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IPB Centenery Conference, Oslo - PRELIMINARY FULL PROGRAMME + BULLETINno. 2 IPB Secretary-General Colin Archer writes: I am delighted to announce the preliminary full programme of our commemorative conference 'A Climate of Peace' (Sept 23-26). As you will notice, the programme still contains a few gaps and elements that remain to be confirmed. We will post new versions from time to time on our Conference website: http://ipb100.org. Also available is Conference bulletin no. 2 , which contains short descriptions and photos of our speakers. This document will also go through at least one more revision before the conference itself. ACTION ! (1) if you have not done so yet, please REGISTER and BOOK your TRAVEL and ACCOMMODATION; (2) forward this information to others who may be interested; (3) add it to your website/calendar/newsletter- and make a link to this site and the conference web-page. |
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A Golden Opportunity: 'The Nobel Peace Prize - What Nobel Really Wanted' Tomas Magnusson, IPB President, writes: I wish to congratulate Fredrik S. Heffermehl on his new book : The Nobel Peace Prize - What Nobel Really Wanted. I have read it, so I know. Fredriks’ solid documentation presented in the book leaves no doubt that Nobel intended his peace prize to promote demilitarization. Instead, the prize no longer dares to challenge military ideas of security. If Norway's parliament and the Nobel Committee would both start to respect Nobel's intention, and obey the law, because what is written in a will of a person can’t be changed, our cause would be stimulated and gain very much - both in money (US$ 1,8 billion/year) and in worldwide attention to peace ideas. The Nobel Committee stonewalled Heffermehl's first book in Norwegian, and the new book gives a grim picture of democracy Norwegian-style and undignified ways to avoid the peace debate. The Committee is right that today peace work must be broad and take many forms, we all know that, but Nobel went to the core of the problem of war and his peace prize is more radical and modern than most of today´s politicians are able to fathom.>MORE |
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UN SUMMIT ON MDGs:CHALLENGE MILITARISM IN ORDER TO TACKLE POVERTY! Statement by IPB and other civil society organisations: Geneva, August 20, 2010. The worldwide struggle to overcome poverty reaches a new landmark in one month’s time with the convening of the UN’s Summit on the Millennium Development Goals in New York (Sept. 20-22). The meeting is the latest in a long line of high-level discussions designed to develop strategies to tackle the scandal of mass poverty in an age of unprecedented wealth........ Development cannot be reduced to a matter of economics alone; many transformations are required. But money is of course essential. Unfortunately the plans being put before the leaders once again make no reference to the largest collection of economic resources available to governments: the vast treasury known as global military spending. >>>MORE |
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BETWEEN HELL AND REASON, HIROSHIMA DAY 2010 In many countries a 65th birthday is a sign that it is time to retire from normal employment - if one has not already done so. But the 65th anniversary of an event as momentous as the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is no time to retire. Quite the contrary, it is time to speed up - to accelerate the worldwide work to eliminate for ever these weapons of mass destruction and terror. 'It is the simple thing, so hard to do' as Bertolt Brecht said in another context. For the hibakusha, the survivors of this hell-on-earth, the urgency is all the greater since they are now elderly and their numbers dwindle year by year. Their commitment to nuclear abolition is exemplary. Once again the members of the IPB network salute their courage, their humanity, their determination to rid the world of these instruments of massive overkill. >>> READ MORE |
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IPB Oslo conference Sept 2010 - A Climate of Peace - news bulletin now available IPB will organise a major international peace conference in Oslo from Sept 23.-26. The Secretariat has just published a 2 page newsletter with highlights of the conference plans. You can read about speakers, the MacBride Prize, and the youth programme, as well as registration, venues, accommodation options, local travel etc. Check out further updates at the dedicated website: http://ipb100.org The Secretariat requests all member organisations and partners to include this information on their websites, newsletters, calendars etc. |
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MacBride Peace Prize 2010 to be awarded to Binalakshmi Nepram 25 June 2010, Geneva. The IPB is delighted to announce that Binalakshmi Nepram, founder of Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network and Secretary-General of Control Arms Foundation of India, is to be awarded the Sean MacBride Peace Prize 2010, in recognition of her extraordinary efforts to promote disarmament and an end to gun violence in India. Her pioneering work has demonstrated deep determination and commitment - in particular to the linkage between disarmament and development. Her achievements offer an inspiring model for activists in other parts of the world. The Prize, a silver medal contributed annually by Irish CND, will be awarded on 23rd Sept. in Oslo, at a ceremony to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the IPB in 1910. The ceremony also serves as the opening session of the IPB’s Triennial Conference, entitled ‘A Climate of Peace’. |
