August 4, 2024, Japan – The participants of the 2024 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs concluded the event by adopting a declaration at the Closing Session. As next year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, the Hibakusha, who survived and have fought for the abolition of nuclear weapons, are calling on both A-bomb survivors and the younger generation to turn the tide toward a peaceful and just world without nuclear weapons.
Continue reading “The 2024 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs Declaration of the International Meeting”Yesterdays´news
Honoring Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Call for Nuclear Disarmament in Belarus
4 August, Belarus – Olga Karatch from Our House organization recently led a peace wave action in Belarus to commemorate the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and to advocate against nuclear weapons. She is pleased to share photos from the event, which saw a larger turnout than anticipated.
Karatch emphasizes the importance of unity and collective effort in the fight for nuclear disarmament and the right to be conscientious objectors. This action reflects their commitment to a world free from weapons and war.
As we remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Karatch encourages continued advocacy for a peaceful future and nuclear-free world.
Read the Statement by Olga Karach in memory of the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and on the use of nuclear weapons in Belarus.
[German language]
Olga Karatch is a Belarusian activist, political scientist and head of the human rights organization “Our House” (Nash Dom), founded in 2002 as a self-financed newspaper. The 45-year-old Nobel Peace Prize candidate is active in the human and civil rights network, which is repressed in her country by the Lukashenko regime. She has been detained several times and also tortured; the KGB website publishes her name on the list of terrorists. Today she lives in exile in Vilnius, Lithuania, from where she continues her important non-violent work.
Reflecting on NPT Preparatory Committee 2024
IPB attended the first week of this year’s NPT Preparatory Committee in Geneva. From July 22nd to the 26th, the International Peace Bureau hosted two side events, and further participated in two thought-provoking roundtable discussions created by our partners.
Our first event, occurring on Monday, was oriented on the vitality of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones (NWFZs). Our speakers covered a variety of pressing issues, from the legal loopholes existing in many NFWZ treaties to how civil society organizations could collaborate to remedy them. The panel featured Reiner Braun, former Executive Director of IPB; Alain Ponce Blancas, Research and Communication Officer of Agency Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean (OPANAL); Enobot Agboraw, Executive Secretary of African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE); Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, Chairman of Blue Banner and Board Member of IPB, and Leonardo Bandarra from the Middle East Treaty Organization (METO). At the end of their remarks, a Q&A session ensued, capping off what was a strong start to the week.
Our second event took place the day after in collaboration with METO, and was centered on the prospect of denuclearization in the most volatile region in the world: the Middle East. Just like our event prior, our panel featured a stacked roster of experts, including, Sharon Dolev, Founder and Executive Director of METO and Council Member of IPB; Tariq Rauf, Former Head of Verification & Security Policy, Alt Head of NPT Delegation; Emad Kiyaei, Director of METO; Emily Molinari, IPB Deputy Executive Director; and Sean Conner, Executive Director of IPB Executive Director. The experts touched on key elements that will be integral for securing a future peace in the Middle East, such as the fulfillment of the Arab Peace Initiative and the necessity of a multilateral disarmament across the land. Perhaps most importantly, the hour-long discussion ended on an optimistic note, with the general consensus being that hope is required, even during the bleakest moments, in order to truthfully vie for peace.
The rest of the week presented several duly appreciated opportunities for IPB to learn about other organizations’ goals through their own events. On Wednesday, for instance, the team had the pleasure to partake in an open discussion led by SCRAP Weapons and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP) on how civil society organizations can effectively advocate for a Fourth Special Session on Disarmament. Conversations on disarmament and security continued as METO invited guests to their own roundtable, which was a relevant extension of our joint side event on Tuesday. The room was filled with brilliant discourse on the vitality of increasing communication within civil society and the potential of a renewed Arab Peace Initiative. And then on Friday, members of IPB’s staff finished off our participation in the NPT PrepCom after attending side events held by the delegations of the Philippines, Finland, and Germany.
Overall, the continuation of activism and diplomacy through the annual PrepCom serves as a critical foundation upon which real progress can be built from. IPB remains hopeful about the future, and looks forward to the day when nuclear weapons become relics of the past, as they should be.
