PEACE TAX TO THE PEOPLE

Under existing laws, every Danish citizen and taxpayer have the right to refuse carrying or producing guns, however, he is forced to pay taxes, so that others will do it in his place. This is a violation against the human right to have freedom of thought, conscience and religion Universal Declaration of Human Rights article 18:

“Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.”

Thus, if paying taxes to the military is incompatible with an individual’s belief, conscience or religion, it should be his right to refuse to kill or partake in killing even through taxation. The European Convention on Human Rights, article nine, which is existing law in Denmark, states the same right and defines it likewise, however, under limitations that are prescribed by current law and are necessary in democratic societies.

We argue that it is not necessary, when the individual rather wants to partake in non-violent taxes to public safety, order, health, morals and fundamental rights and freedoms other. However, the majority of the people have decided via parliamentary democracy that all Danish citizens with no exceptions are legally obligated to pay taxes to the military – even citizens that due to conscience or religion – i.e. e.g. pacifists or religious people – object to support or partake in violent, military activities. Therefore, there is a minority in Denmark, whose experience of peace and psychological freedom suffers from this obligation to support violent means through daily work towards peaceful ends and security. With a Peace Tax, it would no longer be necessary to undermine human rights at one place in order to enforce human rights at another place, because the end towards peace and security is the same and the fact that both opportunities, if given, would not exclude one and another.

SIGNTHE PETITION FOR A PEACE TAX AS ALTERNATIVE TO FORCED VIOLENCE

According to PTFD’s Peace Tax legislative proposal, individual payments for a Peace Tax goes to peace and security, however, by different means entirely. A Peace Tax respects the individual right to be free from paying taxes to military, if need be, but it also requires the citizen to pay taxes to peace and security. A Peace Tax contributor’s payment is marked for the prevention of violent conflicts, non-violent conflict-solving, post-violent peace building, establishment of human security, first aid to war refugees and so on. Where traditional military security works with troops and weapons, human security seeks to strengthen social and environmental structures based on human rights.

For human security policies, there are entirely different milestones and objectives, but the purpose of a Peace Tax would be the same, because the focus is to help ensure the safety of local areas in need and to improve international cooperation. With your signature, you will recognize the human right to have freedom of thought, conscience and religion and thus freedom to deny killing or partake in killing by supporting the realization of a Peace Tax.

For more information, visit Peace Tax Fund of Denmark’s homepage: or visit the website of PTFD’s national campaign:

www.fredsskattefonden.dk

http://fredsskat.dk/skrivunder.html

FD Fredskattefonden i Danmark / PTFD Peace Tax Fund of Denmark / DDFS Die dänische Friedenssteuer Stiftung

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PTFD ALSO RECOMMENDS YOU TO SIGN THE INTERNATIONAL PETITION ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE NO MATTER NATION:

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/obligatory-military-taxation-is-not-ok

Fredsskattefonden i Danmark    Contact the author of the petition