Published in The Peace Alliance

“The world spends just $1 on conflict prevention for every $1,885 it spends on military budgets.

Here in the U.S., less than 2% of income tax goes to civilian foreign affairs agencies; meanwhile,
39% goes to the military. And though taxpayers provide almost $1 billion per year for
military academies, they pay only about $40 million for the United States Institute of Peace—
the only U.S. agency dedicated to conflict prevention and peacebuilding.”*

Right now, Committees in the House and Senate are starting to draft the 2016 Budget.  At this early stage of the process, few things are decided and we have a much greater opportunity to influence. But that means that we have to act right now to make sure important Peacebuilding programs will be fully funded in 2016.

Investing early to prevent conflicts from escalating into violent crises is, on average, 60 times more cost effective than intervening after violence erupts.*

► Sign Petition Urging Peacebuilding Funding!

Your voice matters. When Representatives and Senators get messages about programs like the ones below, they take note. Defense contractors and others spend $tens of millions every year on lobbyists. YOU are the peace constituency to champion peacebuilding as a priority.  

Read the full message here.