Towards its vision for a peaceful world which is safe for all, HELSINKI LEFT opposes violence in all forms, including terrorism, collective detention and punishment, ethnic cleansing, war, weaponisation of police forces, military expansionism, encirclement, nuclear threat and escalation, and genocide. In addition, the chapter opposes all forms of imperialism and neocolonialism, including direct military control, covert regime change, economic hegemony, and cultural hegemony.
While HELSINKI LEFT embraces members and allies with such principles, the chapter itself operates on a voluntary basis and does not have the resources to try to directly influence geopolitical issues. As a grassroots chapter of a district party, HELSINKI LEFT focuses its resources on putting forward positive solutions to municipal and national issues, and on representing its members and integrating them into the Finnish political landscape and wider society.
In addition, since HELSINKI LEFT seeks to foster unity among diverse ethnic and cultural groups living in Finland, who have differing experiences and views, the chapter has decided to focus on building consensus around the broad principles outlined above, instead of regular commentary on specific incidents of violence and neocolonialism that may divide people with different backgrounds.
Members are free to express their views on geopolitical topics through their own channels and are encouraged to do so. In addition, they are very welcome to respectfully discuss such issues through the chapter’s channels, as long as the discussion does not disrupt the chapter’s focus on municipal and national issues, and provided that discussion of contentious issues complies with the chapter’s Safer Spaces Guidelines.
HELSINKI LEFT believes that Finland should not manufacture or sell weapons or their components beyond those needed for its own self defence, since it is unethical to profit from their use in the killing of others, particularly civilians. Weapons production should therefore be state owned, in order to remove the profit incentive. The chapter believes that weapons trade with states that have breached international law should be immediately ceased.
Connected to this topic, HELSINKI LEFT has been asked by several members and followers about its stance on Finland’s NATO accession. HELSINKI LEFT opposes militarisation and neocolonialism of all forms, and supports the Left Alliance’s stance on Finland’s NATO membership. NATO membership increases political and military tensions. The Left Alliance—including HELSINKI LEFT—believes Finland should stress that its NATO membership will be defence-oriented and that it will not host any nuclear weapons, permanent NATO bases or permanent NATO troops.
In line with and going beyond the party’s stance, HELSINKI LEFT also commits to publicly and vocally rejecting any attempts or signs that:
• The government is planning to or does allow nuclear weapons to enter or pass above Finnish territory, in breach of the constitution;
• The government is attempting to or does change the constitution to allow nuclear weapons to enter or pass above Finnish territory;
• The government is planning to or does allow foreign troops to be stationed permanently or long-term on Finnish territory;
• The government is planning to use or send chemical or biological weapons, cluster bombs, or depleted uranium to other states, or allows them to enter Finnish territory.