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IPB NOBEL-CENTENARY CONFERENCE, OSLO-SEPT. 23-26 The International Peace Bureau cordially invites all members and supporters to join together for a great celebration in the Norwegian capital from 23rd to 26th September 2010. Under the broad title ‘A Climate of Peace’ we will organise – together with the Norwegian Peace Council - an intensive programme of discussions, social gatherings and cultural events. Topics: Disarmament for Development, Peace Education, Peace History, Nuclear Disarmament, Gaza. Hotspot debates: The West's Involvement in Afghanistan; Norway as a Peace Nation. Speakers: to be announced shortly. For details of the programme and pre-registration, please visit: http://ipb100.org/ Click HERE for conference flyer |
| Making Peace - inauguration day: report and media coverage A brief report on the grand opening day/festival of IPB's outdoor exhibition 'Making Peace' that took place on June 6 here in Geneva. It was a great success ! especially as the sun shone (almost) the whole day and the lakeshore was packed with visitors of all kinds, all ages, all origins....a wonderful way to celebrate the centenary of the Nobel Peace Prize awarded to IPB in 1910. Many thanks to all those who helped put this ambitious programme together. The report comes in several sections: The Weekend - The Exhibit - The Village - The Debates - The Garden Party - Special Guests - Photo competition - Kids and culture - Media coverage - Sponsors - International distribution - Centenary celebrations- part two ! SEPT 2010 conference - Norway. NOTE: IPB especially welcomes ideas on where we can take the exhibition in the coming months/years, and new partnerships we can develop. See wide range of positive comments at Guest Book. |
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| IPB's MAKING PEACE EXHIBITION+WEEKEND PROGRAMME:June 6 Full Exhibition>>HERE (light version) IPB this year celebrates its Nobel Peace Prize centenary. You can find here the (14pp) brochure and programme for the Geneva leg of this international celebration. It consists of a major photographic exhibition (which will be available for use/download around the world) and a special programme of activities in Geneva on Sunday June 6, under the rubric of 'Peace Village/Rencontres', designed to reach the general public. We plan to publish, via our websites (www.ipb.org and www.makingpeace.org) a collection of supplementary material, (mainly in English and French) relating to the themes, institutions and persons featured in the exhibition. This material may be useful in teaching or publicity contexts or in other ways. You will note that this event is part of a special International Weekend - June 5-6, (combined with World Environment Day activities on June 5) - see the combined weekend flyer also attached. Please help us by passing this material on to people who may be interested and letting us know if you are keen to show the exhibition in your city. Contact us: secgen@ipb.org |
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IPB Panel on Conversion of Science and Technology for Human and Environmental Needs, May 5-NY IPB is co-organising an important session in New York during the first week of the NPT Review conference. The theme is the conversion of science and technology for human and environmental needs Militarisation is not only an economic and social burden. It is an issue for the future of science, engineering and technology: where do we want our best science brains to be deployed? A huge proportion of the world’s research capacity is lost to the civilian sector due to the power of attraction that military projects hold for scientists and experts of every stripe. In this session we will hear from experts with ideas on how this situation can be challenged. NGO Room: Room A, Temporary North Lawn Building. Co-organised by International Peace Bureau (IPB) and International Network of Scientists and Engineers for Global Responsibility (INES). We look forward to your participation. See full details HERE. |
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NUCLEAR ABOLITION: International action + Confer. in NY (Apr 30 - May 2) on eve of NPT Join with thousands of people from around the world on the eve of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference at the United Nations in New York. Hundreds of international organizations (including IPB) have come together to organize a weekend of action to bring pressure to bear on world leaders who will be attending the NPT conference, to make nuclear abolition a reality “in our lifetimes!” We also understand that nuclear disarmament is interconnected with ending the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, funding human needs and environmental sustainability, so we will march together to call for: No Nukes, No Wars, Fund Human Needs, Protect the Earth! For info on the march, rally and peace festival (May 2) go to: http://peaceandjusticenow.org/wordpress/day-of-action/ For info on the conference (April 30-May 1) go to: http://peaceandjusticenow.org/wordpress/conference/ |
