IFOR participation in The Nuclear ban week in Vienna

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IFOR participation in The Nuclear ban week in Vienna

Here you can find a brief journal of IFOR attendance to the nuclear ban week in Vienna which has been very intense with outstanding events.

Don’t miss the photo album. [scroll down to the end]

Day 1 & Day 2

On the 18th and 19th we participated in the NGOs Forum organized by ICAN and on the 19th evening on the "Give peace a chance!" conference organized by ABFANG, IPB and WILPF.

At this link you can watch:

- recording of main events which took place during the June 18-19 NGOs Forum

- daily MSP TV: twice a day briefing concerning the ongoing Vienna events on nuclear disarmament (Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and Parliamentarians Conference on the 20th, 1MSP on 21-23rd, Youth Conference on the 21st . . .)

About 600 people participated in the Forum in the past 2 days, coming from all regions of the world such as the islands of the Pacific, Asia, Africa, South America . . .

The topic of nuclear weapons is a global urgent issue which involves those producing, owning and storing nukes and those who have been affected by their use and testing; nuclear weapons are a threat to human life and all earth life. The UN Treaty frames nukes as inhuman and illegal and it provides a plan to ban them!

At this link you can watch recording of main events which took place during the June 18-19 NGOs Forum

Pour lire en français, cliquez ici.

Para leer en español, haga clic aquí.

Day 3

On Monday July 20th, IFOR participated in the Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, which was organized by Austria at the Austrian center in Vienna with the participation of State delegations, NGOs, academics, OIs...

More info are available here.

Several experts took the floor on specific aspects concerning #nuclearweapons 1. What we know, 2. Impact on people and planet, 3. The risks.

Speakers were as well from UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Vienna, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) , International Committee of the Red Cross , KNOW NUKES TOKYO , UNIDIR, the UN Institute for Disarmament Research , Nuclear Information and Resource Service , SIPRI , Arms Control Association , Princeton University . . .

Here are some insights from the Conference:

  • P. Lewis reported on several cases concerning individuals who decided not to escalate as P. Stanislav in 1983.

  • "The more NATO emphasizes nuclear deterrence, the more it legitimizes nuclear threats" D. Kimball

  • "Nuclear detonation may be a low probability event, but not a zero probability event" J. Revill

  • "Nuclear colonialism has been affecting indigenous communities" M. Olsen

  • "Illusion to bend the future to our will; illusion of control" Z. Mian

  • "We live in a system of states, not of people, and states make wars" Z. Mian

  • "Fragility of security theory based on nuclear deterrence" Z. Mian

  • "Only the elimination of nuclear weapons offer effective prevention" Z. Mian

The detailed program is available here.

The complete list of speakers and bio is available here.

Chair's summary here.

The Opening remarks by Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu High Representative for Disarmament Affairs are available here.

Day 4

Tuesday 21st, the historical 1 Conference TPNW MSP started at the UN Vienna with the opening message by António Guterres UN Secretary General, the director of International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), UN Office for Disarmament Affairs Vienna.

We expected many States “observers” such as those in the middle of the ratification process and those still reluctant to sign the treaty.
4 NATO members (Norway, Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands) will attend as observers and there is the last minute chance for others to join in.
It's important not to give up and to persist on national campaigning and lobby efforts!

The meeting continued with testimonies from nuclear weapons victims.

Member States delivered statements on #nuclearweapons from different perspectives.

Here some insights from the general debate from States, IOs and NGOs:

  • "Preserve life, instead of threaten it"

  • "Unacceptable humanitarian consequences" Austria

  • "Deterrence is an ultimate call for further proliferation" Austria

  • "We need a realistic approach based on evidences" Austria

  • "Multilateral cooperation is the only way for global concerns" Austria

  • "Many ratifications from the Pacific which bears scars of decades of nuclear testing" New Zealand

  • "Nuclear weapons are never the answer" New Zealand

  • "Nuclear deterrence does not preserve peace" South Africa

  • "Sense of responsibility and urgency; no room for procrastination" South Africa

  • "Culture of peace instead of culture of death" Venezuela

  • "Nuclear weapons offer no security" Ireland

  • "Nuclear weapons are contrary to the spirit of U.N. and its Chart" Guyana

  • "Giant step for the preservation of human life" Trinidad and Tobago

  • "Importance of addressing the financing of such production" ICAN-Etica

  • "We banned them and we will eliminate them" Parliamentarians for the TPNW

  • "Every dollar on missile is a moral abhorrence" Fiji

TPNW is available here.

The Program of work of the 1MSP is available here.

ICAN updates on the 1st day of the MSP is available here.

Secretary-General’s video message to the Opening of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is available here.

ICAN executive director statement is available here.

To read in French, click here.

To read in Spanish, click here.

