Category Archives: Europe

At the Fête de l’Huma, independent media in full swing

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION . .

An article by Juliette Quef in Vert.eco (translation by CPNN)

It’s urgent: in the face of the extreme right and the “bollorisation” of information, the ecosystem of “Indés” is joining forces by means of the Village of Independent Media at the Fête de l’Huma, the launch of a cooperative to finance them and a House of Free Media.

“It’s great that you’re here”, “it’s nice to see the independent media gathered together”: this weekend, La déferlante, Basta, Blast, Politis, Streetpress, Fakir, Reporterre, l’Age de Faire, Au poste, Mediapart, Socialter, Le média, Le chiffon, Reporters sans frontières, Acrimed, and of course Vert, were gathered under a huge 400 m² marquee, in the heart of the Fête de l’Huma, in Plessis-Pâté (Essonne). The 89th edition of the Fête attracted more than 450,000 participants in three days.

In the Village, at the center of the twenty or so stands, the conference space was filled with people and hosted rich discussions on sexist and sexual violence, freedom of the press and environmental mobilizations against the far right.


From September 13 to 15 at the Fête de l’Huma, the Village of Independent Media brought together around twenty media outlets. © Margot Desmons / Vert

Fight against the far right and the “bollorization” of the world

This first edition of the Independent Media Village at the Fête de l’Huma has its roots in the rallies against the far right, which were held on June 27 and July 3, Place de la République, in Paris. Organized in just a few days by the “Indés” and civil society, each of them brought together some 30,000 participants (our report).

“At that point, the priority was no longer our media but the event itself,” says Mathieu Molard, editor-in-chief of Streetpress, one of the initiators of the rallies. The unity of the organizers was very strong and we had the impression of having contributed, through these rallies and our investigations, to preventing the far right from gaining power.” With these links strengthened in the face of the emergency, the newspaper L’Humanité then offered to host the “Indés” at the Fête de l’Huma.

“The Independent Media Village was a huge success, we were always full,” rejoices Agnès Rousseaux, director of Politis. For me, it is a sign of a strong demand from the public for places where the press converges and an awareness on the part of the media that there is a need to strengthen and support each other. The Village gave us visibility that we would never have had on our own. Uniting allows us to increase our impact and our audience tenfold.”

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(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?

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Coop-media: financing the “Indés”, the nerve of the war

Faced with the rise of the extreme right, the actors of the social and solidarity economy (ESS) have also mobilized to accelerate their Coop-media project, a cooperative intended to finance independent media. Its launch is scheduled for October 9, at the Climate Academy, in Paris.

“Between ESS and independent media, we have the same challenges,” says Lucie Anizon, general secretary of Enercoop and one of the coordinators of Coop-media. We are facing behemoths and the alternatives are struggling.” The idea is to raise funds to participate in the financing of committed media that carry “humanist and progressive values ​​for a more ecological, united and democratic society.”

Starting October 9, citizens, media and businesses will be able to take shares in Coop-media and participate in the governance of the cooperative according to the principle of 1 person = 1 vote. The fundraising will then make it possible to open calls for projects from 2025.

“I discovered a very disunited ecosystem of independent media,” confides Lucie Anizon. In the cooperative community, we know how to organize ourselves and we know that solidarity is the key to resilience.”

The initiative that has been rather well received by information professionals. “We lack structures that come to finance our media,” notes Mathieu Molard. “Banks do not understand our economic models. For example, they think that donations are not reliable. We have difficulty finding money, even public money, to develop ourselves, and this forces us to turn to private patrons.”

A House of Free Media to Welcome Everyone

After ten years of effort and an aborted project, the Paris Council has now voted unanimously to sell a building located at 70 boulevard Barbès, in the 18th arrondissement of Paris, to the left-wing millionaire Olivier Legrain, patron of the independent press and several refugee aid associations, and to the Bellevilles real estate company, to create a House of Free Media.

With a surface area of ​​4,000 m², it should accommodate, from the end of 2026, the premises of dozens of independent media and their ecosystem, video studios, as well as a café-bookstore and coworking spaces. The goal: to contribute to the defense of freedom of the press and pluralism in the media. “We want to create an emblematic place for freedom of the press in Paris,” explains Agnès Rousseaux. A space of excitement and abundance to wage the cultural battle and experiment with new ways of producing and disseminating information.”

