Less danger through weapons.

Disarmament projects always take place in extremely complex contexts and can only be successfully implemented if all related problems are resolved. Typical challenges in disarmament projects are the lack of finances, anxiety about health and the environment on the part of the general public, as well as economical and social structural changes. Within these complex contexts, the Legacy of Cold War Programme facilitates processes, which lead to an 'environment' allowing for a successful implementation of disarmament projects and to an increased environmental consciousness in the armies.

Projects

Conweap promotes military base clean-up and conversion as well as the environmentally sound destruction of weapon inventories. One such example is the oil-polluted missile launching base in Western Russia that was cleaned up.

Chemtrust (=Chemical weapons, Trustbuilding for their destruction) facilitates a chemical weapons destruction process safe for public health and the environment. E. g. Green Cross runs several local public outreach offices providing independent and objective information to the population living around chemical weapons stockpiles.

Radleg studies the effects of the military use of radioactive substances on the environment and on human health and advocates clean-up priorities.

The Disarmament programme is being led by Dr. Stephan Robinson, Green Cross Switzerland, and being developed and realised in cooperation with Green Cross Russia and Global Green USA. The programme is being supported by the Administration of Development and Cooperation (DEZA) of the Swiss Department for External Affairs (EDA), the American Ministry of Defence, the British and Swedish governments as well as a number of foundations.