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KENYA: IPB member publishes comic strip stories to promote reconciliation IPB recently received from a young member in Kenya two small comic strip booklets featuring Nyota, a brave girl who can fly and also read minds! Her mission: to resolve various conflicts and reconcile people who are close to beating each other. Marcel Bin, the author, whose drawings are very colourful and creative, proposes a simple but effective way to promote the idea of peace and reconciliation among young and old alike. See here a copy of the booklets no. 1 and no. 4. (pdf) Contact: Kialu Vision, PO Box 11, 90121 Emali, Kenya – Email: kialu.visions@gmail.com |
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Religions for Peace Campaign for Shared Security includes call to redirect military expenditure + Petition IPB is delighted to report that our colleagues at Religions for Peace (member organisation) have included a specific call to 'Redirect 10% of military expenditure to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.' in their 'Arms Down!' campaign. We encourage everyone to sign their petition which is found at their campaign website. Religions for Peace is the world’s largest multi-religious coalition advancing common action among religious communities for peace. The Religions for Peace Global Youth Network is advancing disarmament for shared security in a year-long campaign launched in November 2009. http://religionsforpeace.org/initiatives/global-youth-network/campaign-for-shared-security/ |
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IPB Nobel Prize Centenary 2010 - an invitation Letter sent to IPB members, Feb. 26. In recent communications we have mentioned the importance of this significant year in IPB’s history. Back in 1910, the IPB was the umbrella group for the national ‘peace societies’ that existed in Europe and beyond. The Nobel Prize was awarded in 1910 to the Bureau as a way of making a tribute – and an encouragement – to the organised peace movement of the day.......... Since those days, IPB and its members have been involved in many of the great peace campaigns and causes of the century. So this is a special moment for IPB, a time to look back at 100 years of peace history, and also to look forward to the challenges of the coming years. We are preparing various events to commemorate this centenary (notably in Oslo and Geneva) – and we will inform you in more detail in the weeks to come. This letter is an invitation to you to plan some programme work in your own country or sector to commemorate the jubilee of this Nobel Peace Prize, one that (in a general sense) we all share.....What we hope is that in all the world’s continents activities will be organised that will help to make IPB’s name known and will inform the public of the work of the peace movement.>>>Full text READ HERE |
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Sean MacBride Prize 2009 - Acceptance speech by peace educator Betty Reardon + other materials “Pragmatic utopianism is a way of thinking about the problematic of global violence which envisions nonviolent alternatives to the present war system, explores multiple possible policy changes and various practical strategies to achieve them. Pragmatic utopians bring serious consideration of how to make the possible probable. It takes fully into account the many obstacles that stand in the way of this change and challenges with reasoned and evidence based analysis the greatest obstacle of all, the prevailing political realism that refuses to see the positive possibilities for peace that could free us from the thrall of the armed conflict that continues to pour out our blood and treasure to feed the power lust that garbs itself as world leadership. While in years past, few but the most visionary and responsible have spoken this truth, peace education seeks to bring it to the consideration of the wider citizenry; not to preach it, to not attempt to inculcate it, but to open it to the probing inquiry and serious reflection of original thought of the kind essential to revealing and ultimately to designing positive political possibilities… I see a strong element of pragmatic utopianism in the awarding the Nobel Prize to von Sutner, MacBride and IPB…” (excerpt – click for the full text) + for the other materials >>>READ MORE |
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Challenging Militarization in a Decade of Crisis Colin Archer, Secretary-General of the International Peace Bureau (editorial introduction to the Jan. 2010 newsletter of the Global Campaign for Peace Education) http://www.peace-ed-campaign.org/newsletter/archives/69.html “The world is over-armed and peace is under-funded. Military spending continues to rise every day. Just one generation after the end of the Cold War, it is now well above US $1 trillion. More weapons are being produced. They are flooding markets around the world. They are destabilizing societies. They feed the flames of civil wars and terror.” (Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General,Opening address to the 62nd Annual DPI/NGO Conference - "For Peace and Development: Disarm Now!" 09 September 2009) Jan. 18, 2010. All this week our screens have been full of powerful images and reports from Haiti. The most appalling, and sudden, large-scale catastrophe, and in a desperately poor country. Immediately - though already too late for many - the international aid community is gearing up for a massive response. The sums seem impressive: $100 million here, $100 million there.... until you remember that the military budget (in major states at least) is counted in billions rather than millions. A thousand times more. So it is a question of priorities. It is a question of politics, and values. >>>READ MORE |