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Speech from Birmingham, UK, for Solidarity and against Racism

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article from the website of We are BRIG

The recent far-right riots and violence in the UK, particularly following the tragic attack in Southport, have sparked outrage and concern among anti-racism groups and community leaders. Here’s a summary of the key statements from BRIG, Kings Heath United Against Racism, and Patrick Vernon, which collectively address the issue of ongoing racial injustice and the rise of far-right extremism in the UK.

Speech by Mukhtar Dar on behalf of Kings Heath United Against Racism

Brothers, Sisters, Comrades—

Firstly, I extend my deepest condolences to the families and friends of the three young girls murdered in the horrific knife attack, and to those who are critically injured. I also wish to pay special tribute to the heroes who confronted the attacker. My solidarity goes out to the people of Southport, particularly the Muslim community whose mosques came under siege, to the refugees who were attacked in their hotels, and to all those communities across the country—White, Black, Asian, African, Caribbean—who are standing firm against those who seek to exploit these tragic murders.

We gather here not merely as individuals, but as a force of history—a moral majority that stands unwaveringly on the side of justice, truth, and equality. We are the embodiment of hope, love, and unity. Our hearts beat as one, and in this dark hour, we stand resolute against the forces that seek to tear us apart, to make us forget our shared humanity.

We are confronted by those who thrive on division, who feed on hatred. These forces—whether driven by fascism, nationalism, or populism—seek to drive a wedge between black and white, Muslim and Christian, gay and straight, able and disabled, migrant and native. But let us remind them, let us remind the world: we are all migrants. Every single one of us. Our DNA tells the story of our ancestors’ journeys out of Africa, weaving the tapestry of migration that has shaped human civilization across Asia, Europe, Australasia, and the Americas.

The United Kingdom itself is a living testament to this migration, a vibrant mosaic of dreams and struggles from across Europe and beyond. The story of Birmingham, like that of many cities, is a story of migration—of people moving from hamlets and villages, of the Irish, of our parents from the former colonies, who came here to rebuild the ‘motherland’ after the ravages of war. We, together, built this city—a city of resilience, of hope. And when the likes of Tommy Robinson and his band of bigots speak of Christianity, let us remind them: Jesus was a migrant seeking refuge, a symbol of compassion and solidarity for all humanity.

Brother and sisters, this is not a race war. This is not a religious war. This is not merely a struggle for the Muslim community, or for refugees. No, this is a righteous struggle that calls upon each of us to take our positions in the ranks of our people’s struggle. This is a battle against the far-right forces rising across Europe, against the spectre of fascism, against the insidious seeds of bigotry, racism, and Islamophobia. This is a battle against the most reactionary, divisive, and backward forces humanity has ever faced—and yes, defeated.

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Question related to this article:
 
Are we making progress against racism?

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We have defeated them before. Our movement’s history is rich with victories over these forces of darkness. We defeated them at the Battle of Cable Street, where ordinary British workers stood shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community and said, “No pasaran—they shall not pass.” We defeated them in the ghettos of Walsall, where unity and resilience sent a powerful message. Our communities, the African Caribbean and Asian communities alongside our white comrades from the labour and trade union movement fought them in the streets of Lewisham, in Brick Lane, in Manningham, in Southall, in Handsworth. Each time, we stood together, and each time, we prevailed.

But, my friends, the struggle is far from over. Today, the far-right, emboldened by the likes of Reform UK and Tommy Robinson’s Street brigade, offer no solutions aside from scapegoating, creating divisions, and preaching death and destruction. We must oppose them with every ounce of strength we possess. We must confront them in the streets and in the battle of ideas. Our arguments must be rooted in justice, in compassion, in our shared values, and in the truth that we are all one.

Yet, let us not forget those who empower these forces with their reckless racist rhetoric. We must challenge and expose the politicians who speak of ‘stopping the boats’ and other dog-whistle tactics that create fertile ground for the far-right to grow. Their words fan the flames of division and fear, providing a veneer of legitimacy to those who march through our streets with hate in their hearts. It is not enough to denounce the far-right; we must also hold accountable those in power who enable their rise.

