Category Archives: Europe

France: A Look Back at the Solidarity March

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .

An article by Contre Attaque

Around 150,000 people took to the streets across the country on Saturday, March 14th, to protest against racism, fascism, and war. There were 100,000 in Paris, 12,000 in Lyon, 10,000 in Marseille, 5,000 in Toulouse, 4,000 in Nantes and Rennes, 3,000 in Montpellier, over 2,000 in Bordeaux, 1,500 in Besançon… But also hundreds of people in numerous medium-sized and small towns throughout the country, in more than 100 diverse and intergenerational marches.


Dozens of banners, placards, tifos, and flags were unfurled. There were groups of undocumented immigrants, antifascists, anticolonialists, feminists, artists, and chants… It was a real success, in a very difficult political and social context, and on the eve of an election. And yet, what was the media coverage? Virtually nonexistent.

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(Click here for the French original of this article.)

Questions related to this article:

How can we be sure to get news about peace demonstrations?

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When the entire European far right converged on Lyon to celebrate its martyrdom a month ago, it barely managed to gather 3,200 people. And yet, this neo-Nazi march was broadcast live by every television channel, and even glorified by France Info, which described it as a “family-friendly” event. As for the fascist organizers, they were given free rein to parade on every television channel before and after this sinister march to promote their ideas and spread their lies.

Media manipulation also means this: overvaluing every reactionary meeting, every lowbrow activist, or the latest anti-LFI hack, while rendering invisible all the far more numerous voices fighting for justice and equality.

It is therefore vital and necessary to showcase our struggles, our words, our creations, to make them exist wherever possible. And to come together in even greater numbers and with even greater determination for the struggles to come. They have the billions, we are millions.

To find the platform for the Solidarity March, with upcoming deadlines, visuals, and fundraising information, the presentation is here.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

International Women’s Day: East Europe

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from East Europe:

BELARUS


Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s address to Belarusian women on International Women’s Day: March 8 is not a gentle spring holiday. It is a struggle for the right to be safe. For the right to true equality in society, the right to hold leadership positions, to receive equal pay with men, and the freedom not to conform to anyone else’s standards. For the right to have a voice that cannot be silenced. Belarusian women have repeatedly shown that they will not stay silent. You have taken to the streets, defended each other, and refused to be broken. (According to Wikipedia, Sviatlana Hieorhiyeuna Tsikhanouskaya is a Belarusian opposition leader and political activist. Since running in the 2020 presidential election against President Alexander Lukashenko, she has led dissidence to his authoritarian rule through an alternate government operating from Lithuania and Poland.

GEORGIA


A week dedicated to International Women’s Day was held at European University. The main goal of the initiative was to raise awareness about issues related to women’s rights, health, and well-being.

HUNGARY


International women’s day in Budapest, Hungary: video of demonstration. The placade “LE A PATRIARCHATJSSAL” means “DOWN WITH PATRIARCHY3.

LATVIA


Video: “We don’t want flowers, we want safety” – these and other slogans were agreed upon by both women and many men participating at the women’s solidarity march organized by the association “Centrs Marta” on March 8th in Rīga. They emphasized that women’s rights to be fully equal to men’s and that protection from violence remains a pressing issue. See video here.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION


A festive concert dedicated to International Women’s Day was held at the Majalis Village Cultural Center in the Kaytag District of Dagestan. The concert opened with a dance performance by students from the Rodnichok kindergarten. A choreography group from the children’s art school then performed an Ossetian dance.

Question related to this article:
 
International Women’s Day

RUSSIAN PRESIDENT PUTIN


In the edited address for International Women’s Day., Putin praised women for their ability to “captivate with beauty and charm while also showing diligence, determination and resilience.” “A generous, compassionate and truly wise feminine soul makes the world a better and kinder place, and a mother’s love remains in every person’s heart for life,” he said.

SERBIA


Minister of Defence Bratislav Gašić presented personal gifts to 150 female members of the Ministry of Defence and the Serbian Armed Forces at a ceremony marking International Women’s Day – March 8, held at the Guard Club in Topčider.

SLOVENIA


Lukadakskobler: International Women’s Day protest in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on March 8, 2026. The banner “NE BOMO DELALE ZA VASE VOJNE” means “WE WILL NOT WORK FOR YOUR WARS;”

UKRAINE


Ukrainian stars such as Masha Efrosinina, Jamala, alyona alyona and others addressed women with a message of courage and equality on International Women’s Day. (The poster says “Equality is the best gift” in Ukrainian.)

UKRAINE PRESIDENT ZELENSKY


Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praises Ukrainian women on International Women’s Day for taking a central role in defending their country against Russia’s invasion.”I think it’s important to say thank you today. To thank all the women who work, teach, study, save, treat and fight for Ukraine,” Volodymyr Zelensky says in a video uploaded by the presidency.