IPB Condemns Escalation and Calls for Immediate Ceasefire Following Targeted Killings in West Asia
31 July 2024, Germany
The International Peace Bureau (IPB) expresses deep concern over the recent targeted killings in West Asia, including the deaths of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran and Hezbollah’s top military commander, Fuad Shukur, in Beirut. These actions are a violation of international law and pose a serious risk of escalating the conflict to a regional level. Such escalations not only endanger regional stability but also have global consequences, as they increase the risk of a wider conflict that could involve the use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), leading to catastrophic outcomes worldwide.
These attacks have severely set back efforts towards achieving a ceasefire and a long-term resolution to the conflict, including the return of Israeli hostages. The timing and nature of these actions suggest a deliberate attempt to undermine diplomatic efforts, prolonging the suffering of civilians and obstructing peace processes.
Recent statements by Iran’s new president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and various international responses underscore the fragile state of affairs. IPB urges all stakeholders, including regional and global powers, to work towards a peaceful resolution and avoid actions that could lead to uncontrollable escalation.
IPB emphasizes the critical importance of using diplomatic channels to de-escalate the situation. Resorting to violence only exacerbates the suffering of innocent civilians and brings the region closer to widespread conflict. We call on all states and non-state actors, both within the region and those with direct or indirect involvement, to prioritize peace and stability, respecting international law principles.
We urgently call for a ceasefire and comprehensive negotiations that address the root causes of the longstanding conflict, cycle of violence, and oppression in Palestine and Israel, and throughout West Asia. Long-term peace can only be achieved through dialogue, mutual understanding, and trust-building, ensuring the common security and dignity of all people involved.
Joint Press Release: Protection for Belarusian conscientious objectors like Vitali Dvarashyn and Mikita Sviryd who are under threat of deportation to Belarus
Lithuania should protect Belarusian conscientious objectors and deserters, grant adequate legal protection and prevent their deportation!
The undersigned organizations are genuinely concerned by the threat of the Lithuanian authorities to immediately deport the Belarusian conscientious objector Vitali Dvarashyn and deserter Mikita Sviryd to Belarus where they are at risk of persecution, imprisonment, and death penalty. We demand immediate action from the Lithuanian authorities to prevent the deportation of conscientious objectors back to Belarus and grant asylum in Lithuania where they have been seeking protection.
Continue reading “Joint Press Release: Protection for Belarusian conscientious objectors like Vitali Dvarashyn and Mikita Sviryd who are under threat of deportation to Belarus”High-Level Political Forum during a fracturing multilateralism
Written by: Angelo Cardona, coordinator of Latin America and Representative of the International Peace Bureau (IPB) to the United Nations, Co-founder and President at the Ibero-American Alliance for Peace, and ambassador of Colombia to the Youth Assembly.
In July 2024, the United Nations convened its High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) in New York. The HLPF happens at a pivotal moment when we are witnessing the surge of new conflicts and threats, such as the potential scalation of conflicts that could lead to nuclear confrontation, which would endanger human survival, and the perils of climate change affecting countries worldwide.
Continue reading “High-Level Political Forum during a fracturing multilateralism”A Nuanced Look into Geopolitics in “Global NATO: Implications & Resistance”
On July 17th, IPB was proud to host a roundtable discussion that focused on challenging NATO’s hegemonic world order. The panel featured prominent peace activists Joseph Gerson, Reiner Braun, Anu Chenoy, and Walden Bello — all of whom took a deep dive into today’s geopolitics and explained in detail NATO’s culpability in rising escalations.
The four speakers each delivered their introductory remarks. Their speeches touched base on several pressing topics, from NATO’s increased presence in the Asia Pacific region to the fate of the military alliance under a potential Trump presidency. Each expert presented their own nuanced views of these situations and many more, all the while emphasizing the general discussion’s theme of NATO’s rapid expansionism and its inevitable consequences in the process.
The roundtable ended with a Q&A session and key takeaways delivered by each panelist. A consensus surrounded the indispensability of youth participation in peace advocacy work. Without young activists willing to carry on the torch, it was agreed that much of the world would have their crises unresolved. The recorded panel can be seen here:
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New Briefing on NATO’s Climate Impact: A Must-Read
The Transnational Institute (TNI) published a critical briefing on July 8th, “Climate in the CrosshairsThe planetary impact of NATO’s spending increases” co-sponsored by the International Peace Bureau.
As NATO commemorates its 75th anniversary with a summit in Washington D.C., this briefing highlights the environmental repercussions of the alliance’s burgeoning military expenditures. Here are the main points covered in the briefing:
Key Findings:
- Massive CO2 Emissions: NATO’s military spending in 2023, amounting to $1.34 trillion, generated an estimated 233 million metric tonnes of CO2 equivalent (tCO2e), surpassing the annual greenhouse gas emissions of countries like Colombia or Qatar.
- Increasing Carbon Footprint: The $126 billion increase in NATO’s military spending in 2023 is predicted to add an extra 31 million tCO2e, comparable to the annual emissions of approximately 6.7 million average US cars.
- Unmet Climate Goals: Despite the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) urging a 43% reduction in emissions across all sectors by 2030, NATO’s military emissions rose by about 15% in 2023.
- Climate Finance vs. Military Spending: NATO’s 2023 military expenditure could fund the minimal climate financing demanded by developing nations 13 times over, highlighting the misallocation of resources during a climate crisis.
- Projected Emissions: If NATO members meet the 2% GDP military spending target by 2028, the collective military carbon footprint could reach 2 billion tCO2e, exceeding Russia’s annual emissions.
Challenges and Concerns:
- Dependency on Fossil Fuels: Despite NATO’s acknowledgment of climate change as a critical issue, increased military spending on equipment, heavily reliant on fossil fuels, exacerbates emissions. For instance, the popular F-35 combat aircraft consumes significantly more fuel than its predecessor.
- Arms Trade and Environmental Impact: NATO’s initiatives to support the arms industry promise lucrative profits for arms companies but push aside environmental regulations, further fueling global militarization and conflict amidst climate breakdown.
This briefing underscores the urgent need for NATO to reevaluate its spending priorities to address the climate crisis effectively.
For more detailed insights, you can read the full briefing on TNI website:
https://www.tni.org/en/publication/climate-in-the-crosshairs
Llamamiento por la Paz: ¡¡No + guerras!! ¡¡No más OTAN!! | Call for Peace: No More Wars!! No More NATO!!
IPB supports this call from organizations and individuals around the world, demanding an end to wars and the dissolution of NATO. As the NATO Summit approaches, taking place from July 9 to 11, 2024, in Washington DC, we feel compelled to voice our collective concern over the increasing global conflicts, military spending, and the resulting insecurity. This letter highlights the critical issues and calls for immediate, non-violent resolution of disputes, urging the United States and NATO countries to act responsibly and prioritize peace.
You can find and sign the original Spanish letter here. Supporting signatures will be collected until Sunday, July 7, 2024.
Below you can find its English translation.
Continue reading “Llamamiento por la Paz: ¡¡No + guerras!! ¡¡No más OTAN!! | Call for Peace: No More Wars!! No More NATO!!”In Memoriam: Phyllis Joyce Manning Creighton
Phyllis Joyce Manning Creighton, MA – Died at 94, on June 25, 2024 at the Sunnybrook Holland Centre, Toronto.
Predeceased by her beloved husband and best friend, Philip Creighton, FCA. Loving mother of Lisa (Tim), Jane, Angus, and Stephen (Liz); grandmother of Margaret, Shannon (Kasper), Victor, Ross, Jack and Claire; great-grandmother of Lennox. Dear sister of Mary Blackstock and Carol Pollen.
She was born on February 8, 1930 in Toronto, youngest daughter of Harold Ernest Manning and Mary Adelaide Endicott.
Phyllis was educated at Bishop Strachan School (BSS), Trinity College, University of Toronto, and the Sorbonne. While teaching at BSS she met Phil, her future husband and life-long companion, and left to raise four children. From 1967 on Phyllis worked as a researcher and translations editor with the Dictionary of Canadian Biography/Dictionnaire Biographique du Canada, University of Toronto, eventually retiring at the age of 87.
Phyllis was a deeply religious woman, an intellectual with rigorous standards, charm, enthusiasm and deep commitment to the causes she believed in. At the center of her efforts, in her own words, were “how to make and keep life human; how to show love and respect for human beings and for Earth and to raise awareness that the moral is the practical.” She asked the difficult questions, found ways forward, and promoted solutions and strategies to achieve them. Caring deeply for her friends and family, she gave her time and attention generously.
A life-long volunteer, Phyllis started by teaching and advocating for natural childbirth, and continued at Planned Parenthood, the Ontario Mental Health Foundation, the Addiction Research Foundation, the Anglican Church of Canada, Project Ploughshares, Health Canada, the Conservation Council of Ontario, Science for Peace, the Canadian Network to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, No Weapons in Space, the Canadian Pugwash Group, the Hiroshima Nagasaki Day Coalition, and Veterans Against Nuclear Arms, to name a few.
Phyllis was a member of the Raging Grannies for more than 20 years. The protesting, writing and singing of satirical songs against injustice and in support of peace, justice and care of people and the earth, in crazy hats and costumes, and with lots of buttons, came naturally for her. She loved to sing for people in public and in the church choir.
She worked actively to create peace in the world and an end to nuclear weapons, speaking, writing, presenting, and even travelling internationally to support these efforts. We remember her trips to Volgograd as a participant in the Toronto-Volgograd Initiative citizen exchange, and the nesting dolls and vodka toasts that followed. She also visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki twice to attend the peace memorial ceremonies and to speak at the World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.
In recognition of her contributions to the church over many years, Phyllis was made a Canon of the Anglican Church of Canada, a rare distinction for a lay person. She researched and wrote on many issues, served on committees and taskforces, attended synods, asked questions, made speeches, moved motions. She raised awareness of, and support for, social justice issues within the church.
Among many other achievements, Phyllis chaired the Ontario Mental Health Foundation and the Addiction Research Foundation’s clinical institute. She also received the Anglican Award of Merit for service to church and community, the Order of Ontario, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal and was named a Bishop Strachan School Distinguished Old Girl.
Phyllis loved to dress in beautiful, colourful clothes and wear her many pieces of jewellery, particularly her sparkly earrings, brooches and rings. She was an active woman, swimming regularly, on the go from morning to late into the night. With a deep love of nature and the outdoors, she enjoyed the beautiful garden Phil created at their home. Phyllis adored her Siamese cats: Nicholas, Natasha, Katrina, Alexander, and Oliver. There was always a cat perched on a chair nearby or in her lap.
Hosting and later attending family dinners and celebrations gave Phyllis joy. Every year she baked shortbread at Easter and a selection of cookies at Christmas. Phyllis enjoyed visiting with her grandchildren, and regularly looked after them when they were young. Photography was another passion. As was Paris, a city she lived in as a student, and visited with Phil.
She also loved the cottage in Muskoka. It offered wildness, peacefulness, the ability to get away from the phone and computer and the chance to swim daily and sail her beloved Laser. Being in Muskoka would often jump start her creativity; she would sometimes write passionately early in the morning, while everyone else slept. Those of us who went to Muskoka with Phyllis quickly realized there was an alternate reality where normal time and routines did not apply. We had to keep a straight face for the first swim at 12:30 p.m., lunch at 3 p.m., second swim at 6:30 p.m., and dinner after sunset. The rest of her family members rarely matched her enthusiasm, politely declining when asked if we wanted to swim in the early evening, when there were whitecaps and no sun at the beach. Muskoka was an experience for everyone, but soul fulfilling emotionally for Phyllis; she used it to recharge for all of her social justice, peace and environmental efforts.
Phyllis was loved and will be greatly missed. Many of her words live on in publications, and her voice can be heard in recordings and videos online. Phyllis once said, “I don’t expect I’ll give up questioning until my voice is silenced.” May her spirit of love and questioning, and the peace she wanted for the world, live on in us all.
Our sincere thanks to the many doctors, nurses and other health care professionals who provided such excellent care to Phyllis in the last few years, particularly the team at the Sunnybrook Holland Centre.
Visitation at Morley Bedford Funeral Home, 159 Eglinton Ave. W., Toronto (2 stoplights west of Yonge St.) on Sunday, July 7, 3-5 p.m. A Memorial Service will be held at the funeral home chapel on Monday, July 8 at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.
No flowers please. Donations to a charity of your choice would be appreciated.
From your IPB family, thank you Phyllis for being part of IPB and sharing generously your wisdom and dedication for peace with us. We will always remember.
Note that there is an opportunity to add comments to the page dedicated to her: https://morleybedford.wordpress.com
