All posts by CPNN Coordinator

About CPNN Coordinator

Dr David Adams is the coordinator of the Culture of Peace News Network. He retired in 2001 from UNESCO where he was the Director of the Unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the Year 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly.

‘We Are All DC’: Tens of Thousands March to White House

. HUMAN RIGHTS .

An article from Common Dreams

The heart of Washington, D.C., pulsed with defiance on Saturday (September 6) as tens of thousands of demonstrators surged down 16th Street toward the White House. It was the city’s first major organized protest since President Donald Trump declared a state of emergency and unleashed federal troops onto its streets.

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Questions related to this article:

The struggle for human rights, is it gathering force in the USA?

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Banners waved and voices rose in unison at the “We Are All D.C.” march, a massive show of resistance led by a coalition that included Free DC, defenders of local self-rule, Democracy Forward, and the American Civil Liberties Union. Their message was clear: the federal occupation of the capital must end.

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HUMAN RIGHTS, North America

Bolivia: National Network for a Culture of Peace Meets in Sacaba

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from Los Tiempos

Under the slogan “I choose to dialogue, I choose to listen,” more than 150 communicators and young people from 40 municipalities will meet this Saturday (3:30 p.m.) in the town of Sacaba. The goal is to strengthen their values, skills, and knowledge about the Culture of Peace and its connection to the exercise of human rights and development, aware that conflict fragments the cohesion of a society and impedes development.

In addition, they will make public their declaration for peace, recognizing their responsibility in conflict prevention and transformation through art and communication.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish.)

Question related to this article:

How can we develop the institutional framework for a culture of peace?

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Sacaba’s main square will be the stage for the cultural movement, supported by Solidar Suiza and the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) (Peacebuilding Fund).

On Saturday, participants will spread awareness-raising messages and reflect on the culture of peace through communication and art. During the public intervention, they will present plays, rap, performances, and a mural, concluding with their Declaration of Commitment to Peace.

The communicators and young members of the National Network for a Culture of Peace will use their knowledge of communication and art to continue contributing to the culture of peace. They will amplify and disseminate their messages and proposals, generate mobilization in their contexts, and also contribute to the fight against disinformation and hate speech.

This action is part of the Initiative to Consolidate a Culture of Peace in Bolivia, promoted by UNDP with financial support from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund (PBF) and implemented by Solidar Suiza in partnership with LanzArte and RedCom.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

The Global Sumud Flotilla: Over 50 ships will set sail for Gaza

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the Peoples Dispatch

In July 2025, a new international maritime initiative was launched: the Global Sumud Flotilla. It was formed by four major coalitions: the Global Campaign to Return to Palestine, the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the Maghreb Sumud Convoy, and the Southeast Asian Nusantara Sumud Initiative. The Global Sumud Flotilla is set to depart on August 31, 2025. Its goal is clear: to break Israel’s illegal blockade on Gaza, to deliver urgent humanitarian aid, and to expose the genocidal war waged on Palestinians. 


Photo from Al Jazeera

The flotilla is composed of dozens of small civilian vessels carrying activists, parliamentarians, doctors, and trade unionists, alongside humanitarian cargo. More than 39 national delegations have pledged participation, making this the largest people-led maritime effort in solidarity with Gaza since the 2010 “Mavi Marmara”.

Behind every flotilla passenger lies a story of conviction. Greek trade unionists brought banners pledging workers’ solidarity with Palestine. Doctors from Spain and Italy carried vital medicines banned from entering Gaza. Parliamentarians from South Africa and Norway insisted that breaking the siege is a moral and political duty.

This is not the first flotilla of its kind this year. The “Handala” and “Madleen”, two of the Freedom Flotilla’s flagship vessels, also set sail in an attempt to break the blockade of Gaza. However, they were attacked by drones and stormed by Israeli forces. Passengers were beaten, kidnapped, and deported. Phones were confiscated, activists were interrogated, and many went on hunger strike to protest their detention. The attack was not just on the Freedom Flotilla; it was an attack on the principle of global solidarity itself.