Day 5

On the 2nd day of the 1MSP, on June 22nd, the plenary adopted decisions on art. 4 of the #TPNW concerning above all 10 years time for the destruction of nuclear weapons owned by states parties and 90 days for the removal of nuclear weapons from hosting states.

 The working session then addressed Art. 6 and 7 on "Victim assistance and environmental remediation" and "International cooperation and assistance".

Among speakers there have been representatives of the civil society who shared their first hand testimonies as 2nd and 3rd generation affected victims.

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR joined an interfaith oral statement delivered by World Council of Churches on behalf of 144 NGOs, including Pax Christi International, Soka Gakkai . . .

You can read more on the Interfaith joined statement and its signatories here.

Kiribati rep called on all 1MSP participants to gather together as "brothers and sisters".

The debate was also characterized by statements of observer states such as NATO members Sweden, Germany, Norway and The Netherlands. 

Germany statement is available here.

Norway statement is available here.

Swede statement is available here.

Switzerland (another observer state at the 1MSP) statement is available here.

Read more insights on the 2nd day of the 1MSP here.

Day 6

The 3rd day of the 1MSP, on June 23rd, concluded an historical Conference on nuclear disarmament, which adopted by consensus the Vienna declaration: the Action Plan in 50 points to move forward with nuclear disarmament and fully implement.

More details are available here.

ICAN's preliminary analysis on these 2 historical documents is available here.

Several principles have been highlighted:

  • scientific advisory committee

  • universality

  • complementarity (with the NPT)

  • gender perspective

  • …


Several member states took the floor as well as NGOs such as International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) that stated again the perfect complementary with NPT and the TPNW's vital importance.

The plenary agreed as well on the 2MSP presidency to Mexico and the 3MSP presidency to Kazakhstan.

The President of the Conference, Alexander Kmentt, celebrated the historical outcome restating:

"Important message from this meeting, a clear message"

"Now the real work will start!"

"We set a new standard to work together and efficiently"

"Thank you to observers who have not yet made their mind on it"

"Viva Mexico!"

The meeting ended with excitement and celebrations from all participants, diplomats and civil society together.

Nuclear ban week concluded with renewed commitment to nuclear disarmament by all the MSP and renewed joint effort with civil society to free the world from nuclear weapons and remediate its harm.

Nuclear weapons are banned and there is a Plan!

The nuclear ban week has been a very intense week with many useful and interesting insights. 

July 7th commemorated as well the 5th anniversary of the adoption of the TPNW which entered into force on January 22nd 2021 following the reaching of its 50th ratification on October 24th 2020.

Till today, 66 countries had already ratified the TPNW

Day 1 Photo-Book

Day 2 Photo-Book

Day 3 Photo-Book

Day 4 Photo-Book

Day 5 Photo-Book

Day 6 Photo-Book

Additional Tools:

  • Take a look at the pictures and posts published on IFOR's Facebook page and share them!

  • At this link you can watch daily MSP TV: twice a day briefing concerning the ongoing Vienna events on nuclear disarmament (Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons and Parliamentarians Conference on the 20th, 1MSP on 21-23rd, Youth Conference on the 21st . . .)

  • More streaming here

  • All the statements delivered during the 1MSP by invited guests, member states, observer states, international organizations and NGOs are available here.

  • ICAN's pictures from NGOs forum (free to use for ICAN’s partner organisations for non-commercial use, please just make sure to credit the photographer and ICAN):

  • ICAN's ED Beatrice Fihn highlights about the #nuclearbanweek:

    • The panels and discussions at the Nuclear Ban Forum were . I was so impressed with the energy, commitment, new and fresh angles on this issue and just the joy of us being together again.

    • It almost got lost in the noise, but we got three states (!) from three different continents to join the treaty on the eve of the MSP. This shows that the momentum for the treaty keeps growing, and we know many more states are on their way to ratify. Congratulations to Timor-Leste, Grenada and Cabo Verde. 

    • The first ever Parliamentarians for TPNW conference took place, and it was so great to see relationships building and  connections being made between our supportive parliamentarians across countries. Plans were made and participants plotted about how they can get their countries to join the treaty. This is such important work to increase the power and reach of the TPNW.

    • We had financial institutions engaging as stakeholders in the Treaty meetings for the first time. Financial institutions and investors  representing €230 billion sent a strong message of support and solidarity to the MSP, and raised divestment as a way to implement the TPNW.

    • We got five nuclear allied states, Norway, Germany, Australia, Netherlands and Belgium, to attend the MSP. While we have lots of work left to get them to join the treaty,  we need to recognize that this was a very impressive achievement for our partners in these countries. 

