Sign the Call: Urgent Call for Unity and Action for the Betterment of Liberia 

You can sign the call here.

Since October 2024, Liberia’s House of Representatives has faced leadership struggles, escalating tensions, and growing public distrust. Protests, a fire at the parliament, and deep divisions highlight the urgent need for action.

This letter calls on the leaders of the Reform and Loyalist Blocs to unite and address vital issues such as economic development, education, healthcare, anti-corruption, peacebuilding, and youth empowerment. By signing and sharing, YOU contribute your voice to a collective call for Liberia’s leaders to put aside differences and prioritize the nation’s future. This petition is open for signatures from individuals and organizations until 24 January 2025.

Join us in advocating for meaningful change and national unity in Liberia.

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Legislative Deadlock and Democratic Challenges in Liberia’s House of Representatives: October 2024 to Present 

By Tyson Smith Berry Jr., Executive Director, 4Kids International/Council Member, International Peace Bureau 

Since October 2024, Liberia’s House of Representatives has faced a serious democratic crisis filled with leadership conflicts, internal rifts, and growing public frustration. This turmoil has not only interrupted the legislative process but has also raised significant concerns about the stability of Liberia’s democratic institutions and governance.

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In Memoriam: Federico Mayor Zaragoza 

“We must move from the law of the jungle to that of understanding, dialogue, and listening, to the conviction that people understand each other by talking”

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) deeply mourns the passing of close friend and dedicated culture of peace advocate Federico Mayor Zaragoza.  As Director of UNESCO from 1987 until 1999, he centered the importance of education as a tool for development, peace and human security. In 2000, he founded the Fundación Cultura de Paz, dedicated to promoting a culture of peace and building dialogue and understanding between cultures and peoples, emphasizing the importance of gender equality and women’s involvement in a culture of peace. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on several occasions, including by IPB.

For IPB, Federico represented a beacon of hope for peace and international cooperation and we were proud to work with him frequently over the years. In 1999, his speech at the Hague Appeal for Peace Conference opened up doors for international partnership with UNESCO on the Global Campaign for Peace Education. He welcomed IPB into the Ubuntu Civil Society Network and helped organized our 2016 and 2021 World Peace Congresses in Berlin and Barcelona. His speeches inspired – but even more, they provided hope and concrete actions for a more peaceful future.

We honor his legacy and his lifetime of contributions to peace, justice, and cultural dialogue. Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life.

Federico Mayor, December 2024

“We, the peoples, have resolved to save future generations from the scourge of war”. – UN Charter

When everything appeared

indecipherable, irreversible,

dark and meaningless,

radiantly arose in every human being

the light of the extraordinary mystery

of life

Suddenly, renewed hope

on new paths

on a personal and collective scale.

Now, duty of memory, for urgent action.

Now, at last, the power of the word

and never again that of arms.

Now, yes now, “we, the peoples”,

equal in dignity.

Continue reading “In Memoriam: Federico Mayor Zaragoza “

Introducing Austria’s First Peace Atlas: A Pathway to Peace

Austria has taken a significant step forward in promoting peace with the launch of its first-ever Peace Atlas (Friedensatlas Österreich), a groundbreaking civil society project. This evolving initiative serves as a beacon for those seeking practical examples of nonviolent resistance, successful peace projects, and essential information on organizations dedicated to peace, human rights, environmental protection, women’s rights, and social justice.

The Peace Atlas is more than just a directory; it’s a collection of “Best Practices of Peace”. It maps out inspiring peace-promoting actions across Austria, such as acts of nonviolent resistance, transformative educational programs, legal reforms, and environmental initiatives. The Atlas highlights the deep connections between peace, social justice, the fair treatment of migrants, gender equality, and climate protection.

By showcasing these examples, the Peace Atlas aims to inspire individuals to incorporate peace-promoting actions into their daily lives and develop their projects for a more just and harmonious world. Organizations like AbFaNG and others are available to support those ready to embark on this path.

Explore the Peace Atlas and take the first step towards making peace a reality. Visit: www.friedensatlas.at

Give Peace a Chance!

In Memoriam: Fritz Edlinger

Austrian publicist, author, and peace activist | 1948-2024

With AbFaNG and the peace activists’ families, we mourn the passing of Fritz Edlinger, a dedicated journalist, author, and passionate advocate for peace, who left us on December 4th. As the editor of the magazine International and a committed left-wing social democrat, Fritz worked tirelessly to amplify voices and promote understanding, particularly in the Arab world.

His unwavering dedication extended to supporting cultural initiatives and advocating for a peaceful and just world. Even in his final days, Fritz remained deeply engaged in his mission, speaking at the opening of the Palestinian Film Week in Vienna, a project he organized.

We honor his legacy and his lifetime of contributions to peace, justice, and cultural dialogue. Fritz’s voice and vision will be deeply missed, but his work will continue to inspire us.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends, and all who were touched by his remarkable life.

Read more about his works at:

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https://www.jungewelt.de/artikel/489388.fritz-edlinger-der-letzte-kreiskyaner.html

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Statement from the International Peace Bureau (IPB) on the Current Situation in Syria and Aspirations for Its Future

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) celebrates alongside the Syrian people the end of the Assad regime’s rule and brutal crackdown in Syria – the scenes of liberation produce hope of a national recovery and transformation to a new inclusive and democratic future for Syrians. The nation has endured immense suffering since the outbreak of conflict in 2011. The initial protests’ rapid escalation into a devastating civil war has already resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives, the displacement of millions both internally and externally, and the near-total destruction of the country’s infrastructure.

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A Needed Step to Strengthen the Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZs) Regime

By: Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, IPB Board Member and Blue Banner Chairman

Growing importance of NWFZs

Nuclear-weapon-free zones (NWFZs) are important and practical regional measures of non-nuclear-weapon states (NNWSs) in promoting the goals of maintaining strategic stability, nuclear non-proliferation and strengthening confidence among states. Today there are more than 115 states the territories of which cover about 84 mln km2 of the world’s landmass, representing 39% of its population and making up almost 60% of United Nations membership. Thus much has been achieved in the past half a century. However, the past rich experience should serve as a tool of strengthening and broadening further the NWFZ regime leading to creating a nuclear-weapon-free-world (NWFW). When oceans and seas that cover about 70% of the Earth’s surface are to be included, the NWFZ regime would cover most of the NWFW.

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A Call for Solutions to Safeguard Democracy in South Korea

Statement | Berlin, Germany | 13 December 2024

The International Peace Bureau (IPB) stands in unwavering solidarity with the people of South Korea, whose courage and resilience have risen as a powerful defense against the erosion of democratic principles and the unconstitutional declaration of martial law. Recent events highlight a grave misuse of power and blatant violations of constitutional law by the government and military leaders. We believe this is a reversal of the hard-won gains of the people-led democratic movement of South Korea and a setback to democracy in South Korea that took root after the people’s victory against authoritarianism in the 1980s.

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Nuclear Weapons are Antithetical to Human Rights: Honoring Nihon Hidankyo on International Human Rights Day

10 December 2024

At a time of deep crisis in global cooperation and governance, the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo, the organization representing survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki (Hibakusha), is an essential reminder of what is at stake in the world today – and the strength and commitment of activists to ensure a peaceful future that respects the human rights of all.

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Sign the Appeal: The World Wants Peace, Not Nuclear War!

You can sign the call and find the original call in Spanish here.

On this December 10th, marking the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, we, the individuals and organizations signing this statement, wish to express the following:

  1. Our Deep Concern
    We are gravely concerned about the danger and possibility of a nuclear war, a threat that has escalated further following the recent decision by U.S. President Joe Biden to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles against Russia.
  2. Call for a Ceasefire
    As we have stated before, we urge an immediate ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia, where the United States and NATO countries are actively involved. We call on all parties, including the U.S. and NATO, to engage in peace negotiations aimed at definitively ending hostilities and establishing agreements that affirm the right of all countries to peace and collective security, distancing us from the threat of nuclear war.
  3. Global Implications of Nuclear War
    The potential for nuclear war would not only affect Ukraine or Russia but could also devastate all of Europe and the United States. Moreover, it would have catastrophic global consequences, including “nuclear winter,” radioactive contamination, and severe impacts on the environment and public health.
  4. Escalation Risks
    The risk of nuclear war is real as hostilities between the U.S., NATO, and Russia escalate. This has prompted governments in Norway, Sweden, and Finland to distribute brochures to their citizens, urging them to prepare for the worst—the possibility of a direct NATO-Russia conflict.
  5. The Doomsday Clock Warning
    In 2024, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists stated, “Today, we have set the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight because humanity continues to face an unprecedented level of danger. Our decision should not be interpreted as a sign that international security has improved. On the contrary, leaders and citizens worldwide should take this as a grave warning and respond urgently, as if this were the most dangerous moment in modern history—because it very well could be.” The Doomsday Clock is a symbolic measure of how close humanity is to total annihilation.
  6. Nuclear Arms Race
    Over the past decade, we have witnessed a significant increase in nuclear weapons development and maintenance budgets, particularly by the United States, which has also withdrawn from key agreements like the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, the Open Skies Treaty, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and the Iran nuclear deal—all crucial pillars of nuclear arms control. These hostilities have also led countries like Russia, China, and North Korea to expand or upgrade their nuclear arsenals.
  7. A Call to Action
    The danger is real, and we are all at risk. We, the signatories of this statement, demand that world leaders, the United Nations, and governments—particularly the United States—make sincere efforts to end the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East through peaceful negotiations. We also urge them to advance a disarmament agenda and work toward the prompt elimination of nuclear weapons.

Finally, in this perilous world, we commend the example set by the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, survivors of the atomic bomb, which was awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons.

Click here to sign!