Global militarism is an extreme manifestation of the drive for dominance, power, wealth, and control created by the western patriarchal social system. It is also the greatest threat to our environment, human rights, and sustainable development. Inclusive peace building instruments such as UN Security Council Resolution 1325 Women, Peace and Security, cooperation and consensus building, feminist compassion, empathy, and nurturing are much healthier and productive ways of dealing with the world’s problems.
The workshop will focus on the dangerous drive to militarize space, currently led by the US Pentagon and aerospace contractors. Promoters of this program declare that "Star Wars" will be the largest industrial project the world has known, bringing jobs and profits. But to whom? To wealthy elite men and their associates; not to the world’s women, the poor, and the oppressed who will only suffer more violence as a result of increased weaponry. They also say they "do not do treaties" and promise "endless war" as they continue to probe for the planet's oil, water, as well as for these as-yet-to-be colonized solar system resources. U.S. space programs, closely linked to new pre-emptive war and nuclear weapons policies, threaten the human race and all life on our planet. Time is short and we must convert the global military industrial complex to peaceful production and development of sustainable technologies if humanity is to survive. How can we assert feminist principles and practices in order to achieve these goals before humanity destroys itself and the planet's web of life?
Materials will be available on UNSCR 1325 as well as on space treaty negotiations in the United Nations, the US space program, and on multi-national corporation "Star Wars" profiteers. The workshop will present information, but will also be participatory throughout -- and especially when considering strategies from feminist points of view.

Co-Sponsoring Orgs: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space