    • The Nuclear Ban Forum, the Humanitarian Conference and the MSP were packed with young people and new campaigners, from all corners of the world. This is such a clear sign that our movement is reasoning with people and becoming stronger and stronger. A big thanks to Youth for TPNW, Reverse The Trend and all other organisations that prioritized bringing young people to Vienna, and for every single partner organisation who are creating a campaign that is welcoming for new people and creating space for young activists to make their voices heard. 

    • The outcome documents of the MSP were really incredible achievements, and no other nuclear weapons forum will in the foreseeable future be able to get close to what we achieved.. The Vienna Declaration is the strongest multilateral declaration against the threat of nuclear weapons use that has ever been adopted. There are so many good parts in this document, and we hope to have more analysis and writings about it coming out soon. Please do share any writing and commentary that you and your networks are publishing on this, in absence of media coverage on this we need to make sure we spread the word ourselves.

    • The Vienna action plan is pretty unique for a UN treaty outcome document in its inclusiveness of civil society, impacted communities and academics and scientists as well as in its concrete and timebound commitments by states. Here’s a list of the key decisions that were taken, and we’ll follow up with more information and analysis of what this means in the coming weeks. 

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IFOR 50th Human Rights Council Side Event: Language Rights in the People's Republic of China

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IFOR 50th Human Rights Council Side Event: Language Rights in the People's Republic of China

Dear everyone,

We are pleased to invite you to a thematic virtual side event on Language Rights in the People's Republic of China, organized in collaboration with our local affiliate Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy

WEDNESDAY 29th AT 1:30 pm CEST on Zoom

Please, register here to get the link to connect on Wednesday.

Attached you can find the flier with more details on the speakers.

Looking forward to virtually meeting you,

Share on facebook!

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Estimados todos,
nos complace invitaros a un evento paralelo virtual temático sobre los Derechos Lingüísticos en la República Popular China, organizado en colaboración con nuestra filial local Centro Tibetano para los Derechos Humanos y la Democracia

MIÉRCOLES 29 A LAS 13:30 CEST en Zoom

Por favor, regístrese aquí para obtener el enlace para conectarse el miércoles.

Adjunto puedes encontrar el flyer con más detalles sobre los ponentes.

Esperamos encontrarnos virtualmente con ustedes,

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Chers tous,
Nous avons le plaisir de vous inviter à un événement parallèle virtuel sur les droits linguistiques en République Populaire de Chine, organisé en collaboration avec notre affilié local, le Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy.

MERCREDI 29 À 13h30 CEST sur Zoom

Veuillez vous inscrire ici pour obtenir le lien pour vous connecter mercredi.

Vous trouverez en annexe le dépliant avec plus de détails sur les intervenants.

Dans l'attente de vous rencontrer virtuellement,

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IFOR joins interfaith statement at the 1MSP in Vienna

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IFOR joins interfaith statement at the 1MSP in Vienna

On June 22nd, on the occasion of the 2nd day of the historical First Conference of the Member States Parties (1MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which took place in Vienna, the World Council of Churches representative delivered an Interfaith statement signed by IFOR together with more than 140 other organizations.

Read here the complete text:

Joint Interfaith Statement Welcoming the First Meeting of the States Parties to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (22 June 2022) 

As faith communities from a diversity of traditions and located all over the world, we join together with one voice to mark this first Meeting of States Parties (MSP) to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). We welcome this historic occasion and celebrate this milestone that moves us closer to a world without nuclear weapons. 

We gather at a time when the threat of nuclear annihilation feels closer than before. So many more of us suffer from anxiety in response to the increasing threats by nuclear armed states. In the face of these urgent existential threats, we are more determined than ever to abolish nuclear weapons. 

We are acutely aware of the threats facing humanity and our beloved planet. From the devastating impacts of a global pandemic to the rising threat of climate catastrophe, the stakes for life on earth have never felt higher. Nuclear weapons represent a tangible manifestation of the worst of these threats with the risk they pose to human health and environmental stability. The resources currently spent on the development and maintenance of these weapons should be directed towards supporting the most vulnerable people and protecting the planet through investing in food, education, health care and climate justice. 

Our faith traditions call us to denounce this misuse of resources and to call for greater international cooperation to end nuclear weapons forever. Nuclear weapons are a tool of domination and violent coercion in a time when we urgently need to prioritize human security. Our religious and spiritual traditions uphold an ethos of mutual aid, care for the stranger and trust in the community. 

Our faith traditions continue to nurture the belief in a better future. We are reminded of our shared vulnerability and our shared capacity to make compassionate, intelligent policy choices. We remain committed not only to our own security but to the security and well-being of one another. We understand the interrelationship between justice and peace and we continue to commit ourselves to working for a world in which no community has the power to annihilate another, where the security of some does not depend on the insecurity of others. 

