Military spending increased in 2015

On 5 April 2016, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) announced that global military spending totaled at $1676 billion in 2015, which represents an increase of about 1% in real terms from 2014, the first increase since 2011. The figures again show that the world continues to waste far too much money on weapons instead of investing in peace.

The release of these figures marks the beginning of the Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS), a two-week campaign during which peace groups around the world hold events challenging excessive military spending and militarist cultures and calling for resources to be put towards more peaceful ends.

Check out WILPF's full blog on the SIPRI figures, as well as our other writing and participation in the GDAMS.