Tag Archives: global

Is there progress in renewable energy?

.. SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT ..

A survey of media by CPNN

Yes, there is progress in renewable energy.

But it is not enough to change the worldwide reliance on fossil fuels.

(Click on the image to enlarge°

Here are some overall figures, based on data from the Ember Energy Think Tank:

Total world electricity production in 2025: 31,779 TWH (trillion killowat hours)

Electricity production by renewables in 2025: 10,730 TWH (33.8%)

This includes energy production by solar power that was 2,778 TWH (8.7%)

Electricity production by fossil fuels in 2025: 18,238 TWH (57.4%)

Electricity production by nuclear sources: 2,812 TWH (8.9%)

The annual increase in renewable sources is not enough to change the situation very much. In 2025, renewable energy production, led by solar power, increased by 852 TWH. However, the overall demand for electricity increased almost as much as that: 849 TWH. In other words, renewable increases only cover the increasing global demand for electricity.

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Question for this article:

Are we making progress in renewable energy?

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More than half of the increasing global demand for electricity is produced by the enormous investments in artificial intelligence. The demand was 485 TWH in 2025 and is expected to grow to 945 TWH in 2030. These figures come from the website of Our World in Data.

The future is dark

Continued reliance on fossil fuel sources for energy threatens to make global warming worse than ever, with enormous costs from hurricanes, wildfires, drought, etc., etc.

It would be nice if thermonuclear fusion could be mastered, bringing enormous amounts of clean enery, but according to the website of Aveva, this is not likely before 2050.

It may be that the situation in Cuba is similar to what we may face in the rest of the world.

As described by a recent article in Havana Times, Cuba cannot generate enough electricity for its people because the United States has cut off all its supplies of oil. China has provided solar panels that are used to provide electricity to clinics, water pumps and rural homes. And, ironically, the US has allowed the export of solar panels to private citizens in Cuba in an attempt to develop a Cuban upper class to change their socialist system.

Would a culture of peace help improve the situation?

According to one source the world’s militaries emit about 5.5% of the emissions that cause global warning, led by China, Russia and the United States. The big countries have censured this information so that it is not included in the global climate agreements.

Obviously, a global culture of peace would provide a direct improvement by removing this demand. As I have proposed in a blog, a culture of peace could include the transformation of militaries from agents of war and war preparation bo agents of humanitarian assistance for migrations from cities to countrysiude.

Indirectly, one may hope that a global culture of peace would strengthen the process of replacing fossil fuels by renewable energy. Although they are suffering, the people of Cuba have shown us it can be done.

(Click here for a French version of this article)

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November 12, 2026global, Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTglobal, Latin AmericaCPNN Coordinator

Quality jobs, democracy and a decent future now! ITUC stands with young people worldwide

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC)

The ITUC expresses its solidarity with young people taking to the streets across the world to demand quality education, decent jobs, affordable living conditions and democratic accountability.

Across Europe, Asia, Africa and Latin America, youth-led protests are exposing two devastating trends that are fuelling frustration among young people worldwide:

° Education systems and economies are failing students and young workers. Costs are rising, quality is declining and the lack of decent job opportunities is making young people feel that building a future is impossible.

° Governments are failing to address these challenges, either refusing to take responsibility or actively insulting protesters and repressing non-violent demonstrations.

Credit: AFP CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT

Shared demands for a better future

Although circumstances differ between countries, young people across these movements are voicing shared demands that reflect the priorities of workers and trade unions worldwide:

° Quality public education and services. End austerity, increase investment in public education and healthcare, and guarantee accessible, affordable and high-quality services for all.

° Decent work and fair wages. Create decent job opportunities for young people, guarantee fair pay, job security and social protection, and ensure that education leads to decent work.

° Affordable living conditions. Address the rising cost of housing, food, energy and other essentials, and ensure that wages allow young people to live in dignity.

° Democracy and accountability. Tackle corruption, ensure transparency in public decision-making and guarantee young people’s meaningful participation in decisions affecting their future.

° Fundamental rights and freedoms. End the repression of peaceful demonstrations, protect freedom of expression and assembly, and guarantee democratic trade union rights such as freedom of association.

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Question related to this article:

What is the contribution of trade unions to the culture of peace?

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Young trade unionists at the forefront

Many of these young people are committed trade unionists and are part of the ITUC’s global membership of 200 million workers. Young trade unionists are helping to turn frustration into collective action, linking demands for better education and decent job opportunities with the defence of democracy, public services and workers’ rights.

Speaking at ITUC webinar, Fight For Democracy: Young Workers Organising for the Future, Harsha Shelke from HMS India said: “Students are losing hope and trust over the education system in India. We are focusing on helping young people to know what is right and what is wrong and what they deserve.

“Trade unions offer us a platform where we can come all together and fight all together.”

“The higher the number, the stronger the fight. Solidarity can bring more attention and more power and better results against the things we are fighting.”

Mabel Paladines from CEOSL Ecuador added: “At this moment we have a right-wing government. Education funding has been cut short year after year. In the most recent mobilization, the brutal police killed colleagues who exercised their right to protest. But young workers in Ecuador are strategic. We have a communications strategy, we have a legal strategy with a case before the Constitutional Court, and we occupy the public space and insert ourselves in these debates.”

ITUC General Secretary Luc Triangle said: “Young people are demanding what every generation should be able to expect: quality education, decent jobs, affordable living conditions and a voice in shaping their lives. These are key elements of the New Social Contract championed by the ITUC.

“Governments must listen to these demands and respond with practical action, not more repression, austerity and intimidation.”

“These protests are a warning that policies which deny young people opportunities and economic security are unsustainable. Trade unions stand with young people demanding change. Their fight for decent work, democracy and social justice is our fight too.”

The ITUC calls on governments to engage in genuine dialogue with young people and their representative organisations, including trade unions, and respond to their demands with concrete commitments to decent work, quality public services, social protection and democratic freedoms.

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November 10, 2026DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, globalglobalCPNN Coordinator

With ‘Largest Coordinated Port Action Ever,’ Dockworkers in 22 Countries Strike Against Gaza Genocide

. HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article by Jake Johnson in Common Dreams (reprinted according to

Dockworkers in more than 20 countries—from France to India to Greece—are withholding their labor on Friday to demand an end to Israel’s genocidal assault on Gaza and highlight the role that commercial ports play in fueling deadly militarism worldwide.

Organizers said the work stoppages, led by dockworkers’ unions at 113 ports across 22 countries, would be the “largest coordinated port action ever,” easily surpassing the international day of action held in February. No Harbour for Genocide, a collective of trade unions and others supporting the day of action, said $2.8 billion worth of cargo will be halted at Mediterranean ports, where workers are planning to strike for 24 hours.

Seafarers and dockworkers chant slogans as they take part in a march from the port of Piraeus, near Athens, towards Greece’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs on October 30, 2026. (Photo by Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

“A cargo refused in one port sails on to the next,” said No Harbour for Genocide. “Refused in every port, it stops, and the workers have enforced the embargo that governments announced and did not.”

In a joint statement last month announcing the day of action, dockworkers’ unions from Türkiye, Morocco, Italy, France, Greece, Italy, and Basque Country laid out their demands:

1. An immediate end to the genocide of the Palestinian people and the opening of safe corridor for humanitarian aid.. An end of colonization, occupation and apartheid imposed to Palestinian People and the recognition of an independent Palestinian state recognized by the international community on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.

2. An end to the war in the Middle East. No support, no facilitation, no participation in the US-Israeli war against Iran, Lebanon or any other imperialist intervention. Military fleets and bases out of the region. We express our full solidarity to the people of Cuba and Venezuela and Sudan menaced by US imperialism and we call for defend people’s sovereignty, resources, territorial integrity, peace with justice, and the right for resistance for self-determination.

3. Ports must not be used for the transport of weapons, ammunition, military equipment and troops. We call on unions to strengthen vigilance, to inform workers, to expose the cargoes of war, and to organize mass collective resistance with all our rightful available means and our struggle.

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Question related to this article:

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

What is the contribution of trade unions to the culture of peace?

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4. An end to the militarization of ports and critical infrastructure. Ports belong to the peoples and the workers. They are not bases for NATO, the USA or the EU, nor tools of shipowners and monopoly groups.

5. No to the war economy and armaments. The money must go to wages, collective agreements, health, education, social needs, and the protection of life and safety at work.

6. Health and safety measures in the workplaces. Not one worker dead for profits. An end to intensification, subcontracting, dangerous conditions, and employer arbitrariness.

7. Collective agreements with real wage increases, stable jobs with rights, a retirement policy with better pensions, and a reduction of working time. Technological developments, mechanization, automation, the use of AI and the development of ports must serve the needs of workers, and not lead to the intensification of work or the disappearance of their jobs

“Our strength lies in organization. It lies in our unions, in general assemblies, in collective decisions, in solidarity among workers from different countries,” the unions said. “We, the workers in the ports, know very well that without us nothing moves. Without our hands, containers remain still, ships are not loaded, the war machines are blocked.”

Al Jazeera noted that of the ports participating in Friday’s actions, “Genoa, Livorno, and Gioia Tauro in Italy, Marseille in France, Piraeus in Greece, and Tangier in Morocco all have proven links to weapons shipments to Israel.”

The strikes come as Israel’s genocide in Gaza continues despite a ceasefire agreement that putatively took effect last October. A United Nations report published earlier this week noted that “Israeli authorities and forces continue to commit genocidal acts” in Gaza “even after the so-called ceasefire agreement, with the intent to destroy the Palestinian people, in whole or in part.”

The report found that Israel—which is armed and supported diplomatically by Western governments, principally the United States—has “committed war crimes and the crimes against humanity of extermination, persecution, torture, rape, and other forms of sexual violence” in the illegally occupied Palestinian territories.

Port Workers and Communities for Palestine said in a statement Friday that will be demonstrating at the Port of Elizabeth in New Jersey. The coalition said the New Jersey port is the only port on the East Coast of the US where a protest is expected. Demonstrations are also expected in Oakland and San Francisco, California.

“We know that, regardless of what union leadership may decide, workers everywhere stand in solidarity with Palestine,” said Port Workers and Communities for Palestine. “We will be out there on Friday to show them that they are part of this movement too. Workers have the power to stop the war machine.”

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October 30, 2026FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global, HUMAN RIGHTSglobalCPNN Coordinator

Call to UN Members: Prevent nuclear war and achieve nuclear disarmament

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

Received by email from Unfold Zero

On Thursday October 15, Dr. Deepshikha Kumari Vijh, UN Representative for the International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, presented the Nuclear Abolition Day Appeal to UN Member States participating in the UN First Committee (Disarmament and International Security).

The Appeal has been endorsed by more than 800 organizations and an additional 1400 individuals including Nobel Laureates, parliamentarians, local body representatives; former high-level political and military officials; academics and educators; scientists; medical professionals; leaders from faith-based, business, and youth communities; artists; and others.

The Appeal calls on governments to affirm that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is inadmissible, and announce concrete plans to:

° Reduce nuclear risks and prevent nuclear war;

° Commit to achieving the global elimination of nuclear weapons within a reasonable timeframe (no later than the 100th anniversary of the UN), and commence negotiations to achieve this objective;

° Redirect the billions spent on nuclear weapons to urgent global needs—peace, protection, and sustainable development—as envisioned in Article 26 of the UN Charter,

A world without nuclear weapons is our destination

“In 1996 the World Court unanimously concluded that there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith—and bring to a conclusion—negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control… Excellencies, we humbly submit, our destination is a world without nuclear weapons. And we urge, that it does not remain a destination only in words. Every decision taken here, in this Committee, can bring us closer to it.”

Dr Deepshikha Kumari Vijh presenting the Nuclear Abolition Day Appeal to the UN First Committee on October 15, 2026. See full statement.  

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Question related to this article:

Can we abolish all nuclear weapons?

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On September 25-26, 2026, NuclearAbolitionDay.org organised Towards a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World, a global, online, intergenerational event commemorating the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons.

The event included:

Short presentations by experts from the United Nations and around the world;

Special screenings of the documentary An Ordinary Insanity followed by discussion with the director and producer;

Discussion of the principal calls made in the Joint Appeal for Nuclear Abolition Day;

Short cultural performances for peace and nuclear abolition.

The event was held in four sessions spread across the world’s time zones. You can watch the video statements for the event and the full session recordings at the Nuclear Abolition Day 2026 YouTube playlist. Video statements include:

H.E. Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs;

Michael Douglas, Academy Award Winning Actor and UN Messenger of Peace;

Hon. Oscar Arias, President of Costa Rica 1986 to 1990 and 2006 to 2010, Nobel Peace Laureate 1987;

Achin Vanaik, Founding member, Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace, India;

Bill Kidd, Former Member of the Scottish Parliament. Co-President, Parliamentarians for Nuclear Nonproliferation and Disarmament.

We also recommend reading the written version of the presentation by Hon Gareth Evans, former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Co-Chair of the International Commission on Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament and Founder of the Asia-Pacific Leadership Network.

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October 28, 2026DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, global, United Nationsglobal, United NationsCPNN Coordinator

Universal Peace: A Cosmic Coincidence?

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article sent to CPNN from J.S. Sadin

In 2015 I needed to accurately reproduce a peace sign for a project. Searching the Internet for imagery I selected a thick lined peace sign posted on Wikimedia Commons representing the iconic image from the 1960s anti-war movement. A few measurements led to A Proportional Peace Sign specification enabling anyone to create a peace sign of any size. (image 1 below)

Later I learned the peace sign was originally created in 1958 by an English graphic designer, Gerald Holtom. It was adopted as the British Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament logo. Holtom based his design on a composite of the semaphore flag positions for the letters ’N’ (a downward facing ‘V’) and ‘D’ (a vertical line) for Nuclear Disarmament, all within a circle.

(click on image to enlarge)

In 2024 I heard NASA positioned the James Web Space Telescope on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun, at a location in space called Lagrange point 2 (L2), because L2 is a gravitationally stable point in space, which means it takes minimal fuel to keep the Web telescope (or any satellite) correctly positioned.

There are five Lagrange points on or near the orbit of Earth around the Sun. It turns out there are also five unique Lagrange points like this on and near the orbit of each planet in our solar system, and the orbit of every planet orbiting every star in the Universe, because the laws of physics defining Lagrange points are universal. (image 2 above)

Lagrange point history began around 1750, when Lagrange points L1, 2 and 3 were discovered by Leonhard Euler, a Swiss mathematician. The remaining Lagrange points, L4 and 5, were then discovered a decade later by Joseph-Louis Lagrange, the Italian mathematician, physicist and astronomer, who later worked out the details in his “three-body problem” essay, published in 1772.

Question related to this article:

Can popular art help us in the quest for truth and justice?

Nearly two centuries later, in the late 1950’s, the post-war nuclear arms race was well underway. Average people began pushing back against the existential danger posed by the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Gerald Holtom’s Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament logo could have been based on any number of things, but his creative decision to combine elements of the semaphore system used for nautical and emergency communication led to what eventually became the iconic peace sign.

It’s notable that these unrelated histories, separated by hundreds of years, produced remarkably similar symbols: one intentionally, the other inherently. Many of us might not even notice the differences; a coincidence that nearly defies explanation: What are the odds that a peace sign, a symbol representing the absence of war, would exist in every two-body system in the Universe?

Today, the changes we’re witnessing on the world stage are jarring and disruptive. The international rules- based order established eighty years ago by the U.S. after WWII is faltering, and mid-power nations are reconsidering security alliances thought to be iron clad. They know historically chaos can breed chaos, forcing some to begin rearming while Russia, China and America eye regional opportunities created by events, increasing the odds of conflict.

Life is the animate of the inanimate of the infinite, existing only on Earth. By any measure life is the most precious thing in the Universe. The next war this world is capable of delivering upon itself would be devastating to civilization and higher forms of life. And while the world will turn with or without us, we have a stake in humanity’s future for our children and their children’s children. All of us living today owe our descendants a peaceful clean planet, and peace is the precondition to equitably share the only world we may ever know.

A coincidental symbol resembling Holtom’s original may simply be a sign more peace is our only hope. (image 3 below)

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October 14, 2026EDUCATION FOR PEACE, globalglobalCPNN Coordinator

The Rivas International Peace Forum Approves a Roadmap to Fight Escalating Militarism and Defend Peace, Multilateralism, and Peaceful Coexistence

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article from the International Peace Bureau

Against an international backdrop marked by growing instability and global rearmament, the International Peace Forum concluded this Friday (September 25), in Rivas-Vaciamadrid. It brought together 63 organizations from 32 countries with the aim of mapping out diplomatic alternatives to what they describe as one of the most dangerous periods since World War II.

Video of Forum on facebook

The forum’s panels centered the debate on the need to transition away from a unipolar international order—sustained by record increases in global military spending, which reached $2.718 trillion in 2024—toward a multilateral framework of peaceful coexistence.

Speakers at the forum denounced the financial priorities of global powers, noting that they continue to divert essential funds that should instead go toward healthcare, housing, and the fight against hunger. Similarly, during the working sessions and five thematic panels held at the gathering, delegations analyzed key conflict hotspots:

° Middle East and North Africa: The forum condemns the crisis in Palestine and Lebanon, as well as the recent aggression against Iran that threatens energy security in the Strait of Hormuz.

° Latin America: It demands the immediate removal of the economic blockade and energy siege imposed by the United States on Cuba, while also rejecting coercive measures and aggression against Venezuela.

° Eastern Europe and Sub-Saharan Africa: The forum urged negotiated solutions to end the war in Ukraine and the dynamics of conflict in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Western Sahara.

The forum also made an urgent appeal for the signing of an international treaty guaranteeing the prohibition and ecologically safe dismantlement of nuclear arsenals, which currently exceed 12,000 warheads globally. Furthermore, peace was linked to climate justice following the commitments of COP30 in Belém, and special focus was placed on protecting women and migrants affected by wars and human trafficking networks.

Unlike other international gatherings, the Rivas Forum aims not to end merely with a statement of principles and intentions. To ensure the continuity of its work and follow up on agreements, the participating organizations have established a roadmap with commitments to create:

° International Coordination Mechanism: Concrete proposals to formalize a permanent communication and cooperation network will be presented before the end of 2026, operating continuously through 2027.

° New Monitoring Institutions: Approval was granted to propose an International Observatory on Conflict Resolution and Militarism to prepare periodic reports, alongside the structure of a Parliamentary Network connecting lawmakers from Latin America, the Caribbean, and Europe.

° Mobilization Calendar: Endorsing the Stop Rearm Europe campaign and actively joining the days of pacifist mobilization scheduled for November 20 and 21, 2026, was also agreed upon.

Finally, the forum proposed promoting the submission of peace resolutions to the UN, UNESCO, WHO, and IMO, as well as seeking strategic diplomatic alliances with global integration platforms such as BRICS+, CELAC, the African Union, and ASEAN.

Question related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

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Political and social organizations and embassies

1- Partido Comunista de España
2- Izquierda Unida
3- Ayuntamiento de Rivas Vaciamadrid
4- Partido Comunista de Cuba
5- Partido Comunista de Portugal
6- Partido Comunista de Francia
7- Foro Europeo
8- Partido Comunista de Uruguay
9- Frente Amplio de Uruguay:
10- PTB
11- Refundación Comunista
12- Stop Rearm Europe
13- Intal Bélgica / RedFox
14- FPLP
15- Revolución Ciudadana de Ecuador
16- Unión de Juventudes Comunistas de España (UJCE)
17- Asociación Patrice Lumumba
18- Transform Europe
19- Foro de São Paulo
20- Celac Social
21- Partido Comunista Colombiano y Pacto Histórico
22- International Peace Bureau (IPB)
23- Socialistas Democráticos de América (DSA)
24- Federaciob Democrática Internacional de Mujeres
25- Moviniento Democratico de Mujeres
26- Pax Christi
27- Justicia y Paz España
28- Morena
29- Partido de la Izquierda Europea (PIE)
30- World Beyond War
31- Alianza Negra por la Paz
32- Al -Haq
33- Partido Comunista de Chile
35- CCOO
36- UGT
37- Mundubat
38- Unadikum
39- Movimiento Pacifista de Castilla-La Mancha Mujeres de Negro
40- Bloque de Resistencia y Rebeldía Popular de El Salvador, Madrid:
41- Argentina Soberana, Madrid
42- Solidaridad con Cuba, Madrid
43- Asociación Guinea Bissau Amilcal Cabral
44- Asociación Mujeres Africanas en España
45- AKEL Chipre
46- Gabon
47- Senegal:
48- Embajada China
49- Embajada Cuba
50- Embajada Polisario
51- Movimiento Pan-africano
52- Embajada Palestina
53- Embajada Vietnam
54- Partido Comunista de China
55- Centro Estudios y Trabajos Nueva Ruta de la Seda
56- Fundacion Mwhana Glenn
57- Guinea Ecuatorial
58- Iniciativa por el Retorno a Palestina
59- Asociación Violeta Parra Chile
60- Partido Comunista Peru
61- Partido Comunista Bolivia
62- Catedra China
63- Asociación Embajadores/as por la Paz

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October 14, 2026DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Europe, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, globalEurope, globalCPNN Coordinator

Nobel Peace Prize 2026

. . HUMAN RIGHTS . .

A press release from the Nobel Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 goes to a person who with exceptional courage and integrity has led the way towards a more comprehensive global legal order. This year’s laureate has been instrumental in ensuring that war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide are prosecuted.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 to Navanethem “Navi” Pillay for her efforts to promote peace and international law.

Ill. Niklas Elmehed © Nobel Prize Outreach

Navi Pillay’s commitment to universal legal principles and her firm moral compass are constants in a long career. Born into a family of Indian Tamil origin under apartheid in Durban, South Africa, Pillay became a lawyer and legal pioneer, confronting deep structural discrimination, segregation and exclusion. A common thread runs from her early work defending Nelson Mandela and others who stood up against apartheid to her service as a judge in some of the key international court cases of our time.

This year’s laureate has significantly enlarged the scope and impact of international law. She has served as a judge on the High Court in South Africa, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the International Criminal Court. She was the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and, until recently, she chaired the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. Today Navi Pillay is a judge on the International Court of Justice in the case where Myanmar stands accused of genocide.

In historic international court cases, she has shown that legal measures can help prevent acts of war and violence. Navi Pillay has also contributed to strengthen the institutions of international law. Her independence, expertise and steadfastness have made her one of the most respected international jurists of our time.

The first Nobel Peace Prize was awarded 125 years ago. Already then, the Norwegian Nobel Committee underscored the importance of resolving conflicts through international law – a theme that has remained prominent throughout the history of the peace prize. The reach of international law expanded after the Second World War, in particular with the creation of the UN institutions. The key insight was that lasting peace must be built on legal principles, not on the will of the strong or a fragile balance of power. Additional legal mechanisms were introduced in the post-war decades, and momentum picked up further after the end of the Cold War.

However, the rules-based international order has never been perfect. The greatest powers have often evaded responsibility. In practice, cases brought under international law have produced different results depending on who is the perpetrator and who is the victim.

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Question related to this article:

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

The Nobel Peace Prize: Does it go to the right people?

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Nonetheless, we have seen that more and more conflicts are being addressed through diplomacy, treaties and legal mechanisms, rather than threats, violence and warfare. Leaders and populations alike have come to the same conclusion: international law is a foundation for a more peaceful world.

At a time of existential challenges – including more wars and conflicts than the world has seen in a long time – international law is no longer just a supplement to peace and security. It is an absolute necessity.

And yet, the system of international law is under tremendous pressure, and its institutions are under attack. We see a shift towards power politics at the expense of legal frameworks and global respect for law and justice. Whenever might overtakes right, it undermines stability, trust and peaceful co-existence.

In awarding this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, the Norwegian Nobel Committee wants to remind the world that the rule of law – national and international – underpins the system we have set up to ensure peace and resolve conflicts non-violently. Peace requires justice.

History has shown that a world operating without the rule of law is unjust, unwise and inhumane. The judges – those who guard the thin red line between order and chaos – are therefore highly deserving of our praise. But today, as these same judges are sanctioned, and their institutions are attacked, we need people of courage, vision and determination – qualities that Navi Pillay demonstrates in her work on the bench.

Navi Pillay has held states and national leaders accountable and brought hope to victims of violence and conflict. In all the positions she has held, she has stressed the responsibility of individuals and states to comply with the rule of law. She has also helped define the relevant norms and legal principles. When the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda established that rape and sexual violence could constitute a crime against humanity – as well as genocide – her influence was a significant factor. In the same case, Ms Pillay was instrumental in a separate legal breakthrough: for the first time, a defendant faced charges of incitement to commit genocide purely on the basis of spreading propaganda.

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2026 springs directly from Alfred Nobel’s will. Navi Pillay strengthens fraternity between nations and – by systematically advancing the use of tribunals for peace and justice – she provides substance, direction and motivation for peace conferences in their modern form.

Navi Pillay is one of the great defenders of international legal principles in our time. Her distinguished career reminds us of the need to support, fortify and expand the global rule of law. Navi Pillay’s commitment to justice and human dignity is a source of hope and inspiration to all who seek to bring about a more peaceful world.

(Click here for the French reaction to this announcment.)

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October 9, 2026DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, globalglobalCPNN Coordinator

Professor Ada Aharoni: A Unique Vision of Peace

. . WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article by Pressenza (translation by CPNN)

INTERVIEW WITH PROFESSOR ADA AHARONI, Founder and President of IFLAC World Peace – Haifa, Israel

Interview conducted by Ariel Français, Pierrick Hamon, Jean-Claude Mairal, and Stefania Scarponi. I-Dialogos: Professor Ada Aharoni, you were born in Cairo into a Jewish family that left Egypt for France before you arrived in Israel. How has this personal history—spanning multiple countries, languages, and cultures—shaped your commitment to peace?

Ada Aharoni: I was born in Cairo and grew up in a multicultural world. When the Jews of Egypt were expelled by the country following the creation of the State of Israel in 1948, we arrived in France, but I wanted to help Israel, which was then only two years old. From my earliest years, I lived among diverse languages, religions, and cultures. Later, the experience of leaving Egypt, living in France, and finally coming to Israel taught me something very important: identity does not necessarily have to erect walls between human beings. On the contrary, our diverse identities can enrich us.

Photo from Wikipedia

I also learned firsthand what it means to lose a homeland and start life over. This experience made me deeply sensitive to the displacement, fear, and rejection—as well as the longing for security and belonging—felt by Jews, Palestinians, and all peoples alike. It convinced me that peace cannot be built by denying history or the suffering of the other. We must learn about one another’s narratives, even when they are painful and contradictory. This understanding has guided my work as a writer, researcher, and peace activist throughout my life.

I-Dialogos: You founded IFLAC and, as an academic, you have given literature, culture, and music an essential role in peacebuilding. What can they make possible when political dialogue has deliberately broken down?

Ada Aharoni: I founded IFLAC—the International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace—in 2000 because I believe that political agreements alone cannot create lasting peace. We must also create a culture of peace. Literature, poetry, music, and the arts can reach places that political discourse often fails to reach. A poem can make us feel the suffering of someone we have been taught to view as an enemy. Music can bring people together without first asking about their nationality, religion, or political views.

The 11th IFLAC World Congress for Peace, held on September 22, 2026, was dedicated to peace through music and to the memory of Yehudi Menuhin, who understood the extraordinary universal power of music. When official dialogue breaks down, human dialogue must continue. Writers, musicians, educators, women, young people, and peace organizations can keep bridges standing until political leaders are ready to cross them.

I-Dialogos: Faced with the suffering of both peoples—and today, particularly that of the Palestinians—how can the pain of each be heard without erasing that of the other? Where do you see concrete possibilities for dialogue today?

The first rule of peace is very simple: the suffering of one people must never erase that of another. Palestinian suffering must be heard fully and humanely. Israeli suffering must also be heard fully and humanely. We cannot build peace by asking either people to forget its dead, its fears, its traumas, or its history.

The situation remains extremely difficult. In September 2026, the United Nations reported that, despite the ceasefire in Gaza that began in October 2025, violence and serious humanitarian and political problems persist, while conditions in the West Bank have also deteriorated. At the same time, the UN continues to advocate for the creation of two sovereign states—Israel and Palestine—living side by side in peace and security.

For me, a peaceful Palestinian state alongside Israel must be part of the vision for the future, ensuring genuine security for both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as a political framework in which neither side seeks the destruction of the other. Dialogue should begin wherever it is still possible: among educators, women, young people, writers, artists, researchers, municipalities, civil society organizations, and peace movements. We cannot wait for governments to reach an agreement before human beings start talking to one another again.

I-Dialogos: Your commitment extends beyond the Middle East. How do you respond to the wars and tensions in Ukraine and Russia, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo? Why does dialogue now seem impossible? How can the United Nations regain its true role?

Ada Aharoni: Every war has its own history and circumstances, and we must be careful not to claim that a single formula can solve them all. Yet there is a common danger: once societies become convinced that force is the only language the other side understands, dialogue becomes nearly impossible. Fear, grief, propaganda, and hatred deepen the divide.

Dialogue does not mean capitulation. Nor does it mean abandoning international law or justice. It means keeping open a path through which violence can ultimately come to an end. The United Nations therefore remains indispensable, yet it needs to be strengthened and reformed. Discussions regarding Security Council reform are ongoing, particularly concerning calls for a system that is more representative, transparent, accountable, and responsive to the entire UN membership. I would like to see the United Nations become far more effective at prevention by acting before wars break out, rather than primarily after thousands of lives have been lost. We devote immense resources to preparing for war; humanity must learn to invest seriously in preparing for peace.

I-Dialogos: The 11th IFLAC World Congress is proposing a global law against war. This may seem utopian, or even naive. How could this idea evolve into something more than just a statement of principle? What would be a realistic first step?

Ada Aharoni: Almost all of humanity’s great strides forward were dismissed as utopian before they became reality. Slavery was once considered inevitable. Colonialism was considered inevitable. In many societies, women’s suffrage was viewed as unrealistic. Why should war be the only institution humanity is not even permitted to imagine moving beyond?

And we are not starting from scratch. Article 2 of the UN Charter already requires states to settle their international disputes by peaceful means and prohibits the threat or use of force inconsistent with the Charter. Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution famously renounces war as a means of settling international disputes.

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(Click here for the original version in French)

Questions related to this article:

Do women have a special role to play in the peace movement?

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IFLAC proposes going much further in the international application of this principle. The first practical step could be the creation of an international group—comprising jurists, diplomats, peace researchers, and civil society representatives—tasked with drafting a genuine Global Convention Against War, then seeking government support and submitting it to the United Nations. A law without institutions is insufficient.

That is why our IFLAC Global Peace Plan also proposes the creation of powerful Ministries of Peace in every country, properly resourced and funded to prevent conflict, promote mediation, and foster peace education. Peace requires institutions, budgets, and professional expertise, just as defense does.

I-Dialogos: In Metz, Pope Leo XIV called for rejecting the current arms race and making dialogue a path to peace. How can citizens of all convictions unite around this goal, and how can we convince deeply opposed governments to talk to one another?

Ada Aharoni: I was deeply interested in the message delivered by Pope Leo XIV in Metz on September 28, 2026. He called for patient dialogue, courage in negotiation, and a willingness to relinquish certain positions for the greater good of peace, while warning against the illusion that rearmament is a solution in itself. This aligns closely with what we advocate at IFLAC.

Peace should not belong to any single religion, political party, or ideology. A Christian, a Muslim, a Jew, a Buddhist, an atheist, or an agnostic can all agree on one very simple thing: our children deserve to live. That is our common starting point.

Governments will not suddenly agree on everything. Dialogue should therefore begin with specific issues where agreement is possible: civilian protection, humanitarian access, exchanges, environmental cooperation, education, trade, water, health, and other shared interests. Small agreements can build trust. Trust can make larger agreements possible. The alternative—refusing to talk until everything is resolved—guarantees that nothing ever will be.

I-Dialogos: I-Dialogos is building a network of correspondents across more than 60 countries. Why not involve Israeli, Palestinian, and regional voices in this? What do you think of this initiative? Could there be a partnership with IFLAC?

Ada Aharoni: Yes, I believe there is natural common ground for cooperation between I-Dialogos and IFLAC. A genuine international dialogue network needs Israeli and Palestinian voices, but these voices must not simply parrot political slogans. People need to listen to one another. For such a network to succeed, I would suggest a few simple principles: no incitement to hatred, no dehumanization, respect for facts, respect for disagreement, equal human dignity, and a genuine willingness to hear things one might not want to hear. Women and young people should also play a major role in these dialogues.

For 26 years, IFLAC has been working to forge connections among writers, researchers, educators, artists, and peace ambassadors across many countries who cherish peace. I would be delighted to explore how this network and I-Dialogos might collaborate. Perhaps I-Dialogos and IFLAC can help demonstrate something our divided world urgently needs to rediscover: Dialogue is not a sign of weakness. Dialogue is an act of courage.

I-Dialogos: Could you help us identify I-Dialogos contacts in Israel, as well as potential Palestinian counterparts or members of the IFLAC network? What initial joint initiative would you propose? What are your thoughts on movements such as “A Land for All”?

Ada Aharoni: Yes. I would be happy to help I-Dialogos connect with the right people in Israel and within IFLAC’s international network, and I would strongly encourage the participation of Palestinian peacebuilders as equal partners in dialogue. I would prefer not to select names hastily. The priority is to identify individuals who genuinely embrace dialogue, non-violence, and the dignity of both peoples.

As a first joint initiative, I propose an IFLAC–I-Dialogos Israeli-Palestinian peace dialogue—perhaps held online—bringing together a small group of Israelis, Palestinians, and international voices committed to peace. Instead of starting by asking, “Who is to blame?”, we could begin with a different question: “What must we do now so that our children do not inherit this war?” »

There are already Israeli-Palestinian initiatives worth examining within the framework of such a dialogue. For instance, “A Land for All” presents itself as a joint Israeli-Palestinian movement proposing two sovereign states within a single shared homeland, featuring cooperation, freedom of movement, and shared institutions. Various peace movements propose different political structures. Rather than declaring in advance that a specific formula is *the* solution, I believe the dialogue should examine which concrete elements can foster mutual recognition, security, freedom, equality, and peaceful coexistence.

I-Dialogos: Are there any other points you consider important and would like to address in conclusion?

Ada Aharoni: Yes. I would like to conclude with the central message of our 11th IFLAC World Congress for Peace: war must be outlawed. World peace is possible. But peace will not come about on its own. That is why, at IFLAC, we have developed a concrete Global Peace Plan based on four core ideas:

1. A global law against war: developing international law so that war is increasingly delegitimized and replaced by mandatory, peaceful dispute-resolution mechanisms.

2. Ministries of Peace in every country: strong, professional, and adequately funded government institutions dedicated to war prevention and peacebuilding.

3. A Global Peace Alliance: uniting peace organizations and the International Peace-Loving Community (IPLC) so that the many separate voices advocating for peace become a powerful global force.

4. When men and women lead together, women should enjoy equal representation—specifically, 50% participation—in the arenas where the most critical political and peace-related decisions are made. For too long, humanity has glorified the waging of war while treating the pursuit of peace with woefully inadequate attention. We know how to build armies, military alliances, and weapons systems; now, we must become just as serious about building peace. That is why I commend I-Dialogos and any sincere initiative that builds bridges between peoples. The great task before us is not merely to end a war; it is to create a world where humanity finally learns to resolve its conflicts without war. This is the challenge to which I have dedicated my life, and I remain convinced that we can meet it.

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October 9, 2026global, WOMEN'S EQUALITYglobalCPNN Coordinator

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence: An Attempt to Sow and Nurture the Seeds of a Nonviolent Revolution

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by Martin Sicard in Pressenza

When we talk about revolution, we often imagine only crowds dramatically—and sometimes violently—flooding the streets, storming symbolic buildings, and so on; but there is a quieter form of revolution that is taking root all over the world, from grassroots movements to initiatives led by certain inspired leaders—and which, of course, is not covered by the mainstream media…

To shed light on all these positive contributions emerging across the globe, in 2009, a quixotic idealist, Rafael de la Rubia, was inspired to propose this seemingly crazy idea: to circle the globe with a World March for Peace and Nonviolence; with the support of Silo and the collaboration of humanist friends from around the world, the 1MM was thus launched with a multicultural team of a dozen people who traveled across different continents, from a symbolic location in New Zealand to Punta de Vacas (Argentina), passing through India under the auspices of Gandhi.

This 93-day journey crossed 97 countries on five continents; it was not so much about physically walking as it was about highlighting, along the way, initiatives promoting peace and nonviolence, or inspiring others to take action in this direction—whether in the fields of culture, education, ecology, or politics—through marches, of course, but also concerts, theme days, and other types of events—both social and cultural.

But how was this accomplished? With what resources? It was carried out entirely independently, without financial support from any institution, without any commercial advertising from multinational corporations, but with occasional collaborations during our events and campaigns depending on the location, so as never to jeopardize our freedom of expression or compromise our positions.

Then came the 2nd and 3rd marches: since that first march had taken place without any major incidents, and with a clear desire to continue spreading these ideals of nonviolence, we considered the possibility of organizing a second one ten years later, in 2019; and so the 2nd March took place, which this time circled the entire globe: starting in Madrid, it returned there 159 days later, after passing through 51 countries and 122 cities. In the meantime, it had inspired a group of women, who took the initiative to organize regional marches in Central and Latin America; we didn’t have to wait ten years for the next one—only five. The third March therefore took place in 2024–2025, starting in Costa Rica (the country that abolished its army by proclaiming world peace) and returning there as well. All these marches followed the same criteria, while adapting part of the initial theme to the specific locations and times.  

And today? Here we are!

Given the global situation marked by a proliferation of conflicts—which further complicates travel—and where the economic constraints associated with organizing an international route weighed heavily, it was decided to change the format: a march would be organized in each city, that is, between the symbolic dates of September 21, International Day of Peace, and October 2, International Day of Nonviolence—give or take a day. 

To the best of our knowledge, to date, the 4th “In My City” March has taken place in more than 200 cities across various continents, which have organized activities such as marches, human symbols, and cultural events. Among the countries participating are: Nepal, Bangladesh, India, and the Philippines in Asia; Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, and Ecuador in the Americas; Italy, Spain, France, Denmark, and Greece in Europe; Senegal and Benin in Africa…

The goal is to reach 1,000 cities, continuing this effort every year until 2029 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the first World March; that is, every year during these days, activities will take place in as many cities as possible around the world. We’ve shifted from a geographic route to organizing as many simultaneous events as possible to send a message to the whole world; we understand, of course, that for this to have an impact, communication is essential…

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(Click here for the article in French or click here for the article in Spanish.)

Question for this article:

The World March for Peace and Nonviolence: What is its history and its effects?

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What has the World March achieved and continues to facilitate?

On the one hand, opening doors at various levels to convey our approach:
To people who wield influence in their respective circles—whether cultural figures, intellectuals, or politicians—who have received the March’s delegation or participated in events and forums.

Also at the level of international institutions and organizations with which we continue to collaborate, such as Mayors for Peace, the WILPF, the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Summit, Peace Boat, the ICAN campaign for the prohibition of nuclear weapons, the “United Religions” Initiative, the Earth Federation, among others, thereby expanding our networks and opportunities…

Education: In schools, we encouraged the creation of workshops, the organization of theme days, and the formation of human symbols of peace and nonviolence; these symbols, also created on many other occasions, served as a playful way to raise awareness about the meaning of peace, on the one hand, and nonviolence, on the other. It was also proposed to embrace an ethical commitment never to use one’s acquired knowledge to harm another human being.

Universities: The experience of the March has significantly fostered encounters with and among universities from different countries and continents, gradually creating relationships and opportunities for collaboration, hence the idea of building an international network of universities for peace and active nonviolence. In the case of Italy, it is worth highlighting the collaboration with the University of Perugia, where a meeting was held bringing together more than 40 university presidents and where a memorandum of understanding is currently being drafted, as well as with the United Nations University for Peace, which was originally headquartered in Costa Rica and is now based in Rome. Universities can play a fundamental role as centers for education, research, and the production of knowledge.

Culture: Openness toward other cultures and between them through concerts and exhibitions featuring artists sharing some of their works. Also, “the simple fact of knowing that there are people elsewhere, all over the planet, who are also working for peace and nonviolence encourages us to continue acting with hope.” Indeed, highlighting actions that generally receive no support and are not covered by the media opens the minds of people who, all too often, believe that their problem with violence is unique to them—as are the possible solutions.

To deepen our understanding of what nonviolence truly means and to apply its methodology in daily life.

Not to mention that the 1st World March led to the creation of Pressenza, the international humanist news agency now active in many countries.

In conclusion, it is important to highlight a key theme, a core concept of this march. This involves encouraging the digital and geographic expansion of any initiative in support of peace and nonviolence: inviting any individual or group to replicate and amplify any action, thanks to the connections made through the march. For example: a choir from City X connects with another to create a network of 1,000 choirs for peace; to facilitate the proliferation of human symbols, a guide has been written in several languages so that it can be replicated anywhere and on any scale.

The idea is to step outside our comfort zone to broaden and amplify the impact of what we do—in terms of scale, number, and locations—by creating these networks of nonviolence. To go beyond calls for peace and pacifism, which demand an end to wars, and move toward establishing a true culture of nonviolence.

So yes, we continue to take action because we believe and feel that the effort is worth it.

https://theworldmarch.org/
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October 9, 2026DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, globalglobalCPNN Coordinator

What has happened this year (2026) for the International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

This year we found 821 actions, including 366 actions carried out in 22 countries of Europe and 121 in 8 countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. We link to 127 actions in 9 of the 10 Canadian provinces and 46 of the 50 states of the United States. There are 94 actions cited in 18 countries of Asia and the Pacific, 59 from 14 Latin American and Caribbean countries, 33 from 19 African countries, and 22 from 12 Arab and Middle Eastern countries. See the CPNN bulletin for October for a synopsis.

Detailed data may be found on the following CPNN articles:

Europe: International Day of Peace

Ex-Soviet Countries: International Day of Peace

United States and Canada: International Day of Peace

Asia and Pacific: International Day of Peace

Arab and Middle Eastern States: International Day of Peace

Latin America and Caribbean: International Day of Peace

Africa: International Day of Peace

October 2, 2026FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, globalglobalCPNN Coordinator