Nobel laureate wants focus on food, health, instead of arms

Former President of Costa Rica, Oscar Arias Sanchez has asked people to practice peace instead of waging war against each other if the world has to achieve prosperity.
"Our friendship with India is extraordinary. We (Costa Rica) abolished our military in 1948. We declared peace to the world by abolishing our army. But we have much more to do," Sanchez said here yesterday.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner was speaking on 'Dawn of the Century of Reason' at the Nehru Centre here.
Raising concern on the growing nuclear arms race in the world, he said countries today were spending much more on military and far too less on healthcare, food and education.

"Poverty and lack of education are ruining our planet. About 8,00,000 people die of malaria every year. Billions die of under-nourishment. But in the name of safety, countries are becoming nuclear powered. This will destroy our world," he said.
Sanchez, 73, said Asian countries including India were investing in nuclear weapons and added that they should rather be in the forefront of giving up the arms race.

"India, Pakistan, China, Singapore and South Korea are heavily investing in nuclear arms. Since 21st century is the century of Asia, Asian countries should be the first ones to drop this arms race," he said, adding that the nations should focus on employment of the millions who graduate every year.

Replying to a question on whether it is safe for India to abolish nuclear arms and cut spending on military considering the threat it faces from neighbours, Sanchez acknowledged that India faces a serious threat from its neighbours but suggested that hunger and poverty lead to crime.
"The best way to perpetuate poverty is by spending on arms and military, and the best way to fight terrorism is by fighting the basic needs of humanity, because hunger and poverty perpetuate crime," he said.