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Europe, Uncategorized, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

International Women’s Day: West Europe and Scandinavia

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

A press survey by CPNN

Here are the results from Western Europe and Scandinavia.

BELGIUM


People protest outside the Iranian embassy as part of International Women’s day in Brussels, Belgium March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Johanna Geron

FINLAND


Thousands of people marched through central Helsinki on Sunday to mark International Women’s Day and call for stronger protection of women’s rights. Police estimated that up to 15,000 participants joined the demonstration. Photo: Seppo Samuli / Str / Lehtikva.

FRANCE, BORDEAUX


A protestor holds a sign reading “Male executioner” (with a play on word with the cigarettes brand Malboro) in Bordeaux. (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU / AFP)

FRANCE, LILLE


Lille: stilt walkers also joined the march on March 8, 2026. • © Morvan Antoine / France Télévisions

FRANCE, PARIS

The International Women’s Day in Paris attracted around 32,000 people, according to police. Photo by Kenzo TRIBOUILLARD / AFP

GERMANY, BERLIN


On International Women’s Day yesterday, tens of thousands of Berliners demonstrated in Germany’s capital for equal rights for women. The sign “FEMINISMUS STATT FASCHISMUS” means “FEMINISM INSTEAD OF FASCISM”. Other hand-held signs included the phrases “Every death is one too many”, “Equality is not rocket science” and “Man does not kill for love”.

GERMANY, ERFURT



Erfurt, Germany had it’s first Take Back the Night demo, supporting anti-fascist solidarity and bodily autonomy.

GREECE


Women participate in a rally marking International Women’s Day in Athens. In his message, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said: “International Women’s Day becomes, every year, a meeting point between our achievements and the goal of turning equality into a daily reality, by overturning the many visible and invisible obstacles that still remain.” [Reuters]

IRELAND

People march to mark International Women’s Day in Dublin, Ireland, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Clodagh Kilcoyne

ITALY, MILAN


In Milan, over 40 thousand people joined the march called by Non Una Di Meno, with the lead banner reading “disarm war and patriarchy”.

ITALY, ROME


Demonstrators carry a banner that reads: “Against wars, violence and poverty. Eco transfeminist strike” during an International Women’s Day rally, as women strike to demand the end to domestic and racist violence, wars and the country’s prevailing “macho” culture, in Rome, Italy, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Yara Nardi

MALTA


A woman holds a poster as people take part in a Women’s Day protest with the theme “Women united against injustice” in Valletta, Malta March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Darrin Zammit Lupi

NETHERLANDS


Participants march through the streets of Amsterdam, Netherlands, on March 8, 2026, holding signs advocating for gender equality during an International Women’s Day demonstration.

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International Women’s Day

SPAIN, BARCELONA


People attend a demonstration on the occasion of International Women’s Day in Barcelona, Spain, March 8, 2026. The main theme was opposition to the American and Israeli attack on Iran (EPA Photo)

SPAIN, BILBAO


People take part in a march to mark International Women’s Day, in Bilbao, Spain, March 8, 2023. REUTERS/Vincent West

SPAIN, LONGROÑO


Around 2,000 people participated this Sunday in the International Women’s Day demonstration, which turned the streets of downtown Logroño purple with demands commemorating the rights won by feminism, fighting to prevent any backsliding on equality, and rejecting all forms of violence against women.. Phoro: EFE/Raquel Manzanares

SPAIN, MADRID


Thousands of marchers gathered in the center of Madrid, where two demonstrations were held. The larger march, organized by the 8M Commission, marched from Atocha to Seville, carrying a banner with the slogan “Antifascist Feminists. We are more. Everywhere.” “We are facing a bunch of pathetic bastards who are going to burn the planet to gain even more money and power, who treat life like a video game,” reads the manifesto of the organizers, who claim 160,000 participants. Photo: EFE/Rodrigo Jiménez

SPAIN, MÉRIDA


In Mérida, among banners and chanted slogans such as “Long live the women’s struggle,” “Less fascism and more feminism,” “The struggle continues, whatever the cost,” and “Against denialism, we are feminism,” the “No to war” slogan was also present at the march with approximately 200 people, according to the police, and 1,500 according to the organizers. The representative of the Mérida-based platform, María Tena, told the media that they are demanding “no to war and the fight against all global fascism, which is trying to use women’s rights as a commodity, as an instrument of political change, and as a weapon to throw us into situations of armed conflict.” Photo: EFE/ Vicente M. Roso

