All posts by CPNN Coordinator

About CPNN Coordinator

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

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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UN chief warns of nuclear ‘danger’ as world remembers Hiroshima; urges elimination of weapons

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from the United Nations News Service

The UN Secretary-General called for nuclear disarmament on Tuesday as the world marked 79 years since the bombing of Hiroshima, promising that the UN will “spare no effort to ensure the horrors of that day are never repeated.”


UN Photo/Yoshito Matsushige. Wounded civilians who escaped the blaze gather on a sidewalk west of Miyuki-bashi in Hiroshima, Japan, around 11 a.m. on August 6, 1945.

On 6 August 1945, the United States dropped a bomb dubbed ‘Little Boy’, on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, as World War Two continued. The bombing resulted in immense devastation which killed and injured tens of thousands of people.

The Secretary-General insisted that the threat of the use of nuclear weapons is not just “confined to history books” but a “real and present danger” today – once again looming large “in the daily rhetoric of international relations.”

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(Click here for a version in French or here for a version in Spanish

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

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The lessons of Hiroshima

In a message delivered in the Japanese city by UN disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu, Mr. Guterres said the lessons of Hiroshima which encourage disarmament and peace have been “pushed aside” but he recognised the people of Hiroshima’s efforts to ensure nuclear weapons are never used again.

He further insisted that the use of nuclear weapons is unacceptable and “a nuclear war cannot be won – and must never be fought.”

He said this is a lesson that shows we need disarmament now.

The message for the future

As the Hiroshima Peace Memorial ceremony continued, Mr. Guterres said that global mistrust and division have grown, but we must ensure not to “press our luck again.”

“Some are recklessly rattling the nuclear saber once more,” he said. “The world must stand together to condemn this unacceptable behaviour.”

Looking ahead to the Summit of the Future in New York next month, the Secretary-General said it is a “critical opportunity for governments to renew their commitment to multilateralism, sustainable development and peace, and adopt an actionable and forward-looking Pact for the Future.”

He said that conflict prevention, disarmament and a nuclear weapons-free world need to be at the heart of these efforts.

“We will never forget the lessons of 6 August 1945,” he said. “No more Hiroshimas. No more Nagasakis.”

Renewed determination

On Tuesday, UN disarmament chief, Ms. Nakamitsu echoed that message online.

In a statement on X, she also renewed her determination “to continue to work towards a world without nuclear weapons. For the security of all peoples.”

Hiroshima Peace Declaration 2024

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from the City of Hiroshima

Every year on August 6, the City of Hiroshima holds a Peace Memorial Ceremony to pray for the peaceful repose of the victims, and for the abolition of nuclear weapons and lasting world peace. During that ceremony, the Mayor issues a Peace Declaration directed toward the world at large. Hiroshima’s mayor will continue to issue these declarations calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons from the face of the earth to build a world of genuine and lasting world peace where no population will ever again experience the cruel devastation suffered by Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Peace Declaration

Citizens of the world, what do you think? Are more powerful nuclear forces necessary for national security? What about arms races, competing to maintain superiority over other nations? Russia’s protracted invasion of Ukraine and the worsening situation between Israel and Palestine are claiming the lives of countless innocent people, shattering normal life. It seems to me that these global tragedies are deepening distrust and fear among nations, reinforcing the public assumption that, to solve international problems, we have to rely on military force, which we should be rejecting. Given such circumstances, how can nations offer safety and security to their people? Is that not impossible?

Through the pillars under the Peace Memorial Museum, we can see the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims. Anyone praying at the Cenotaph can look straight through it to the Atomic Bomb Dome. Peace Memorial Park, with these structures on its north-south axis, was built in accordance with the Hiroshima Peace Memorial City Construction Law, enacted seventy-five years ago today. Built by the people of Hiroshima and many other seekers of peace, it has become a place to memorialize the victims and to think, talk, and make promises to each other about peace.

If, after the war, Japan had abandoned our Peace Constitution and focused on rebuilding our military, the city of peace Hiroshima is today would not exist. Standing here, we can all feel our predecessors’ determination to eliminate the scourge of war, trusting in the justice and faith of peace-loving people around the world.

Expressing that determination, one hibakusha continually communicated the spirit of Hiroshima. “Now is the time to turn the tide of history, to get beyond the hatreds of the past, uniting beyond differences of race and nationality to turn distrust into trust, hatred into reconciliation, and conflict into harmony.” This uplifting sentiment was written by a man who, as a 14-year-old boy, saw scenes from a living hell— a baby with skin peeled down to red flesh next to its mother burned from head to toe, and a corpse with its guts strewn out on the dirt.

