WBW News: Five people can change the world

E-Newsletters

Join our Drive for Five!
Happy birthday to us! World BEYOND War got its start five years ago by asking people to sign on to the WBW Declaration of Peace:

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.

75,000 people have now signed in 175 countries! When you stop to think about the organizing potential those numbers represent, it’s pretty exciting, but we need more! On our fifth birthday we are launching the “Drive for Five” campaign. We are asking each of our members (you!) to find five more people to join WBW. If each one of you 100,000 receiving this email found five, that would be half a million! If you found more, then it would be, well more!

Once you send us at least five names, we will post your name on our website honoring you as a Drive for Five Hero (unless you prefer anonymity)! But if that weren’t incentive enough, for every signature you bring in, we will credit you $1 towards the tuition for our on-line course, War Abolition 101, to be held Feb 18th to Mar 31st. Five names gets you $5 credit, 23 names–$23. For 100 names you can participate in the course for free!

The Drive for Five campaign is a way for you to help grow WBW and it won’t cost you a dime. Here’s how to get started:
1. Print a copy of our sign-up sheet.
2. Gather signatures, by asking your family members, neighbors, and friends to sign it. Take it to any public event, or go door to door. It isn’t hard to find people who agree with the Declaration of Peace!
3. Mail it or email a photo of it, as instructed on the sign-up sheet. (Names must include email addresses, which must be legible and functioning.)

1. Email everyone you can, asking them to sign here and to enter your name as the person who referred them: https://worldbeyondwar.org/individual

World BEYOND War is only as strong as our membership. We know that it is going to take a massive, coordinated, international effort to accomplish our mission of ending war forever, and our strength increases with every new person and organization who signs on. Please join us in our Drive for Five campaign!

New chapters of World BEYOND War will be starting up around the world in the coming weeks. One just began this month in Philadelphia. Find or create a local chapter here.

More billboards are going up. We’re looking into messages of peace for billboards in Iran, and in Washington D.C. in April for the NATO event. Check out where some billboards have just gone up and where some have been refused as unacceptably peaceful.

Add your name to this petition, which we will be making the most of in public and private events in the coming year.

War threatens our environment.

Kick off the New Year with our next webinar!

SAVE THE DATE: Militarism in the Media Webinar on January 15 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time

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. Tune in to our Militarism in the Media webinar with experts Rose Dyson and Jeff Cohen to discuss the role of media in promoting war and violence.

New Online Course: War Abolition 101: How we Create a Peaceful World: February 18 – March 31, 2019

How can we make the best argument for shifting from war to peace? What must we understand and know about the war system if we are to dismantle it? These questions and more will be explored in War Abolition 101, a 6-week online course starting February 18. Each week will feature a guest expert who will help you explore weekly topics through an online chat room. Weekly content includes a mix of text, images, video, and audio. We’ll dismantle the myths of war, and delve into its alternatives, concluding the course with organizing and action ideas. Learn more and reserve your spot.

No to NATO — Yes to Peace FESTIVAL: April 3-4, 2019, Washington, D.C.

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is coming to Washington, D.C., on April 4. We’re organizing a peace festival to unwelcome them.

Wednesday, April 3 at St. Stephen’s Church, 1525 Newton St NW, Washington, D.C. 20010:
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Art-Making Workshop, and Nonviolence Protest/Activist Training (munch on vegan snacks, make art, and plan for the April 4 protest)
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.: Keynote Speeches
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.: Art-Making & Exhibits, Interactive Booths, Vegan Food & Drink (all available throughout the evening)
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: Concert

REGISTER TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT.

Leading the nonviolence trainings will be Nadine Bloch.

Providing biting comedic entertainment will be Lee Camp.

Thursday, April 4
Plans to include a procession from the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial to a rally at Freedom Plaza, and nonviolent demonstrations outside the NATO meeting. Details TBA.

Other No to NATO events:
Saturday, March 30 @ 1:00 p.m. Rally at Lafayette Park
Tuesday, April 2 No to NATO – Yes to Peace and Disarmament Counter-Summit
Thursday, April 4 evening Black Alliance for Peace Celebration

Lodging for the nights of 2nd and 3rd is available.