SPAIN, PAMPLONA


Massive march in Pamplona EFE/ Jesús Diges

SPAIN, SANTANDER


The streets of Santander were filled with thousands of people this Sunday to celebrate International Women’s Day. Throughout the route, various feminist organizations and associations raised their banners and chanted slogans, including messages for transgender women, interracial women, and the precarious working conditions women face. They also denounced sexist violence, with messages such as “rapists existed before the miniskirt” or “sexism kills, feminism saves lives.” Photo: EFE/Eva García

SPAIN, TOLEDO


In Toledo, the demonstration began in Parque de la Vega with a “No to war” slogan, asserting that “feminism is internationalist.” The march, which brought together hundreds of people, proceeded from the park to Plaza de Zocodover, where the message was proclaimed that feminists “won’t be silenced.” Photo: EFE/Ángeles Visdómine

SPAIN, VALÉNCIA


The Women’s Day demonstration organized by the Valencia Feminist Movement marched through the city center this Sunday to express its “outright rejection” of the violence and denial of rights perpetrated against girls and women “simply for being women” and to demand “real equality.” The protest, which turned the streets of Valencia purple under the slogan “Democracy without feminism = Barbarism,” also said “no to wars, the ultimate expression of patriarchy and the system of domination,” because a world at war, it asserted, “can never be a world of equality.” Photo: EFE/ Ana Escobar

SPAIN, VALLADOLID


The Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, holds a banner with the slogan ‘We will not let the past advance’ during a demonstration organized by the Valladolid Women’s Coordinator for International Women’s Day. Photogenic/Claudia Alba Photogenic/Claudia Alba / Europa Press

TURKEY


Thousands of women marched through Istanbul to mark International Women’s Day late Sunday defying a ban on demonstrations, with the rally passing without incident despite a heavy police presence. The demonstrators packed the streets of Cihangir district, some carrying parasols garlanded in fairy lights, others waving a sea of colorful banners with slogans such as: “Kurdish for Women, life, freedom,” “Femicides are political!” or even “My favorite season is the fall of the patriarchy.” Photo AFP.

UNITED KINGDOM


Thousands of women took to the streets of central London on Saturday for the 19th annual Million Women Rise march, against male violence against women and girls ( Photo by Ellie Macieria-Fielding for The New Feminist)

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Europe, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

The “Assisi Charter” is signed – Universities reaffirm their commitment as bridges of peace

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Agenparl

PREAMBLE

Assisi has, for centuries, been a city that speaks of peace to the world.

From Assisi comes Francis, whose eighth centenary we celebrate this year: a figure who bequeathed to history a humanism of peace founded on fraternity, the protection of creation, reconciliation between human beings and between humanity and the earth that hosts it. An embodied humanism, capable of bringing together differences, fragilities, and tensions without erasing them, and of inspiring profound reflection on human rights, on encounters between people, on respect for the environment, and on peace.

In that same historical period, the university as universitas took shape: a community of people and knowledge, a universal space for relationships, capable from its origins of crossing political, geographical, cultural, and religious boundaries. It is within this horizon that the University of Perugia was also born (1308), a living part of that universal tradition of knowledge.

Umbria continued to speak of peace even in the twentieth century: Aldo Capitini indicated a nonviolent path based on education, participation, and personal and collective responsibility.

For this reason, in Assisi, the University of Perugia, together with the universities and academic institutions gathered here, subscribes to the following principles, assuming a historical and public responsibility.


Photo from Universitá di Roma (click on image to enlarge)

ASSISI CHARTER

Founding principles

The university as a universal space for relationships

The university was born as a universitas: an open community of students , professors, researchers, and all the staff (technicians, administrators, librarians, and cel) who make the life of the university possible, united by a love of knowledge and the method of free, democratic, and peaceful debate.

Its original vocation is not opposition, but relationship; Not identity-based closure, but openness;

Not separation, but encounter.

For this reason, the university is called to be a place where differences are not denied or erased, but inhabited, understood, and transformed into dialogue.

2. Peace as a process, not a slogan.

Peace is not a sudden event nor the result of a victory.

It is a long, patient, formative process.

Universities, by their very nature, operate over a long period of time: they educate, train,
support, and foster critical thinking and responsibility.

In this sense, peace is not an external addition to the university mission, but is an essential constitutive dimension.

3. Knowledge, responsibility and justice

Knowledge is not neutral.

All knowledge has an impact on the world, on people, on communities and therefore requires a sense of responsibility.

Universities are committed to:

• orienting research and teaching towards the common good;

• promoting a responsible use of technologies;

• addressing the great transformations of our time – environmental, social, digital – with ethical awareness.

Peace is inseparable from justice and equity, from sustainability and from caring for the environment that welcomes us and that we have a duty to preserve for future generations.

