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

The history of the World March for Peace and Nonviolence goes back to the 2009 when it started from Wellington (New Zealand) on October 2, 2009, and arrived in Punta de Vacas (Argentina) on January 2, 2010, after travelling 200 cities in 97 countries promoting peace and nonviolence (in particular, nuclear disarmament). See article in CPNN at that time.

From the beginning, Pressenza has served as its media agency, and over the years CPNN has carried their articles on the second and third world marches that took place in 2019 and 2024, as listed below.

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:

Team of the Third World March for Peace and NonViolence entered Nepal

The Third World March for Peace and Nonviolence Takes Its First Steps in Africa

Mexico supports the launch of the Third World March for Peace and Nonviolence

Start of the 3rd World March for Peace and Nonviolence: A global call for unity

2 October 2023: 3rd World March for Peace and Nonviolence officially launched in the Spanish Congress of Deputies

The 2nd World March in Latin America with its message of Peace and Nonviolence

Launch of the Second World March for Peace and Nonviolence

2nd Walk for the Culture of Peace in Cotia, Brazil, receives support from the World March for Peace and Nonviolence

The Americas are preparing for the second World March for Peace and Nonviolence

Launch of the 2nd World March for Peace and Nonviolence at the 2nd World Forum of Peace Cities in Madrid

The World Starts the 2009 New Year with a Call for Peace

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

The following excerpt come the book by Frederik Heffermehl entitled, “The Real Nobel Prize” as reviewed in CPNN:

Considering the choices made by this committee over the years, Heffermehl says, “No doubt, the Norwegian committee has honored many fine people and purposes, humanitarian aid, democracy, resource conservation, the fight against poverty and child labor, for the environment, climate, human rights, education” but these do not correspond to Nobel’s testament as expressed in the following. Heffermehl concludes that only 36 awards over the 134 years pass the test.

“The words from the testament of Alfred Nobel: a prize ‘to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for creating the brotherhood of nations, for the abolition of reduction of standing armies, and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.’”

The Nobel Peace Prize of 2022 was a perfect example of the errors pointed out by Heffermehl. The organization granted the prize from Ukraine was funded by the US Dept of State and the US National Endowment for Democracy as part of its support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The organization asks the West to engage in war against Russia on Ukrainian side by imposing no-fly zone and delivery of armaments.

Fortunately, the Nobel Peace Prize of 2024 was one that corresponds to the Nobel’s testament. As Joseph Gerson has said, “The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Nihon Hidankyo is long overdue and could not come at a more important time. The Hibakusha (A-bomb witness/survivors) of Nihon Hidankyo have been among the world’s most courageous and steadfast advocates of nuclear disarmament. The organization has focused on three core demands: Preventing nuclear war, eliminating nuclear weapons, and obtaining essential medical care for A-bomb victims.

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:

Does Cuba promote a culture of peace?

Back in 2015, the Cuban representative to UNESCO declared that the country defends “a culture of peace in a world hit by terrible wars and terrorist actions.” He cited “the Proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a Peace Zone in the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States held in Havana, establishes the respect for the principles and norms of the International Law and a peace culture in this effort.”

Since then, Cuba’s actions support this claim.

Cuba sponsored the talks that led to the peace accords in Colombia.

During the COVID epidemic, Cuba sent doctors and medicine to other poor countries, despite its own poverty enforced by the US blockade.

In 2019, its 4th International Conference for Peace and World Balance was dedicated to an inclusive multi-polar world where, in the words of José Martí, patria es humanidad (homeland is humanity).

And in 2025, its 6th International Conference for World Balance is explicitly dedicated to “dialogue between civilizations and for a culture of peace.”