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IPB nominates A-Bomb survivors for Nobel Peace Prize 2010 |
| IPB NEW YEAR VIDEO - HOW WOULD YOU SPEND MILLIONS? As a special media experiment, IPB has decided to promote its Disarmament for Development campaign in a new way. The short clip entitled 'How would you spend millions? was aired as a repeated big-screen advertisement in front of a huge crowd on New Year's Eve (Silvesterzauber) in Zürich. The event itself was carried on New Year's news reports and TV footage carried around the world in locations such as Berlin, London, Sydney, Paris etc. See: http://www.silvesterzauber.ch/webautor-data/29/Silvesterzauber_Infoblatt_E.pdf We are very grateful to our colleagues at Rotor Marketing and Media (http://www.rotor.me.uk)who put this together for us. |
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Arias Foundation endorses IPB's Global Call on Military and Social Spending Jan. 7, 2010. Good news! IPB Secretariat has just received a very positive letter from the Arias Foundation, Costa Rica, endorsing our Call for Action on Military and Social Spending. This Foundation is headed by the President of Costa Rica, Dr. Oscar Arias, winner of the 1987 Nobel Peace Prize. It is with much enthusiasm that the Arias Foundation for Peace and Human Progress endorses this Global Call for Action on Military and Social Spending. We agree strongly that the needs of the world’s poor and developing countries are not being met by developed countries and that excessive spending to purchase and stockpile weapons while the most basic human needs of so many in the world go unmet is an injustice that cannot be allowed to continue. We also support you in calling for action to reduce such spending and directing 10% of those funds to meet the UN´s Millennium Development goals by 2015. It is time that the nations of the world act on the many promises that have been made throughout the years. IPB hopes this latest endorsement will encourage other organisations and institutions to add their voices to this important Call. |
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IPB WASHINGTON CONFERENCE - Nov. - 2009 Speeches and documents - 1st series Representatives of IPB member organisations and other peace movements from 21 countries, as well as individual participants, gathered at Georgetown University in Washington DC on the weekend of November 14-15, 2009 for the annual IPB conference – the first held in the USA since 1904. The conference was followed by the IPB Council, a planning meeting for the nuclear abolition activities at the NPT Review next May, and a day-seminar on military spending. Speeches and/or articles supplied by conference presenters are available HERE. For the photogallery of the Conference click HERE. A second series of materials will be posted here as soon as we have them. |
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Estimated Global Military Spending Since Jan 1, 2010 - $1,213,305,213,712 Estimated costs to provide the following፡- Shelter for every human being: $21,000,000,000; Eliminate ALL Starvation and Malnourishment: $19,000,000,000; Clean Safe Water for every human being: $10,000,000,000; Eliminate ALL Nuclear Weapons: $7,000,000,000; Eliminate ALL Landmines: $4,000,000,000; Eliminate ALL Illiteracy: $5,000,000,000; Relief for Refugees everywhere: $5,000,000,000; Stabilize Human Population Growth: $10,500,000,000; Prevent Soil Erosion Globally: $24,000,000,000; Annual Expenditure of the United Nations system: $15,000,000,000 Estimated Cost to reach the Millenium Development Goals: $121,000,000,000 But to see the military spending at this actual moment - Click this COUNTER |
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'Warfare or Welfare?' and 'Whose Priorities?' now available in Arabic 27 Nov. 2009. IPB is pleased to announce that we now have available our first full length book in Arabic. 'Warfare or Welfare? Disarmament for Development in the 21st century: A human security approach' was published in 2005 but still contains valuable information and analysis on the issues relating to our main programme. See Publications page for other language versions. Text in Arabic HERE 'Whose Priorities?' A guide for campaigners on military and social spending. This book is a follow-up to IPB's earlier volume Warfare or Welfare? . While that work attempted to describe the nature of the problems facing us, the new publication sketches out some approaches to campaigning in opposition to militarism, and offers summary accounts of 18 projects undertaken by civil society groups around the world. Text in Arabic HERE We are most grateful to Mr Latif-Al-Bayati for completing this task. |