4. Universities, cities and territories: alliances for peace

Universities are not islands.

They live in cities, territories, and communities.

Being bridges of peace also means:

• building alliances between institutions;

• engaging in dialogue with social, cultural, civil, and productive realities;

• contributing to the human and sustainable development of territories.

Peace grows where relationships of trust and shared responsibility are forged.

5. Peace as a long path

Peace is not a destination, but a journey: it is built day after day, generation after generation. It is a long path that requires patience, perseverance, and vision.

Universities are called to travel it with a particular responsibility: to educate in critical thinking, to cultivate dialogue between cultures and knowledge, to dismantle prejudices through knowledge. It means recognizing that complexity is not resolved by force, but by intelligence and empathy; that conflict cannot be erased, but is overcome with tools of reason and care.

This path passes through classrooms, laboratories, libraries, and seminars; through research focused on humanity’s common problems; through exchanges between students from different countries; through the rejection of any knowledge that becomes an instrument of oppression.

Lasting peace is built by forming free consciences and open minds, capable of recognizing the other not as an enemy, but as a partner. It is a work of attention, listening and responsibility: it is not immediate, it cannot be simplified, it cannot be reduced to slogans.

(Article continued in right column.)

Questions for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

University campus peace centers, What is happening on your campus?

(Article continued from left column.)

6. Spirituality, values ​​and protection of humanity

In a secular and welcoming way, this Charter recognizes that peace is expressedalso starting from a profound reflection on the spiritual values ​​that cross cultures.

Universities welcome dialogue between different spiritualities, with the aim of safeguarding humanity, which is completed by:

• safeguarding the dignity of each person;

• recognizing the value of relationships;

• maintaining an ethical approach in times of great transformations, including those related to artificial intelligence.

7. Universities as bridges of peace in the world

In a world crossed by conflicts, polarizations, and new forms of division, universities reaffirm their role as:

• spaces for dialogue;

• places where differences meet;

• laboratories for a shared future.

Dialogue only makes sense if it is inhabited within a relational universality that fully recognizes the other. Universities choose to be bridges, not walls.

CONCLUSION

This Charter is not a point of arrival, but a commitment, signed and shared.

Universities are committed to educating for Peace, practicing Peace, and building peaceful relationships through actions such as establishing degree programs on Peace issues, establishing chairs or courses on Peace issues, establishing working groups to evaluate agreements between and with universities in conflict contexts, establishing Peace Study Centers , developing international networks on Peace issues, or any other action with the same general goals.

Possible Actions

• Establish degree programs on Peace issues;

Peace requires specific and interdisciplinary skills, capable of understanding the roots of conflicts and imagining paths to reconciliation.

We need mediation professionals, international cooperation experts, and dialogue builders.

• Establish chairs or courses on Peace issues;

Integrating this dimension into all educational programs, as the culture of peace cannot be a marginal specialization: it must cross disciplines, since all knowledge can and must be oriented towards building bridges of peace.

• Establish working groups to evaluate agreements between and with universities in conflict-affected contexts; Taking ethical responsibility for their collaborations, universities commit to rigorously and transparently evaluating every partnership, exchange, and funding, the moral and political implications of which must be assessed.

• Establish Peace Study Centers; Permanent places of research, documentation, and reflection. Centers that can become points of reference for scholars, policymakers, and civil society; laboratories for developing analyses, proposing solutions, and preserving the memory of conflicts and their resolutions.

• Developing international networks on the themes of Peace.
Peace is by definition a global common good. Universities must forge alliances that transcend political borders, creating communities of research and practice that overcome national divisions, building bridges where others raise walls.

Assisi, 25 February 2026

Université Catholique de Lyon (Founded in 1875) Pr. Grégory Woimbée

Universidad de Guadalajara (Founded in 1792) Prof.ssa Karla Planter Pérez

Agricultural University of Tirana (Founded in 1951) Prof.ssa Erinda Lika e Prof.ssa Koto Romina

Université Clermont Auvergne (Founded in 1519) Prof.ssa Marie-Elisabeth Baudoin

Università degli Studi di Siena (Fondata nel 1240) Prof. Gianluca Navone

Università degli Studi di Macerata (Fondata nel 1290) Prof. John Francis McCourt

Sapienza Università di Roma (Fondata nel 1303) Prof. Fabio Sciarrino

Università degli Studi di Perugia (Fondata nel 1308) Prof. Massimiliano Marianelli

Università degli Studi di Firenze (Fondata nel 1321) Prof.ssa Maria Paola Monaco

Università degli Studi di Camerino (Fondata nel 1336) Prof. Graziano Leoni

Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo (Fondata nel 1506) Prof. Giorgio Calcagnini

Università degli Studi dell’Aquila (Fondata nel 1596) Prof. Fabio Graziosi

Università per Stranieri di Perugia (Fondata nel 1925) Prof. Valerio De Cesaris

Università del Salento (Fondata nel 1955) Prof. Salvatore Rizzello

Università degli Studi “G. D’Annunzio” Chieti Pescara (Fondata nel 1965) Prof. Liborio Stuppia

Polytechnic University of Marche (Founded in 1969) Prof. Enrico Quagliarini

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe

School Day of Non-violence and Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

by CPNN

The School Day of Non-Violence and Peace is celebrated on January 30.