From Southport, Rotherham, and Middlesbrough, to over 60 cities and towns, the far-right and their supporters openly rampaged, terrorising our communities, attacking our homes, our mosques, setting alight our cars, setting up roadblocks, singling out Asian, African, and Caribbean taxi drivers, pulling them out of their vehicles. In many places, the police stood by indifferent and allowed it to happen. This was not just violence; this was a pogrom. There are no legitimate grievances here, no excuses of deprivation. These were not race riots but racist riots by violent, lying racists who demonise Muslims while hiding behind a false patriotism and reactionary nostalgia for a bygone all white era.

History teaches us an unshakable truth: we must organise, we must unite, we must mobilise. Across cities, towns, and villages, let us bridge our divides to build a massive united front to defeat both state racism and fascism. Let us forge a coalition so strong, so determined, that it will consign the likes of Nigel Farage, Tommy Robinson, and their poisonous ideologies to the dustbin of history.

We are not alone, for history is on our side. We stand as the embodiment of hope, the champions of love, and the bearers of justice. We are the light that will drive out the darkness, the voices that will speak for the voiceless. So let us, united as one, reclaim our streets and our future. In our unity, there is strength; in our diversity, there is beauty; and in our solidarity, there is hope.

Together, we will rise above hate. Together, we will build a brighter tomorrow for all. We will invest the fruits of our labour not in wars, but in progress, ensuring that the wealth we create is shared by the many, not hoarded by the few. We are the defenders of the dream that all people—regardless of race, religion, gender, or background—can live in harmony and equality. Let us show the world that our unity is our strength, that our diversity is our power. Together, we will rise. Together, we will resist. Together, we will prevail.

“Make them gwan, make them run—Chase the fascists out of Brum!”

(Editor’s note: Thank you to Joe Yannielli, the CPNN reporter for this article.)

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Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Youth Summit on Peace and Sustainable Future Wraps Up Successful Week in Montpellier, France

. TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

A press release from Open PR

The Institute of Public Policy, and Diplomacy Research (IPPDR) today announced the conclusion of its Youth Summit on Peace and a Sustainable Future, which took place from July 22 to 26, 2024, in Montpellier, France. The Summit was hosted by Montpellier Mayor Michael Delafosse and Dr. Andrise Bass, Founder of The Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research. Also attending and mentoring were Prince Jean Louis Bingna, Dr. Bruno Mpondo-Epo, and Hawa Taylor-Kamara Diallo from the IBTK Foundation, which was founded to inform students about public policy as it pertains to the international community.

“The message from the Summit was unequivocal, ‘This is our time, this is our day, this is our future,'” said Dr. Bass. “The young people implore those with influence to ‘Help us lead, because we are ready to be leaders.'”

The Summit provided a platform for young people from more than forty countries to explore and debate the merits of issues related to global peace and sustainability. Views and conclusions about what actions should be taken were decided upon by the students, and the findings will directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions).

Summit participants were expected to understand, clarify, and give legitimacy to the young people’s voices and opinions regarding the greater global conversation. Lively discussions around peace and sustainability were the most interesting topics that aligned with guidelines of the United Nations’ Security Council Resolution 2250, which was adopted in 2015. Resolution 2250’s encourages member nations to set up mechanisms to enable young people to participate meaningfully in peace processes and dispute resolution.

Delegates collaborated and made recommendations meant to strengthen youth participation in the peace building movement, and the young people advocated for an observation role at the UN Security Council. Because the younger generation will inherit what their elders leave, or do not leave them, it was critical to ensure that that their voices would be heard.

(Click here for an article in French on this subject)

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Question related to this article:
 
Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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Those attending the event look to people in the highest levels of government and industry to examine the ramifications of decision-making, which affects the globe along with everything on it and in it.

The Institute of Public Policy and Diplomacy Research is a not-for-profit organization that focuses on human rights, public policy, sustainable development, human trafficking awareness, diplomacy protocol, leadership etiquettes and peacebuilding The organization offers hybrid courses on a range of topics, including:

– Diplomatic protocol

– National security

– Finance and economics

– Consular affairs

– Etiquette and acceptable behavior

– Employment

– Regulations

The summit concluded with the young attendees publishing a Declaration on peace and the sustainable future that will be shared with the Secretary General of the United Nations. The ambitious Declaration, representing the youth of more than 40 countries, seeks to include youth in the worldwide peacemaking process and efforts to build sustainable societies.

Bass commented, “As we ended the Summit, we all felt that it was not an ending, but rather a beginning. The momentum continues. Young people were so passionate regarding insights and recommendations going forward that will be presented to global leaders.”

For more information visit www.ippdr.org [http://www.ippdr.org/]
Media Contact
Company Name: The Institute of Public Policy, and Diplomacy Research
Contact Person: Media Relations
Email: Send Email [http://www.universalpressrelease.com/?pr=youth-summit-on-peace-and-sustainable-future-wraps-up-successful-week-in-montpellier-france]
Country: France
Website: http://www.ippdr.org

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Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

The Olympic Games and the Culture of Peace

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

Transcript on the website of the International Olympic Committee (boldface italics added by CPNN)

Please find below the full speech delivered by International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach during the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 today, 11 August 2024. 

Dear President of the French Republic, Mr. Emmanuel Macron,

Dear President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, my fellow Olympian and dear friend, Tony Estanguet,

Dear Mayor of Paris, Mrs. Anne Hidalgo,

Dear Olympic friends,

Dear fellow Olympians,

Despite all the tensions in our world, you came here from all the 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team, to make the City of Light shine brighter than ever before.

Your performances were amazing. You competed fiercely against each other. Every contest on the edge of perfection. Every performance sparking excitement around the world. You showed us what greatness we humans are capable of.

During all this time, you lived peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. You embraced each other. You respected each other, even if your countries are divided by war and conflict. You created a culture of peace.

This inspired all of us and billions of people around the globe. Thank you for making us dream. Thank you for making us believe in a better world for everyone.

We know that the Olympic Games cannot create peace. But the Olympic Games can create a culture of peace that inspires the world. This is why I call on everyone who shares this Olympic spirit: let us live this culture of peace every single day.

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(Click here for the message in Spanish and here for the message in French.

Question for this article:

How can sports promote peace?

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These Olympic Games could only inspire the world, because our French friends have prepared the stage. And what an amazing stage it was!

Millions of people celebrating the athletes in the streets of Paris and all across France. Millions of spectators in iconic venues creating an overwhelming atmosphere. More than half of the world’s population sharing this spectacular celebration of the unity of humankind in all our diversity.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were a celebration of the athletes and sport at its best. The first Olympic Games delivered fully under our Olympic Agenda reforms: younger, more urban, more inclusive, more sustainable. The first ever Olympic Games with full gender parity.

These were sensational Olympic Games from start to finish – or dare I say: SEINE-sational Games.

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 were Olympic Games of a new era.

That is why I would like to thank all our French friends. First and foremost, my warmest thanks go to the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, for his tireless support. My heartfelt thanks goes to the Organising Committee, under the excellent leadership of my fellow Olympian, Tony Estanguet, for making these Games wide open. All my gratitude goes to the public authorities at all levels and to the public services, for their essential contribution.

All our thanks and recognition go to our Olympic community – the National Olympic Committees, the International Federations, our TOP partners and the Media Rights- Holders. Together, you have contributed to Olympic Games of a new era in every respect. And for this you can be proud forever.

A special thank you to all the wonderful volunteers. You will be forever in our hearts.

Dear French friends, you have fallen in love with the Olympic Games. And we have fallen in love with all of you.

Thank you Paris, thank you France!

Long live the Olympic Games! Long live France!

[Flame extinguishing]

And now, with my heart full of emotions, I have to perform one more task: I declare the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad Paris 2024 closed.

In accordance with tradition, I call upon the youth of the world to assemble four years from now in Los Angeles, United States of America, to celebrate with all of us the Games of the XXXIV Olympiad.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe, global,

Statement by the European Union to the United Nations High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An e-statement from the United Nations High-Level Forum on the Culture of Peace

Statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States by Ambassador Hedda Samson, Deputy Head of Delegation of the European Union to the United Nations High-level Forum on the Culture of Peace: Cultivating and nurturing the culture of peace for present and future generations

(Editor’s note: The following statement is a welcome change from the opposition of the European Union when the culture of peace resolution was submitted by UNESCO to the UN General Assembly in 1998.)


EU Spokesperson, Hedda Samson. Frame from minute 44 in the video of the Forum

New York, 2 August 2024

– CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY –

(Editor’s note: By checking the published e-statement against the delivery in the video of the Forum, one can see that it was delivered as written here including five minor additions to the e-statement marked here in boldface and three minor omissions marked in italics.)

Mr President,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania, the Republic of Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Georgia, as well as Andorra, Monaco and San Marino align themselves with this statement.

As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, the European Union expresses its full support for the Culture of Peace agenda.