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IPB calls on Obama to declare Nobel ceasefire Among the main outcomes of the IPB's annual conference held in the USA was the following Open Letter. Nov. 15, 2009, Washington DC. Dear Mr. President: We have two requests to make of you. In just a few weeks you will travel to Oslo to receive the world’s most distinguished award, the Nobel Peace Prize. In order to underline the solemn nature of this award and the responsibilities it implies, we call on you to declare the week devoted to the award ceremonies (Dec. 4 -11) a period of global cease-fire, initiated by the United States in Afghanistan and elsewhere. It would be an historic step, as was the ‘Christmas Truce’ in the First World War.>>>Read More. Version in Spanish. |
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THE 10th NOBEL PEACE SUMMIT IN BERLIN - 2009 International Peace Bureau was represented at the 10th Nobel Peace Summit in Berlin 9-11 November 2009 by Urban Gibson and Reiner Braun. IPB Vice-President Alyn Ware also attended. The Summit, entitled “Breaking down new walls and building bridges to ensure a World of Human Rights and a World without violence” brought together Nobel laureates who have made a significant contribution in breaking down the walls of conflict, poverty and human rights violations – and building the bridges required for an equitable, sustainable and peaceful world. >>> READ MORE. Click here for a PHOTGALLERY of the Summit. |
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World March for Peace and Nonviolence arrives in Geneva - Nov. 9 |
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PEACE BUREAU TO AWARD MACBRIDE PEACE PRIZE TO BETTY REARDON |
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IPB VICE-PRESIDENT ALYN WARE WINS RIGHT LIVELIHOOD PRIZE |
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New web section: Peace and Law Our Peace and Law section is intended to serve as an introduction to various concepts related to peace and how domestic and international law may be used to implement measures to realize all of the components of peace. Some of these elements include education, tolerance, equality, security, disarmament and development, and respect for human rights and the rule of law. Following the short introduction below, you will find a list of definitions; sub-sections on Peace and Law at the international level, including the role of the United Nations and the issue of peace building, and the national domestic level; and links to more information as well as different national and international civil society campaigns for peace. Edited by Kate Johnson. MORE... |
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IPB launches new book on nuclear costs, Hiroshima Day 2009 |
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Speech by IPB President at World Conference against A & H Bombs, Hiroshima-Nagasaki My speech covers three themes relevant for the World Conference against A and H bombs. First theme: civilians as victims of war, from Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, to the ongoing wars in the world Second theme: How disarmament could help development, and help the many needs in the world, how the military spending could be turned into good, and how much the costs are for nuclear weapons. Third and last, but not the least: How we could strengthen our common resources to influence the NPT review conference in springtime next year. >>>MORE |
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IPB response to new military spending figures June 2009 Geneva, June 9, 2009. The International Peace Bureau expresses profound concern at the announcement yesterday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute at the launch of its annual Yearbook (www.sipri.org) that world military expenditures in 2008 reached yet another new high. The figure given is $1,464 billion. The US share of this is $607 billion – which is the budget for its basic military operations alone (i.e. not counting the actual costs of its wars in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iraq). This represents an increase of 4% in real terms compared to 2007, and of 45% since 1999. All regions have seen substantial increases since 1999, except for Western and Central Europe. >>>MORE |
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New IPB Booklet on the Arms Trade Now Available! A new booklet on the arms trade is now available from the International Peace Bureau. The booklet provides general information on how the arms trade works, how it undermines development, and efforts by the international community to get it under control. It also provides a detailed listing of organizations working on the arms trade. Written by IPB intern, Alicia Dueck, the booklet is available for download HERE or you may obtain a printed copy by contacting the IPB office. |
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NEW IPB CALL FOR ACTION IPB has drawn up an important Call For Action on military spending which we are distributing very widely. We hope it will resonate with many people's worries about the current financial crisis and the on going mis-appropriation of huge amounts of money. This will be a process. The first round of organisational endorsements will be sent to the upcoming UN conference on Financing for Development. We will then do further outreach in order to reach wide communities around the world, and to stimulate actions at many levels. Please send organisational endorsements to IPB Secretariat. We will collect endorsements well into 2009...>>English version HERE; Version française>> ICI ; Deutsche Version >>HIER;Finnish version>> HERE; Arabic version >>>HERE; Japanese version>>>HERE |