This year the day was celebrated in Spain, Mexico and Cuba.


March by the students in Teror.

According to Wikipedia, this day was proposed by the Spanish poet Llorenç Vidal Vidal in Majorca in 1964 as a “starting point and support for a pacifying and non-violent education of a permanent character.”

Vidal chose the date of January 30 to commemorate the great prophet of non-violence and peace, Mahatma Gandhi, who was assassinated on this day in 1948.

It was popularized in France in the 1970’s by the Gandhian disciple Lanza del Vasto in his utopian  Communauté de l’Arche.

The day is recognized by UNICEF in Spain.

In Palma, on the Island of Mallorca in Spain, 3,500 primary and secondary school students took part in the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace event. The celebration included the reading of a peace manifesto by student representatives, followed by a concert by the musical group Pèl de Gall. Afterwards, doves were released, a universal symbol of peace and of the commitment to promoting coexistence and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

In the Mediterráneo secondary schools in Spain,  representatives from each secondary school group read their manifestos on behalf of their classes, linking their pledges to the chain of commitments from the previous group. This gesture symbolized the unity of all students in a shared commitment to positive and respectful coexistence. The grand finale was a reading of the poem “White Souls” by the high school students.

In schools of Zaragoza, Spain, there were artistic creations and exhibitions, fundraisers and charity runs, speeches and poems, music, games, and gatherings in the playground between students of different grades… all promoting peace, non-violence, and kindness.

In the Huerto Escolar Ecológico school in the Canary Islands of Spain, students made presentations for peace and non-violence on their school radio station.

In the Tafira – Nelson Mandela secondary school of the Canary Islands, students listened to “Poetry Committed to Peace” played over the school’s public address system during the first few minutes of each class and the 7th-grade students prepared an “Images for Peace” exhibition.

In the Teror secondary school , also in the Canary Islands, the event began with a march by the students, carrying a banner with the slogan ‘The first condition for peace is the will to achieve it’, and chanting in unison, “Who are we? IES de Teror. What do we want? Peace.” In the Manifesto for Peace read by the students, they also emphasized this message: “Peace is not just the absence of war. Peace is respect, dialogue, equality, and justice.”

The secondary school of La Aldea de San Nicolás in the Canary Islands presented the official video clip of the song “Let us live in peace”.  This audiovisual project is the result of intensive collaborative work aimed at raising awareness among the school community and the general public about the importance of coexistence, mutual respect, and the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

In Salamanca, Spain, the event included the reading of a manifesto, accompanied by a musical performance by a teacher from the Divino Maestro school, followed by the formation of a large circle for peace. Afterwards, the Mayor of Salamanca received a delegation from the school in the Reception Hall.

Continued in right column)

(Click here for the article in Spanish)

Questions related to this article:
 
How can we be sure to get news about peace demonstrations?

(Continued from left column)

In Villacañas, Spain, a large globe, the work of local artist Manuel García Mochales,was installed in the Plaza de España. Throughout the day, the various participating schools added their artwork and messages to this piece, transforming it into a collective symbol of Villacañas’ commitment to peace. The celebration also included musical accompaniment and the performance of a song that was sung together by all attendees, highlighting the importance of education as a fundamental pillar for building a culture of peace.

In Barcelona, Children from Turó Blau School, Elisenda de Montcada School Institute, Bosc de Montjuïc Institute, Pedralbes Institute, and Caterina Albert Institute shared a series of learning experiences and reflections on “Invisible Violence”. The event was facilitated by the Escola de Cultura de Pau.

Ecologistas en Acción. based in Madrid, took part in the planting of olive trees on the occasion of the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace on January 30. This is part of the campaign entitled “There is no peace without justice.” of the Palestinian Tide platform, comprised of more than 60 educational organizations.

In Lleida, Catalonia, Spain, A total of 1,500 children participated in the commemoration of the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. The boys and girls left messages of peace on maps installed in the squares of Pau Casals, Magnolias and Sant Jordi. The schools Sant Jordi, Minerva, Sant Josep de Calassanç, Països Catalans, Enric Farreny, Màrius Torres, Parc de l’Aigua, El Carme, Frederic Godàs, Esperança, Maria Rúbies, Joan Oró, Santa Anna, Sant Jaume Les Heures, Santa Maria de Gardeny and FEDAC participated.

In Cieza, Spain, the San José Obrero School in Cieza once again transformed its commemorative day for the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace into a pedagogical and artistic experience. This time, students and teachers climbed onto the deck of a ship to present the play “Pirates of the Sea of ​​Peace”. With the theme that “peace is not conquered, it is built,” students and teachers explored diverse cultures to understand how each people live in harmony, learning the values of each place and performaing a traditional dance from each region.. During the performance, they docked at various ports to receive lessons from each community they visited, including China, Hawaii, Africa, India and Mexico.

The Football Club of Seville, Spain celebrated the day by a series of actions with the Entre Amigos Association in the Polígono Sur neighborhood to combat school absenteeism and bullying.

In Santander, Spain, to celebrate the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace, the mayor placed a plaque to rename the park next to La Anunciación Scholl as “La Paz Park” and a group of children from the school sang a song for peace..

In Peñaranda, Spain,  the school community of La Encarnación celebrated Peace Day in the school auditorium. The students carried symbols related to this commemoration, and a manifesto in favor of peace and against violence was read..

In Vitoria-Gasteiz , in the Basque region of Spain,  a total of 1315 students from all the Church schools in the capital of Alavesa – shared a central event in the New Cathedral for the School Day of Non-violence and Peace. The program included testimonies from several students, music, a prayer, and a manifesto for peace.

In Léon, in the Northwest of Spain, the educational community of the Divina Pastora School commemorated the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. Students from each grade level created a peace pledge.

In Zocalo Monclova, Mexico, an event was held at the Ignacio Zaragoza Secondary School with educational and municipal authorities. The municipal government reiterated its commitment to promoting initiatives that strengthen a culture of peace in schools.

In the Yucatan, Mexico, the State Center for Social Crime Prevention held a soccer tournament to commemorate the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace.

In Holguín, Cuba, the group Friends of Cuba, based in Victoria, Canada, held a solidarity meeting at the “Ronald Andalia Nieves” school, coinciding with the School Day of Non-Violence and Peace. Accompanied by representatives from the Party, the Government, and the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, as well as neighbors and local students, the visitors participated in political and cultural activities and planted a tree as a symbol of brotherhood and commitment to a fairer world.

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America,

Protests in France agains US attack on Venezuela

Question related to this article:
 
Can Trump force regime change in Venezuela, Cuba and Colombia?

(Continued from left column)

° ° ° ° °


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DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Europe, Latin America,

Greta Thunberg Arrested in UK for Supporting Palestine Action and Opposing Gaza Genocide

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by Julia Conley from Common Dreams (republished according to Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 3.0)

Because in the world we live in, Western leaders can arm a genocide and walk free—while Greta Thunberg is arrested as a dangerous terrorist supporter."

That was the assessment of journalist Owen Jones on Tuesday after the Swedish climate justice leader was arrested in London outside the offices of Aspen Insurance, a company that provides services to an Israeli weapons maker, where she had been seated on the ground with a sign stating, "I support Palestine Action prisoners, I oppose genocide."

The protest was in solidarity with demonstrators who have been imprisoned for taking part in nonviolent direct actions with the UK-based group Palestine Action. The government banned Palestine Action in July as a terrorist group, making it the first group to be declared as such under part of the UK Terrorism Act that defines "serious damage to property" as an act of terror—rather than violence against people.

Under the law, anyone who displays items or clothing that "arouse reasonable suspicion" of support for Palestine Action can be punished with up to six months in prison.

Thunberg is one of thousands of people who have taken to the streets in support since the group's proscription, and one of about 2,000 people who have been arrested for doing so. Two other activists were also arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

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

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In Thunberg's case, a spokesperson for City of London police said "she has been arrested for displaying an item (in this case a placard) in support of a proscribed organization (in this case Palestine Action) contrary to section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000.”

The protest was specifically in support of eight people who have been on a hunger strike to protest their imprisonment and Israel's continued attacks and blocking of essential aid in Gaza.

At least two of the prisoners are in their 52nd day of the hunger strike, and medical professionals have raised grave concerns about their health. Advocates in the UK have also demanded that the Labour government meet with lawyers for the detainees. On Monday, attorneys for the activists said in a letter that the government's refusal to meet with them violates the Ministry of Justice's policy for handling cases of hunger strikes.

“It is up to the state to intervene and put an end to this by meeting these reasonable demands that pave the way for the freedom of all those who choose to use their rights trying to stop a genocide, something the British state has failed to do themselves," said Thunberg.