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(Click here for a version in French.)

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

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In 1989, a massive people’s movement for democracy brought down the Berlin Wall, the predominant symbol of the Cold War. President Gorbachev expressed humanity’s collective need for peace and his determination to stop the arms race, end nuclear terror, eradicate nuclear weapons, and relentlessly pursue political solutions to regional conflicts. He and President Reagan worked together through dialogue to bring the Cold War to an end, which led to the United States and the Soviet Union concluding the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. They demonstrated that policymakers can overcome even critical situations through resolute commitment to dialogue.

Let us not be resigned to pessimism about the chaotic world situation. Instead, let us be as determined as our forebears, and, united as one, with hope in our hearts, take collective action. Our unity will move leaders now relying on nuclear deterrence to shift their policies. We could make that happen.

To extinguish the suspicion and doubt that create conflicts, civil society must foster a circle of trust through exchange and dialogue with consideration for others. We must spread beyond national borders the sense of safety we feel in our daily lives. The crucial step here is to share and empathize with the experiences and values of others through music, art, sports, and other interactions. Through such exchange, let us create a world in which we all share the Culture of Peace. In particular, I call on our youth, who will lead future generations, to visit Hiroshima and, taking to heart what they experience here, create a circle of friendship with people of all ages. I hope they will ponder what they can do now, and act together to expand their circle of hope. The city of Hiroshima, working with Mayors for Peace, which now has more than 8,400 member cities in 166 countries and regions, will actively support community endeavors to raise peace consciousness.

Last fiscal year, approximately 1.98 million people from around the world visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. This record number is evidence of unprecedented interest in the atomic-bombed city and a rise in peace consciousness. My hope is that all world leaders will visit Hiroshima, experience the will of civil society, gain a deeper understanding of the atomic bombing, and hold in their hearts the hibakusha plea, “No one should ever suffer as we have.” Then, while they are here, I hope they will, with iron resolve, issue a compelling call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Twice in a row the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference has failed to adopt a final document. These failures have revealed a harsh reality, namely, the enormous differences among countries with respect to nuclear weapons. I hope the Japanese government, which has declared repeatedly that the NPT is the cornerstone of the international nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime, will exercise strong leadership, calling all countries to transcend their positions and engage in constructive dialogue toward a relationship of trust. Furthermore, I request that Japan, as a practical effort toward a nuclear-weapon-free world, participate as an observer at the Third Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to be held in March next year. Subsequently and as soon as possible, Japan must become a party to the treaty. In addition, I demand that the Japanese government strengthen measures of support for the hibakusha, including those living outside Japan. Now that their average age has exceeded 85, the government must accept that they are still suffering the many adverse emotional and physical effects of radiation.

Today, at this Peace Memorial Ceremony marking 79 years since the bombing, we offer our deepest condolences to the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Together with Nagasaki and likeminded people around the world, remembering once again the hibakusha struggle, we pledge to make every effort to abolish nuclear weapons and light the way toward lasting world peace. Citizens of the world, let us all, with hope in our hearts, walk with Hiroshima toward tomorrow’s peace.

August 6, 2024

Matsui Kazumi
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima

2024 United Nations High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by CPNN based on the videos of the forum at UN Web TV part 1 and UN Web TV part 2

The United Nations held its annual High Level Forum on the Culture of Peace on August 2.

The following article is based on the videos of the Forum because it seems that the United Nations did not publish a general article about the forum. There is a UN webpage for the Forum, but it contains only the concept note, the program, video excerpts, three photos and a link to the 1999 resolution on a culture of peace.


Scene at beginning of Forum, taken from UN video. (Note that in previous years, the room was filled with representatives of civil society and Member States)

A concept note with background about the culture of peace was published this year prior to the forum by the President of the General assembly saying that it would be dedicated to the theme “Promoting Culture of Peace in the Digital Era.”

The program consisted of a three-hour opening session beginning at 10:00 with four presentations available in the UN journal.

H.E. Mr. Dennis Francis, President of the UN General Assembly began by commemorating the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and thanking the Permanent Mission of Bangladesh for its continued stewardship of the High-Level Forum. He quoted Mahatma Gandhi that “there is no way to peace, peace is the way,” and Nobel Peace Laureate Muhammed Yunus that “Peace should be understood in a human way – in a broad social, political way. Peace is threatened by unjust economic, social and political order, absence of democracy, environmental degradation and the absence of human rights.”

Mr. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy also spoke about the “enduring legacy” of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and he looked forward to the Declaration on Future Generations to be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future.