We urge the States Parties of the TPNW to heed the voices of the world’s hibakusha and contribute to strengthening the treaty through fully including the voices of affected communities so that as the international community we can begin the work of healing the harms caused by nuclear weapons. We also urge all States to work for the universalization of the TPNW, and invite all countries that have yet to ratify the treaty to do so in a timely manner. And finally, we urge all nuclear-weapon states to act in accordance with their commitment to nuclear disarmament and take concrete measures towards reducing nuclear threats.

In a world that often seems bleak, we celebrate this first MSP as a glimmer of light and hope. Just as we come together to unite our voices and prayers beyond our own faith traditions, we applaud your commitment to multilateralism and diplomacy in a time of divisiveness and tensions. We stand with you to rid the world of nuclear weapons, and create a world where we can advance together for common security and mutual flourishing. 

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IFOR's European branches - PRESS RELEASE

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IFOR's European branches - PRESS RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE

 

Paris, June 12th 2022

 

Gathered in Paris for the annual meeting of the European branches of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), representatives from Austria, England, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Switzerland and Wales express their profound concern for the increasing of armament and military expenditures in response to the ongoing war fare.

History teaches that militaristic response leads to the increase of the armed conflict and that war is a disaster for humanity and for the entire planet. This attitude is dangerous and creates the illusionary assumption to maintain peace using the violence of weapons.

The war in Ukraine demonstrates once more that violence creates more violence and we need an efficient alternative way to transform conflict and ensure lasting peace. Active nonviolence is the alternative which can ensure a future for our community. We acknowledge the several nonviolent efforts by people in Ukraine as well as by those peacefully protesting against war in Russia and being jailed.

IFOR started in 1914 with an explicit commitment to refuse to engage in WWI. As members of IFOR we invite to learn from the past and support nonviolent resistance, dialogue, peace negotiations, civilian intervention, reconciliation process in order to de-escalate the violent conflict.

We stand in solidarity with those who refuse to engage in the war in Ukraine and in all other wars, and with those who object and look for protection in other countries.

 

We call on all European countries to work for peace, through nonviolence and not to search for peace through arms. We urge the European Union to genuinely pursue peace in practice and deeds. We need peace alliance not military alliance.

We extend our warm invitation as well to Church leaders and religious groups to expressively join efforts in supporting peace and refusing war.

We call on our governments to urgently engage in peace efforts and refrain from supporting the military system and the war through military expenditures, weapons production and trade.

In particular, one week ahead of the historical Conference which will take place in Vienna concerning the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), we urge all remaining European countries to sign the UN Treaty, participate into the Vienna Conference at least as observer members and commit to free the world from this pending threaten to life on earth. 

Nederlands

PERSBERICHT IFOR (INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP OF RECONCILIATION)

Parijs, 12 juni 2022

Bijeengekomen in Parijs voor de jaarlijkse bijeenkomst van de Europese afdelingen van de International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), spreken vertegenwoordigers uit Oostenrijk, Engeland, Schotland, Frankrijk, Duitsland, Italië, Nederland, Zwitserland en Wales hun diepe bezorgdheid uit over de toename van de bewapening en de militaire uitgaven als antwoord op de voortdurende oorlog.

De geschiedenis leert dat een militaristische reactie leidt tot een toename van het gewapende conflict en dat oorlog een ramp is voor de mensheid en voor de hele planeet. Deze houding is gevaarlijk en creëert de illusoire veronderstelling om vrede te handhaven met wapengeweld.

De oorlog in Oekraïne toont eens te meer aan dat geweld meer geweld creëert en dat we behoefte hebben aan een efficiënte alternatieve manier om conflicten te transformeren en blijvende vrede te verzekeren. Actieve geweldloosheid is het alternatief dat een toekomst voor onze gemeenschap kan verzekeren. Wij erkennen de diverse geweldloze inspanningen van mensen in Oekraïne alsook door hen die vreedzaam protesteerden tegen de oorlog in Rusland en gevangen werden gezet.

IFOR begon in 1914 met een uitdrukkelijke verbintenis om te weigeren deel te nemen aan WO I. Als leden van IFOR nodigen wij uit om van het verleden te leren en geweldloos verzet, dialoog, vredesonderhandelingen, burgerinterventie en verzoeningsproces om het gewelddadige conflict te de-escaleren.

Wij zijn solidair met hen die weigeren deel te nemen aan de oorlog in Oekraïne en aan alle andere oorlogen, en met degenen die bezwaar maken en bescherming zoeken in andere landen.

Wij roepen alle Europese landen op te werken aan vrede, door middel van geweldloosheid, en niet naar vrede te zoeken door middel van wapens. Wij dringen er bij de Europese Unie op aan om in de praktijk en in daden werkelijk naar vrede te streven. Wij hebben een vredesalliantie nodig, geen militaire alliantie.

Wij nodigen ook kerkleiders en religieuze groeperingen van harte uit om zich uitdrukkelijk aan te sluiten om vrede te ondersteunen en oorlog te weigeren.

