Redirecting Economic Resources to Alleviate Poverty 1991 General Resolution

RECOGNIZING the inherent worth and dignity of every human being; and

BELIEVING that poverty deprives people of the basic dignity which is the right of every person; and

WHEREAS wars and governmental emphasis on military spending distort national economies, damage social structures, undermine democratic institutions, and lead to the deterioration of environments;

WHEREAS such losses produce growing poverty at home and throughout the world community;

WHEREAS the hope that long-term international social and political changes would motivate the United States to withdraw from intrusive foreign entanglements and to reduce military spending has been blunted by our experience of the war in the Persian Gulf;

WHEREAS this war has made clear the scope and intensity with which the resources of the United States can be brought to bear on a project given priority by the government;

WHEREAS proposals for action which could effectively alleviate poverty, malnutrition, and hunger at home and abroad are more likely to receive funding as a result of active lobbying and civil action;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association encourage its member congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists everywhere to study the underlying causes of poverty and the means by which Unitarian Universalists may act most effectively to alleviate poverty and its social consequences; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association encourage its member congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists in the United States to advocate that their government cut military expenditures at least 5% per year from fiscal year 1990 budget levels with the goal of 50% reduction, the monies so released to be allocated for alleviation of domestic and global poverty and its social consequences; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Unitarian Universalist Association encourage its member congregations and individual Unitarian Universalists in the United States, the Unitarian Universalist Association Washington Office, and other affiliated organizations to urge all candidates for public office to pledge to use their influence to achieve this 50% goal.