Mrs. Lily Gray, UNESCO Liaison Office to the UN said that the digital age demands that we update and refine the concept of a culture of peace, and she referred to UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence.

Ms. Andrea Carstensen, Representative of Global Youth Caucus on SDG 16 referred to the Secretary-General’s New Agenda for Peace, and Security Council Resolution 2250 — unanimously adopted in 2015 and reaffirmed in 2018. The resolution acknowledges the traditionally-overlooked role of youth in peacebuilding and conflict resolution and calls for the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes at all levels.

Then followed a plenary session with statements by 31 countries, the European Union and 2 observers, the Holy See and the Sovereign Order of Malta. Their statements are available here.

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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 you may see from the list of countries, there were statements posted from eight countries in Latin America, seven from Asia and five from Africa, but no remarks from the United States or from its allies in Japan, Canada or Australia. China did not issue a statement but is represented, along with 17 other countries, by the statement of Venezuela On Behalf of the Group of Friends in Defence of the Charter of the United Nations

The statement by the European Union in favor of the culture of peace is published here separately because it marks a welcome change from their previous opposition to the culture of peace.

Vietnam and the Holy See also published articles on the Internet about their statements.

In the afternoon there was a one-hour panel session from 15:00 until 16:07 that can be seen in the second video listed above.

The panel session was moderated by Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications. She introduced remarks by the following four panelists:

Mr. Felipe Paullier, Assistant-Secretay-General for Youth Affairs.

Ms. Naureen Chowdhury Fink from the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism. Her remarks are published here. According to Wikipedia, the NGO was founded in 2017 by a consortium of companies spearheaded by Facebook (now known as Meta), Google/YouTube, Microsoft and Twitter (now known as X). It provides a database of videos and images related to terrorism.

Mr. Francisco Rojas Aravena, rector of the University of Peace. His remarks are published here.

Ms Amanda Dixon from the NGO Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light. Her remarks are published here. She spoke about her organization, saying “Our 94-year-old chairman, a global messenger of peace, established our organization over a decade ago to leave peace as a legacy to future generations.” According to Wikipedia, HWPL was founded in 2013 by Lee Man-hee in South Korea, and is classified as a sect according to eight listed sources.

Comments were then requested from the member states and observers, for which there were two: Costa Rica and the NGO Man Up Campaign.

The floor was given again to the four panelists for their final remarks.

Concluding remarks of the panel session were delivered by the Permanent Representative of Bangladesh, Mr. Muhammad Abdul Muhith. He returned to the opening theme of the Forum, commemorating the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, and looking forward to the Pact to be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future. He thanked all of the Forum participants with a specific mention of the organization Heavenly Culture, World Peace and Restoration of Light.

A closing session at 16:45 is listed in the UN Journal, but there was no video of this published on the UN Web TV, no account in UN News and no statements published in the UN journal.

This year’s Forum continues a trend that began with the Forum last year. Unlike the first ten Forums from 2012 to 2022, when Anwarul Chowdhury was involved in the planning, there is very little role for the civil society and not much media coverage, not even by UN News.

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English bulletin August 1, 2024

MORE VOICES OF REASON AND HOPE

In this world that seems more troubled every day, on the battlefield, in the political arena and by global warming, we cannot have too many voices of reason and hope. The bulletin of May mentioned some of these. This month we add more voices.

Fifty winners of the Nobel Prize have issued an open letter calling for a truce during the Olympic Games in the wars being waged around the world, with mention of the Ukraine, Gaza and Yemen. “We are asking His Holiness Pope Francis, His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, and Muslim and Jewish leaders to use their moral authority to appeal to all citizens of the world and to their governments.”

Fifty organizations and individuals from Israel’s left and pro-peace camp sponsored a rally that drew thousands of Israelis to Tel Aviv with the message “It’s time to reach a deal. To stop the war. To make peace.” “Our mutual goal here is many different organizations and movement is to build together a peace camp in Israel,” said Alon-Lee Green, co-director of Standing Together, one of the groups that organized the conference.

The International Court of Justice has made a ruling with regard to the Israeli occupation of Palestine that is called “historic” by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International. Amnesty concludes that ““The international community, and in particular Israel’s allies, must now take unequivocal action to ensure Israel ends its unlawful occupation, starting with the immediate halting of the expansion of Israeli settlements and reversing the annexation of Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, and dismantling its brutal system of apartheid against Palestinians.”