Wij doen een beroep op onze regeringen om zich dringend in te zetten voor de vrede en af te zien van het steunen van het militaire systeem en de oorlog door militaire uitgaven, wapenproductie en handel.

In het bijzonder één week voor de historische Conferentie die in Wenen zal plaatsvinden over het

VN-verdrag inzake het verbod op kernwapens (TPNW), dringen wij er bij alle overblijvende Europese landen op aan het VN-Verdrag te ondertekenen, ten minste als waarnemers aan de Conferentie van Wenen deel te nemen en zich ertoe te verbinden de wereld te bevrijden van deze op handen zijnde bedreiging voor het leven op aarde.

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Broad civil society alliance calls for protection/asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

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Broad civil society alliance calls for protection/asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

PRESS RELEASE

9 June 2022

Broad civil society alliance calls for protection/asylum for deserters and conscientious objectors from Russia, Belarus and Ukraine

 

In a joint appeal to members of the European Parliament and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, a broad civil society alliance from 20 countries has called on the European governments to grant protection and asylum to Russian and Belarusian as well as Ukrainian conscientious objectors and deserters. They need immediate protection and asylum.

According to international law, the servicemen and women fighting for Russia in this war are conducting an illegal operation. Moreover, it is possible that Belarus will participate in the war on Russia's side. People refusing to participate in the war will most likely face serious prosecution, which qualifies them for protection under the EU Qualification Directive. In most of the Member States the overwhelming majority of those affected have not yet received any guarantee of this protection. With their appeal, the organizations demand that they be guaranteed protection and asylum.

It is assumed that among the 300,000 people who have left Russia recently because of the war, there are many men who seek safety abroad to avoid being sent to the war. In the last few months roughly  20,000 men from Belarus have left the country to avoid recruitment. There are also Ukrainian conscientious objectors who do not want to fight in this war; around 3,000 men have claimed asylum in Moldavia alone.

Each citizen, registered in Ukraine by February 24, 2022, is currently granted humanitarian residence in the European Union. This is encouraging. However, we should seriously consider what will happen to Ukrainian conscientious objectors when this provision expires. European countries should take in these people fleeing the war effort without red tape and grant them a permanent right to stay.

The human right to conscientious objection has been recognized inter alia by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament. It must be guaranteed to everyone on all sides. The European countries must ensure that the human right to conscientious objection is fully recognized.

"Our aim is to ensure that conscientious objectors and deserters from the states involved in the war in Ukraine receive immediate protection and asylum," reads the letter to the parliamentarians. The letter - which includes a suggested draft resolution - was initiated by the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR), War Resisters’ International (WRI), the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO) and Connection e.V. (Germany), and is supported by around 60 other peace, human rights and refugee organisations from all over Europe.


The appeal can be found here.

Information on the legal situation for conscientious objection and desertion in Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine can be found  here.

Information on protection and asylum for conscientious objectors and deserters can be found here.


Contact persons:

Zaira Zafarana, International Fellowship of Reconciliation, zaira.zafarana@ifor.org, www.ifor.org (English, Italian)

Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V., +49 69 8237 5534, office@Connection-eV.org, www.Connection-eV.org (German, English)

Semih Sapmaz, War Resisters’ International, semih@wri-irg.org, www.wri-irg.org (English, Turkish)

Sam Biesemans, European Bureau for Conscientious Objection (EBCO), +32 477 268893, ebco.brussels@skynet.be, www.ebco-beoc.org (French, Dutch, Italian, English)

Read the complete press release here in English, you are welcome to download it.

Lea el comunicado de prensa completo aquí en Español, lo invitamos a descargarlo.

Læs hele pressemeddelelsen her på dansk, du er velkommen til at downloade den.

Lisez le communiqué de presse complet ici en francese, vous êtes invités à le télécharger.

Leggi il comunicato stampa completo qui in italiano, sei libero di scaricarlo.

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WEBINAR: Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine: 27 May 2022, 17:00-18:30 CEST

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WEBINAR: Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine: 27 May 2022, 17:00-18:30 CEST

Joint web event EBCO, IFOR, WRI


Friday 27 May 2022, 17:00-18:30 CEST (Brussels time)
Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine

Moderator: Semih Sapmaz, War Resisters' International

  1. Presentation of EBCO Annual Report on Conscientious Objection to Military Service in Europe:

    • Summary of findings: Alexia Tsouni, EBCO President, Association of Conscientious Objectors (Greece)

    • Focus on Turkey: Merve Arkun, EBCO Vice-President, Conscientious Objection Watch (Turkey)

    • EBCO recommendations Zaira Zafarana, International Fellowship of Reconciliation

Q&A

  1. Focus on the war in Ukraine:

    • Resisting war in Ukraine: Yurii Sheliazhenko, Ukrainian Pacifist Movement

    • Opposing war in Russia: Alexander Belik, Russian Movement of Conscientious Objectors

    • Right to asylum for war resisters: Rudi Friedrich, Connection e.V. (Germany)

Q&A

  1. Open discussion & exchange on future actions

 

Please note that you need to register in advance for the event here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/.../reg.../WN_Vt3zH78mTGu19C9N-HswaA

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar


Visit and share the Facebook link. 
This is part of the CO Marathon, Read more about it on our webpage!