This agenda not only reflects our history and core values, but it also guides our actions – within and beyond our borders.

– Concretely, this means that we are deeply committed to the respect for life and dignity of each human being without discrimination or prejudice.

– It means that we are attached to non-violence, the peaceful settlement of conflicts and to democratic participation. North Macedonia, Serbia, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

– It also means that we are deeply committed to solidarity and cooperation for development, and to the promotion and respect of human rights as well as equal rights and opportunities for all.

The Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace with its eight pillars remains as valid today as it was in 1999. Even if we have witnessed tremendous change in societies worldwide. Even if we are facing new global challenges.

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Question(s) related to this article:

What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?

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As we have gathered at this high-level event, let me convey three messages:

– First, pursuing a Culture of Peace can help us bridge the divides across and within societies worldwide. And it can help to advance the full implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

– Second, we have all committed in the Declaration on a Culture of Peace to support the free flow of information and knowledge, to support the important role of the media, to ensure freedom of the press and freedom of information and communication and protection of civic space (online and offline).

– Third, if we really want to be faithful to this agenda, we need effective multilateralism, founded on values and principles embedded in international law, the UN Charter, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, with a strong United Nations at its core. This is the only way to respond collectively and efficiently to global crises, challenges and threats that no one can tackle alone.

Mr President,

In line with the theme of today’s event, the European Union fully agrees that we must cultivate and nurture a Culture of Peace for present and future generations.

As we have said before, the Summit of the Future will be a milestone, but our journey will continue beyond it. If we have a strong and ambitious Pact, we can fully seize the opportunity to pave the way for current and future generations.

The Pact should recommit to the UN Charter and its values, which is crucial in these times of widespread violations. We have all committed, and must again recommit to maintaining international peace and security, taking effective collective measures for the prevention of conflict, for peace operations, and for the suppression of acts of aggression.

There can be no Culture of Peace for present or future generations without respect for human rights, democratic participation and the rule of law. We must do away with all forms of discrimination and prejudice:

– Let us join efforts to achieve gender equality and the full enjoyment of all human rights by all women and girls.

– Let us safeguard the freedom of religion or belief for all. We must strive towards democratic societies, where freedom of opinion and expression prevails, in a spirit of respect, acceptance, tolerance and dialogue, and where we stand united against all forms of racism and extremism.

– Let us foster a Culture of Peace with children and youth through inclusive quality education that promotes acceptance, that empowers them as agents of change, and that safeguards their rights to protection from violence and discrimination.

Mr. President, to succeed in all this, strong partnerships with civil society are vital. That is why it is so important to ensure a safe and enabling environment where civil society can thrive. And that is why we also encourage enhancing the meaningful and effective engagement of civil society throughout the work of the UN System.

To conclude, Mr President, you can count on the EU’s full commitment to contribute to the effective implementation of the UN Culture of Peace agenda.

I thank you.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global, United Nations, ,

Video about Ukraine war by US Presidential Candidate Kennedy

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

Text from X video republished on July 12 by Transcend Media Service

(Editor’s note: The following is the text of a video interview with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., independent candidate for President in the United States. It completely contradicts the usual news from the mass media that justifies American involvement in the Ukraine War. We could not find the text anywhere on the Internet, but only a critique of it by the Washington Post.)

You know, Putin every day says, I want to settle the war. Let’s negotiate. And Zelensky said, we’re not going to negotiate. But Zelensky didn’t want to start that way. I don’t want to,  you know, belabor the history, but Russia was invaded three times through Ukraine. The last time Hitler killed one out of every seven Russians. They don’t want to have Ukraine join NATO.

So when the wall came down in the Soviet Union, Europe, Gorbachev destroyed himself politically by doing something that was very, very courageous. He went to Bush and he said, I’m going to allow you to reunify Germany under a NATO army. I’m going to remove 450,000 Soviet troops. But I want your commitment.  After that, you will not move NATO one inch to the east. And we solemnly swore that we wouldn’t do it.

Well, then in 97, Zbigniew Brzezinski, who was the first of the bneocons said, we’re going to move NATO a thousand miles to the east and take 15 countries into it and surround the Soviet Union.  So then we not only move it into 14 new nations, but we unilaterally walk away from our two nuclear weapons treaties with the Russians.  And we put Aegis missile systems in Romania and Poland 12 minutes from Moscow.