The Global Sumud Flotilla insists that its mission is entirely lawful under international maritime law. Civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid in international waters are protected under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. Israel’s interception of the “Handala” and “Madleen” constitutes nothing less than piracy and a war crime.

The flotilla’s organizers remind the world that Israel has maintained a land, air, and sea blockade on Gaza since 2007. As they prepared for upcoming missions, flotilla spokespeople declared:

“Our boats carry more than aid. They carry a message: the siege must end. The greater danger lies not in confronting Israel at sea, but in allowing genocide to continue with impunity.”

Criminalizing solidarity, violating international law

In recent months, Israel has escalated its campaign to silence international solidarity with Palestine by targeting civilian flotillas attempting to break the Gaza blockade. These ships, carrying activists, aid, and a message of defiance against siege, have become symbols of global resistance. Instead of engaging through diplomacy or respecting humanitarian principles, Israel has resorted to force on the high seas, treating peaceful civilian missions as military threats.

The assaults on the “Handala” and “Madleen” are more than acts of piracy, they are grave breaches of international law. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) guarantees freedom of navigation in international waters. By seizing vessels outside its territorial jurisdiction, Israel has acted as a rogue state.

International legal experts have consistently affirmed that the blockade of Gaza since 2007 constitutes collective punishment, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention. The International Criminal Court has received multiple submissions documenting Israel’s starvation siege, now exacerbated by open genocide. Yet governments that loudly invoke “rules-based order” remain silent when Palestinians, and their supporters, are the victims.

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Question related to this article:
 
How can we best express solidarity with the people of Gaza?

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Instead of protecting citizens, western governments have facilitated Israel’s repression. Passengers aboard the flotillas were stripped of their phones, interrogated, and some were denied re-entry into the Schengen zone. Western states’ silence amounts to complicity.

Some detainees launched hunger strikes in Israeli prisons to protest their abduction. Others returned home to smear campaigns. Western right-wing media accused activists of “provocation” or of “endangering security”. Once-beloved Swedish activist Greta Thunberg who joined the “Madleen” flotilla, received attacks from mainstream media, on social media, and from influential political figures. Such tactics aim to delegitimize solidarity and sow fear among those who dare to act.

But these campaigns have failed to extinguish the moral clarity of the movement. From dockworkers in Barcelona refusing to load arms to Israel, to students occupying universities in the US and Britain, the flotilla has become a symbol: solidarity cannot be blockaded.

The human face of global resistance

The Global Sumud Flotilla represents a convergence of struggles across continents:

The Global Campaign to Return to Palestine mobilized thousands of activists worldwide.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, with roots going back to 2010, brings long experience of organizing maritime resistance. 

The Maghreb Sumud Convoy, launched in June 2025, gathered over 1,000 participants from across North Africa under the banner of “coordinated action for Palestine”.

The Nusantara Sumud Initiative, launched from Malaysia and eight other Southeast Asian countries, embodies South–South solidarity inspired by Palestinian steadfastness.

Together, these four networks transformed the flotilla from a handful of ships into a people-powered humanitarian corridor. The first official mission is scheduled for August 31, 2025, from Spain, followed by a second launch from Tunisia on September 4, with more than 50 ships expected to participate.

At a press conference in Tunis, organizers emphasized that the flotilla is not merely logistical, it is symbolic:

“This will not only be a fleet. It will be a reminder that the world is watching, that Gaza is not alone, and that peoples will not remain silent.”

The Freedom Flotilla is part of a long lineage of resistance at sea. The 2010 assault on the “Mavi Marmara”, in which Israeli forces killed ten activists, shocked the world. But instead of stopping solidarity, it multiplied it.