You can watch the recording on our Youtube Channel.

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Mir Italy, FOR USA and FOR India have published 3 open letters regarding Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership.

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Mir Italy, FOR USA and FOR India have published 3 open letters regarding Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership.

Cari amici in Finlandia e Svezia – Dear friends in Finland and Sweden

Lettera aperta del MIR Italia sull’entrata di Finlandia e Svezia nella NATO

Read the Italian version here.

Open letter by MIR Italy on Finland and Sweden applying for NATO membership

Dear friends in Finland and Sweden and all Europe,

Every day is a day of war in different areas of the planet, and no change is foreseen anywhere near, as a logic of war, confrontation and enmity is dominant among States.
Evidence of this is the increasing military expenditure linked to the production and trade of weapons.

The terrible war in Ukraine, instead of decreasing, is escalating with the direct involvement of the Atlantic Alliance States, to the point of risking a world conflict with nuclear weapons.
Developments in Russia’s aggression in Ukraine have caused the Swedish and Finnish governments to consider applying for NATO membership. We understand the concern and fear of being a target for possible war action.

We see the choice to join NATO as dangerous for peace in Europe, first of all because it increases military confrontation in the region and strengthens an alliance for war, instead of advocating de-escalation and a change of register that privileges alliances and dialogues for peace.
Europe has been torn apart by the World Wars and the European Union was born with the purpose of creating a ‘union’ to build peace and support and safeguard coexistence between peoples.
Strengthening military alliances means giving the force of arms predominance in the relations between states.
We should work for peace, with alliances for peace.
If Finland’s and Sweden’s neutrality fails, this could provoke a reaction from Russia in the context of an ever-expanding military alliance that was created in an anti-Russian perspective. The NATO membership of Sweden and Finland would strengthen the alliance that already includes 30 countries.

Unfortunately, Italy is a member of NATO and this means, among other things, the presence of military bases with personnel from other countries on our territory and the use of these bases for interventions in war zones in which we, as Italians, are not directly involved and do not want to be involved.
We are under pressure all the time to increase military spending and to comply with our treaty obligations.
It is a militarist commitment.
“Italy repudiates war as an instrument for the resolution of conflicts between states”; this is what is stated in Article 11 of our Constitution and it is what we loudly repeat all the time, even every time that unfortunately drones and military missions depart from bases on our territory. In addition, Italy, which through two referendums has rejected the nuclear option, finds itself unfortunately hosting around 70 nuclear bombs of others in these bases.

We, in Italy, do not feel more secure, on the contrary, we always feel fully involved every time a military aircraft takes off from the bases in Sigonella or Aviano or Ghedi, to name but a few.
All over Europe, including Italy, civil society organisations are mobilising to ask their governments to leave NATO, to abandon a military alignment that divides the world and is very often an enslavement to foreign powers.

We must stop this insane military escalation, insisting on peace negotiations, mediation and dialogue.
Non-violence is our lighthouse and history teaches us that a non-violent transformation of conflicts can be possible, so that the reasons for peace and the lives of the peoples involved prevail over nationalistic interests and logics.

We need new signs of peace, of openness to dialogue.
More weapons do not make the world safer, but closer to more easy deadly triggers.

Your history of neutrality is important; we need an ‘active neutrality’ that contributes to de-escalation and mediation and that strengthens multilateralism, to change course from the current ruinous path where the logic of violence prevails.

Our appeal, our Finnish and Swedish friends, is for the war to cease, for your peoples not to be involved and for lives to be spared, and for us all to work together to ‘build peace’, with instruments of peace, otherwise it will never be peace.

For we ‘peoples of the United Nations are determined to save future generations from the scourge of war’, but also and especially now, the present generation.
Let us continue together to work for peace and urge our governments to a real constructive commitment to peace, under the banner of multilateralism, while also supporting the full implementation of the UN’s purpose, ‘to maintain international peace and security’.

In fellowship with all of you.

On Sweden Joining NATO: A Letter from FOR-USA to SweFOR

By FORUSA

Dear sisters and brothers in the Sweden FOR,

Our hearts break for you and your country. Sweden’s expected application to join NATO is a devastating blow for our shared global peace movement. Sweden’s 200 years of stated neutrality and military non-alignment have long offered a sign that nation-states can play a critical role as well.  

