Greenpeace firmly opposes war and the militarized resolution of conflicts anywhere in the world.

“Bombs, military attacks, and invasions never bring peace: they destabilize entire regions, multiply suffering, cost the lives of innocent civilians, and destroy the planet. Nothing justifies bombing schools, hospitals, or homes,” stated Eva Saldaña, Executive Director of Greenpeace Spain and Portugal.

“It is impossible to believe that those bombing Iran today are doing so in the name of freedom or security. To think that more bombs will bring stability or the rights that have been denied to the Iranian people for decades is simply to ignore the lessons of recent history. Governments and world leaders have a moral obligation to oppose this affront to international law, peace, and the stability of the world as we know it. This atmosphere of war is the result of a system that prioritizes the profits of a few (the fossil fuel and arms industries, among others) over the lives of the majority,” Saldaña continued.

The organization warns that the world is experiencing a dangerous dynamic of military escalation, in which multilateral mechanisms are weakening and an international policy based on brute force, control of resources, and the imposition of geostrategic interests over human life and rights is becoming entrenched.

Greenpeace also reminds us that wars not only threaten life, but also leave deep scars on the planet that last for generations: they devastate forests and farmlands, degrade soils and poison water supplies, destroy unique ecosystems that provide life and sustenance, accelerate the climate crisis, and divert a vast amount of resources that could be used to protect people from the increasingly severe consequences of climate impacts. And, as with the climate crisis, the most vulnerable populations pay the highest price for wars.

“The ‘No to war’ stance makes more sense today than ever before. Faced with the logic of militarism, fear, and the law of the strongest, we defend international law, the protection of the civilian population, and a return to diplomacy and multilateralism that prioritizes the common good,” Saldaña concluded.