Arms sales and child health

Abstract

The adverse effects of armed conflict on child health are well recognised. The relationships among the arms trade, armed conflict and child health are less clearly defined. The arms trade is one of the largest industries in the world (total expenditure US$1917 billion in 2019), generating colossal profits to private companies and individuals at the expense of taxpayers throughout the world. The money wasted on weapons designed to kill and maim should be used for more socially useful products, such as clean water, food, health and education. The sustainable development goals can be funded by diverting money from the arms companies. Health professionals and their organisations have a responsibility to children to try and curb the ever-expanding arms industry.

Nanotechnology for High‐Performance Textiles: A Promising Frontier for Innovation

“…The annual global military spending has increased to the largest in a decade. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) data unveils that US$1917 billion was spent on the global military in the year 2019, with an increase of about 3.6% from the previous year, [243] a large amount of which is spent on research and development. [244] As military personnel may have to go through harsh environments more often, e. g., extreme weather, cold, heat, fire, aviation and maritime hazards, and lack of oxygen bringing about more hampers than the enemy, [245] research has been conducted to ameliorate military protective textiles and other military equipment utilizing nanotechnology.…”

Small Arms and Light Weapons Smuggling and Boko Haram Challenge to Nigerian Security: A Case Study of the Benin-Nigerian Porous Border

“…The arms trade accounts for more than 40% of all global trade corruption. The sheer magnitude of the contracts, the small number of people who make purchasing decisions, and the cloak of national security lend themselves to massive bribery and corruption (Feinstein and Choonara 2020). Many states across the globe have been actively participating in the illegality of the arms trade, while many more have been quite content to countenance the behavior.…”

Global peace dividend and child health

“…Military expenditure is colossal and out of control. 2 World military expenditure is estimated by the Stockholm Institute of Peace Research Institute to have been US$1981 billion in 2020. 3 This is an increase of 2.6% from 2019 and 9.3% higher than in 2011.…”

“…The latter increases the former and increases in arms sales increase the risk of armed conflict. Military expenditure is colossal and out of control 2. World military expenditure is estimated by the Stockholm Institute of Peace Research Institute to have been US$1981 billion in 2020 3.…”