Member of Parliament Zarah Sultana, co-founder of the socialist Your Party, said that government leaders in the UK, who have continued to back Israel's attacks on Gaza, should be imprisoned, rather than those protesting.

"Greta Thunberg has just been arrested for opposing genocide," said Sultana. "Meanwhile, [Prime Minister] Keir Starmer—complicit in the genocide of the Palestinian people—walks free. He should be arrested and sent to The Hague."

Journalist Matt Kennard said images of police confiscating Thunberg's sign and arresting her "will be studied in history books."

"Fascism is already here," he added.
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Europe, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

Spain: Documentary “International Zone of Culture of Peace” in Manzanares El Real

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Manzanares El Real

This documentary explains how Manzanares El Real became the first municipality in the world to declare itself an “International Zone of Culture of Peace,” given the series of requirements it met.


Video

“I came to live in Manzanares El Real and realized that Manzanares El Real truly meets all the requirements for the creation of the first International Zone of Culture of Peace,” states Valentín Oliveros Sanz, a human rights and peace activist.

“It offered us the possibility of bringing it to the plenary session, to the ordinances, to make it a reality, so that it would have a political impact on the residents of our town,” says Patricia Ibáñez, Councilor for Social Welfare.

It was then that the legal and juridical foundations were developed, and finally, on September 18th, it materialized when part of the governing group approved the declaration of Manzanares el Real as an International Zone of Culture of Peace. “I think this aspect of politics is very important because we are a mirror for society, and if the culture of peace doesn’t emerge from the political sphere, how can we expect peace in society?” states Patricia Ibáñez.

On September 21st, 70% of the citizens of our municipality gathered to celebrate the International Day of Peace. “I brought together a number of activists and artists, poets, renowned speakers, and, above all, children,” adds Valentín Oliveros.

Eva Saldaña, Executive Director of Greenpeace in Spain and Portugal, explains that “the culture of peace is participatory democracy, sustainable mobility, and generating another possible energy system based on clean energy that reaches all citizens.” A culture of peace means using public funds for things that promote the common good, creating pedestrian-friendly spaces, sustainable mobility, and accessible public transportation. It also means curbing violence and generating healthy spaces for interaction, leisure, and free time for everyone.”

Marisa García de Aguinaga, spokesperson for Amnesty International, adds that “civil and political rights, such as the right to freedom of expression, fair trials, equality of opportunity, housing, healthcare, and education, are rights that require states to uphold in order to be realized. Peace is not just the absence of armed conflict: for a more compassionate and just world, where everyone is treated equally, other rights must be fulfilled to achieve that peace.”

A culture of peace is “how we all build human relationships with each other and with the environment in which we live, and even with ourselves; “How do we relate to all of this and build an environment, a space, and a world where we can all feel that we live dignified lives and are free from violence and oppression?” adds Eva Saldaña.

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

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

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“A culture of peace is a set of values ​​that includes the first and most fundamental: the right to life, to human dignity, education in human rights, and the democratic participation of society, so that people understand that they must not only attend to their individual affairs, but also to the affairs of the community as a whole,” says Valentín Oliveros.

Furthermore, Marisa García de Aguinaga adds that “it is essential that municipalities, citizens, and all authorities work together to ensure that all these rights, achieved over years and generations, are not lost.” Patricia Ibáñez comments, “I am absolutely certain that this can be contagious. I believe that today’s society needs these kinds of messages; it needs tools from institutions.”

“The fact that even a small town council has the will to show itself and allow its citizens to express their opinions and begin to generate this is already an important step,” says Eva Saldaña.

Marisa García de Aguinaga expresses that “peace, if we don’t build it together, is impossible.”

Finally, Valentín Oliveros concludes the documentary by saying, “We give that enthusiasm, that hope of understanding or believing that another world is possible, a better world, of course.”

Contributors:
– Asociación Cultural El Real de Manzanares.

– Asociación de Mayores +60.

– Asociación Radar.

– Asociación de Sentido Social.

– Asociación ARBA
– Pedriza Refugia.

– La Sierra con Palestina

– JAFRA Dabke Palestino

– Coral de Manzanares El Real.

– Compañía de Teatro de Yoana González.

– Cia La Fábrica de Sueños / El Duende del Globo.

– Escuela de Música Peña Sirio.

– Federación Madrileña de Asociaciones Solidarias con el Sáhara (FEMAS)

– Proyecto Indomitas

– Móstoles sin Fronteras.

– CAUM (Club de Amigos de la UNESCO de Madrid)

– Greenpeace.
– Amnistía Internacional.

– Colectivo Alternativas no Violentas.

– Grupo Mujer, Vida y Libertad de Madrid.

– Asociación Memoria Histórica Los Barracones.

