Women As Agents of Change Around the World

Presented by the International Peace Bureau in collaboration with the Eight Billion Podcast, this series celebrates the wisdom, vision, and transformative power of women working across the globe to create a more peaceful, just, and sustainable future.


Women from diverse backgrounds have long been at the forefront of positive change. As pillars of peacebuilding and transformation, their impact transcends generations. Through activism, the arts, community leadership, and cultural preservation, women continue to inspire movements for justice and shape societies through creative expression.


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Peace Wave 2025

The Fourth Annual 24-Hour Peace Wave is coming on July 12, 2025.

The peace wave is a 24-hour-long Zoom featuring live peace actions in the streets and squares of the world, moving around the globe with the sun. The peace wave visits dozens of locations around the globe and includes rallies, concerts, production of artworks, blood drives, installation of peace poles, dances, speeches, and public demonstrations of all variety.

In 2025 we are encouraging participants to address the need to abolish nuclear weapons.

All parts will have machine-translated captions in Zoom. Some parts will have human voice interpretation.

Organized by: International Peace BureauStop the War Coalition PhilippinesGensuikyoand World BEYOND War.

The Peace Wave will happen on July 12, 2025, from 0:00 to 24:00 UTC. In Japan that is 9 a.m. July 12 to 9 a.m. July 13. In Europe that is 2 a.m. July 12 to 2 a.m. July 13. In U.S. and Canada Eastern Time that is 8 p.m. July 11 to 8 p.m. July 12.


Get the Zoom Link to Watch the Peace Wave

See Past Years’ Peace Waves

You can see the detailed agendas and watch the complete videos of past years’ peace waves here.

Detailed Agenda

Part 1 Eastern Pacific

Events in Eastern Pacific, including in Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam

Time of Part 1 is 0:00 – 2:00 UTC.

Find what time that is where you are.

What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 2 Western Pacific

Events in Western Pacific, including in Australia, New Zealand

Time of Part 2 is 2:00 – 4:00 UTC.



Find what time that is where you are.




What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 3 North Eastern Asia

Events in North Eastern Asia, including in Japan and South Korea

Time of Part 3 is 4:00 – 6:00 UTC.




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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 4 South Eastern Asia

Events in South Eastern Asia, including in Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar

Time of Part 4 is 6:00 – 8:00 UTC.



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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 5 South Central Asia

Events in South Central Asia, including in Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan

Time of Part 5 is 8:00 – 10:00 UTC.



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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 6 Western Asia

Events in Western Asia including Middle East

Time of Part 6 is 10:00 – 12:00 UTC.

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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 7 Africa

Events in Africa

Time of Part 7 is 12:00 – 14:00 UTC.

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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 8 Europe

Events in Europe

Time of Part 8 is 14:00 – 16:00 UTC.



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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 9 South America / América del Sur

Events in South America / América del Sur including in Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Colombia, and Venezuela

Time of Part 9 is 16:00 – 18:00 UTC.

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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 10 Eastern North America

Events in the Eastern and Central time zones of the United States and Canada

Time of Part 10 is 18:00 – 20:00 UTC.

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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 11 Mexico and Central America

Events in Mexico and Central America

Time of Part 11 is 20:00 – 22:00 UTC.



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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Part 12 Western North America

Events in Mountain and Pacific time zones of the United States and Canada

Time of Part 12 is 22:00 – 24:00 UTC.

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What time that is in select cities around the globe:

Campaign Launch: “From Bridges to Streets: Permanent Ceasefire Now and Stop the Occupation”

Campaign organized by the Global Solidarity for the Palestinian People (GSPP) coalition, of which IPB is a member.

Below you can download the Toolkit.

The Global Solidarity for Palestinian People (GSPP) coalition is an international network of grassroots movements, civil society organisations, and individuals united in advocating for justice, peace, and an end to occupation in Palestine. Through coordinated actions, public mobilisations, and global campaigns, GSPP amplifies Palestinian voices and builds international solidarity for a just and lasting peace.

About the Campaign

From today until June 1, ahead of the UN Conference on the Two-State Solution, wherever you are, on abridge, in a square, on your street, your voice matters! In the face of relentless violence in Gaza and of the occupation, we ask people around the world to take a simple, visible action: claim your public space for a JustPeace.

How

  1. Choose a Public Space (A street, a plaza, a park, a bridge, anywhere visible in your city)
  2. Reach the chosen place and hold the posters campaigns while reading a speech.
  3. Take a Photo or Video
  4. Post on social media using the hashtags:#FromBridgesToStreets #GazaCeasefireNow #StopOccupation and send them via email to gsppcampaign@gmail.com

Materials

Before you act

This campaign is designed to be peaceful and nonviolent. Please make sure to check the following:

  1. Do I Need Permission? Usually small actions(1–5 people) holding signs in ublic places do not require a permit, however, check your local regulations in advance.
  2. Take photos/videos of your action, but respect others’ privacy if in shared public space.

