Editorial

'Arming all sides' is the name of this issue's campaign of the month - an initiative that looks at the arms trade during World War One, and how the arms trade has been one of the main motors for wars since "the war to end all wars". The latest military attacks in Iraq are the clearest example of war profiteers making their killing by arming all sides. The comedian and commentator Mark Steel in an article entitled "Arming people and bombing them at the same time:  that's a strategy" said "There can’t be many people in the Middle East who haven’t been bombed by America for using the weapons given to them by America. Millions of people out there must be psychological wrecks, not because of shell shock but because when a Western army arrives, they don’t know if they’re going to be tortured with garden shears or given a palace and told they’re the new king".

The newspaper editors struggle to choose what conflict makes the top story: one day it's Gaza, then Ukraine, followed quickly by Iraq and the crimes of the militarised police in Fergurson. There is one thing that connects them all - someone is profiting from them, whether it's the companies providing arms, the corporations extracting the resources from communities hit by military conflict or the banks who invest in them, the list is endless.

Combined Tactical Systems (CTS) is a good example of global war profiteering. This is the company that has supplied tear gas to the police in Fergurson, and is at the same time providing tear gas used against Palestinians in Gaza and protesters in Bahrain and Egypt. Using social media, Palestinian activists were informing protesters in Fergurson how to protect themselves against the effects of CTS tear gas. War profiteering is a global business: so resistance to it.

Last month WRI celebrated its international conference in Cape Town, South Africa. During the conference we learned of the impact that economic pressure had for the end of Apartheid, through boycott, divestment and sanctions. Desmond Tutu - the main public figure behind the BDS campaign against Apartheid - welcomed us to Cape Town and reminded us of the importance of economic pressure and the connection between the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa and the occupation of Palestine. Omar Barghouti - co-founder of the Palestinian BDS campaign - also joined us in Cape Town, and in this issue we publish his conference speech, where he argues that the BDS campaign keeps on building momentum, with more and more companies dis-investing from Israel. At the conference we also heard from Sahar Vardi, an Israeli conscientious objector, about the struggle inside Israel against militarism. During the conference we heard again and again that long lasting change comes from mobilisation inside ones own society. The resistance by Israeli antimilitarist and anti-occupation organisers in Palestine and Israel is key.

At the same time the role of a global movement against the occupation in invaluable. This movement is ready and organised to take action, as we saw with actions occupying the buildings of Elbit Systems - Israel's main arms manufacturer and our war profiteer of the month - in Britain and Australia. In Oakland USA, activists stopped an Israeli ship from unloading its good. An international call for a military embargo on Israel, along with many more forms of pressure exerted against Israeli militarisation and in support of nonviolent resistance, are leading the way for a free Palestine.

Our outrage grows with all the injustices committed through war and militarism, to the benefit of a few. However, as we learn of inspiring actions for peace and justice worldwide, we see the need of further cooperation. We know of many different networks against war and militarism - as I write this editorial, the network No to NATO prepares for activities in Wales against the NATO summit. It is time for an initiative that brings together the different networks, groups and people resisting war and its causes - WRI is available!

Javier Gárate