When Russians did that to Cuba in 62, we came this close to nuclear war until they removed them. So the Russians don’t want nukes 400 miles from Moscow.

We then overthrow the Ukraine government in 2014, their elected government,  and put in a Western sympathetic government.

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Question related to this article:

Is the media an arm of the culture of war?

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Russia then has to go into Crimea because they have a port, because they’re only warm water port and they know the new government that we just installed is going to invite the US Navy into their port. So Russia then went into Crimea without firing a shot because the people of Crimea are Russian.

Then the new Ukrainian government we installed started killing ethnic Russians in Donbas and Lugansk, and they voted to leave and join Russia.  Putin said, I don’t want them.  Let’s give them protection and give them semi-autonomy and make an agreement to keep NATO out of Ukraine.

That treaty was written by Germany, France, Russia and England, the Minsk accords. And the Ukrainian parliament, which is controlled by ultra-rightists, and that’s a nice way of talking about them, refused to sign it.

Zelensky runs in 2019.   He’s an actor.   Why did he get elected, with 70 % of the vote?   Because he promised to sign the Minsk accords.  He promised peace. He gets in there and he pivots.  Nobody can explain why, but we know why. Because he was threatened with death by ultra-rightists in his government and a withdrawal of support by the United States, by Victoria Nuland, who’s the leading Neocon in the State Department. We told him he could not sign it.

So then the Russians go in. They don’t send a big army. They only send 40,000 people. It’s a nation of 44 million people. They clearly do not intend to conquer Ukraine, but they want us back at the negotiating table.

We won’t allow Zelensky to go back, so he goes to Israel and Turkey and says will you please help me negotiate a treaty. The Russians just want a guarantee that Ukraine won’t join NATO. Zelensky signs a treaty. Putin’s people sign the treaty. And Putin starts withdrawing the Russian troops in good faith.

What happens? Joe Biden sends Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, over to Ukraine in April and forces him to tear up the treaty.

Since then, 450,000 kids have died. Not one of them should have died. For every one Russian that dies, five to eight Ukrainians die. They don’t have any men left! You know, we’re giving them all these weapons, but they don’t have men left. It’s a catastrophe! And we look kind of like the aggressor, that’s the way the rest of the world sees us.

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Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, North America,

Speech by Alba Barusell i Ortuño, President of Mayors for Peace European Chapter

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

Text from speech on youtube

It is a pleasure and an honor for me as president of the European Chapter of Mayors for Peace and mayor of the city of Granollers, to be her with you and to share this space for reflection and peacebuilding. I thank Basel Peace Office for once again inviting Mayors for Peace to participate in this event on “Peace, Climate Protection, and the United Nations: The role of cities and young people”.

The first recommendation of the new peace agenda, which will be presented at the United Nations Summit of the future, is the elimination of nuclear weapons and the promotion of new preventive and diplomatic mechanisms. The more than 8,000 city members of Mayors for Peace are committed to global peace and nuclear disarmament.

We have six years left to comply with the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda, and we are falling behind. The roadmap for reducing poverty, hunger in the world, climate change, and peacefully resolving armed conflicts is not only stagnating but also receding. Accelerating the implementation of the 2030 Agenda is a fundamental condition for achieving the objectives proposed by the New Agenda for Peace. It must be nurtured and inspired by the peace policies that are implemented at the national, regional, and, above all, local level by the municipalities.

(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

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

The new generations have a big challenge ahead of them. The participation of young people is essential to ensuring compliance with the 2030 Agenda. Its contribution increases the legitimacy and sustainability of decision-making and peace processes. All over the world, we find young people fighting for justice, gender equality, human rights, and climate protection. Cities must listen to them and work with them to take advantage of their power as peacekeepers.

Cities build peace by focusing on preserving and guaranteeing the rights of all people, regardless of their condition, and thus reducing the causes of violence in our cities and territories. We build inclusive societies that allow all the people who live in them to feel involved and leaders of their own future. This is a way to strengthen and take care of democracy. Not leaving anyone behind is our global goal. An objective that must be worked on by our municipalities, our territory and our cities.

From Mayors for Peace we consider it important that there are spaces as significant as this forum, in which different actors willing to work for peace in the world converge. We have our most sincere and profound respect for all the efforts made in organizing this forum, and I thank you very much for allowing us to participate and contribute to it.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe

New Caledonia – Kanaky: Mouvement de la Paix Calls for the Return and Continuation of the Decolonization Process

. . HUMAN RIGHTS . .