With regard to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the organization World Beyond War urges the United Nations General Assembly to use its Resolution 377 (Uniting For Peace) that allows them to act when the Security Council fails. “The General Assembly should NOT escalate the war or deploy armed troops. It should convene an emergency session and use “Uniting For Peace” to impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on the Israeli government, suspend the Israeli government from the United Nations, and send to Palestine unarmed peacekeepers   (who have repeatedly  shown their superiority to armed peacekeepers).

In fact, it is clear that the UN Security Council has failed its mission of preserving peace. In that regard, The Elders, a group founded by Nelson Mandela, has urged the UN to undertake a profound reform. “The Security Council, and in particular the veto power, must evolve if the UN system is to prove itself fit for purpose in the 21st century. We were encouraged by some of the innovative reform proposals we heard, and we hope that the Summit of the Future in September will be an opportunity to sow the seeds for lasting, positive change in the years ahead.”

The Summit of the Future is addressed in an article by Jeffrey Sachs, who heads up one of its planning networks. “The Summit of the Future is an invitation to intensive global brainstorming on how to make our deeply interconnected world fit for sustainable development in the 21st century.  It is a great challenge that should be welcomed and joined by people all over the world.  A great debate will open in September and then continue for years to come.”

With regard to sustainable development, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has addressed the urgent need to protect billions around the world exposed to crippling effects of extreme heat. The appeal comes against the backdrop of record temperatures and deadly heatwaves – from the United States to Africa’s Sahel and Europe to the Middle East – that have killed several hundred people this summer. During the Hajj, for instance, scorching heat claimed over 1,300 pilgrim lives.

While UN reform is necessary, it is also necessary to develop the consciousness and actions that build pressure for peace from below. A leading role is played by the Campaign Nonviolence that will include thousands of actions for peace to take place from Sept 21 to Oct 2, 2024, (Int’l Day of Peace to Int’l Day of Nonviolence). Last year, people held over 5,000 actions, events, and marches across the USA and in 20 countries. Over 60,000 people participated in these events. “The Campaign Nonviolence Action Days are designed to bring together the many issues, movements, and efforts working to end violence and build a world that works for all of us.” In preparation for Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, they propose hundreds of training opportunities offered by dozens of partner organizations.

Twenty four years ago there was a powerful pressure for peace in the 75 million people who signed the Manifesto 2000 during the International Year for the Culture of Peace. Has the time come when we need a new manifesto, like the Manifesto 2025 proposed in our most recent blog?

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY



Restore the Olympic peace: Over 50 Nobel laureates have written an open letter calling for a global ceasefire for the duration of the Paris Olympics

HUMAN RIGHTS



World Court Condemns Israeli Apartheid

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT



The Summit of the Future

WOMEN’S EQUALITY



First Pan-African Conference on Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa

  

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY



UNAOC Hosts Capacity-Building Workshop for the 7th edition of its Young Peacebuilders programme in Cáceres, Spain

EDUCATION FOR PEACE



Campaign Nonviolence Action Days 2024 – Calls-To-Action

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION



US Labor Unions Call on Biden Administration to Immediately Halt All Military Aid to Israel

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION



The Elders: A message from Ernesto Zedillo, Former President of Mexico

First Pan-African Conference on Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Radarr Africa

Girls’ education as a tool to prevent HIV infection has been centred at the 1st African Union Pan-African Conference on Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa. This followed African leaders designating education as the 2024 African Union theme of the year.

At a high-level side event hosted by the Education Plus Initiative on the first day of conference held at the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, leaders, girls’ and women’s networks and advocates called for greater investments in girls’ education.

“Some people claim that providing girls with secondary education is too expensive. Such claims fail to consider the exponentially higher cost of not educating them,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima. “We can get all our girls and boys to complete secondary education; that should be our legacy.”

UNICEF calculates that 34 million girls in sub-Saharan Africa are out of secondary school. According to the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report 2023, in all regions in Africa, there are more girls out of school at the secondary level than boys, with gender disparities worsening as children move up to higher levels of education in favour of boys over girls. In sub-Saharan Africa, less than half of adolescent girls complete secondary education, their percentage standing at 42% and there has been no progress at all in closing this gap in the past 20 years. Sub-Saharan Africa is the region furthest from parity at the expense of girls, with no progress since 2011 at the lower secondary level and since 2014 in upper secondary.

Gender is a key factor linked to disparities in enrolment, retention, completion, and learning outcomes through social conditioning, gender-based differences in parental expectations and education-related investments, child marriages and early childbearing, female genital mutilation, child labour, gender-based violence, period poverty and discrimination.

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(Click here for the original in French.)

