Anti-Militarism, Anti-Globalization, and Environmentalism
Anti-Militarism
Anti-militarism opposes all forms of military and state violence, viewing them as instruments of oppression. It stands against xenophobia, sexism, homophobia, and submission, advocating for systems based on participation, mutual support, and dialogue for lasting peace. While sharing views with anarchism, particularly anarcho-pacifism, anti-militarists are not necessarily anarchists.
Anti-militarism critiques the military as a state institution used for repression, challenging the concepts of homeland and nation, and the political factors that influence them.
Origins of Anti-Military Struggle
The anti-military struggle in the Spanish state began in 1971 when Pepe Beunza refused recruitment, declaring himself a conscientious objector. This act of civil disobedience led to the formation of the Conscientious Objection Movement (MOC), which uses civil disobedience and nonviolence against militarism.
Why Anti-Militarism?
Anti-militarism was created to oppose armed forces and state violence, challenging oppression and discrimination. It seeks to replace systems of domination with structures based on participation and mutual support, believing this is essential for lasting peace.
How is Anti-Militarism Defended?
Methods include strikes, sabotage, passive resistance, occupations, boycotts, and less aggressive actions like social centers or poetic actions. These actions, often forms of civil disobedience, aim to obstruct practices they oppose and address shortcomings directly, promoting self-determination against the establishment.
Anti-Globalization
Anti-globalization activists demand a more just society, control of multinational power, democratization of global economic institutions, and equitable wealth distribution. They oppose large multinationals and international organizations like the World Bank (WB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The cancellation of external debt is a key demand. The World Bank and IMF are seen as responsible for the economic struggles of poor countries due to loans with high social costs and counterproductive reforms.
When and What is Anti-Globalization?
Anti-globalization is a large set of social movements formed by activists from different political currents, converging in the late twentieth century to criticize capitalist globalization. They argue that it benefits multinationals and rich countries while undermining work, creating an unjust economic model, and weakening democratic states.
Activists generally hold leftist ideologies, opposing economic liberalism. They prefer the term “alter-globalization” to avoid being defined in opposition and to emphasize the possibility of “another world,” a slogan born in the World Social Forum.
What do they want to achieve?
Actions include destroying symbols of companies or properties and demonstrations.
ENVIRONMENTALISM
Environmentalism encompasses various social and political movements advocating for environmental protection to meet human needs, including spiritual and social ones.
When did it arise?
It arose in the third quarter of the twentieth century from three roots: conservation and regeneration of natural resources, wildlife reservation, and pollution control.
What is it?
Environmentalists aim to achieve social and environmental balance, maintaining the health of human ecologists. They seek more natural ways of living.
How to achieve it?
Methods include destroying sprays or paintings, using furs, painting bodies to simulate blood, and using flags and bulls. They also engage in actions like climbing tall buildings to gain media attention and creating political action games.