A statement by the Mouvement de la Paix (translation by CPNN)

Thirty years ago after the tragic outcome of the Caledonian crisis of the 1980s, a process was started, based on consultation and mutual respect between the parties.

The current situation, which recalls the worst moments of 1988, brutally calls into question this process which has ensured 30 years of peace in New Caledonia – Kanaky. It is due to the obstinacy of the President of the Republic in imposing a constitutional law that would transform the electorate of the island.


Photo by Nicolas Job/SIPA, published by Les Echoes

(Article continued on the right column)

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

Question for this article:

What’s new in the struggle against colonialism?

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On May 13, the Congress of New Caledonia requested the withdrawal of the proposed law that would reform the Constitution. The Congress had previously denounced the maintenance of a referendum in the middle of a pandemic. The adoption of the reform of the electoral body would mean the end of the decolonization process and would break with the commitments of the French Republic.

The Peace Movement demands the immediate postponement of the convocation of the Congress intended to modify the Constitution and the withdrawal of the proposed law.

In a spirit of culture of peace, the Peace Movement calls for restoring the framework of a process based on the impartiality of the State and on dialogue, as respected by all the Presidents of the Republic since 25 years. The return of the colonialist spirit, whether to control mineral wealth like nickel or to strengthen a military presence in the service of a geopolitical strategy, can only lead to violence. It is the responsibility of President Macron and the government to re-establish the channels of dialogue, without ultimatum or forceful action, and with mutual respect for the different parties and in compliance with the Nouméa Accords.

Only a negotiated and consensual political solution can resolve the crisis and bring the decolonization process to its conclusion.

The National Council of Mouvement de la Paix
Malakoff, May 18, 2024

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East Asia, Europe, HUMAN RIGHTS,

Manifesto: European mobilization against increasing militarization and wars

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

Excerpts from the website of Nomilitarism translated by CPNN with English version of Manifesto received by email

On the occasion of the European elections on June 9, 2024, we are promoting a European mobilization against growing militarization and wars.

We have started with a Manifesto signed by a wide range of organizations, movements and groups.


The manifesto will be presented before the electoral campaign, at public events in each locality in front of significant buildings that each territorial assembly will decide, taking into account the target audience (public institutions, parties…) and the communicative capacity (photo, video…) for a good media coverage.

It is proposed to present it publicly in all possible towns on May 23 in the morning, as a common date
.
The manifesto can also be sent to political parties, parliaments and national and European governments by mail or fax, registered as a petition and, of course, disseminated through the networks starting on May 23.

Territorial organizations and assemblies can take other actions to support the campaign.

Manifesto

NO TO MILITARIZATION AND NO TO WAR
For a Europe of détente, peace, and shared security

For months now, European political leaders have been laying the groundwork to prepare us for war. Regardless of whether the risk for a large-scale conflict is in fact real or overstated, the continent’s economies are already shifting towards war-time public budgets, and the dire consequences of this are already being felt as the cost of living is becoming unaffordable for large segments of the European population.

History teaches us that progressive steps towards militarization always constitute a prelude to war, and for years they have been building a discursive framework that only serves to legitimize and justify it. In 2014, members of NATO all agreed to increase their respective defense budgets to at least 2% of their GDP. After the invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing genocide in Palestine, the political priorities of NATO and the EU have shifted towards boosting their countries’ spending on acquiring new weapons, reintroducing compulsory military service, financing the military industrial complex to produce more, and creating more funding streams to develop new, more lethal and autonomous prototypes.

The EU has been stoking fears of a possible Russian invasion of Europe to garner public support for its policy of rearmament and militarization. Military expenditures by EU member states reached €289.3 billion in 2023, which represented an increase of more than 21.3 % since 2022. Adding EU community spending (€7.537 billion) and the expenditures of the United Kingdom and Norway (€77.323 billion), total military spending amounts to €374 billion, the second largest in the world, only behind the United States, and nearly four times that of Russia (€100 billion).

The European Union has been implementing a policy of military
deterrence that is proving absurd: it seeks to showcase its greater power and destructive capabilities to the adversary in order to dissuade any attack, but this self-destructive policy will inevitably lead to tensions escalating, an arms race, and a bellicose spiral, with the looming threat of a nuclear war, the catastrophic consequences being the destruction of life on the planet several times
over.

On June 9th, European elections will be held, and we consider it an opportunity to raise our demands to the political forces participating. This is crucial; either we choose to promote policies of peace, détente, and shared security, or we will end up in a militaristic escalation. Increasing defense spending means reducing resources to counter climate change, reduce inequalities and improve health, gender equity, harmonize salaries, or uphold the rights of all citizens.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article.)

Question related to this article:

How can the peace movement become stronger and more effective?

(Article continued from left column)

For all these reasons, the signing organizations propose:

● To advocate for détente, moving away from NATO’s threatening rhetoric and arms spirals, activating disarmament, opening the doors to dialogue and mutual trust with the aim of de-escalating conflicts through the use of diplomacy, negotiation, cooperation, and non-violence. These policies should lead to the end of armed violence in Ukraine, Palestine, and other places in the world. It is necessary to resume the commitment of the 1990s to a common and shared security without exclusions in Europe.

● To promote a foreign policy oriented towards peace, focused on human security, through instruments such as mediation,
diplomacy, defense of human rights, or civil intervention in
conflicts in order to build peace.

● To promote spaces for dialogue among social movements,
academics, and politicians aimed at developing proposals for
peace policies, civilian peace corps, civil defense, and unarmed security. Enhancing human and economic resources for the military-industrial conversion to civilian productive sectors of interest.

● To actively promote environmental peace grounded in scientific principles, with clear and secure decarbonization policies that minimize and repair the damages that will affect future generations. To promote policies that impact the improvement of people’s daily lives.

● To promote a human security policy focused on people’s needs, with their involvement and participation.

Initial signatories:

° Centre Delàs d’Estudis per la Pau
° Fundipau
° Institut NOVACT de Noviolència
° UNIPAU
° Lafede.cat – organitzacions per a la justícia global
Coordinadora d’ONG Solidàries de les comarques gironines i l’Alt Maresme,
° Coordinadora d’ONG pel Desenvolupament, la Defensa dels Drets Humans i la Pau de Tarragona
° Campanya Aturemlesguerres.cat
° Plataforma Desmilitaritzem l’Educació de Catalunya
° Fundació Carta de la Pau dirigida a l’ONU
° Justícia i Pau
° Federació de la Xarxa de Cooperació al Desenvolupament del Sud de Catalunya
° Dones x Dones
° CIEMEN
° Alternativa Antimilitarista MOC/ADNV Canarias
° Ecologistas en Acción
° Moviment d’Objecció de Consciència MOC-València
° Asamblea Antimilitarista de Madrid
° Coordinadora de ONGD del Principado de Asturias
° Plataforma Aturem la Guerra
° Plataforma Catalunya per la pau
° WILPF (Liga Internacional de Mujeres por la Paz y la Libertad)
° Llegat Jaume Botey i Vallès
° Coordinadora Valenciana de ONGD
° Comisión General Justicia y Paz
° Coordinadora Galega de ONGD
° Consell d’Associacions de Barcelona
° Ca la Dona
° Alternativas Noviolentas
° Mujeres de Negro contra la Guerra – Madrid
° Escola de Cultura de Pau de la UAB
° AIPAZ – Asociación Española de Investigación para la Paz
° Fundación Cultura de Paz
° Movimiento Por la Paz -MPDL-
° Comunitat Palestina de Catalunya
° Prou Complicitat amb Israel
° Campanya per la fi del Comerç d’armes amb Israel
° UGT de Catalunya
° CCOO de Catalunya
° Òmnium Cultural

Sign the Manifesto

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DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Europe

France: Conference on peace and climate at Rennes 2 University

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Info Locale (translation by CPNN)

As part of the project “Young people, citizens in solidarity for Peace, Nuclear disarmament, the climate and the human right to Peace, (from the neighborhood to the Planet)”, we have set up a committee of Rennes students for peace.

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Question for this article:

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

(Continued from left column)

Our main objective is to promote the culture of peace in academic circles.
On March 28, 2024, we held our first conference on Peace and Climate in partnership with the association Ar Vuhez at Rennes 2 University, Villejean Campus , in the presence of students from various establishments.

We express our gratitude to all participants, in particular to Babas Babakwanza and Roland Nivet for their very informative interventions.

– Rennes Student Committee for Peace

Click here for the original French version of this article

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EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Europe