Questions for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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More than forty years into the HIV response, Africa remains an epicenter of the AIDS epidemic with adolescent girls and young women being disproportionately affected. Every week 3100 adolescent girls and young women acquired HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. Every three minutes, an adolescent girl or young woman aged 15-24 years acquired HIV in 2022 in sub-Saharan Africa. Adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years in the region were more than three times as likely to acquire HIV than their male peers in 2022.

UN agencies, African Union representatives, government ministers, and young women leaders called for accelerated actions to translate commitments to action through leveraging girls’ education for gender equality and preventing HIV, child marriage, teenage pregnancies, violence, gender-related stigma and discrimination in Africa.

Speakers emphasized the connection between health and education. Ministers spoke about key policy reforms and best practices aimed at promoting girls’ education, including creating safe and inclusive school environments, strategies to get girls into secondary school, and the readmission policy that addresses high dropout rates due to pregnancy. UN co-leads emphasised the need for improved collection of data disaggregated by sex and other relevant population characteristics to better understand educational participation, progression, and learning, and using gender-sensitive data for policymaking and planning.

Other issues highlighted included the integration of digital literacy programs into the secondary education and vocational training curriculum to facilitate smooth transitions from school to employment; integration of gender equality into all aspects of the education system, including curriculum-based comprehensive sexuality education and life skills, address gender-based violence within schools and discriminatory laws and practices, and access to information, non-discriminatory HIV and sexual and reproductive health services access.

Young women leaders spoke on the role of partnerships and young women’s leadership. Participants highlighted the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration as an opportunity moment to accelerate accountability and commitments, as well as the CSW Resolution 60/2, Women, the Girl Child and HIV and AIDS as significant mechanisms to address political and resource gaps so no woman or girl is behind in the HIV response.

Education Plus is a rights-based, gender-responsive action agenda to ensure adolescent girls and young women have equal access to quality secondary education, alongside key education and health services and support for their economic autonomy and empowerment.  Co-led by five UN agencies, the initiative builds on existing frameworks like the Transforming Education Summit, the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA) and the Dakar Education for All (EFA) Declaration to push for access and completion of education for women and girls in Africa.

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Training for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence

EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Pace e Bene

(Editor’s note: As Pace e Bene coordinates thousands of actions for a culture of peace during the Campaign Nonviolence Action Days between September 21 and October 2 (see CPNN July 17), they propose many opportunities for training by partner organizations as follows.)

Introducing Nonviolence

Participants are introduced to the vision and methods of nonviolence by exploring: the creative power of nonviolence; the dynamics of violence and nonviolence; practices for nonviolent living; tools for communicating nonviolently; and/or the process and effectiveness of principled and strategic nonviolent social change. Examples: Nonviolence 101 Training; Active Nonviolence Introductory Workshop.

Training partners that hold this type of training:
Meta Peace Team, Veterans for Peace, War Resisters League, World Beyond War, Alliance of Community Trainers, Backbone Campaign, DC Peace Team, Association for Active Nonviolence, NVC Academy, Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies, Alternatives to Violence Project, Bay Area NVCCenter for Nonviolent Communication, Giraffe Social EnterprisesMinnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute, Nonviolent Communication Australia, Peace Factory, Campaign NonviolenceMetta Center for Nonviolence, Community Peacemaker TeamsChildren And Youth For Peace Agency – Sierra LeoneNonviolence InstituteChildren’s Defense FundThe Non-Violence Project UgandaImani Works, Little Friends for PeaceMoose Anger Management and Healing AngerMahaKarunaActive Peace, The Circle Works Social Justice Consultants, East Point Peace Academy, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Beautiful Trouble, Catalizador Social

Nonviolent Social Change

These trainings build skills for changing our communities, our society and our world. These programs include trainings on: models of successful nonviolent social change; the philosophy, dynamics, history, and effectiveness of nonviolent action and civil resistance, including nonviolent civil disobedience; concrete strategies for building campaigns and movements; creating a culture of peace and nonviolence; domestic violence advocacy training; and connecting personal, interpersonal and social change. Examples: Nonviolent Action Training; Social Change Skill Building; Nonviolent Cities Training. 

Training partners that hold this type of training:
Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies, Backbone CampaignMetta Center for NonviolenceCommunity Peacemaker TeamsChildren And Youth For Peace Agency – Sierra LeoneNonviolence InstituteChildren’s Defense FundThe Non-Violence Project UgandaCompassionate Listening OregonImani WorksLittle Friends for PeaceYWCA of Greater PortlandMoose Anger Management and Healing Anger, The Article 20 Network, Active Peace, The Circle Works Social Justice Consultants, East Point Peace Academy, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Beautiful Trouble, Catalizador Social

Questions related to this article:

Can peace be guaranteed through nonviolent means?