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:

Cuba: Announcement of the 6th International Conference for World Balance

Cuba urges to make culture a Development Goal

President of Cuba’s National Assembly rejects efforts to restore unipolar world order

30,000 back US campaign seeking Nobel for Cuban doctors

Adolescents in Cuba delve into the culture of peace

Leading by Example: Cuba in the Covid-19 Pandemic

Cuba’s Coronavirus Response Is Putting Other Countries to Shame

Cuba: International Conference for Peace and “World Balance” Supports Venezuela

Cuba a ‘Champion’ of Children’s Rights: UNICEF

UN Adopts Cuban Resolutions on Peace and Rejection of Mercenaries

Ceasefire between FARC and the government of Colombia is sealed in Cuba

Cuba Declares Itself to be in Favor of a Culture for Peace

The Elders: World leaders must reject the path of chaos

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article from The Elders

In our latest newsletter, Juan Manuel Santos reflects on his new role as Chair of The Elders, highlights discussions from the recent board meeting in London and calls on world leaders to act responsibly amid escalating global conflicts.
 
 Adapted from The Elders’ monthly newsletter. Sign up for regular email updates from The Elders.
 

Dear friends,

I am deeply honoured to be writing to you in my new role as Chair of The Elders. Assuming this position is an incredible privilege and I am truly grateful to follow in the footsteps of Archbishop Tutu, Kofi Annan and Mary Robinson.

As I assume this new role, the return of Donald Trump to the White House in January 2025 will have worldwide repercussions, not all of which we can yet predict. As the President of Colombia during President Trump’s first term, I have worked closely with him and I am certain that The Elders will work with his administration to uphold our core values of promoting peace, justice, human rights, and a sustainable planet, inspired by the mandate Nelson Mandela gave us at our founding in 2007.

I am particularly grateful to my predecessor as Chair, Mary Robinson, for her continued support. Mary was a founding member of our group and for the past six years has guided us with unwavering leadership and an enduring commitment to our mission. She has played a pivotal role in our organisation’s history and will be an active member of The Elders in the months and years ahead.

It is also a pleasure to be supported by Ban Ki-moon and Graça Machel, who will continue to serve as Deputy Chairs. With their partnership, and that of our fellow Elders, I am confident that we can drive meaningful change in today’s troubled world.

(Article continued in the column on the right)

Questions related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

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Last month, the Elders gathered for our bi-annual board meeting in London. Our discussions focused a lot on the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. As we voiced in our statement, we are revolted by the scale of the killings, not only in Gaza and Lebanon, but also in Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, that stems from a growing disregard for international rule of law.

Our message to world leaders is clear: reject this path of chaos and act for the common good.

From my experience in negotiating peace in Colombia, I learnt that true peace demands a persistent commitment to dialogue and compromise. This same dedication is essential in addressing other global challenges, such as climate change, where collaboration and upholding the rule of law are vital for a sustainable and secure future.

As Elders, we are continuing to take proactive steps to translate this dedication into action. In London, we met the new UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to discuss pressing issues such as the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, de-escalation with Iran, arms sales to Israel, and climate finance ahead of COP29. My fellow Elders Ban Ki-moon, Helen Clark and Denis Mukwege also participated in a fruitful discussion with global health experts at Chatham House about the world’s preparedness for the next pandemic.

As we continue to confront these existential threats, I want to end with a message of hope. One of the most important lessons I learnt from Mandela is the vital role that hope plays in our lives. He believed that hope is humanity’s most precious commodity and our strongest weapon, even when all seems lost. In today’s world, with its many challenges, we need hope more than ever to drive bold, progressive changes toward a better, safer, and more just future.

With thanks for your ongoing support,

Juan Manuel Santos

Former President of Colombia; a Nobel Peace Laureate who led complex peace negotiations, ending over 50 years of intractable civil war; Chair of The Elders.

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How can just one or a few persons contribute to peace and justice?

At CPNN we have carried many articles showing that the actions of one or a few persons can contribute substantially to peace and justice.

The initial action may seem insignificant and futile, but if it inspires others to join in, the individual action and grow into a social movement.

A good example is the story of Greta Thunberg.

As described in the CPNN article about the social movement Fridays for the Future, it all began with what seemed at the time like an insignificant and futile act by Greta Thunberg, a 15-year old girl who had been labeled as autistic.

It all started in August 2018, when Greta began a school strike for climate. In the three weeks leading up to the Swedish election, she sat outside Swedish Parliament every school day, demanding urgent action on the climate crisis. She was tired of society’s unwillingness to see the climate crisis for what it is: a crisis.

