World BEYOND War believes that education is a critical component of a global security system and an essential tool for getting us there.
We educate both about and for the abolition of war. Our educational resources are based on knowledge and research that expose the myths of war and illuminate the proven nonviolent, peaceful alternatives that can bring us authentic security. Of course, knowledge is only useful when it’s applied. Thus we also encourage citizens to reflect upon critical questions and engage in dialogue with peers toward challenging assumptions of the war system. These forms of critical, reflective learning have been well documented to support increased political efficacy and action for system change.
Quick Links: A Global Security System · Peace Almanac · Online Courses ⋅ Study Guide · Webinars · Fact Sheets · Podcast
Get our book!
A Global Security System: An Alternative to War
A Global Security System: An Alternative to War (AGSS) is World BEYOND War’s award-winning blueprint for an alternative security system – one in which peace is pursued by peaceful means. Now in its 4th edition, AGSS outlines three broad strategies for humanity to end war: 1) demilitarizing security, 2) managing conflicts without violence, and 3) creating a culture of peace. These are the interrelated components of our system: the frameworks, processes, tools, and institutions necessary for dismantling the war machine and replacing it with a peace system that will provide a more assured common security. AGSS is complemented by a free online study guide, “Study War No More” (see below).
Learn more about AGSS and get your copy (pdf, ebook, audiobook, print edition) here.
Get our book!
Peace Almanac
This Peace Almanac lets you know important steps, progress, and setbacks in the movement for peace that have taken place on each day of the year. This page can be reached via peacealmanac.org
Buy the print edition, or the PDF.
Study and Discussion Guide
Study War No More – A Concerned Citizen’s Study & Action Guide for “A Global Security System: An Alternative to War” is available at globalsecurity.worldbeyondwar.org.
Study War No More is a free online learning tool developed in partnership with the Global Campaign for Peace Education. It supports the study of World BEYOND War’s publication: A Global Security System: An Alternative to War (AGSS). The guide can be used for independent study or as a tool for facilitating dialogue and discussion in classrooms (secondary, university) and with community groups. Each discussion topic features a video introduction from our “study and action partners” – leading global thinkers, strategists, academics, advocates and activists who are already developing components of an alternative global security system.
Online Courses
We periodically offer facilitated online courses led by World BEYOND War experts and allied activists and change makers from around the world. We typically request a $100 donation for participating in our online courses. Planned for October-November 2020 is a course on Debunking World War II As An Argument for Wars.
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A course you can take free at any time:
World BEYOND War’s Organizing 101 course is designed to provide participants with a basic understanding of grassroots organizing. Whether you are a prospective World BEYOND War chapter coordinator or already have an established chapter, this course will help you hone your organizing skills. We’ll identify effective strategies & tactics for engaging community members and influencing decision-makers. We’ll explore tips and tricks for utilizing traditional & social media. And we’ll look more broadly at movement-building from the perspective of “fusion” organizing and nonviolent civil resistance. The course is FREE and is not live or scheduled. Enrollment and participation in the course are on a rolling basis. You can enroll and get started on the course here!
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Past offerings that will be offered again have included:
War and the Environment: Grounded in research on peace and ecological security, this course focuses on the relationship between two existential threats: war and environmental catastrophe. We cover:
- Where wars happen and why.
- What wars do to the earth.
- What imperial militaries do to the earth back home.
- What nuclear weapons have done and could do to people and the planet.
- How this horror Is hidden and maintained.
- What can be done.
War Abolition 201: Building the Alternative Global Security System
With what do we replace the war system (aka the military-industrial-corporate-governmental complex)? What truly makes us secure? What are the moral, social, political, philosophical and pragmatic foundations of an alternative global security system – a system in which peace is pursued by peaceful means? What actions and strategies might we pursue in building this system? War Abolition 201 explores these questions and more with the goal of engaging students in learning that leads to action. There is no requirement to have completed War Abolition 101.
War Abolition 101: How We Create a Peaceful World
How can we make the best argument for shifting from war to peace? How can we become more effective advocates and activists for ending particular wars, ending all wars, pursuing disarmament, and creating systems that maintain peace?
Webinars
World BEYOND War hosts free educational webinars accessible to the public. Our webinar series is an opportunity for us to answer questions about our work, and engage in live dialogue with our members and partners around the world. Our webinars are recorded and can be re-watched at any time.
Past Webinars
Virtual Chapter Open House: On June 27, 2020, World BEYOND War hosted a “virtual chapter open house” with our chapter coordinators and members from around the world! World BEYOND War’s Executive Director David Swanson and Organizing Director Greta Zarro talked about WBW’s mission and campaigns, and how to build the peace movement within the context of the current issues we’re facing, from the coronavirus pandemic, to systemic racism, to ongoing climate change. Then we divided up into breakout rooms by region to talk about what our chapters are working on, discuss our interests, and brainstorm how we can collaborate with other WBW members in our respective regions.
Cancel RIMPAC Webinar: World BEYOND War and Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) hosted a free webinar about the need to cancel RIMPAC, the world’s largest international maritime warfare exercise. Speakers included: Dr Margie Beavis (Australia), Maria Hernandez (Guam), Virginia Lacsa Suarez (Philippines), Kawena Phillips (Hawaii), and Valerie Morse (NZ).
Preventing Violence & Virus: Civilian protection in South Sudan and beyond: The World BEYOND War-Central Florida chapter and Nonviolent Peaceforce held an online discussion about unarmed civilian protection, an important alternative to war. We heard from Mel Duncan, Co-Founder of Nonviolent Peaceforce, the leading organization in unarmed civilian protection, as well as John Reuwer, Board Member at World BEYOND War, who recently participated in Nonviolent Peaceforce’s civilian protection program in South Sudan.
The #NoWar2020 Conference Was Held Online and You Can Watch the Video: Whether you participated or not, you can now watch and share with others the three videos of various sessions of World BEYOND War’s annual conference, which this year was held virtually.
Twin Ports Memorial Day Observance: The World BEYOND War Twin Ports Chapter, Veterans For Peace Chap. 80, and Grandmothers for Peace Northland hosted a virtual Memorial Day observance on Zoom, to honor our heroes, past and present. The event focused on who true heroes are and how we can honor them. One local hero was featured, Jan Provost of Superior, WI who was the founder of our local chapter of Grandmothers for Peace and who passed away on April 6, 2020. Music was provided by Ian Connell, and Duluth Poet Laureate Gary Boelhower shared a poem. We honor all those who have given their lives both in war and in the struggle for peace and justice.
May 20, 2020: Building the Peace Movement. 50th Anniversary: 1970-2020, Remember Kent State, Jackson State, and all the victims of wars. Sponsors include: Cleveland Peace Action, The Inter-Religious Task Force on Central America (Cleveland), Columbus Free Press, Daytonians Against War Now! (DAWN), CODEPINK, World BEYOND War, Green Party Peace Action Committee (GPAX), Voices for Creative Nonviolence. Host: David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War. Speakers: Leonardo Flores, Latin America Campaign Coordinator CODEPINK; Kathy Kelly, Voices for Creative Nonviolence; Andy Shallal, Busboys and Poets; Rich Whitney, Green Party Peace Action Committee.
Divest from the War Machine, Five-Part Series: we explore how to organize to divest funds from weapons manufacturers, military contractors, and war profiteers. We feature activists and organizers who have run successful divestment campaigns, to share strategies and tactics about how to replicate these successes in your community.
Colonialism & Contamination: Mapping U.S. Military Injustices on the CHamoru People of Guam: This webinar is part of World BEYOND War’s “Close Bases” campaign. We are joined by speakers Dr. Sasha Davis & Leilani Rania Ganser to talk about the negative impact of U.S. military bases in Guam. We explore how the military presence threatens the indigenous CHamoru culture and people, as well as the environmental impacts of the weapons stored on the bases.
Blue Scarf Earth Day Celebration: Voices for the Earth: This webinar was filmed on Sunday, April 26, 2020. Come learn about the Blue Scarf movement around the world, and hear from many voices speaking out to protect the land, water, air and life. Often we have walked together through the streets of Toronto, but this year we have moved our event online and invite people from across the country and around the world to listen, share and re-commit ourselves to the earth and her inhabitants. Co-sponsored by the Basilian Centre for Peace and Justice, Pax Christi Toronto, World BEYOND War, Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, SheCycle, Camp Micah, Christians Peacemaker Teams, Development and Peace Toronto, and KAIROS.
David Swanson on Ending War: This event was sponsored by the Dallas Peace and Justice Center, Pax Christi Dallas, Code Pink, and Veterans for Peace. It was originally to take place at the Peace Chapel in Dallas, Texas, but was moved online, and the sponsors generously made it available free to anyone anywhere. David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. He is executive director of World BEYOND War and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org. Swanson hosts Talk Nation Radio. He is a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and was awarded the 2018 Peace Prize by the U.S. Peace Memorial Foundation. Swanson’s books include War Is A Lie, Peace Almanac, Curing Exceptionalism, When the World Outlawed War, War Is Never Just, and most recently 20 Dictators Currently Supported by the United States.
The Age of Hybrid Warfare: War is more than bombs and bullets. On March 25, 2020, World BEYOND War and About Face: Veterans Against the War hosted a discussion of “hybrid warfare” – a mix of disinformation, sanctions, and unconventional tactics.
Alternative Global Security System: On February 19, 2020, we were joined by Phill Gittins, PhD (WBW’s Education Director) and Tony Jenkins, PhD (Education Director 2017-2019) to explain the nuts + bolts of the “AGSS,” the alternative global security system laid out in WBW’s book. What are the frameworks, tools, and institutions necessary for dismantling the war machine?
How to Shut Down a Military Base: On Monday, January 27, 2020, World BEYOND War hosted a webinar with former U.S. Navy Commander Leah Bolger and activists Robert Rabin and Tom Hastings to talk about the social and environmental impact of military bases, and the strategies and tactics that have been used to successfully shut them down.
Civilian-Based Defense: On November 7, 2019, World BEYOND War hosted a webinar on civilian-based defense, a nonviolent alternative to war and militarism. Author, activist, & nonviolence trainer Rivera Sun and creative strategist & civil resistance trainer Philippe Duhamel led a discussion of the principles and efficacy of civilian-based defense as a nonviolent means of conflict resolution. View Rivera’s powerpoint slides. View Philippe’s slides.
Chapters 101: On September 10, 2019, we hosted an online chat with World BEYOND War’s Organizing Director Greta Zarro about how to start a World BEYOND War chapter in your town! We spoke with chapter coordinators from around the world, including Liz Remmerswaal (New Zealand/Aotearoa chapter), Furquan Gehlen (Metro Vancouver chapter), and Al Mytty (Central Florida chapter).
Divest from the War Machine: On Tuesday, July 2, 2019, World BEYOND War hosted a webinar on divestment, featuring David Swanson of World BEYOND War, Maya Rommwatt of CODEPINK, and Susi Snyder of PAX/Don’t Bank on the Bomb. Grassroots-led war divestment campaigns are springing up all over the world, from students organizing to divest university endowments from weapons manufacturers and war profiteers, to municipalities and states coming together to divest public pension funds from the war machine. On this webinar, we talk about the strategies and tactics needed to run a successful divestment campaign.
No to NATO, Yes to Peace: On March 7, 2019, World BEYOND War hosted a webinar on NATO – the North Atlantic Treaty Organization – and why we’re calling for its abolition. NATO now accounts for three-quarters of all military spending and weapons dealing on the globe. Panelists for this webinar: Ana Maria Gower, a Serbian-British mixed media artist and a survivor of the NATO bombings of Yugoslavia; Jovanni Reyes, member coordinator of About Face: Veterans Against the War and U.S. army veteran who was deployed to the Balkans in 1996 as part of NATO’s first ever military intervention in Yugoslavia; and Kristine Karch, Co-Chair of the international No to War/No to NATO Network. Watch the full video here:
Militarism in the Media: On January 15, 2019, 100 participants joined our webinar featuring experts Rose Dyson and Jeff Cohen discussing the role of the media in promoting violence and warfare. Militarism is the “elephant in the room,” says FAIR founder Jeff Cohen. Former TV pundit for MSNBC, CNN, and Fox, Jeff was fired for shedding light on the perils of U.S. interventionism and in particular, for opposing the invasion of Iraq on the air. Rose Dyson, President of Canadians Concerned About Violence in Entertainment, expresses concern about the culture of war that is perpetuated by TV, music, video games, and social media. Watch the full webinar:
Global Perspectives on War: How do people around the world think about militarism? On October 24, 2018 we hosted a webinar featuring three different global perspectives on the impact of war. Panelists: David Swanson, Co-Founder and Director of World BEYOND War; Kathy Kelly, Co-Coordinator of Voices for Creative Nonviolence; and Barry Sweeney, World BEYOND War Ireland Coordinator.
How War Threatens the Environment: On September 27, 2018 we hosted a webinar exploring the links between war and the environment. One of the most destructive of human behaviors, war is a leading contributor to the growing global environmental crisis. This webinar featured experts Gar Smith and Tamara Lorincz speaking about how war – in all its stages, from the production of weapons through combat – pollutes land, air, and water, and drains limited natural resources. Check out our War & Environment Resources Page for powerpoints, articles, books, and more information on this topic. A video recording is available below:
Tour the World with Justice Travel: On July 17, 2018, we hosted a webinar in partnership with Justice Travel, a travel company that offers unique tours that highlight communities around the world advocating for human rights and social justice. During this webinar, representatives from Justice Travel discussed their mission and tours, with particular focus on their Colombia trip, which highlights the ongoing peacebuilding process in the country. Learn more about travel opportunities with Justice Travel by watching the recording of the webinar:
Growing the Movement for a World BEYOND War: On June 18, 2018, we hosted a webinar to discuss how we’re building a global, grassroots people-powered movement to advocate for war abolition. Featured speakers included World BEYOND War Co-Founder & Director David Swanson, Coordinating Committee Chair Leah Bolger, Organizing Director Greta Zarro, and Education Director Tony Jenkins. We discussed our mission, strategy, campaigns, and education programs – and opportunities for getting involved! Watch the recoding of the webinar:
Fact Sheets
War Is Immoral
War Endangers Us
War Threatens Our Environment
War Erodes Liberties
War Impoverishes Us
War Promotes Bigotry
We Need $2 Trillion/Year for Other Things
war is not the only threat to the environment but noise is a threat to the environment as well!
Thank-you for standing up and preventing world war 3 and saving lives and putting money in peaceful projects no more weapons of mass destruction in our lifetime