How can the peace movement become stronger and more effective?

Communicating Nonviolently

These trainings focus on applying nonviolence for more effective communication and relationship-building, often with a focus on active listening, I statements, non-defensive approaches, and identifying the needs of both parties. Examples: Nonviolent Communication (NVC); Powerful Non-Defensive Communication (PNDC); Compassionate Listening. 

Training partners that hold this type of training:
NVC Academy, New York Center for Nonviolent Communication, Bay Area NVCCenter for Nonviolent CommunicationGiraffe Social Enterprises, Nonviolent Communication AustraliaPeace Factory, Family Heart CampCommunity Peacemaker Teams, Children And Youth For Peace Agency – Sierra LeoneNonviolence InstituteChildren’s Defense FundCenter For Building A Culture Of EmpathyThe Non-Violence Project UgandaCompassionate Listening OregonImani WorksLittle Friends for PeaceMoose Anger Management and Healing AngerMahaKarunaThe Circle Works Social Justice Consultants, East Point Peace Academy, Beautiful Trouble, Catalizador Social

Nonviolent Conflict Transformation

Trainings in unarmed peacekeeping, conflict resolution and restorative justice trainings. Examples: Restorative Justice Peace Circles; Nonviolent Trauma Healing; Domestic Peace Team Training; Mediation Training. 

Training partners that hold this type of training:
War Resisters League, World Beyond War, Veterans for Peace, Association for Active Nonviolence, Minnesota Peacebuilding Leadership Institute, Alternatives to Violence Project, DC Peace Team, Meta Peace TeamCommunity Peacemaker TeamsChildren And Youth For Peace Agency – Sierra LeoneNonviolence InstituteChildren’s Defense FundCenter For Building A Culture Of EmpathyThe Non-Violence Project UgandaCompassionate Listening OregonImani WorksLittle Friends for PeaceMoose Anger Management and Healing AngerThe Article 20 NetworkActive Peace, The Circle Works Social Justice Consultants, East Point Peace Academy, Beautiful Trouble, Catalizador Social

Spiritually-Based Nonviolence

These trainings explore nonviolence rooted in the teaching, principles, and practices of specific faith traditions and spiritualities. Examples: Awakening Soulforce; Gospel Nonviolence Training; Engaged Buddhism Workshop. 

Training partners that hold this type of training:
NVC AcademyCenter for Nonviolent Communication, Metta Center for NonviolenceCommunity Peacemaker TeamsNonviolence InstituteChildren’s Defense FundCompassionate Listening OregonLittle Friends for PeaceEast Point Peace Academy, Resource Center for Nonviolence

Training for Trainers

These trainings prepare individuals to facilitate nonviolence programming including trainings, workshops, classes, webinars, etc. Examples: Training for Trainers Weekend Workshop

Training partners that hold this type of training:
Nonviolence InstituteChildren’s Defense FundCenter For Building A Culture Of EmpathyThe Non-Violence Project UgandaCompassionate Listening OregonImani WorksLittle Friends for PeaceMoose Anger Management and Healing AngerMahaKarunaThe Circle Works Social Justice Consultants, East Point Peace Academy, Resource Center for Nonviolence, Beautiful Trouble

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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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Restore the Olympic peace: Over 50 Nobel laureates have written an open letter calling for a global ceasefire for the duration of the Paris Olympics

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article from Novaya Gazeta

There are at least 55 ongoing wars around the world. Politicians have consistently failed to end the armed conflicts that are ravaging their societies, and the dangers have been multiplied by the fact that local wars no longer remain local.

The bloody conflict between Russia and Ukraine — the biggest war on the European continent since 1945 — has entered its third year and is still reverberating worldwide. The spillover effects have included increased famine in Africa, a migration crisis in Europe, and the release of harmful substances into water, food, and milk supplies that ultimately reach people on six continents.

By the end of this year, the number of people killed and injured as a result of the war in Ukraine is expected to exceed 1 million — a casualty toll not seen in Europe since World War II. In Gaza, where war has raged since last October, the United Nations puts the death toll as of January at 25,000 — but the number may well be much higher. And in Yemen, the UN says that 377,000 have died in the fighting or from disease over the past decade of civil war.

As these and other conflicts rage, defence budgets around the world are expanding substantially; and hanging over it all is the threat — repeated again and again in Ukraine — of nuclear war. The resources being mobilised are comparable to those needed to address climate change, or to eliminate hunger globally for the next 80 years.

Instead of sustaining life, resources are being wasted on spreading death.