To begin with, she was alone, but she was soon joined by others. On the 8th of September, Greta and her fellow school strikers decided to continue their strike until the Swedish policies provided a safe pathway well under 2° C, i.e. in line with the Paris agreement. They created the hashtag #FridaysForFuture, and encouraged other young people all over the world to join them. This marked the beginning of the global school strike for climate.

Here are the CPNN articles that touch on this subject:

USA: Graduation speeches for the cause of Palestine

The artists Mira Awad and Noa: voices for peace in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict

Nikolai Firjubin, Founder of UNOY Youth Peace Network

UNESCO: How can young people become actors of peace?

Colombian Civic Leader Offers a Grassroots Strategy for Peace

A song for peace

Celebrating Rachel Corrie

Yurii Sheliazhenko: Peace in Ukraine: Humanity Is at Stake

Nobel Peace Prize 2023: PRIO Director’s Shortlist Announced

Mr. Rajagopal P. V. to receive the Niwano Peace Prize

Teen peace prize winner on a mission to give Japanese youth a voice

Basel Peace Office announces the nine finalists for the 2023 PACEY Youth Award

International Peace Bureau: 2022 MacBride Peace Prize recipients

Moscow TV protester plays ‘Russian roulette’ with risky comeback

Satish Kumar to Receive the 2022 Goi Peace Award

UN Women : Five young women on the forefront of climate action across Europe and Central Asia

Fridays for Future: Who we are

Spain: First-person testimonies: this is how we fight for gender equality by activism and participation

Adja Kadije, peace mediator in the Central African Republic

United States: Who Is Clare Grady and Why Should We Care that She is in Federal Prison?

India: Activist Disha Ravi, 22, Arrested Over Toolkit, Faces Conspiracy Charge

United Nations Alliance of Civilizations: Five Youth-Led Organizations Selected as Recipients of the Youth Solidarity Fund for 2019

2015-16 Recipients of UN Youth Solidarity Fund, Africa and Middle-East

English bulletin March 1, 2024

CULTURE OF PEACE AS A VISION FOR THE FUTURE

The United Nations Summit for the Future, planned for September 2024, calls for a vision for the future. In their proposals submitted to the Summit some have proposed that it should re-commit the UN to the culture of peace.

In her proposal, Anne Creter says that “Culture of Peace is a comprehensive, UN established “blueprint” or “roadmap” of actions necessary at all levels of existence to manifest sustainable peace.” She sites in particular the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace A/RES/53/243 adopted by the General Assembly (GA) in 1999, saying that it “must be integrated into A Pact for the Future.”

In her proposal, Myrian Castello calls for “future characterized by sustainability, inclusivity, and a culture of peace.” She promotes specifically the Declaration for the transition to a culture of peace in the XXI Century.

In their proposal, the International Alliance of Women “recalls the banner in front of the NGO peace tent in Huairou during the 4th UN World Conference on Women 1995 reading “Change the Culture of War to a Culture of Peace”.

And in his proposal, Paul Malliet asks for a UN Council of Peace that could eventually make up for the impotence of the Security Council. He calls attention to the UN A/RES/52 -243. “Declaration and Programme for a culture of peace”; as an existing initiative that requires structure to be effective.

A vision of a transition to a global culture of peace through radical reform of the United Nations is provided in the utopian novella, I have seen the promised land.

The countries of the Global South plan to play a major role in the UN Summit. Concluding from their Summit that took place in January in Kampala they says that the more than 100 countries involved “hope to play an influential role in shifting the balance of the geopolitical landscape from conflict, confrontation and mistrust to diplomacy, dialogue, peace and understanding.”

Although the outcome document of the Summit of the Global South is devoted primarily to economic reform, it does make explicit reference to the culture of peace: “We reaffirm that there can be no sustainable development without peace and no peace without sustainable development. We stress the importance of building a culture of peace by strengthening multilateralism based on international law. . . ”

News of the Summit of the Global South was reported in English in at least 33 countries of the Global South, and probably many others in local languages. However, despite the participation of high-level representatives of more than 100 countries, the Secretary-General of the United Nations and the President of the UN General Assembly, the Summit received ABSOLUTELY NO mention by the major English-language news agencies of Europe and North America! As published in French in the journal L’Humanité , it was “un événement totalement passé sous silence dans les pays occidentaux.”

Among other visions, youth participants in the Luanda Biennale Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace say that “The spirit of the Biennale of Luanda inspires a new generation of young Africans that paved the way towards a peaceful and prosperous Africa.”

The culture of peace as a vision for the future is promoted in the recent book published in Norwegian by Ingeborg Breines: The Culture of Peace – Utopia or Alternative Security Policy? The author brings to the forefront a series of guiding documents, inspiring projects and publications such as the International Year for a Culture of Peace, the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World, the Manifesto 2000 on a Culture of Peace, the Seville Declaration on Violence, the Statement on Women’s Contribution to a Culture of peace, the Declaration on the Right to Peace and not least the Constitution of UNESCO.

Vince Two Eagles writes from the Sioux Indian Reservation of South Dakota that “In 1999, the General-Assembly adopted, by resolution 53/243, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which serves as the universal mandate for the international community, particularly the United Nations system, to promote a culture of peace and non-violence that benefits all of humanity, including future generations.”

Readers are invited to sign declarations and manifestos for peace.

The most recent is the Manifesto for Peace Media in the XXI Century which includes among its demands to “Carry out a preventive, slow and contextualized journalistic work that contributes to the de-escalation of conflicts and prioritizes the prospects for peace, before, during, and after the outbreak of violence.” The Manifesto is open for signatures here.

A Declaration of Peace, conceived and promoted by the organization World Beyond War, has now been signed by people in 196 countries. It says “I understand that wars and militarism make us less safe rather than protect us, that they kill, injure and traumatize adults, children and infants, severely damage the natural environment, erode civil liberties, and drain our economies, siphoning resources from life-affirming activities. I commit to engage in and support nonviolent efforts to end all war and preparations for war and to create a sustainable and just peace.” The Declaration is open for signatures here.

And specific for a culture of peace, the Declaration for the Transition to a Culture Of Peace in the XXII Century describes strategies in two simultaneous routes: local and global. The local route is fundamentally pedagogical and is carried out mainly by organized civil society with the support of local governments. The global route involves the expansion of the UN General Assembly, along with the formation of an international security council of mayors that would issue regular press releases demonstrating that the culture of peace could be achieved if the United Nations were governed by “we the peoples.” The Declaration is open for signatures here.

As discussed in a blog this month, during times of radical change, a collective vision for a new social order, such as that for a culture of peace, could give shape to the future.

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY



The UN Summit of the Future: a fight at the end of the tunnel?

HUMAN RIGHTS



World Court to Review 57-Year Israeli Occupation

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT



Greenpeace: Here are the REAL culprits of the agricultural crisis in France

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION



The Biennale of Luanda 2023 – Through eyes of its young participants

  

WOMEN’S EQUALITY



Proposal to the UN Summit of the Future from the International Alliance of Women

EDUCATION FOR PEACE



Johan Galtung: In Memoriam

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY



Powerful Protest Against Racism Sweeps Germany

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION



Manifesto for Peace Media in the 21St Century

How can we carry forward the work of the great peace and justice activists who went before us?

As we look back over the past few years of CPNN articles, we find many articles about great peace and justice activists who went before us. The photo above comes from The Elders, the group of leaders organized under the sponsorship of Nelson Mandela before his death. They continue to find ways to carry on his work for peace and justice.

I recall the moment that we learned of the death of Martin Luther King. Immediately, we said “it is our task to make sure that his work goes forward to such a extent that he becomes an even greater force for peace and justice after his death than before!”

And so our participation in the weaving of the grand tapestry of human history ensures an immortality to those who have gone before us. They may have died as physical beings, but the essence of their lives continues to grow and thrive in the work that we do for peace and justice.

This is a theme in my book Psychology for Peace Activists, where I draw lessons from the stages of consciousness development of great peace and justice activists (including Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela) than can serve as guidelines for our own development.

– David Adams, CPNN Coordinator

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:

The Elders mourn the loss of President Jimmy Carter

Personal Souvenirs of Federico Mayor

Felipe Mac Gregor and the culture of peace

In Remembrance of James Lawson, a Force for Good and Champion of Peace

Johan Galtung: In Memoriam

In memoriam: Betty Reardon (1929-2023)

Daniel Ellsberg Has Passed Away. He Left Us a Message.

In memoriam: Walid Slaïby, co-founder Academic University College for Non-Violence & Human Rights (Lebanon)

Mikhail Gorbachev: The Last Statesman

The Elders mourn the loss of Archbishop Desmond Tutu

Articles from 2023

Now displaying CPNN news in English during 2023.
Click on the numbered pages below to see all.
For articles from other years, click 2024 or 2022 or 2021 or 2020 or 2019 or 2018 or 2017 or 2016 or 2015 or prior to 2015.
For English articles by category or region, click Read on the menu above.

CPNN by region

Region tag for CPNN articles from 2015 through 2023

Global = 720

Latin America = 600

Africa = 432

Europe = 392

North America = 345

United Nations = 304

Asia = 249 (see below)

Arab & Mideast = 240

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East Asia = 145

South & Central Asia = 104

How can media from the Global South break the media hegemony of the Global North?


This question was considered as follows in The History of the Culture of War:

The most significant development in the culture of war over the course of history has been the increasing importance of the control of information. In parallel with the developments of the printing press, the telephone and radio, television and now internet, the control of these media has been crucial for the maintenance or changing of political power, no less for bourgeois democracy than for authoritarian regimes. We have already mentioned one example: the important role of television in electoral campaigns, and how it provides an ever-increasing advantage to those who are wealthy or have access to wealth.

In recent years control of the media has greatly reinforced the culture of war of the state and military-industrial complex. Never before in history has there been such a concentration of communication power in the hands of a few multi-national corporations, Most media in the United States, for example, are now in the hands of five multi-national corporations. There was popular resistance to this a few years ago, but the media monopolies were supported by the responsible government agency, the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). The FCC was stocked with appointments of the Bush administration and headed by the son of General Colin Powell, the Secretary of State in the Bush administration who initiated the war in Iraq.

At the international level, a particularly revealing moment occurred when UNESCO considered implementation of the proposals of the International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems (UNESCO 1980). This is usually called the MacBride report after its chairman, the Nobel Peace Laureate Sean MacBride. The MacBride report recognized the dominance of Northern media and called for the “democratization of communication at national and international levels”:

[page 111]: “We can sum up by saying that in the communication industry there are a relatively small number of predominant corporations which integrate all aspects of production and distribution, which are based in the leading developed countries and which have become transnational in their operations. Concentration of resources and infrastructures is not only a growing trend, but also a worrying phenomenon which may adversely affect the freedom and democratization of communication . . ”

[page 253]: “Our conclusions are founded on the firm conviction that communication is a basic individual right, as well as a collective one required by all communities and nations. Freedom of information — and, more specifically the right to seek, receive and impart information — is a fundamental human right; indeed, a prerequisite for many others. The inherent nature of communication means that its fullest possible exercise and potential depend on the surrounding political, social and economic conditions, the most vital of these being democracy within countries and equal, democratic relations between them. It is in this context that the democratization of communication at national and international levels, as well as the larger role of communication in democratizing society, acquires utmost importance.”

When it looked like they could not block implementation of the MacBride Report, the United States and the United Kingdom withdrew from UNESCO, effectively removing a majority of its operational budget and putting enormous pressure on their allies that remained in the organization. When I was at UNESCO in the 1990s there was no question but that this topic had become taboo for the organization. And meanwhile the concentration of the power of media in the hands of the wealthy continues to grow. As A. J. Liebling once wrote, “Freedom of the press is guaranteed only to those who own one”.

Here are CPNN articles bearing on this question:

Media outlets of developing countries call for louder voice of Global South

Media Organizations From Global South Discuss Solidarity and Standing Up to Sanctions