The Global Sumud Flotilla marks a new stage. By linking Mediterranean ports, North African caravans, and Southeast Asian convoys, it builds a transnational infrastructure of resistance. Its Arabic name Sumud, steadfastness, reflects both Palestinian resilience and the determination of people across the world to act where governments have failed.

Breaking the siege, building the future

The choice is now clear. Israel will continue to attack peaceful ships in international waters, abduct activists, and suppress humanitarian efforts, because the siege is a cornerstone of its genocidal project. Western governments will continue to look away.

But ordinary people, from Greek dockworkers refusing to load weapons for Israel, to Tunisian unions welcoming flotilla missions, to students and parliamentarians raising their voices, are building a counter-power.

The Global Sumud Flotilla is both a lifeline and a warning: Gaza will not be starved into silence, and solidarity will not be blockaded.

As the flotilla prepares to set sail with more than 50 ships, its message resounds across seas and continents: The siege must fall. Gaza must live. Palestine must be free.

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Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

The World Intellectual Wisdom Forum Meeting on 30 August

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

Excerpts from the meeting summary received from Thomas Daffern

The meeting served as an introduction and check-in for participants of the World Intellectual Wisdom Forum, co-hosted with International Peace Studies and Global Philosophy. Dr. Thomas Daffern welcomed attendees, including Susan Seats (California), Dr. Sean English (Ireland), Laura Brown (Peace Alliance, USA), and Christopher Platts (Brittany, France), and shared brief updates on his latest book, “On the Logic of Peace,” which he is currently proofreading. Sean provided insights into peace movements in Ireland and the European Union, particularly regarding legislation on goods produced in Israeli occupied territories, noting potential economic repercussions if the bill passes. The group discussed the importance of collaboration across different intellectual and religious perspectives to address global challenges, with Thomas expressing hope that such efforts can help avert crises.

Advocating for Global Peace Movement

The group discussed current political and social issues, including the rise of racism and fascism, and the need for a peace movement with intellectual depth. Laura Brown shared updates on her work with the Peace Alliance, advocating for a US Department of Peace Building, and mentioned a notable statement by Jeffrey Sachs calling for a new Political Peace Party. Susan Seats, a prominent peace activist in California, briefly shared her recent activities, including a speech on China and upcoming protests. She was joining us from Santa Cruz. The conversation ended with a recap of previous discussions, including the Kashmir conflict and the upcoming World Parliament Meeting in Pondicherry.

Global Conflicts and Leadership Concerns

The discussion focused on several international issues, including the impact of the new Pope and the situation in the Middle East. The speaker expressed concerns about Trump’s relationship with Putin and the chaos they seem to be causing, particularly in Ukraine. They also discussed the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting and the potential recognition of Palestine by various countries. The conversation concluded with a discussion about the ongoing conflict in Gaza, with the speakers expressing support for a two-state solution and expressing concerns about extremist factions on both side who seem to want a “forever war” instead.

Question related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

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Right-Wing Ideologies and Leadership Crisis

The group discussed historical and contemporary political developments, focusing on the impact of right-wing ideologies and the lack of visionary leadership in both the United States and Europe. Sean highlighted the European Union’s relative moral and ethical bankruptcy regarding the Gaza genocide, while Dr. Daffern emphasized the need for a “Solomon Option” to promote peace in the Middle East, contrasting it with Israel’s “Samson Option.” See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdQ2e9lm-6c
Christopher and Laura raised concerns about the United Nations’ weakness and the need for a stronger opposition within Israel to address Netanyahu’s leadership.

The conversation also touched on the potential for foreign influence and blackmail in U.S. (and UK) politics, suggesting the need for a confidential mechanism for compromised leaders to seek help. . .

Logic of Peace: A Philosophical Exploration

Dr. Daffern discussed his new book, “The Logic of Peace,” (see www.lulu.com/spotlight/iipsgp) which explores how peace is a more logical choice than war, especially in the context of nuclear weapons. He examines various the logical aspect of philosophical and religious traditions, including Parmenides, Platonism, Aristotle, Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, to argue that peace is in fact a rational and logical goal for humanity. Dr. Daffern expressed hope that the book would contribute to a rethinking of logic and promote peace. He mentioned that a second volume would focus on contemporary logic and issues like deterrence and genocide. . . .