Just think about that: No one would go hungry or die of exhaustion, and no child would be undernourished, if the money now being spent on weaponry and soldiers was instead used to better the lives of the world’s poor. Instead of sustaining life, resources are being wasted on spreading death.

The victims of today’s wars are mostly people between the ages of 30 and 40, meaning that each death represents approximately half a life that could have been. Every 100,000 people killed is another 4 million years not lived. Consider all the breakthrough discoveries that will not be made, the children who will not be born, and the orphans who will suffer alone.

We and our co-signatories (below) are not representatives of states. But if the efforts of states to establish peace are insufficient, individuals — no matter their work or their station in life — must step up. The world must confront today’s wars with one voice. That is why we are asking His Holiness Pope Francis, His Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, His Holiness the Dalai Lama XIV, and Muslim and Jewish leaders to use their moral authority to appeal to all citizens of the world and to their governments.

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris is an ideal opportunity to do this. During the Olympic Games of antiquity, the frequent wars between the Greek city-states were suspended while competition would take place between athletes in search of excellence. We hope the billions of people who watch the Paris Games will follow this example and join with the world’s religious and moral leaders in calling for peace.

The conflicts in Ukraine, Gaza, and elsewhere call for an immediate ceasefire, followed by the exchange of all prisoners, the release of hostages, the return of human remains, and the start of negotiations. Our primary duty as adults is to ensure that our children survive us. Instead of destroying each other and our societies with violence, let us devote our energies and resources to saving our planet. Let us begin by reviving the Olympic peace.

(Editor’s note: Despite the following important signatories from around the world, it is shameful that, as of July 29 according to the google search engine, this powerful statement has been ignored by the major mass media of the West although it has been republished by Ahram Online from Egypt, the Japan Times , the TCE Exchange based in the Netherlands, the Bangkok Post, the Project Syndicate, based in the United States, and, of course, here in CPNN, based in France.)

Signatories

Emmanuelle Charpentier, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2020, Professor at Humboldt University in Berlin; Director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens;

Elias James Corey, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1990, Professor of organic chemistry Harvard University;

Alan Heeger, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2000, Professor of Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara;

Roald Hoffmann, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1981, Professor of Humane Letters, Cornell University;

Martin Karplus, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013, Director of the Biophysical Chemistry Laboratory, Professor of Chemistry Emeritus, Harvard University;

Brian K. Kobilka, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2012, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine;

Yuan T. Lee, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1986, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley;

Morten Meldal, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2022, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley;

Jean-Pierre Sauvage, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, University of Strasbourg;

Richard R. Schrock, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2005, Professor of Chemistry, University of California, Riverside;

Hideki Shirakawa, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2000, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, University of Tsukuba;

James Fraser Stoddart, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2016, Chair Professor in Chemistry University of Hong Kong and Northwestern University;

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Questions related to this article:
 
Can the peace movement help stop the war in the Ukraine?

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

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

(Continued from left column)

Finn E. Kydland, Nobel Prize in Economics 2004, Professor of Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara;

Paul R. Milgrom, Nobel Prize in Economics 2020, Professor of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University;

Christopher A. Pissarides, Nobel Prize in Economics 2010, Professor of Economics, London School of Economics;

Svetlana Alexievich, Nobel Prize in Literature 2015, writer, journalist;

Elfriede Jelinek, Nobel Prize in Literature 2004, writer;

Werner Arber, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1978, Professor of Medicine, University of Basel, retired;

Francoise Barre-Sinoussi, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2008, Pasteur Institute, retired;

Louis J. Ignarro, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1998, Professor Emeritus of pharmacology, UCLA School of Medicine;

Barry J. Marshall, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2005, Professor of Clinical Microbiology, University of Western Australia;

Edvard Moser, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2014, Professor of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology;

May-Britt Moser, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2014, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience, Norwegian University of Science and Technology;

Erwin Neher, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1991, Professor Emeritus of Medicine, University of Göttingen;

Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2019, Clinical Research Director, Francis Crick Institute;

Charles M. Rice, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2020, Professor of virology, Rockefeller University;

Sir Richard J. Roberts, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1993, Chief Scientific Officer, New England Biolabs;

Gregg L. Semenza, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2019, Professor of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine;

Hamilton O. Smith, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1978, Scientific director, Synthetic Genomics;
Jack W. Szostak, Nobel Prize in Medicine 2009, Professor of genetics, University of Chicago;

Torsten N. Wiesel, Nobel Prize in Medicine 1981, co-director of the Shelby White and Leon Levy Center for Mind, Brain and Behavior, Rockefeller University;

Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo, Nobel Peace Prize 1996, Roman Catholic Bishop, Diocese of Maputo, Mozambique;

Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, Nobel Peace Prize 1976, Activist, cofounder of Community of Peace People, Northern Ireland;

Beatrice Fihn, Nobel Peace Prize 2017, Former executive director of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons;

Tawakkol Karman, Nobel Peace Prize 2011, Co-founder the human rights group Women Journalists Without Chains;

Denis Mukwege, Nobel Peace Prize 2018, founder and director, Panzi Hospital, Bukavu, DR Congo;

Dmitry Muratov, Co-Founder, Publisher, and former editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta, Nobel Peace Prize 2021;

Maria Ressa, Co-Founder and CEO of Rappler, Nobel Peace Prize 2021;

Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Peace Prize 1987, Former President of Costa Rica;

Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize 1997, Founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines;

Pierre Agostini, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023, Emeritus Professor of Physics, Ohio State University;

Barry Clark Barish, Nobel Prize in Physics 2017, Professor of Physics emeritus, California Institute of Technology;

Steven Chu, Nobel Prize in Physics 1997, Former US Secretary of Energy;

Andre Geim, Nobel Prize in Physics 2010, Professor of physics, University of Manchester;

Brian D. Josephson, Nobel Prize in Physics 1973, Professor Emeritus of physics, University of Cambridge;

Takaaki Kajita, Nobel Prize in Physics 2015, President, Science Council of Japan;

Klaus von Klitzing, Nobel Prize in Physics 1985, Director, Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research;

Ferenc Krausz, Nobel Prize in Physics 2023, Director, Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics and a professor of experimental physics, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich;

Michel Mayor, Nobel Prize in Physics 2019, Emeritus Professor of Physics, University of Geneva;

Roger Penrose, Nobel Prize in Physics 2020, Emeritus Professor of Mathematics, University of Oxford;

William D. Phillips, Nobel Prize in Physics 1997, Professor of physics, University of Maryland.

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The heat is on: We must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures, urges UN chief

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from The United Nations

The UN chief on Thursday issued an urgent call to action to better protect billions around the world exposed to crippling effects of extreme heat, as global temperature rise continues unabated.

The appeal comes against the backdrop of record temperatures and deadly heatwaves – from the United States to Africa’s Sahel and Europe to the Middle East – that have killed several hundred people this summer.

During the Hajj, for instance, scorching heat claimed over 1,300 pilgrim lives.

“Billions of people are facing an extreme heat epidemic – wilting under increasingly deadly heatwaves, with temperatures topping 50 degrees Celsius around the world. That is 122 degrees Fahrenheit – halfway to boiling,” Secretary-General António Guterres said at a press conference at UN Headquarters in New York.

“The message is clear: the heat is on. Extreme heat is having an extreme impact on people and planet. The world must rise to the challenge of rising temperatures.”

Mr. Guterres also underscored the need to step up protections for workers.

Over 70 per cent of the global workforce, or 2.4 billion people, are at substantial risk of extreme heat, according to new report from the UN International Labour Organization (ILO).

The situation is particularly dire in the Africa and Arab regions, where more than 90 per cent and 80 per cent of workers are exposed, respectively. In Asia and the Pacific  – the world’s most populous region – that figure is three in four workers (75 per cent).

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Question for this article:

Despite the vested interests of companies and governments, Can we make progress toward sustainable development?

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In addition, heat stress at work is projected to cost the global economy $2.4 trillion by 2030, up from $280 billion in the mid-1990s. 

Protect workers

“We need measures to protect workers, grounded in human rights,” Mr. Guterres stressed.

“And we must ensure that laws and regulations reflect the reality of extreme heat today – and are enforced.”

Boost resilience

He also underscored the need to strengthen resilience of economies and societies, citing impacts such as infrastructure damage, crop failures, and increased pressure on water supplies, health systems, and electricity grids.

Cities are particularly vulnerable, experiencing heating at twice the global average rate.

To address these challenges, Mr. Guterres called for comprehensive and tailored action plans based on scientific data are essential for countries, cities and sectors.

“We need a concerted effort to heatproof economies, critical sectors and the built environment.”

Fight the disease

The UN chief reiterated that it is crucial to recognize the myriad symptoms beyond extreme heat, such as hurricanes, floods, droughts, wildfires and rising sea levels.

The core issue is the reliance on fossil fuels and climate inaction, he stated, stressing that governments, especially G20 nations, the private sector, cities and regions, must urgently adopt climate action plans to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C.

Alongside, countries must urgently phase-out fossil fuels and end new coal projects.

“They must act as though our future depends on it – because it does.”

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