”You may kill a terrorist with a weapon, but you may kill terrorism with education”
Malala Yousafzai, Nobel peace laureate
Women’s Regional Network, WRN, has developed a Statement of Concern on the withdrawal of US, NATO and other foreign troops from Afghanistan. They are concerned about the situation of Afghan women and their future. The Statement consists of seven most valuable points to be taken into consideration in the transition period.
The amount of military spending in the world is a political, social, ecological, economical and ethical scandal. It reveals the continued misplaced priorities of global leaders.
To friend, colleague, teacher and estimated Arcadi Oliveres.
Arcadi Oliveres has dedicated his life to building a world free and emancipated from any kind of violence, devoting the maximum of his efforts to the promotion of human rights, social justice, aid for people development and construction of peace. In addition to these four major areas, Arcadi, economist by education, notably specialized in the two that were the closest to him, which are development and military economics. To these areas he devoted his greatest efforts.
Image: Reiner Braun (second from the left) and Sharan Burrow (third from the right) at the Seán MacBride Peace Prize Ceremony for Jeremy Corbyn.
Sharan Burrow is the General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). During her time at the head of ITUC, she has helped to foster relations between trade unions and the peace movement – bringing together themes of peace, justice, conversion, and the need for a peace dividend. IPB Executive Director Reiner Braun sat down for an interview with Sharan to discuss the interconnections between the trade union and peace movements.
The International Signature Campaign in Support of the Appeal of the Hibakusha was launched in April 2016 in the name of prominent Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Since its launch, the signature campaign has been supported by a broad range of prominent individuals and organizations, enjoying great support from people across the world. The collected signatures, total 11,843,549 (as of March 31, 2020,) making it one of the largest signature campaigns ever carried out in the world and a powerful popular force manifesting global demands for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The signatures have been submitted and
acknowledged by the U.N. and NPT PrepCom Chairs.
In addition to worldwide efforts, across Japan signature promotion committees have been established in each of Japan’s 47 prefectures, leading to the endorsement of the Appeal by 1263 mayors and governors. On the August 6-9 the 75th anniversary commemorations for the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the “Peace Wave” of international joint actions by grassroots organizations will circle the globe with activities to press for the elimination of nuclear weapons with the Hibakusha Appeal signature campaign serving as the Peace Wave’s common action.
On March, 17th 2021, the Séan MacBride Peace Prize has formally been awarded to Terumi Tanaka, Convenor of the Promotion Committee of the Int. Hibakusha Appeal Signature Campaign. During this first online award ceremony featuring a warm welcome from IPB Co-President Lisa Clark and Rieko Asato from the IPB Board/Gensuikyo, moderation by IPB Ex. Director Reiner Braun and an expressive and extremely timely Laudation by IPB CO-President Philip Jennings, Terumi Tanaka and the Signature Campaign’s Leader Mitsuhiro Hayashi vividly illustrated the central importance the struggle against nuclear weapons still occupies in our world today – for the Hibakusha, for the Japanese people, for every world citizen.
They left the guests with the powerful message of pride for their achievements, determination on the steps ahead, but most of all: Hope for the future, a nuke-free future, to come.
Akira Okuma performing ‘Imagine’ in Japanese and as English singalong made this event a truly unique experience, uniting us if not in space but in spirit.
Our deepest thanks to all organizers, speakers, interpreters, technical support and guests from all over the world who made this ceremony special against all contemporary odds.
Have a look at the programme and some images of the Ceremony below, or watch the event on YouTube!
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The first interview of the podcast series honors Bruce Kent, former IPB President and MacBride Peace Pize Laureate 2019, as one of the Elders. The initiative highlights the importance of inter-generational dialogue, and of youth learning from the experience of those who have been long-time and effective leaders in the peace and disarmament fields.
Please access the link to their website and the podcast here.
On 18 February 2021, in preparation for the Second IPB World Peace Congress in Barcelona this fall, IPB held a roundtable discussion on US-China Relations, featuring Dr. Joseph Gerson of the US and Prof. Wang Danning of China, with commentators from across Asia. Below are the texts of the two speeches as well as the biographies of the speakers.
GCOMS’ book ‘Military Spending and Global Security: Humanitarian and Environmental Perspectives‘ is now available at Routledge.
Routledge has launched today the book “Military Spending and Global Security: Humanitarian and Environmental Perspectives”, edited by GCOMS Coordinator and International Peace Bureau (IPB) vice-president Jordi Calvo Rufanges. The book is part of a joint project of the International Peace Bureau and Centre Delàs of Peace Studies, carried out within the framework of the Global Campaign of Military Spending, which has the support of Barcelona’s City Council.
IPB is excited to announce the tentative dates for our large gathering next year – a follow-up to IPB’s 2016 World Peace Congress in Berlin – provisionally entitled the Second IPB World Peace Congress Barcelona 2021: Stronger Together, Building Back Better for Inclusive Peace.
We invite you to join us for the event from October 15-17 2021 in the Mediterranean city of Barcelona and ask you to join us in the preparation and promotion of the event.
Concluding statement on the prospects for a culture of peace.
By Ingeborg Breines, former IPB Co-President. Written for the webinar ‘A Climate of Peace’ hosted by IPB and the Peace Union of Finland on 7 November 2020. For the complete webinar, visit our YouTube channel.