JOIN US!

You can download the Toolkit here:

A summary of the LAP International 2 week peace camp

Originally published by Lakenheath Alliance For Peace, 16 May 2025

From 14 to 26 April 2025, the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP) organised an international two-week peace camp outside ‘RAF’ Lakenheath. The camp brought together peace activists, artists, faith leaders and community members in opposition to the return of US nuclear weapons to UK soil. This gathering marked a renewed commitment to nonviolence, international solidarity and nuclear disarmament.

This year’s camp was particularly significant as it coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Greenham Common Women’s historic resistance against US cruise missiles. Their presence reminded us that the struggle for peace is long-term, intergenerational and still as urgent as ever.

Throughout the camp, there was a 24-hour vigil at the main gate of the base. Each day had a different theme, combining education, action and artistic expression. On Day 1, a formal letter was delivered to base commanders expressing concern over the return of nuclear weapons. Day 2 featured a musical performance by Dave Rovics and a message from Peggy Seeger. On Day 3, protest choirs and folk musicians gathered to sing against militarism, nuclear weapons and climate injustice.

Day 4 welcomed the return of Greenham Women, who engaged with local residents in Brandon. Day 5 was Climate Day, with a workshop linking military emissions to climate change and a creative action decorating the base fence with protest banners. Other days highlighted topics such as war crimes and genocide, democratic resistance, interfaith peace-building, and international cooperation.

On Day 12, a group of women, intersex, non-binary and trans activists staged a topless blockade, leading to three arrests. The final day saw over 250 people protesting at the gates, with many participating in a nonviolent blockade and seven arrests being reported.

The camp has ended, but the work continues. LAP calls on all members and supporters to take part in upcoming monthly vigils. Whether for two hours or a full day, your presence contributes to a wider movement for peace and disarmament. These actions help build connections between local struggles and the global movement to end nuclear violence.

To learn more about what happened during the camp, see photos, and find out how to get involved, visit the full report here: https://bit.ly/LAPPeaceCamp2025

Together we resist. Together we work for peace.

SOME WAY OUT OF HERE:Disarming Nuclear Powers & Preventing Proliferation

Report from Campaign for Peace Disarmament and Common Security shared via Newsletter | 07 May 2025

We were privileged to play the leading role in organizing “SOME WAY OUT OF HERE: Disarming Nuclear Powers & Preventing Proliferation” side event at the United Nations during the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty PrepCom. The session featured Yayoi Tsuchda, the Assistant General Secretary of Gensuiko, the Japan Council against A- & H- Bombs, Dr. Marco Marzo, Secretary General of the Brazilian-Argentine Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Weapons; and John Burroughs the senior analyst and former Executive Director of the Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy.

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[2025 GDAMS] Presidential candidates must present plans for building peace through dialogue and trust, not military expansion

South Korean Civil Society Joint Statement 

Presidential candidates must present plans for building peace through dialogue and trust, not military expansion

  1. Yoon Suk-yeol has been impeached. Throughout his term, Yoon — who advocated for “peace through strength” and designated Democratic People’s Republic of Korea as the “main enemy” — exploited the division system and heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula for political gain, even at the risk of a localized conflict. Despite insufficient tax revenues, he increased defense spending and fixated on an endless cycle of confrontation. Meanwhile, peace vanished entirely, and the two Koreas spiraled into repeated cycles of hostility and standoffs. All dialogue channels were severed, and even the September 19 Military Agreement-which served as a safety pin to prevent armed clashes-was scrapped. Repeated psychological warfare and military drills near the border have severely endangered the peaceful survival rights of residents in those areas. Yoon Suk-yeol’s “peace through strength” policy has utterly failed.
Continue reading “[2025 GDAMS] Presidential candidates must present plans for building peace through dialogue and trust, not military expansion”

UNODA’s Statement on the Global Days of Action on Military Spending

Izumi Nakamitsu, High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, issued the following message on the occasion of the 2025 Global Days of Action on Military Spending. | 28 April 2025

Each year, the Global Days of Action on Military Spending serve as a stark reminder of the increasingly volatile and tense state of the world. They have become an unfortunate tradition to reflect on the implications of the worrying trajectory of military spending, rising levels of armed violence and increased suffering for many in all regions of the world.

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Participation Summary: ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event: “The Impact of the Global Increase in Military Expenditure on the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”

By: Angelo Cardona, Board Member of the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and Co-founder and Co-president of the Iberoamerican Alliance for Peace (Alianza Iberoamericana por la Paz – AIPP)

I had the honor of participating in the ECOSOC Youth Forum’s side event titled “The Impact of the Global Increase in Military Expenditure on the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, representing the International Peace Bureau (IPB).

Continue reading “Participation Summary: ECOSOC Youth Forum Side Event: “The Impact of the Global Increase in Military Expenditure on the Achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)””

The world spent 2.71 trillion $ in the military in 2024, according to new data published today by SIPRI

  • Global military spending reached $2.7 billions, representing a 9.4% increase in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to SIPRI estimates—marking the largest rise in recent history, with a nearly 20% increase in just three years.
  • Over 100 peace organizations of 30 different countries call on governments to reduce military spending and instead address through cooperation and diplomacy the global challenges of our time.

Military approaches are gaining ground in the Middle East, with a 15% increase in military spending; in Europe, with an overall rise of 17%, led by Western Europe, which has increased its military budget by 24%; and in East and Southeast Asia, with increases of 7.5% and 7.8% respectively. NATO countries continue to lead globally, with their 32 members accounting for 55% of total global military spending—amounting to $1.506 trillion.
US military spending grew 5.7% to $997 billion, accounting for 37% of the global total by 2024. Russia, which increased its military spending by 38% in just one year ($149 billion), and Israel, with a 65% rise, are clearly committing to a war economy that supports political projects based on the use of military force.
China has increased its military budget for the thirty-third consecutive year, once again ranking as the second-largest military spender with $314 billion in 2024.

These are some of the key conclusions that can be drawn from the new global military spending data released today by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The Global Days of Action on Military Spending (GDAMS), together with Centre Delàs of Peace Studies, analyzes the new military spending data and call for a reduction in global military expenditures, as well as for real efforts toward a new security architecture based on common security, disarmament, and international cooperation.

“The commitment to militarization by the major powers, along with international political uncertainty, distances the chances for peace in some of the main armed conflicts and increases the likelihood of opting for military solutions in regions with latent tensions. Furthermore, the arbitrary target of 2% of global GDP for military budgets is now being replaced by 3.5% or even 5%. This is boosting the business prospects of arms companies, and we know three out of four of the leading military industries are based in NATO countries,” analyzes Jordi Calvo, coordinator of Centre Delàs and the Global Campaign on Military Spending (GCOMS).

Military spending drives a militaristic Europe and moves peace further away from the continent.

EU member aggregate military spending reached 370 billion in 2024, the second highest after the US, and reaching a level in 2024 higher than the recorded at the end of the Cold War, with a 17% increase, primarily driven by Central and Eastern European countries. However, four of the five European countries that rank among the top 15 highest spenders are still Western; Germany, in particular, increased its military spending by 28% in 2024, becoming the largest investor in Central and Western Europe for the first time since reunification.

This goes hand in hand with the widespread discourse of European militarism in which the European Union itself is not left behind. In addition to the EU’s direct subsidies for the research, development, production, and acquisition of armaments, which would amount to nearly €1.5 billion in 2024 and €5 billion under the European Peace Facility, the European Commission has facilitated the use of civil programs for military projects, from the environmental LIFE program to transportation and regional funds, while encouraging private financial actors, including those involved in sustainable finance and the European Investment Bank, to invest in arms companies.

“Between the exacerbation of the global arms race and the defense of a contested hegemony, the militarization of the EU also poses a threat to the peace and security of its citizens. The recent plan for an additional €800 billion in military spending over the next four years will, sooner or later, lead to a reduction in public spending on healthcare, pensions, education, or the fight against climate change and its consequences,” warns Laëtitia Sedou, European advocacy coordinator for ENAAT, the European campaign against the arms trade

As military spending and defense initiatives grow, resources that could otherwise address pressing social challenges—such as climate change, public health, and poverty—are diverted towards furthering military capabilities. This shift toward militarization risks exacerbating tensions both within Europe and beyond, fueling instability and undermining efforts toward peaceful conflict resolution and cooperative international relations.

The 2025 GDAMS Appeal calls for an end to this arms race through drastic reductions of military spending.

Our campaign launched an Appeal at the beginning of this GDAMS period which has so far garnered more than 100 endorsements from organizations from 30 different countries all across the world (see the list here).  Together, we call on governments to reduce military spending and instead address through cooperation and diplomacy the global challenges of our time, which require all available resources. The Appeal also calls for efforts aimed at global disarmament, stopping the arms trade and ceasing arms shipments to countries in conflict, demanding governments that they use all existing means to push for a real ceasefire and an end to the genocide in Gaza.

Join us on April 28 for our biggest day of action!
For the occasion we’ve prepared this toolkit with infographics, a press release, materials, and post suggestions in this shared folder.