The new strategic concept of NATO agreed by world leaders this weekend accelerates militarization and escalates the arms expenditure of its member countries that account for 75 per cent of global military spending, whilst thousands of people die every day from hunger and disease. The new concept clearly states in article 32 that there is a strategic military alliance between NATO and the EU and increases the influence of the US in Europe. States will now have greater immediate military responsibility.

At the conclusion of the counter summit, in Liceu Camões, Lisbon, people from all parts of the world, demanded a strategy to expose NATO and raise public awareness as many citizens do not have the knowledge to evaluate what it is being decided by leaders with their imperialistic interests. The mass and human destruction will only be stopped if states reach a common agreement and create a working group designed to achieve nuclear disarmament, first in Europe, and afterwards in the whole world.

The European bases used by NATO are also used, as we already have witnessed, unilaterally by the US, therefore citizens should fight and put pressure on states regarding these bilateral agreements. The racism of NATO activities is clear, the loss of one life in Europe is a tragic accident, but the loss of thousands of lives in Afghanistan is seen as collateral damage. Coordination through anti-racism and human rights associations should be achieved in a more effective way.

The war in Afghanistan and the strategic interest in gas, oil and other resources left this country alone without any solidarity. The solution is independence, more action for peace and struggle against the lies and corruption that has taken the lives of so many innocent people over the last nine years.

The organizers of the counter summit, PAGAN, agreed that the demonstration and all civil disobedience actions to withdraw troops from Afghanistan will be programmed and intensified next October, for the tenth anniversary of the invasion and the beginning of the war.

The lack of unity among peace movements was criticized during the counter summit and should be fought to achieve a fair and peaceful world.

Report from the NATO Counter Summit in Lisbon, 19-21 November 2010, by Helena Carvalho