Vijay Mehta unveils his new book "The Economics of Killing"

At this important time in history when India needs more growth for poverty reduction, it is dangerously militarising itself which is a provocation for more violence and terrorism. Vijay Mehta along with other concerned citizens that in a country with a history of nonviolent leadership, why are we embarking on a path of destruction instead of working for the interest of its citizens.

The shift in world military spending specially to the three big developing countries in Asia, India, Pakistan and China, is a beginning of a new cold war in the region. According to the report released by SIPRI March, 2012, India now is the world’s biggest weapons purchaser (10%) global arms imports along with 4 other countries all in Asia - South Korea (6% of total arms transfers), Pakistan (5%), China (5%) and Singapore (4%). The top leaders, elites and corporation for their profit and greed have plunged the Asian subcontinent into turmoil. This is one of the prime reasons for terrorism, violence, and extreme poverty in India and around.

Even with the continued economic growth in the country, India should not continue to spend billions of US dollars in military hardware and instead should invest on development and poverty elevation projects and programs.

A new book, “The Economics of Killing” by Vijay Mehta highlights the global spending on military ($1.6 trillion a year), which has created a monster, Military Industrial Complex (MIC) that acts against the interest of people everywhere in the world. The book shows how this monster is not only the cause of extreme poverty in the developing countries, but of 9/11 and the market crash of 2008. The book proposes how the world might move away from an economy based on war to one based on peace and co-operation, so we can tackle the biggest threats facing humanity: warmongering, extreme poverty and climate change.

“Across the world, the MIC has handed power to that 1% of humanity whose material desires can never be sated, who act as economists say they should, who murder, torture and steal in exchange for billions in a Swiss bank account, for a fourth yacht or a tenth palace” said the author Vijay Mehta, “the grip of the MIC will finally end: not with a bang but in a peaceful murmur of prosperity.”

BOOK ENDORSEMENTS

‘The book, The Economics of Killing by Vijay Mehta depicts ways in which the western powers can restructure their economies away from the reliance on the military industrial complex towards making the 21st century an era of soft power for a more peaceful and sustainable future.’ – Deepak Chopra, author of the best-selling Peace is the Way

‘Vijay Mehta’s excellent book sets out the problems and solutions, and challenges us all to create the spiritual and political will to implement policies which will bring about real change and give hope to humanity.’ – Mairead Maguire, Irish peace activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner

‘It is about time someone exposed the nefarious activities of the military-industrial complex that is destroying the foundations of civilized human existence. This book is a must read for all peace-The Economics of Killing – Vijay Mehta seekers.’ - Arun Gandhi, Grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, President, Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, Rochester, NY, USA