Disarmament for Development online course - Open University of Catalonia

Dear colleagues and alumni,

Please help us to disseminate this information regarding the new online course organised by the Open University of Catalonia and sponsored by the International Peace Bureau titled DISARMAMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT

We believe that today - more than ever - military budgets have to be reduced and funds allocated to human development.

Best wishes,

Daniel Jakopovich

Council member of the International Peace Bureau

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Disarmament for Development

NGO: International Peace Bureau

Dates: October 1, 2014 - February 15, 2015

Language: English

Credits: 6 credits (150 h)

Cost : Registration and Enrolment fees €300

Organised by the Open University of Catalonia (UOC) in partnership with the International Peace Bureau (IPB)

Introduction

The world spends over $1.7 trillion each year on the military. Even a fraction of this sum could go a long way in tackling mass poverty and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. Meanwhile weapons of all kinds undermine development and do unacceptable harm to civilians. How can we work to change this situation?

In order to achieve more just and peaceful societies, which is the dream of most people and the mission of the UN, it is important to look seriously at some of the major hampering factors.

This course deals in particular with the excessive military spending and the misuse of resources that should have been used to meet people’s basic needs and interests.

It addresses the need to change attitudes and rethink unsustainable and destructive production and consumption patterns.

The Disarmament for Development perspective is presented within the broader context of global efforts to create a Culture of Peace. IPB and UOC Disarmament for Development program focuses on a set of issues often overlooked by those working on poverty or peacemaking. This course offers an introduction both to the issues and to ways of campaigning.

Objectives

The Disarmament for Development program is intended to enable students:

·To gain theoretical perspectives on a multi-disciplinary topic of considerable scope.

·To access information and knowledge relevant to the theme and to the politics and economics surrounding the military choices that impact development.

·To acquire skills of analysis and practical planning of actions to impact decision makers.

·To develop techniques and strategies for building campaigns, projects and interventions in the political arena.

·To learn ways to inspire, to lead and to facilitate the participation of others in programs in this field.

·To develop new ways to communicate with a variety of interlocutors: governments, civil society actors, academics, media, the general public.

Contents

- Disarmament for development

- Military spending at a time of global economic crisis

- Military tools

- Military bases

- Developing campaigns

- Links between investment in the military and the UN's Post-2015 Development Agenda

- The impacts of weapons on sustainable development

- Justifications and doctrines underpinning support for and investment in military solutions

These contents are based on:

·Books and other materials on this topic published or collected by the IPB.

·The experience of IPB and its members / partners in this field since 2005.

http://www.uoc.edu/opencms_portal2/opencms/EN/campus_pau/formacio/ong/list.html

http://www.ipb.org

http://www.campusforpeace.org/

For more information write to: secretariacp@uoc.edu, or mailbox@ipb.org

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