On October 5, we will launch a brand new 6-week online course debunking misunderstandings about World War II that are often used to justify militarism. WWII happened in a very different world from today’s, was not fought to rescue anyone from persecution, was not necessary for defense, was the most damaging and destructive event yet to occur, and could have been prevented by avoiding any of several bad decisions. Everyone registered for the course will receive PDF, ePub, and mobi (kindle) versions of David Swanson’s forthcoming book Leaving World War II Behind, which will provide additional reading to those who want to go beyond the written, video, and graphic materials provided in the course. Learn more and reserve your spot.
Get ready for a global day of action. The International Day of Peace was first celebrated in 1982, and is recognized by many nations and organizations with events all over the world every September 21st, including day-long pauses in wars that reveal how easy it would be to have year-long or forever-long pauses in wars. Here is information on this year’s day of peace from the UN. This year on the International Day of Peace, Monday, September 21, 2020, World BEYOND War is organizing an online screening of the film “We Are Many.” Get your tickets here. We are also working with chapters, affiliates, and allies to organize events of all sorts, many of them virtual and open to people anywhere. Find events or add events here. Find resources for creating events here. Contact us for help here. At all of these events, including online events, we hope to see everyone wearing sky blue scarves symbolizing our life beneath one blue sky and our vision of a world beyond war. Get scarves here. You can also wear peace shirts, hold a bell ringing ceremony (everyone everywhere at 10 a.m.), or erect a peace pole.
Our Central Florida chapter is a co-founding member of the new Florida Peace & Justice Alliance, a group of organizations and allies committed to advocacy, activism, and mobilization. The alliance: advocates for peace, an end to war, and nonviolent, non-militaristic ways of resolving conflict; mobilizes organizations and individuals when action and resistance are needed; promotes events—live and online—so organizations get the word out to their memberships; lobbies Florida local, statewide, and national legislators and elected officials to advocate for peace and reduced militarism; and advances peace and alternatives to war intergenerationally. Check out the alliance’s new website here.
World BEYOND War Joins the U.S. Out of Africa Network: The U.S. has more than 800 military bases in more than 150 countries and all 7 continents; the closure of these bases has long been a focus issue for WBW. To that end, we have recently joined the U.S. Out of Africa Network (USOAN). USOAN is a newly formed network created by the Black Alliance for Peace, whose demands include:
1. The complete withdrawal of U.S. forces from Africa
2. The Demilitarization of the African continent
3. The closure of U.S. bases throughout the world
Most Americans have no idea how many, or where these foreign bases exist. That includes some members of Congress who first learn of them after U.S. soldiers have been killed there. In the last 20 years, the Pentagon has elevated its interest in Africa, building numerous bases there, and creating a new Unified Command (AFRICOM). Though the Pentagon doesn’t like to talk about its African bases, in February 2020, investigative writer Nick Turse of the Intercept obtained a previously classified map which identified 29 bases across the continent. There are many activist groups around the world who are working to shut these bases down. Contact us if you are interested in getting involved with WBW.
World BEYOND War mourns the loss of Advisory Board Member Kevin Zeese. Kevin was a brilliant, independent, creative, and energetic activist who contributed greatly to World BEYOND War and many related projects. He was an organizer with Popular Resistance. Its Our Economy, Creative Resistance, and a radio show are all projects of Popular Resistance. Zeese was also an attorney who had been a political activist since graduating from George Washington Law School in 1980. He worked on peace, economic justice, criminal law reform and reviving American democracy. He will be very badly missed.
We have a brand new website. More features are being added. Check it out and tell us what you think.
WBW receives 2020 George F. Rigas Courageous Peace Maker Award.
We now have our shirts in many languages. Check them out! Just a few examples:
Why just wear a mask when you can also make a point?
Find upcoming events on the events list and map here. Most of them are now online events that can be participated in from anywhere on earth.
Poetry Corner:
The 22nd Annual Kateri Peace Conference videos now available:
News from Around the World
Audio: Liz Remmerswaal, Peace Witness
Both Dangerous: Trump and Jeffrey Goldberg
The Global Appeal For Nuclear Disarmament
The Reason Why Italy Deploys its Fighters in Lithuania
I Will Not Be Part of Harming Any Child
New Podcast Episode: Digging Deeper With Nicholson Baker, And A Song By Margin Zheng
New Zealand Defence Minister Fails To Take Only Logical Choice On War Exercises
Will U.S. Congress Expand Military Draft Registration to Women?
Pentagon Paints False Picture of PFAS Contamination
WorldBEYONDWar is a global network of volunteers, activists, and allied organizations advocating for the abolition of the very institution of war. Our success is driven by a people-powered movement –
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