April was Genocide Awareness Month and it is crucial that we learn from history because violent conflict does not have to be a foregone conclusion.
Rep. Blake Moore is understandably concerned about the national debt. An important question in evaluating government programs is which ones actually save money in the long run. The good news is that investing in peacebuilding is fiscally responsible. According to the Institute for Economics & Peace, for every dollar spent on peace $16 is saved. Such investment not only helps break the cycle of atrocity for many communities, but it protects our military members from violence and honors the sacrifices of their families.
I recently heard Jeff Sizemore, a retired naval officer and senior adviser on atrocity prevention for the Department of State Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor comment, “If we’re at a military solution we’ve already missed so many opportunities.” Opportunities like reuniting former child soldiers with their families and starting early warning systems akin to a phone tree for communities to warn their neighbors about impending militia activity.
I always appreciate the willingness of Rep. Moore and his staff to engage in respectful dialog. Utah’s first congressional district is incredibly lucky to have an expert in peacebuilding as Moore’s Chief of Staff, Rachel Wagley, helped craft and pass the Elie Wiesel Genocide and Atrocities Prevention Act.
I ask Moore to speak to his colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to advocate for increased support for the Complex Crises Fund, Reconciliation Programs, and Atrocities Prevention in the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs (SFOPs) Appropriations bill. The increase of $41 million spread over these three funds equals half of a fighter jet. Certainly, the lives of millions of people, including my family member in the military, are worth at least that.
Chilali Hugo, Logan