We join the Sweden Fellowship of Reconciliation in appealing to Sweden (and Finland) to remain neutral, alongside Austria, Cyprus, Ireland, and Malta. The Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine is illegitimate and indefensible, but must be countered and resolved through negotiations and mediation – something Sweden is best placed to support if it remains neutral. President Vladimir Putin has made a giant miscalculation and the Russian war machine is overextended, beleaguered, and unable to manage an endless conflict. If a face-saving way out is not negotiated, it becomes more likely that Putin will resort to Russia’s arsenal of 6,257 nuclear warheads. In such a fearful instance, there is nothing that NATO can do to save Sweden or Europe.

SweFOR, upon its founding in 1919, carried further Sweden’s proclivity for global community when it joined the International Fellowship of Reconciliation (IFOR) “to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence in the world, while advancing the pacific management of conflicts and respect for human rights and international humanitarian law.” While we recognize your nation’s longstanding reputation as a leader in preventing war has been damaged by its recent role as a major international source of arms production and sales, nevertheless the Swedish government’s significant funding of global human rights NGOs, including SweFOR, is testimony to its continuing constructive leadership. We believe that will be irreversibly damaged should Sweden join NATO.

Indeed, we honor Sweden’s historic efforts to strengthen international decision-making bodies, such as the 1953 appointment of Dag Hammarskjold as the United Nation’s second Secretary-General. Succeeding Trygve Lie of Norway in that role, Hammarskjold helped model peace-building diplomacy rooted in common decency and trustworthiness. These iconic leaders paved the way for generations of Scandinavians to be welcomed at innumerable negotiations tables worldwide. Today, with the UN’s reputation severely tarnished (particularly due to its corrupted so-called Security Council) and the prospect of both Finland and Sweden joining NATO, there is a foreboding sense that the values of multilateralism and inclusivity have been eliminated.

We recognize that our perspective at FOR-USA is offered from the vantage point of a country with limited moral authority. Our nation was founded on the dual genocides of its Indigenous peoples and of enslaved Africans, and for centuries the capitalist and imperialist policies of the U.S. government have led to the deaths, incarceration, and exploitation of countless millions at home and abroad. Despite boasting the greatest financial wealth in private hands and the most expensive military ever in human history, there are an estimated 140 million poor and low-wage people today in our nation. Nevertheless, as we recognize and resist our government’s relentless warmaking machine, with U.S. armed forces in control of at least 750 military bases in 80 countries – including five in Europe, which have nuclear weapons aimed at Russia alongside similar nuclear-strike capabilities of other NATO members – we urge Sweden to resist joining NATO, arguably the largest and most threatening military entity in the world.

Our world today needs to prioritize nonviolent solutions and alliances for peace, not greater investment in militarism. The best hope now is to focus on what is most important: saving lives. To achieve this, we urge Sweden to remain neutral and do what it often does best: diplomacy, by pushing for a cease-fire and finding a way for President Putin to extract himself from this unwinnable and untenable situation and its ominous end point of nuclear holocaust. Dismantlement of NATO towards a plan to achieve a common global security system and architecture should be part of this vision.

In deep peace, solidarity and fellowship,
Ethan Vesely-Flad and Anthony Nicotera
Interim Co-Executive Directors
U.S. Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR-USA)

OUR INTERNATIONAL FELLOWSHIP – WE STAND WITH YOU SWEFOR AND HOPE SWEDEN WILL CONTINUE AS A NON-ALIGNED NATION

May 18th 2022

Message from FOR India

Our truths vary depending on our perspectives and geographical locations. The only one constant is that we believe in nonviolence as being the right and the most appropriate way and means to usher in change from power and dominance through militarisation which we see all around. Most of us live in societies where there is an assimilation of modernity and tradition in every aspect of our everyday life.

The pandemic and the war in Ukraine have challenged us to re-examine several of our beliefs in the capacity of the state to deal with supply chain and trade disruptions, energy interdependence and the future of warfare. We are forced to think about the limits of state sovereignty and the credibility of the United Nations Charter to protect nations' states.

Among the developed nations all over the world we are witnessing the backlash against globalisation which had mainly two forms - the economic and cultural. The unemployed and the poor in the developed world have begun to feel that they have no stake in the globalised system and demanded from their own governments why government policies benefited people from other parts of the world with what used to be ‘their jobs’. The growing inequality within their society made its way to a desire to go back to the security of the older and more familiar economic systems where each generation assumed that they would earn more and live better than their parents did.  

The cultural backlash derived from the same resentment and led to hostility towards foreigners and increasing sections of people in the developed world sought the comforts of traditional identity and ways of life. Globalisation brought in a new set of liberal politics, technocrats, trade agreements, cosmopolitans, immigration, secularism, and multiculturalism which suited a small section of society while the great majority of the society turned back to cultural rootedness, religious or ethnic identity and national authenticity as the way to their future.