– Isidro Jara Hernández.
– Coordinación técnica, Rafa Rubio y David Elorriaga.

– Coordinacion general, dirección artística, y contenidos,

– Marisa Tejada, Comunicación medios y redes Carlos.

– Rivas y Pilar Bobadilla.

– Valentin Oliveros. Coordinación general.

– Thamatatto Graffitero

– Merian Zidan Lamaadi

– AFA Peña Sacra

– AMPA Los Abetos

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

France: Coop-médias Invests in 5 Independent Media Outlets

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .

An article from Coop-Medias

One year after its creation, Coop-médias, the citizen cooperative that supports, promotes, and defends independent media, has reached a key milestone in its mission to promote media pluralism: funding independent media outlets.

Basta!, Fracas, Marsactu, Street-Press, and Vert: these are the names of the first five media outlets supported by Coop-médias, one year before its launch in October 2024. From among the dozen or so projects submitted, these five outlets were chosen by the cooperative’s Board of Directors, which prioritized the potential to strengthen their business models as well as their impact on media pluralism and quality.


Why raise funds?

Largely underfunded by both public programs and the private banking system, independent media outlets struggle to invest in developing stable business models. Coop-médias addresses this need by raising citizen savings to finance media projects of general interest, essential for media pluralism.

(continued on right column)

(Click here for the French original of this article.)

Questions related to this article:

Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

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

(continued from left column)

Indeed, thanks to its cooperative model based on citizen participation, pooling resources, and transparency, Coop-médias raised over €850,000 in its first year of operation, €250,000 of which will be allocated to this initial funding.

So, what exactly will they do with this money?

Basta! – €50,000 over 4 years: creation of an online portal for independent media offering an alternative to Google News with over 80 French and 250 international sources, to increase the visibility of the richness and diversity of the independent press.

Fracas – €55,000 over 7 years: funding for a new editorial format, a hybrid of traditional journalism and a manual, designed to encourage mobilization around major societal issues, beginning with the publication of a first special issue: “A Manual for Media Response.”

Marsactu – €30,000 over 5 years: complete overhaul of the community management system (subscribers, newsletters, social media, etc.) on a shared technical platform across multiple media outlets. Local independents to reduce dependence on Big Tech.

StreetPress  – €50,000 over 4 years: strengthening the media outlet’s economic tools with a view to increasing coverage of the far right in France and redesigning the website with an eco-design and digital commons approach that can benefit the ecosystem.

Vert  – €50,000 over 5 years: developing podcast content production and structuring the video department with the aim of creating new, innovative, and accessible formats to reach new audiences and strengthen its impact on environmental issues.
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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Spain: Four Days of Activities for Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article by Gabriel Aguirre in World Beyond War

Barcelona, Spain was the location of a meeting of various organizations and activists organized by the Delàs Center for Peace and the International Peace Bureau — of which World BEYOND War is a member.


Conference of the International Peace Bureau

On Thursday, October 23, a peace conference was organized, which had the title “Pacifism in Times of Genocide and Rearmament.” At the event activists from Palestine, researchers, and representatives of organizations shared their reflections on the current global political context. For his part, Gabriel Aguirre, organizer for Latin America of World BEYOND War, shared the urgency of raising the complaint against the current threats by the U.S. government in the Caribbean, through the militarization of this area with the aim of militarily attacking Venezuela.

The event continued on Friday with the use of working groups that addressed thematic axes related to: “Global Disarmament and Militarization”, “Geopolitical Changes and reform of Global governance”, “Solidarity with Palestine and the People who are victims of militarization around the world”, and “Peace, Climate, Social and Gender Justice.” These spaces served to exchange visions and build proposals for common actions.

(article continued in right column)

Question related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

(article continued from left column)

During the weekend of October 25 and 26, the triennial meeting of the International Peace Bureau was held, with the objective of evaluating the work, and advancing in strategic planning.

During this meeting the global situation was also evaluated, where Gabriel Aguirre was able to mention the serious situation of militarization in Latin America, through the deployment of troops in several countries, and more recently in the Caribbean, with the presence of warships, nuclear-capable submarines, with the support of the Southern Command and the IV Fleet, as well as the use of United States and NATO military bases on the continent, this should undoubtedly alert the global peace movement to speak about the true interests of this deployment protected by the false narrative of combating drug cartels. U.S. actions have the goal of seizing strategic resources in Latin America. The collective call of all attendees was to reinforce solidarity with all of Latin America and particularly Venezuela and Colombia.

In recent days, we have shared a petition to denounce the current situation in the Caribbean, if you have not yet signed it we ask that you do so here.

The activity also highlighted Spain’s role in responding negatively to the United States’ desire to increase the military budgets of NATO members.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION