Category Archives: Europe

Million-strong general strike blocks Italy for Palestine

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the Peoples Dispatch

On September 22, approximately one million people across Italy staged a general strike in support of Palestine and the Global Sumud Flotilla, offering a vision of solidarity sharply at odds with the one displayed by European leaders at the United Nations these days. Ports, train stations, and major junctions were shut down as workers, many of whom members of the grassroots union Unione Sindacale di Base (USB), brought the country to a halt.

(Editor’s note: Italian unions again called a general strike for Friday, October 3, in solidarity with the international aid flotilla for Gaza, while protests sprang up in a number of cities late on Wednesday after reports that the ships had been intercepted by military personnel.)


USB’s fire brigades members lead strike rally. Source: USB

In Rome alone, 300,000 demonstrators occupied the city’s main railway hub before marching through the streets. “The call came from Genoa’s dockworkers, and here we are: we’ve blocked everything,” the protesters proclaimed. Among those leading the crowd were firefighters’ union representatives, who told il manifesto: “First responders will never be complicit in genocide, and we are protesting a government that is entrapping us in rearmament.”

Port cities against arms trade and genocide

Earlier this month, as the Global Sumud Flotilla prepared to launch, members of the dockworkers’ collective CALP in Genoa vowed to halt port operations if Israel attacked or blocked the fleet. Weeks later, following continuous local mobilizations and public assemblies, they made good on their promise. Thousands shut down Genoa’s port from the early morning hours, joined by workers in the strategic harbors of Trieste, Venice, and Livorno. Rallies erupted in Bologna, Milan, Turin, Naples, across Sicily and Sardinia, and in dozens of other localities, where teachers, parents, and students walked out of schools together, chanting for a free Palestine.

Speaking from the Genoa blockade, Marta Collot of the left party Potere al Popolo stressed that the strike demonstrated concrete solidarity with Palestinians, affirmed support for their legitimate resistance, and denounced European complicity in genocide. “Embargo and sanctions: these must be our priorities,” Collot said.

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

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Authorities responded to the massive mobilization with violence. Police forces used water cannons against protesters demanding an end to Italy’s arms trade with Israel and calling for severing all political and economic ties. Despite growing public pressure, Giorgia Meloni’s government has refused to act against Israel, instead continuing communications with Israeli officials and arms deliveries through the state-linked company Leonardo.

Only days before the strike, Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, leader of the far-right Lega, appeared in an interview with Israeli media, in which he supported Israel’s “right to build itself a serene future” as occupation forces inflicted even more destruction upon Gaza City. In its campaign “to build a serene future,” Israel has killed at least 65,000 Palestinians in Gaza, including over 1,000 health workers and hundreds of journalists. While some government figures signaled mild unease about recent attacks, Salvini set out his allegiance in very clear terms: “Defending Israel’s right to exist is complicated right now, but friends are revealed in the most difficult moments.”

In some strike locations, protesters singled out Salvini’s statements in their speeches. In Venice, they sent what they termed a special message to “a special enemy,” insisting that their loyalty was with Palestinians under attack and their energy committed to building international solidarity.

International solidarity is “alive and kicking”

The mass character of Monday’s strike likely shook much of Italy’s political class. In recent years, the government had passed measures to restrict demonstrations and downplayed the organizing capacity of trade unions and the left. Yet weeks of continuous protests culminating in the general strike undermined these efforts.

“Workers have returned to center stage and are calling on citizens, all citizens, to stand up. They are not doing so for a contract renewal but to demand justice for a distant and tormented people,” USB declared on the day of the strike. “In this age of selfishness and individualism, this seems unthinkable. But no, solidarity between peoples and brotherhood beyond borders are not dead and buried values; on the contrary, they are alive and kicking.”

For Potere al Popolo’s Giuliano Granato, the strike also captured broader anger. “Palestine has given a name to our discontent,” he told Peoples Dispatch. “The outrage, protest, and anger over the massacre of the Palestinian people has intersected with years of oppression, repression, and deteriorating material conditions. For young people in particular, there is the absence of a future, fear, and the awareness of living in societies where only the horrendously rich and powerful have a say.”

The momentum built by the strike is set to continue. Italian dockworkers will host an international sectoral meeting on September 26–27, bringing together trade unions capable of disrupting Europe’s arms flows to Israel. National demonstrations in solidarity with Palestine are also planned for October 4, as eyes remain fixed on the Global Sumud Flotilla. If Israel attempts to stop it, Italian workers have already shown they are ready to block the country – sending a signal that could inspire others to organize along the same lines.

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Europe, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

“With Ukraine in the Heart”: Humanitarian Hubs of Donetsk Region Celebrate International Peace Day

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An article from Golos (translated from Ukrainian by Google translator)

On September 21, the world celebrates the International Day of Peace, which symbolizes the highest value – the desire for peace for every person and nation.

On this occasion, humanitarian hubs created for residents of the Donetsk region in safe regions of Ukraine organized a number of bright and heartfelt events.

(Editor’s note: Since the city of Donetsk is under military occupation by Russia, the residents who have fled the city and gone to the Ukraine are living under regional military administration (OVA) in what are called “humanitarian hubs.”)


(Click on image to enlarge)

As part of the celebration, master classes were held under the titles “With Ukraine in the Heart”, “Children Want Peace”, “Pigeons are a Symbol of Peace”, “Fly the World, Doves of Peace” and “Embrace Peace for Ukraine”. These creative activities became a real celebration of unity, creativity and love for the Motherland. Through their works, children expressed their dreams, emotions and desire to live in harmony.

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Question related to this article:

What is happening for the International Day of Peace?

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The dove, recognized as a symbol of peace and harmony, became the central image of the events. The participants created a large poster “Dove of Peace”, painted and cut out paper doves, which personify hope and unity. With particular inspiration, the children made angels, symbolizing protection and support for Ukrainian soldiers, as well as white doves as a sign of hope for a peaceful future.

The events “We are for Peace” and “Ukraine is a Dream of Peace” included quizzes, contests, battles, and discussions, during which children shared their thoughts about peace and dreams of a future without war. In a friendly atmosphere, participants also took part in photo shoots and received sweet gifts.

At the session “Peace Begins with Yourself: Restoring Internal Resources,” everyone had the opportunity to feel support and unity, strengthening their own inner strength. One of the bright results was the “Tree of Peace,” decorated with doves — symbols of goodness and hope, which became small messages of peace for all of Ukraine.

The International Day of Peace reminded us of the importance of unity, mutual respect, and support. Children’s smiles, sincere wishes, and symbolic doves created an atmosphere of faith, hope, and togetherness.

Based on materials from the Donetsk OVA.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Russian Federation: International Peace Day was celebrated at Yeisk Polytechnical College

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An article from Yeisk Info (translated from Russian by Google translator)

At Yeisk Polytechnical College on September 21, students and faculty from the Department of Agriculture and Construction Technology joined in the celebration of International Day of Peace.


(Click on image to enlarge)

The college held a ceremonial assembly, themed class hours, and the “We Are for World Peace” campaign. The school’s recreation area was decorated with white paper doves—a universally recognized symbol of peace.

The image of a dove holding an olive branch was created by Pablo Picasso and became the emblem of the global peace movement after World War II. The holiday reminds us of the importance of ending conflicts and strengthening mutual understanding between peoples.

International Peace Day is an opportunity to reflect on the value of peaceful coexistence and the need for joint efforts to create a secure future.

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Question related to this article:

What is happening for the International Day of Peace?

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(Editor’s note: There were fewer articles cited on Google from Russia about the International Day of Peace this year. Does that mean that there were fewer events, or is it caused by increased censorship of news from Russia, if so, censorship from the Russian side or from the Western side? However, as follows, there were a number of articles from the web site of culture.ru where communities sent pre-announcements of their events. Announcments on culture.ru do not remain many days on the internet.)

Tetyushsky District: On September 20, the Uryum Rural House of Culture will host a peace lesson, “Peace Day—a Holiday for the Whole Earth,” dedicated to International Peace Day.

Buinsky District: A themed event, “The White Crane—Herald of Peace,” will be held at the village’s Community Center to commemorate this day.

Semiluki District: On the International Day of Peace, the workers of the Malopokrovskiy rural community center will hold the event “White Dove – Messenger of Peace.”

Kilemarsky District : “Dove of Peace” campaign for the International Day of Peace.

Aznakaevsky district: Class hour: “How Peace Day is celebrated in different countries” at the Masyagutovsky rural house of culture

Muslyumovsky District: The event will be held in honor of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated annually. We’ll tell the students about the history of this event, its symbols, traditions, and its importance in promoting peace. We’ll also emphasize the importance of maintaining order and harmony on the planet, which is especially relevant today. Next, we’ll invite the students to collaborate: they can draw doves on paper or make them themselves. On these doves, the students will write their understanding of the word “peace”—simple, yet profound and complex. They will then attach the doves to a sign with information about the symbolic date.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Belgium: 200 cities and towns will raise the flag of peace during eight days

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article from DH net (translated from French by the Google translator)

Nearly 200 Belgian cities and towns will raise the peace flag from September 21 to 28, the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons announced Friday. Launched on the occasion of the UN International Day of Peace, this action aims to oppose the presence of nuclear weapons in Belgium, and in the world in general.


(Click on image to enlarge)

Nearly 200 Belgian cities and towns will raise the peace flag from September 21 to 28, the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons announced Friday. Launched on the occasion of the UN International Day of Peace, this action aims to oppose the presence of nuclear weapons in Belgium, and in the world in general.

“Since 1963, Belgium has housed around twenty US nuclear bombs on its territory,” the coalition points out. “Moreover, the nuclear warheads at Kleine Brogel have recently been replaced by the new, more easily deployable B61-12 bombs.” According to the coalition, this makes Belgium a “prime potential target in the event of war.”

The organization also deplores the fact that Belgium has neither signed nor ratified the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), which entered into force in 2021 and has been ratified by 73 countries. “By raising the flag of peace, cities and municipalities oppose the presence of American nuclear weapons on Belgian soil and call on the federal government to play an active role in international nuclear disarmament,” it states.

This year’s campaign takes on particular symbolism, as 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The coalition adds that nuclear disarmament is “more necessary than ever in the current context of increasing militarization and a considerable increase in military spending, both in Belgium and Europe, as well as in the rest of the world.”

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

Question related to this article:

What is happening for the International Day of Peace?

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(Editor’s note: The following list of participating cities and municipalities comes from the website of Journée de la Paix

Alken – Alost – Amay – Andenne – Anhée – Antoing – Anzegem – Arlon – Asse – Assenede – Auderghem – Avelgem – Awans – Baelen – Bastogne – Beaumont – Beernem – Beersel – Belœil – Berlaar – Bertrix – Bierbeek – Boechout – Braine-l’Alleud – Bredene – Brugelette – Bruges – Brunehaut – Buggenhout – Chapelle-lez-Herlaimont – Châtelet – Chaumont-Gistoux – Coxyde – Comines-Warneton – Courtrai – Damme – Deinze – Dessel – Destelbergen – Diest – Diksmuide – Dinant – Donceel – Eeklo – Engis – Erezée – Erpe-Mere – Estaimpuis – Étalle – Eupen – Evere – Everghem – Faimes – Flobecq – Florenville – Forest – Fosses-la-Ville – Furnes – Gand – Gavre – Geetbets – Genappe – Genk – Gistel – Grobbendonk – Haacht – Haaltert – Habay – Hamme – Ham-sur-Heure-Nalinnes – Hastière – Havelange – Heist-op-den-Berg – Herent – Herenthout – Herselt – Herzele – Heusden-Zolder – Hoegaarden – Holsbeek – Hooglede – Horebeke – Hotton – Huldenberg – Huy – Ichtegem – Ieper – Ittre – Jemeppe-sur-Sambre – Jodoigne – Juprelle – Kapelle-op-den-Bos – Kaprijke – Koekelare – Kontich – Kortemark – Kruisem – La Bruyère – La Hulpe – La Panne – Lanaken – Léau – Leeuw-Saint-Pierre – Lede – Lennik – Libramont-Chevigny – Lichtervelde – Lierde – Lierre – Lille – Limbourg – Lint – Lokeren – Lummen – Maaseik – Maldegem – Malines – Manage – Marche-en-Famenne – Marchin – Meerhout – Meise – Merchtem – Merelbeke-Melle – Merksplas – Mettet – Molenbeek-Saint-Jean – Momignies – Mont-de-l’Enclus – Moorslede – Mouscron – Nazareth-La Pinte – Nieuport – Nivelles – Ohey – Oostende – Oosterzele – Oostkamp – Opwijk – Oudenburg – Oudsbergen – Ouffet – Peer – Pelt – Pepinster – Perwez – Pittem – Poperinge – Profondeville – Putte – Quaregnon – Ramillies – Ranst – Rendeux – Ronse –Roulers – Rouvroy – Rumes – Saint-Laurent – Saint-Léger – Saint-Nicolas – Saint-Trond – Sambreville – Schilde – Seraing – Sint-Gillis-Waas – Sint-Lievens-Houtem – Soignies – Soumagne – Spa – Stavelot – Stekene – Steenokkerzeel – Temse – Ternat – Thuin – Tielt – Tielt-Winge – Tinlot – Tintigny – Tubize – Turnhout – Verviers – Viroinval – Virton – Voeren – Vorselaar – Vosselaar – Waimes – Waregem – Wanze – Wasseiges – Wavre – Wellen – Wervik – Westerlo – Wetteren – Wielsbeke – Willebroek – Wingene – Wortegem-Petegem – Zandhoven – Zedelgem – Zele – Zelzate – Zemst – Zoersel – Zulte – Zutendaal

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Baranvichi, Belarus: Peace Day: The first school is a territory of kindness and unity!

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article from Nash Raj (translated from Russian by google translater)
(from Russian)

In anticipation of the International Day of Peace, a bright and important holiday for all of us, vibrant and memorable events took place at S.I. Gritsevets Secondary School No. 1 in Baranovichi. On September 1, 2023, our school was awarded the honorary status of “School of Peace,” and for us, International Day of Peace is an excellent opportunity to once again share the importance of maintaining peace on earth.

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Question related to this article:

What is happening for the International Day of Peace?

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The ceremonial assembly marked the beginning of this special day. Students gathered to honor the memory of the victims of military conflicts and wars and to reiterate the values of peaceful life. Students from 9th grade “A” organized and conducted creative workshops for younger students: together, the students created a white dove, a symbol of peace, and held a dance flash mob in the schoolyard.

The information campaign was especially important: our peacekeepers took to the streets of the Borovka neighborhood to remind residents of the significance of this day.

The events concluded with a touching finale, with paper doves being placed on the symbolic peace tree, thus turning it into a visual symbol of our hopes and aspirations.

Holding such events at our school is not just a tradition, but a crucial contribution to the future.  

Let’s work together to preserve peace, because it begins with each of us!
 
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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

London: ‘We will continue protesting for Palestine, and we will win’

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by Shabbir Lakha from Counterfire

Amid the state clampdown on Palestine solidarity, hundreds of thousands marched through London in defiant opposition to the genocide, reports Shabbir Lakha

Recently, The Economist remarked that the “Starmerites thought they had defeated the politics of Palestine. It may defeat them.” To prove how correct this assessment is, on Saturday, [August 9] an estimated 300,000 people marched through central London for the 28th national demonstration for Palestine since October 2023.

Video of march

It was an objectively huge demonstration, but even more impressive considering it was called with two-weeks’ notice, in the middle of August, and despite the police’s best efforts to intimidate protesters and to delay the coalition from announcing the route.

The demonstration was emotionally charged, angry and militant. Along with the usual array of placards taking aim at Starmer and calling for action, there were noticeably more signs relating to the clampdown on our 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 one noticeable absence was any significant presence of trade union flags or banners.

Over 800 people also 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. The Met Police had set up field arrest-processing sites at the top and bottom of Whitehall, and swarms of them and their reinforcements from forces around the country trotted about in stormtrooper formations throughout the day.

As Lindsey German, Convenor of Stop the War Coalition said in her speech,
“We are bitterly opposed to the proscription of Palestine Action. It is not terrorism to carry out direct action. It is not terrorism to support the Palestinians… There is something deeply, deeply wrong when a society allows Israel to commit genocide but cannot allow protests on the streets of London… We will continue protesting, and we will win.”

The weekend’s mobilisations come after weeks of horrifying images of Palestinian children starving to death, of seeing desperate Palestinians being shot dead while queueing for aid in cattle-pens, and following Netanyahu’s announcement of his plan to launch a full military invasion and total re-occupation of Gaza.

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

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Keir Starmer’s pathetic statement in response offers only the mildest criticism to an open declaration of intent to commit further war crimes and to ethnically cleanse the Palestinian people. His ‘threat’ of recognising a Palestinian state rings hollow while he continues to arm the genocidal Israeli state, train its soldiers on RAF bases and provide intelligence from RAF spy flights.

But his meek words are nonetheless a departure from his October 2023 claim that Israel ‘has the right’ to cut off food, water and electricity for Gaza’s civilian population. Starmer is reacting to the persistent groundswell of opposition his government is facing over its role in facilitating genocide.

The backbone of this has been the consistent mass mobilisations that have repeatedly brought hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets of the capital. Polling shows that a growing majority of the population back a ceasefire, arms embargo and sanctions on Israel. In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable sea change in the coverage and editorial lines of mainstream media outlets, including the Daily Express, the Financial Times and The Economist.

This is coupled by a rapidly expanding list of celebrities and cultural figures speaking out in all forums against the genocide and the British government’s actions. Saturday’s national demonstration was addressed by Bafta-nominated actor Denise Gough, comedian Ivo Graham, and Danni Perry, a dancer who held up a Palestinian flag at the Royal Opera House and successfully campaigned to get the Royal Ballet and Opera to cancel its production in Tel Aviv.

Denise Gough told Counterfire,
“I’m here at the rally because if I don’t spend my time in spaces where people have care for the rest of the world then I feel very, very alone. It’s important for all of us to come here so that we can get re-energised, because genocide is exhausting.”

When the situation in Palestine is as dire as it is, when there is growing support among some of the most influential figures in society for an end to British support for Israel, and when the government is on the backfoot, is precisely the time to escalate the movement to put an end to Starmer’s support for genocide and to defend our right to protest.
Upcoming mobilisations:

Saturday 16 August: Stop Arming Israel – protest at RAF High Wycombe

Saturday 6 September: National demonstration for Palestine – central London

Saturday 27 September: National demonstration at Labour Conference – Liverpool

Sunday 5 October: International Meeting against the War – Paris

Shabbir Lakha is a Stop the War officer, a People’s Assembly activist and a member of Counterfire.

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Europe, Mideast, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY,

France: Thirty Years of Service to Immigrant Women

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article by Geneviève Roy in Breizh Femmes (translation by CPNN)

Immigration today represents 3.7% of the world’s population, or around 300,000 people, 48% of whom are women. Catherine Wihtol de Wenden introduced her topic with a few figures.

The CNRS researcher, political scientist, and lawyer, who teaches at Sciences Po Paris, came to Rennes to shed light on migration on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Déclic Femmes.

An anniversary that the founder, Fatima Zédira, wanted to celebrate by retracing the history of an association directly serving immigrant women, striving to provide solutions that meet each individual’s needs.

Women are leaving their countries in ever-increasing numbers, and they are increasingly doing so alone. In Europe, they are even more numerous than the global average, representing 51% of immigrants. Often invisible in society, they hold undervalued jobs working with the elderly, as caregivers, or in the clothing industry.

For researcher Catherine Wihtol de Wenden, this situation is nothing new. “Migration is world history!” she exclaims, praising the remarkable work that the association Déclic Femmes
has been doing for three decades in welcoming these migrant women to Rennes. “We’re in a very paradoxical context,” she continues, “since in Europe we need immigration in many professional sectors and to increase the demographics of different countries, but at the same time we are pursuing increasingly restrictive policies for welcoming migrants.” Surprisingly, since the 1990s, it has never been easier to leave one’s country, but it has never been more difficult to enter another. In France, for example, the refugee status recognition rate has peaked at 35% of applications.

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(Click here for the original French version.)

Questions for this article

Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

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A Priority: Learning French

The global vision of the situation of migrants around the world, provided by the guest expert, allows Fatima Zédira, founder of Déclic Femmes, to situate the history of her association within French society. In 1995, she chose to support immigrant women through “dignity, family, social, and professional autonomy, and access to citizenship.” Drawing on a quote from Gisèle Halimi, stating that women’s economic independence is their freedom, she outlines thirty years of association life largely focused on employment and vocational training.

“The association focused its activities on welcoming and listening,” recalls Fatima Zédira, remembering the small 13m² space on Rue de Picardie in the Villejean neighborhood where women lined up on the sidewalk. Currently, at 7bis rue d’Armagnac, a few blocks from the original location, the premises are much more spacious and allow for a wider range of activities, welcoming more women, and also exhibiting some of their work. At the same time, branches have been established in other neighborhoods—Blosne and Maurepas. Each year, Déclic Femmes welcomes between 300 and 500 women, and in total, more than 90 nationalities have crossed paths at the association.

“Learning French is the key for us to escape isolation, regain self-confidence, and integrate into the host society,” explains Fatima Zédira. It is therefore natural that this learning is at the heart of all the activities offered by the association. From discussion groups to language classes, it has taken a lot of energy from the association’s volunteers and employees over the years to find the right balance. Training sessions are also provided to help people learn how to learn. A Positive

Process of Integration into Society

One of Déclic Femmes’ priorities is to offer individualized pathways that take into account the individual and their background. For example, there’s no question of mixing people with diverse educational backgrounds in French classes. There are those who have hardly ever attended school, those with a primary school education, sometimes a secondary education, and those who already have a university degree in their own language. Some come from French-speaking countries, others not. Some are comfortable speaking, but not at all writing… But none of them have “time to waste.” They often held jobs, sometimes responsibilities, in their countries of origin. They have obtained diplomas that France does not recognize. They need—and want—to return to working lives as quickly as possible in France. Fatima Zédira emphasizes a real “aspiration for emancipation” for all of them.

For all these women, the association has chosen to co-develop its proposals, tailored as closely as possible to each woman’s immediate needs. And in collaboration with numerous partners. Beyond efficiency, the association also strives to foster civic engagement, offering a variety of visits, trips, participation in activist activities, raising awareness of women’s rights, gender equality, political culture, and cultural and artistic initiatives.

It’s difficult to measure the impact of the work accomplished over thirty years. However, when a woman leaves the association fluent in French and with a better understanding of the culture and institutions of the host country, Fatima Zédira believes that “it’s an entire family that is drawn into a positive process of integration into society.”

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Europe, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

European Protests against NATO

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A survey by CPNN

People took to the streets to protest against the NATO meetings where European countries pledged to increase military spending..

In Rome, a report by the People’s Dispatch, said that “some 30,000 people took to the streets on June 21 to protest war and rising military expenditures. Organized under the banner “Disarmiamoli!” (Let’s disarm them!), the demonstration brought together workers, grassroots trade unions, student collectives, and social movements. Protesters condemned the expansion of military budgets across Europe, coming at the direct expense of public services like healthcare, education, and other public services.”


Frame from the video of anti-NATO protest in Brussels published by the Times of India.

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

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In The Hague, where NATO was meeting, Euro News reported that “hundreds of people gathered on Sunday to protest against NATO, rising military spending, and the risk of war with Iran. The protest comes two days before a summit of the alliance in The Hague, where leaders are expected to discuss increasing defence budgets. “Let’s invest in peace and sustainable energy,” Belgian politician Joe d’Haese said addressing a crowd in a park near the summit location.”

A video of anti-NATO protest in the Netherlands was published by DRM News.

Is it a problem of censorship by the Western media? In order to find videos of the anti-NATO demonstrations Belgium and additional videos from the Netherlands, we had to go to media based in India.

A video of anti-NATO protest in Brussels was published by the Times of India.

A video of the anti-NATO protest in the Hague was published by the Hindustan Times.

There was an article about the Hague protest in The Guardian, but its subject was mainly the arrests of protesters, rather than the purpose of the demonstration.

And there was also an article about the Hague protest in Reuters, but its subject was mainly about protesting the attack of Israel and the US on Iran, rather than the rearmanent agenda of NATO.

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The Hague: Rally against Gaza genocide June 15

. . HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article from the New Arab

Tens of thousands of people dressed in red marched through the streets of The Hague on Sunday (June 15) to demand more action from the Dutch government against Israel’s ongoing atrocities in Gaza, calling it a genocide.

(Editor’s note: the following video of the three-mile march supports claims that there were 150,000 people and that it was the largest demonstration in the Netherlands in this century.)



Video copied from twitter account of Rutger Bregman

Rights groups such as Amnesty International and Oxfam organised the demonstration through the city to the International Court of Justice, creating a so-called “red line”.

Many waving Palestinian flags and some chanting “Stop the Genocide”, the demonstrators turned a central park in the city into a sea of red on a sunny afternoon.

Protesters brandished banners reading “Don’t look away, do something”, “Stop Dutch complicity”, and “Be silent when kids sleep, not when they die”.

Organisers urged the Dutch government – which collapsed on 3 June after a far-right party pulled out of a fragile coalition – to do more to rein in Israel.

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Question related to this article:

How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?

How can a culture of peace be established in the Middle East?

How can we best express solidarity with the people of Gaza?

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“People in Gaza cannot wait and the Netherlands has a duty to do everything it can to stop the genocide,” they said in their call to action.

Dodo Van Der Sluis, a 67-year-old pensioner, told AFP: “It has to stop. Enough is enough. I can’t take it anymore.”

“I’m here because I think it’s maybe the only thing you can do now as a Dutch citizen, but it’s something you have to do,” she added.

A previous protest in The Hague on 18 May drew more than 100,000 people, according to organisers, who described it as the country’s largest demo in 20 years.

Police did not give an estimate for that demonstration.

Israel began waging a war on the Gaza Strip on7 October, 2023, in response to a surprise attack launched by Hamas. Israel’s actions have been decried globally over the months, with many experts labelling it as a genocide against the Palestinian people.

Israel’s military operation has killed at least 55,207 people, the majority of them civilians.

The International Court of Justice is currently weighing a case brought by South Africa against Israel, arguing its actions in Gaza breach the 1948 UN Genocide Convention.

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Europe, HUMAN RIGHTS, Mideast,

Paris: Peace Concert – Saint-Sulpice Church

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An announcement from Mouvement de la Paix

In furtherance of our commitment to peace, the Mouvement de la Paix is organizing a Peace Concert on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 8:45 p.m., at Saint-Sulpice Church in Paris. Led by conductor Hugues Reiner, with the participation of the Hugues Reiner Choir and the Choir of 400, the concert will bring together works filled with emotion and meaning: Dvořák’s New World Symphony and the “Donkey” Mass.

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(Click here for the French version of this article)

 

Question related to this article:

What place does music have in the peace movement?

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Anne-Cécile Laurent, soprano; Yana Boukoff, mezzo; Joachim Bresson, tenor; Richard-Alexandre Ritelmann, baritone

Choir of 400, Paris, International Hugues Reiner Choir & Orchestra

Conductor/ Hugues Reiner

The concert is sponsored by the Nihon Hidankyo organization, Japan, Nobel Peace Prize winner, 2024, and will be addressed by Mr. David Adams (2025 Peace Manifesto).

This concert is an act of cultural resistance, an affirmation of the link between art, humanism, and peace. The funds raised will help support the actions of the Mouvement de la Paix. Reservation: €20 by clicking here
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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe