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Human security is the key to peace and security for all For human security, humans come first and then security later, according to political scientist Dr Donna Weeks, one of six authors in a new report: “Stayin’ Alive: Human security in an age of uncertainty”, published by APSF.
“Militarisation and infinite defence budgets have failed to make the world a safer ‘softer’ place,” writes Dr Weeks.
Stayin Alive is the third in a series of quarterly reports. The previous reports looked as Regional and Defence Security (Give Peace a Chance), and Environment and Climate Security (The Heat is On). The six authors explore key issues for human security. The report is available for free download here.
Stayin Alive discusses Australia’s psychology, the importance of housing as a human right, the hope in renewable energy, how health needs peace and the important contribution of women to building peace. Finally, it looks at what might a comprehensive human-being focused security look like and suggests that the Australia-Japan relationship could hold seeds for a new approach. |
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The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future is the title of the 2025 report of the UN Secretary-General on the impact of the global increase in military expenditure on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals as requested by the Pact for the Future adopted last year.Global military spending has risen for 10 consecutive years, reaching an all-time high of $2.7 trillion in 2024. At the same time, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals is faltering. Only one in five targets is on track to be achieved by 2030; the annual financing gap for the Goals now stands at $4 trillion.A costly imbalance
Military spending is often justified on the grounds of deterrence and national security. Evidence suggests, however, that heightened military expenditure does not necessarily lead to greater peace or stability. Instead, it often exacerbates geopolitical tensions, fuels arms races and increases risks of conflict, particularly when coupled with weak governance, rising inequality and systemic mistrust.
What’s more, growing military expenditure today is crowding out resources essential for social investment, poverty reduction, education, health, environmental protection and infrastructure – undermining progress on nearly all the Sustainable Development Goals.
Rebalancing global priorities is not just a matter of fiscal prudence. It is an imperative for humanity to survive. Read the Security We Need. |
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| Bundle of contradictions: President Trump at the United Nations |
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| President Trump was the usual bundle of contradictions, according to Richard Gowan, the head of U.N. advocacy at the International Crisis Group. “The general mood around the U.N. after his speech was relief that Trump’s bark was bigger than his bite,” he commented.“It is now pretty obvious the U.S. is going to remain a semi-detached and sporadic player in U.N. debates. Other countries will not wait on Washington before taking steps to shape multilateralism in future.”Reprinted from Devex @UNGA80 |
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The world moves on
Indeed, U.N. member states have struck agreements without the U.S. on a number of international accords, including the pandemic treaty, the Compromiso de Sevilla, and the global High Seas Treaty, which creates a large swath of protected ocean areas. A day after Trump declared climate change a “hoax,” China, the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, announced at a U.N. climate summit that it would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and other pollutants by up to 10% by 2035. The majority of U.N. member states are expected to adopt a nonbinding declaration aimed at curbing chronic diseases, such as cancer and heart disease, in October, despite the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s opposition to it last week.But the U.N.’s current financial crisis has little to do with its own bureaucratic shortcomings. The U.N. is straining under a massive liquidity crisis, brought on by $1.5 billion in unpaid U.S. dues to the world body. Complicating matters, the U.N.’s two largest contributors, China and the United States, pay their dues late in the year, squeezing the U.N.’s cash reserves.
Reprinted from Devex @UNGA80 |
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Talking Authors
One of Australia’s leading military historian, Dr Albert Palazzo, was guest of honour at the first Talking Authors hosted by Dr Julie Macken. His recent book, The Big Fix: Rebuilding Australia’s National Security, offers a radical reimagining of Australian defence, proposing ‘the nation’s first grand strategy’ for national security.
Dr Palazzo made the case that Australia needs a military designed to protect Australia’s interests. Australia does not need great power allies for protection and instead should refocus on building Australia’s defensive capabilities according to Palazzo.
“Our expensive neurosis’ towards China is exemplified by the costly AUKUS submarine program that could cost us $50 billion before any tangible benefits are seen but will allow the US to establish a submarine base in Western Australia and an air base in the Northern Territory.
They highlighted the risks of Australia becoming a target in a potential conflict between China and the U.S., noting that China might see Australia as a softer target than a strike on American soil. Palazzo emphasized the need for Australia to develop a comprehensive defence strategy, that goes beyond military considerations to include our single biggest threat, climate change. He argued that Australia should focus more on foreign affairs and regional engagement rather than relying heavily on the United States.
The Big Fix: Rebuilding Australia’s National Security (Melbourne University Press, 2025) Dr. Palazzo is a member of APSF. |
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| Quaker school cuts ties to STEM program sponsored by weapons manufacturersThe Friends’ School in Hobart, the only Quaker school in Australia, has cut its ties to two national education STEM programs, due to the events being sponsored by major weapons manufacturers.It has scrapped its involvement with the National Youth Science Forum and the Science Engineering Challenge, which both offer opportunities for students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The science forum is sponsored by Lockheed Martin Australia, while the engineering challenge is sponsored by Boeing.
The School principal Esther Hill says the programs were valuable opportunities for students, but the school had to align with its peaceful Quaker philosophy.
It comes as state government education departments around the country tighten their policies around weapons companies sponsoring or partnering with educational programs. Last year, the Australian Education Union (AEU) condemned the growing affiliation between Australian STEM education programs and global weapons corporations.
A 2022 report by the Medical Association for Prevention of War identified 35 Australian STEM programs affiliated with weapons companies, up from 27 the previous year.
Thanks to ABC News 15 August 2025 |
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UN reduces global peacekeeping force by 25% amid funding cuts. It will impact up to 14,000 military and police personnel out of more than 50,000 peacekeepers deployed across nine global missions, including Congo, the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Lebanon, Cyprus and Kosovo. The UN plans to reduce the peacekeeping force’s budget by approximately 15% for this year in the wake of a reduction in US funding.
Source: Future Trends 14 October |
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APSF meets online with UK Rethinking Security group
The APSF Board met online with our UK counterpart Rethinking Security on 16 October. Formed in 2014, Rethinking Security has a network of 19 organisations and 10 universities across the UK. It undertakes research into human security issues and has also convened a series of Roundtables with civil society to develop a vision of human security for all.
Several ideas for possible joint action were suggested and further discussion to identify possible areas for cooperation are planned. |
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| Don’t forget about our webinar, The United Nations at 80 years, this Thursday, 23 October, at the later than usual time of 8-9pm AEDT.Click here for more information and to register for the meeting link. |
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For those in Melbourne:
The inaugural Langmore oration will take place from 6pm on Wednesday 10 December 2025 at the Forum Theatre, Arts West Building, Parkville campus.
Sam Roggeveen, Program Director of the Lowy Institute’s International Security Program, will give the inaugural 2025 Langmore Oration, a yearly event which is dedicated to the outstanding career and peacebuilding contributions of John Langmore AM. |
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