The meeting also discussed Global Power Structures and Solutions, Ireland’s Neutrality and Peace Efforts, Climate Action and Peace Initiatives, and Peace Bill and Unity Consciousness.

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FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global

China announces plans for SCO Development Bank; says to launch process soon

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from Economic Times – India

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi announced on Monday that member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) have decided to establish a Development Bank aimed at strengthening regional economic cooperation, reported Reuters.

Speaking in Tianjin, where the SCO countries held the deleberations, the minister said the organisation will soon launch the process to create the financial institution, which is expected to play a crucial role in funding infrastructure and development projects across the bloc.


Leaders and officials, including Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, attend a photo ceremony at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, China August 31, 2025.

“The SCO Development Bank will give a strong boost to infrastructure development and inject fresh momentum into the economies of member countries,” Yi noted as a part of the Tianjin Declaration.

The announcement came as Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his inaugural address to the 25th SCO Summit, urged member states to accelerate work on the bank, pointing to the growing appeal of the 10-nation grouping, according to a PTI report.
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Question for this article:

What is the contribution of BRICS to sustainable development?

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Xi noted that the SCO has evolved into the world’s largest regional organisation, encompassing 26 countries in various forms of partnership, cooperating in over 50 areas, and generating a combined economic output of nearly $30 trillion.

China has long championed the establishment of an SCO Development Bank, drawing parallels with other multilateral institutions such as the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). Both headquartered in China, these banks were initially seen as rivals to the IMF, World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB), but they now actively collaborate with them through co-financing mechanisms.

What else was in the Tianjin Declaration?

Alongside the decision to launch the process for the SCO Development Bank, the Tianjin Declaration also unveiled several key developments aimed at deepening cooperation within the bloc.

Reuters reported that the SCO dialogue partners and observers have been merged into a new category of SCO partner countries, formally expanding the organisation’s “family” to 27 members. Chinese Foreing Minister Wang Yi also noted that Pakistan and Armenia have officially established diplomatic relations under the SCO framework.

The declaration further stressed the bloc’s collective stance on global governance, strongly opposing the militarisation of the information and communication technology sphere. According to the news agency, this year’s delcaration further committed member states to strengthen cooperation in drug control and to hold the upcoming SCO Plus Dialogue on security issues in Uzbekistan.

Additionally, the document stressed that expanding exchanges and cooperation with the United Nations and its specialised structures remains a priority in the organisation’s international relations.

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East Asia, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

English bulletin September 1, 2025

THE PEOPLE RETURN TO THE STREETS

The Israeli genocide continues, and people around the world return to the streets to protest and to try to end it.

In Australia on August 3, hundreds of thousands of people came out in the rain and shut down the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Since October 7, 2023, there have been weekly rallies in Sydney and across Australia. Yet August 3 saw broadener sections of the population mobilize in support of Palestine. Historic numbers of community groups, trade unions and political organizations endorsed the action while a number of NSW politicians – including from the Minns government – backed the historic “March for Humanity”.

Again, on August 24, pro-Palestinian rallies took place across Australia with large turnouts in state capitals Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne. The Palestine Action Group said around 350,000 attended the rallies nationwide, including around 50,000 in Brisbane.

In London on August 9, an estimated 300,000 people marched through the center of the city for the 28th national demonstration for Palestine since October 2023. Along with the usual array of placards taking aim at Prime Minister Starmer and calling for action, there were noticeably more signs relating to the clampdown on democratic rights and civil liberties. The huge number of banners of local groups from across the country showed the truly national character of the march.

The London march took place despite efforts of the government to stop it, forbidding support for Palestine Action. Over 800 people gathered in Parliament Square to defy the proscription of Palestine Action, and the Met Police arrested 466 people – including a blind man in a wheelchair and a 90-year-old woman.

Thanks to the public pressure, the Australian government has announced it will recognize a Palestinian state. Many other governments are doing the same, including the UK despite its opposition to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations.

In Israel on August 17, The largest Israeli protest to date took place. About 500,000 people marched in Tel Aviv to demand an end to the war in Gaza and organizers say 1 million took part in demonstrations across the entire country. Most of the Israelis who were out on the streets “blame Netanyahu” for prioritizing his political survival over an end to the war. As one demonstrator told Democracy Now, “Last week, we decided to call to everyone in Israel, to all the citizens, to stop, take a day and stop all the country, in one saying: Please release the hostages, bring them home, and stop the war.”

Again on August 26, Tens of thousands of people took part in demonstrations across Israel, blocking highways on a “day of disruption” that aimed to push Benjamin Netanyahu into agreeing a deal to end the war and calling off plans to attack Gaza City. Relatives of hostages led the biggest march and rally in Tel Aviv, while in Jerusalem hundreds of people gathered outside the prime minister’s office as the security cabinet met to discuss the war. There were dozens of other protests around the country, including on the main highway to the northern city of Haifa and inside Ben Gurion airport.

One country is refusing to recognize a Palestinian state. The Israeli genocide cannot continue without the support of Donald Trump and the US government. For that reason, it is important that the Trump policies are coming under increasing opposition in the United States.

Hundreds of organizations are joining forces this fall to confront Trump & billionaire allies nationwide in the US, marking an historic collaboration of movements. Make Billionaires Pay is being convened by Desis Rising Up and Moving (DRUM), Women’s March, Climate Defenders, and 350.org, with over 100 endorsing organizations. It is part of a global week of action for climate justice, called “Draw the Line” (convened by 350.org, Demand Climate Justice, Climate Action Network and War on Want).

Also, unions and progressive organizations are planning nearly 1,000 “Workers Over Billionaires” demonstrations across the United States this Labor Day to protest President Donald Trump’s assault on workers’ rights. The day of national action has been organized by the May Day Strong coalition, which includes labor organizations like the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, and National Union of Healthcare Workers, as well as advocacy groups like Americans for Tax Fairness, Indivisible, Our Revolution, and Public Citizen.

At CPNN we believe that we must do all we can to express our solidarity with the people of Gaza and to stop and prevent the war crimes and genocide.

HUMAN RIGHTS


In Largest Israeli Protest to Date, 1 Million Israelis Demand Gaza Ceasefire to Free Hostages

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT


Zhijiang, China To Host 6th International Peace Culture Festival: Here’s What You Need To Know

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Mexico: Cuernavaca City Council Holds the First University Conference on a Culture of Peace in the State of Morelos

WOMEN’S EQUALITY


Niger: Maradi’s Traditional Leaders Equipped to Promote Women’s and Children’s Rights
  

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY


Australia: Pro-Palestine demonstration shuts down Sydney Harbour Bridge

EDUCATION FOR PEACE


Mexico: UATx Seeks to Consolidate a Culture of Peace Within Its Community

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY


Hiroshima Peace Declaration on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION


Changing the Narrative: Why West African Media Is Embracing Peace Journalism

d-human rights

Ugandan Journalist Wins Luxembourg Peace Prize

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Peace News

A Ugandan journalist recently won the 2025 Luxembourg Peace Prize for outstanding peace journalism. On June 27, journalist Gloria Laker Adiiki Aciro accepted the prestigious award. Aciro is the founder of the Peace Journalism Foundation (PJF), and has reported on people building peace in the midst of the crisis surrounding the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA).

Starting with its founding in 1987, the LRA devastated northern Uganda and neighboring countries by killing and abducting thousands of civilians, capturing child soldiers, and displacing hundreds of thousands. Aid agencies have worked to provide psycho-social support to help reintegrate people who were abducted by the LRA as child soldiers.

Aciro herself was a victim of the LRA when she was displaced during the LRA  war as a young girl in 1997. She started journalism with no training or experience, facing sexual harassment and sex-based discrimination in a society that considered journalism a man’s job. Aciro went on to found the PJF, which works to promote conflict-sensitive journalism. There, she has trained and mentored over 700 journalists across Africa as the director and media trainer. 

Two of Aciro’s articles have been featured in Peace News Network (PNN). The articles made up a two-part series about how two women, Judith Obina and Nora Anek, confronted LRA leader Joseph Kony and ended his brutal war in Northern Uganda. 

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Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

African journalism and the Culture of Peace, A model for the rest of the world?

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In part one  of the series, Aciro interviews Obina and details how Obina, a private secretary to President Yoweri Museveni, was entrusted with a the responsibility of caring for Joseph Kony’s elderly mother, Nora Anek Oting. In 2007, when Anek wanted to see her son, Obina saw this as a chance for Kony to abandon the violence that had devastated so many lives.

In part two, Aciro dives into Obina’s life inside the jungle with the LRA. There, she spent 14 days with Joseph Kony, the LRA’s leader, in a hideout in Ri-kwamba in 2007. After nine days of negotiations, a key moment arrived when Anek spoke to her son about ending the war. Obina said that Kony “said that he would never step foot in Uganda again to fight, kill, or abduct.” Aciro reports on the power of Anek’s relationship with her son. 

An Inspiration to Women in Journalism

Aciro received her award at the 13th Luxembourg Peace Prize ceremony amongst peacebuilders from around the world, journalist Cinderella Ayebare-Kalita reported. Esther Omam, the Chairperson of the Women Building Peace African Network (WBPAN), called on women to celebrate Aciro’s achievement.

“Dear sisters and colleagues, it is with immense joy that we celebrate our own Gloria… This recognition honors her work covering the LRA war and promoting peace journalism in Africa. We are proud of you, Gloria! Your achievement is a testament to the power of courage, commitment, and truth-telling in building peace.”

Aciro said, “I look forward to continuing my efforts in promoting peace and journalistic excellence.”

In light of Uganda’s upcoming election, she also announced announced the PJF’s future plans: launching a peace journalism initiative designed to detect, reject, and remove hate speech and misinformation, and training female journalists ahead of elections to amplify diverse voices in media. 

She urged journalists to demonstrate the “utmost responsibility… ensuring that our platforms are not used to spread hate speech.”
Aciro invited people to partner with and support the PJF.

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Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

Mexico: Cuernavaca City Council Holds the First University Conference on a Culture of Peace in the State of Morelos

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from the city of Cuernavaca

The Cuernavaca City Council, through the Directorate of Migration and Religious Affairs, held the first University Conference on a Culture of Peace in the State of Morelos, with the purpose of raising awareness among the academic community about the importance of fostering values ​​that strengthen social peace.

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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The event took place in the César Carrizales Auditorium of the Autonomous University of the State of Morelos (UAEM), with the participation of 50 attendees, including students, faculty, and researchers. It was supported by the Interdisciplinary Research Center for University Development (CIIDU) and the Human Rights Commission of the State of Morelos.

During the activities, two roundtable discussions were held with specialists, who discussed various psychological, economic, and social factors that influence the construction of a culture of peace, also providing a space for public participation.

As part of a comprehensive strategy promoted by the Cuernavaca City Council, led by Mayor José Luis Urióstegui Salgado, these workshops will continue to be held in the municipality’s educational and community centers, with the goal of fostering an active citizenry in building a comprehensive peace that encompasses all areas, including the social and educational.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Nearly 1,000 ‘Workers Over Billionaires’ Protests Planned Across US for Labor Day

. HUMAN RIGHTS .

An article by Stephen Prager from Common Dreams (reprinted according to Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Unions and progressive organizations are planning nearly 1,000 “Workers Over Billionaires” demonstrations across the United States this Labor Day to protest President Donald Trump’s assault on workers’ rights.


Thousands of labor union members and activists march in Philadelphia for May Day, on May 1, 2025. (Photo by the Philadelphia Democratic Socialists of America)

The day of national action has been organized by the May Day Strong coalition, which includes labor organizations like the AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, and National Union of Healthcare Workers, as well as advocacy groups like Americans for Tax Fairness, Indivisible, Our Revolution, and Public Citizen.

“Labor and community are planning more than a barbecue on Labor Day this year because we have to stop the billionaire takeover,” the coalition says. “Billionaires are stealing from working families, destroying our democracy, and building private armies to attack our towns and cities.”

Since coming into office, the Trump administration has waged war on workers’ rights. Among many other actions, his administration has stripped over a million federal workers of their right to collectively bargain in what has been called the largest act of union busting in American history and dramatically cut their wages.

He has also weakened workplace safety enforcement, eliminated rules that protected workers against wage theft, and proposed eliminating the federal minimum wage for more than 3.7 million childcare and home workers.

Despite Trump’s efforts, Americans still believe in the power of collective action. According to a Gallup poll published Thursday, 68% of Americans say they approve of labor unions, the highest level of support since the mid-1960s.

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Questions related to this article:

The struggle for human rights, is it gathering force in the USA?

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“Just like any bad boss, the way we stop the takeover is with collective action,” the coalition says on its website.

The May Day Strong coalition previously organized  hundreds of thousands of workers to take to the streets for International Workers Day, more commonly known as “May Day.” On Monday, rallies are once again expected  across all 50 states.

Four months later, their list of grievances has grown even longer, with Republicans having since passed a tax cut expected to facilitate perhaps the largest upward transfer of wealth in US history, featuring massive tax breaks for the wealthy paid for with historic cuts to the social safety net.

“There are nearly 1,000 billionaires in the country with a whopping $6 trillion, and that is still not enough for them,” said Saqib Bhattie, executive director of the Action Center on Race and the Economy, another group participating in the protests. “They are pushing elected officials to slash Medicaid, [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program] benefits, and special education funding for schools in order to fund their tax breaks. We need to claw back money from the billionaire. We need to push legislation to tax billionaires at the state and local levels. We need to organize to build the people power necessary to overcome their money.”

The group also plans to respond to Trump’s lawless attacks on immigrants and his militarized takeovers of American cities.

“This Labor Day,” said Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, “we continue the fight for our democracy, the fight for the soul of our nation, the fight against the vindictive authoritarian moves Trump and the billionaire class aimed at stealing from working people and concentrating power.”

“This is about workers showing up and demanding what workers deserve all across the country,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers. “This Labor Day is really different, because it’s not just labor unions, as important as we may be to the workers we represent. It has to be all workers and all working families saying enough. Workers and working families deserve the bounty of the country.”

May Day Strong will host a national “mass call”  online on Saturday. The locations of the hundreds of protests on Monday can be found using the map on May Day Strong’s website.

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HUMAN RIGHTS, North America

Hiroshima Peace Declaration on 80th anniversary of atomic bombing

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from Mainichi Japan

The following is the full text of the Peace Declaration read on Aug. 6 by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui at a ceremony to mark 80 years since the 1945 atomic bombing of the city.


Visitors hold their hands together in prayer in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims at Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima’s Naka Ward on Aug. 6, 2025. (Mainichi/Kenjiro Sato)

Eighty years ago, Hiroshima was strewn with bodies too damaged to identify even their sex. One hibakusha (survivor) ignored the many glass shards piercing her body to cremate her father with her own hands. Elsewhere, a young woman begged, “I don’t care if I die. Please! Give me water!” Decades later, a woman who heard that plea still regretted not giving the young woman water. She told herself that fighting for the elimination of nuclear weapons was the best she could do for those who died. Another hibakusha spent his life alone because the parents of the woman he loved refused to let her marry anyone exposed to the bomb.

One hibakusha leader frequently reminded younger audiences, “Building a peaceful world without nuclear weapons will demand our never-give-up spirit. We have to talk and keep talking to people who hold opposing views.” Today, conveying the ardent pleas for peace derived from hibakusha experiences is more crucial than ever.

The United States and Russia still possess about 90% of the world’s nuclear warheads. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the chaos in the Middle East are accelerating military buildups around the world. Feeling the pressure of this situation, policymakers in some countries even accept the idea that “nuclear weapons are essential for national defense.” These developments flagrantly disregard the lessons the international community should have learned from the tragedies of history. They threaten to topple the peacebuilding frameworks so many have worked so hard to construct.

Despite the current turmoil at the nation-state level, we, the people, must never give up. Instead, we must work even harder to build civil society consensus that nuclear weapons must be abolished for a genuinely peaceful world. Our youth, the leaders of future generations, must recognize that misguided policies regarding military spending, national security, and nuclear weapons could bring utterly inhumane consequences. We urge them to step forward with this understanding and lead civil society toward consensus through expanded participation at the grassroots level. In this process, we must all remember to think less about ourselves and more about each other. Thinking of others is how humanity has resolved much conflict and turmoil on our path to the present day. Clearly, nations, too, must look beyond narrow self-interest to consider the circumstances of other nations.

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Question related to this article:
 
Can we abolish all nuclear weapons?

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In expanding grassroots initiatives, solidarity will be indispensable. Cultural arts and sports exchanges contribute enormously to the culture of peace we seek. And in fostering that culture of peace, young people can easily take the lead. All they need to do is conceive and initiate projects they can carry out in the course of daily life, such as peace-centered art and music projects or planting seeds and saplings from atomic-bombed trees. The City of Hiroshima continuously offers opportunities to experience the culture of peace built by Hiroshima’s hibakusha and other predecessors in their spirit of mutual support. The more our peace culture transcends national borders, the more it will pressure policymakers now relying on nuclear deterrence to revise their policies.

Policymakers around the world, can you not see that security policies derived from narrow self-interest are fomenting international conflict? Nations now strengthening their military forces, some including nuclear arsenals, must engage constructively in talks aimed at abandoning reliance on nuclear weapons. Please, visit Hiroshima. Witness with your own eyes what an atomic bombing does. Take to heart the peace-loving spirit of Hiroshima, then begin immediately discussing a security framework based on trust through dialogue.

Japan is the only nation that has suffered an atomic bombing in war. The Japanese government represents a people who aspire for genuine and lasting peace. Hiroshima demands that our government lead toward unification of our divided international community. As president of Mayors for Peace, already the world’s largest network of peace cities and still growing, the City of Hiroshima will collaborate with our more than 8,500 member cities worldwide to instill the culture of peace, which stands in firm opposition to military force. We will call on policymakers to revise their policies. We call on Japan, for example, to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Doing so would manifest the spirit of Hiroshima and begin to answer the supplications of our hibakusha, represented by Nihon Hidankyo, last year’s Nobel Peace Prize recipient.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is on the brink of dysfunctionality. The TPNW should serve as strong support for that treaty, helping it remain the cornerstone of the nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. We demand that Japan at least participate as an observer during the first TPNW Review Conference next year. Furthermore, in light of the intensified global challenges of coping with radiation damage due to nuclear testing, we demand that our government strengthen measures of support for all hibakusha, including those living abroad. With their average age now exceeding 86, they still face myriad hardships caused by radiation damage to their minds and bodies.

At this Peace Memorial Ceremony marking 80 years since the atomic bombing, we offer our heartfelt condolences to the souls of the victims of the atomic bombings. We renew our determination to work together with Nagasaki and with likeminded people around the world to reach humanity’s long-sought goal — the abolition of nuclear weapons leading to lasting world peace.

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DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, East Asia