The world is squandering US$975 billion on military expenditure. The United States of America spends US$492 billion of that, has 50 per cent of the world’s wealth and only 6.3 per cent of the world’s population.

The earth’s eco-systems are in crisis. We can choose between restoring them and continuing with life on earth as we know it, or we can continue destroying them and reap the consequences.

In his book Plan B: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress, Lester Brown estimates some costs of repairing these eco-systems. He reckons US$6 billion for re-foresting the earth, US$24 billion for protecting top soil on crop land, US$9 billion for restoring range lands, US$13 billion for restoring fisheries, US$31 billion for protecting biological diversity, US$10 billion for stabilising water labels. A total of a mere US$93 billion.

For a fraction of the military expenditure, we can have an ecologically sustainable society which is also peaceful by abolishing military spending. Employment that was once provided by military operations can come from ecological pursuits.

Life on earth is at a turning point – we can continue to tread the path of annihilation or we can choose to repair mother earth’s eco-systems. It’s time we heeded the wisdom of tribal communities that honour the interdependence of all living systems.

Ordinary citizens need to put pressure on governments all over the world, and let politicians know that we need to save the earth’s eco-systems and life as we know it. We owe it to our children and future generations to take a stand. The choice is ours.

Louise Camilleri

Naxxar