War and conflict are major causes of human suffering. They also cause environmental degradation, perpetuate inequalities and undermine democracy. Nuclear bombs and other indiscriminate weapons of mass destruction are incompatible with the public health aims of safety and health protection.
But a vast complex of standing armies, militias, weapons manufacturers, arms traders and politicians promote war, violence and militarism out of self-interest and greed, or because they fail to see better alternatives for resolving conflict and disputes.
Health professionals have a long history of: providing humanitarian relief; facilitating ceasefires and the cessation of conflict; promoting disarmament and peacebuilding; and providing impartial evidence on the perpetration of war crimes.
Medact grew out of the medical peace movement and is the UK affiliate of the Nobel Laureate International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW).
Medact continues to promote disarmament and encourage investment in nonviolent responses to conflict; seek the abolition of nuclear weapons; and reduce the power and influence of the global military-industrial complex. It promotes the universal right to health as a platform for peace building and more effective international diplomacy and cooperation.
Latest
People’s Health Movement Webinar for World Health Day
Our campaigners Siddhartha and James will be joining this webinar on Tuesday 7th April.
Emergency protest – Stop the persecution of Muslims in India
Citizenship rules have been changed in India by the ruling Hindu Nationalist Party. The amendments made give preferential treatment to certain religious groups, explicitly barring Muslims, to gain citizenship in India. All this has led to communal violence against...
A Plan to turn back the clock – defence diversification
To mark the imminent release of the film The Plan, we publish this piece by Sam Mason, a campaigner for the New Lucas Plan, explaining the history and present of workers organising for a transition away from socially destructive jobs to those for the good of society.
Medact Meet & Greet ahead of Lucas Plan screening at MAC Birmingham
On March 1st, screenings are being organised up and down the country for the launch of The Plan ─ a new feature length documentary following the inspiring story of a group of workers at Lucas Aerospace in the 1970s, who, facing redundancies and industrial decline,...
10 reasons Medact’s #HealthJustice Gathering is the place to be as a student
Before deadline and exam season starts, come to #HealthJustice 2020 to enhance your campaign knowledge and research skills, whist also discovering the fabulous city of Birmingham.