civil commitment have already signed up to the proposal.
Present at the conference were the philosopher Donatella Di Cesare and the actor Ascanio Celestini. Journalists are also among the signatories Gad Lerner, Marco Damilano, Giulia Innocenzi, Nico Piro and Vittoria Iacovella; the physical Carlo Rovelli; the artists Alessandro Bergonzoni, Giulio Cavalli, Vinicio Capossela, Maria Pia De Vito, Franco Bassi and the cartoonist Mauro Biani; together with Cecilia Strada and Don Luigi Ciotti.
The collection of signatures continues until September 15th
The collection of signatures will continue until September 15th through the platform of the Ministry of Justice, using SPID or electronic identity card.
If at least 50 thousand signatures are reached, the proposal will be assigned to the Senate and will begin its parliamentary process at the Constitutional Affairs and Foreign Affairs and Defense Commissions.
The objective declared by the promoters is not only to get the law examined, but to open in the country a reflection on the very meaning of national defense, proposing a model that combines military instruments with a more robust architecture of prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.