Several leaders from the Americas and Europe have seized the opportunity to tap into both the economic and cultural backlash against globalisation and some of them have won their electoral battles and a few have come close enough to shift the national discourse. 

It is in this context we from our Asian part of the world see Sweden and Finland moving out of their space as nonaligned countries and moving towards the NATO military alliance. In our vulnerable world every action of the developed world whether it be trade sanctions or military alliances gives out a new message that no useful help can be expected from any country and that national interests is the choice over international cooperation. Britain leaving the EU, the US leaving the Paris climate agreement, President Trump pulling the US out of the WHO are some of the moves which took place which had an impact on the underdeveloped or developing world.

We from the Fellowship in India join the voice with Mir Italy and US FOR to urge the Swedish Government to continue as a nonaligned nation. The world must live and work together again and the idea of our common humanity made real. Sweden and Finland have a unique position in this effort. 

In fellowship,

Mathew George

FOR India   

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#COday2022, IFOR CO MARATHON Join the IFOR CO MARATHON!

#COday2022

On the occasion of the International Conscientious Objection Day, commemorated on May 15th, IFOR members are engaging in several initiatives addressing the topic of the right to conscientious objection to military service.

We invite everyone everywhere to celebrate #COday2022 taking action on conscientious objection and showing solidarity to all the conscientious objectors worldwide.

Join the IFOR CO MARATHON!

THE RIGHT TO CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTION TO MILITARY SERVICE IS A HUMAN RIGHT!

Some history

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International Conscientious Objectors' Day was first observed in 1982 by West European objectors to compulsory military service, as a focus both of campaigning for the right of objection to be established where it was lacking, and of support for objectors everywhere. The date 15th May was chosen simply because it happened to be mutually convenient in 1982 but was retained for renewed activity in 1983 and 1984. Then in 1985 it was formally adopted by the European Bureau of Conscientious Objectors and soon received worldwide recognition – being adopted by War Resisters' International – and changed from being European Conscientious Objectors' Day to International Conscientious Objectors' Day.

-Reproduced from Housmans Peace Diary, 2020-

SUPPORT CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS WORLDWIDE!

CAMPAIGN FOR THE RIGHT TO REFUSE TO KILL AND RAISE AWARENESS!

You are welcome to use and spread thematic materials on the occasion of the CO international day:

MAY 12th

- FOR USA, during its weekly online gathering “FOR Building Community and Sharing Hope” welcomes a contribution on conscientious objection by Zaira Zafarana, IFOR CO project manager, at 4pm EDT.

More info here


MAY 13th

  • SweFOR, during its weekly "FREDagshälsning - Shalom" live on Facebook, hosts the testimony of its member Joshua Armfeild, former soldier who left the army to become a pacifist, at 3 pm CEST. More info are available here.

  • "From Christian pacifism to interreligious non-violence: the commitment of the International Fellowship of Reconciliation from 1914 to today", lecture by Christian Renoux, member of the national committee of MIR France and of the International Committee of IFOR, at the Maison des Bretchs in Le Chambon-sur-Lignon at 6pm CEST. The event is part of the Cycle Pacifisme, organised by the Lieu de Mémoire. More info are available here.

MAY 14th

- Torino local group of MIR Italy offers a thematic Torino Peace Trail on conscientious objection starting in Castle Square at Noon CEST.

More info are available here

MAY 15th

- Leicester international conscientious objectors' day online ceremony, with the participation of IFOR CO project coordinator Z. Z., at 7 pm UK. More info are available here.

MAY 16th

- MIR Italy organizes a thematic webinar on conscientious objection with the participation of Z. Z., IFOR CO project manager, at 6pm CEST. The webinar commemorates as well the 50th anniversary of the Italian law on conscientious objection, at 6 pm CEST. More info are available here.

MAY 27TH

-EBCO, IFOR and WRI organize the online event "Conscientious objection in Europe today with focus on the war in Ukraine" at 5pm CEST. During the event, the EBCO 2021 report will also be presented. More info is available here, and here.

JUNE 4TH

-Conference on Conscientious Objection to military service and civil service organized on the occasion of the Rome Eirene-Fest organized by a board of publishers and civil society organisations, including MIR Italy. IFOR coordinator of CO project will give a presentation on the right to conscientious objection to military service today in the world, including first hand testimony of some objectors.

More info are available here.

"page under constant update"

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WEBINAR #3 "PEACE EFFORTS IN COLOMBIA: CURRENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES"

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WEBINAR #3 "PEACE EFFORTS IN COLOMBIA: CURRENT CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES"

IFOR-International Fellowship of Reconciliation, together with FOR Peace Presence and FOR Austria, is pleased to invite you to the

WEBINAR #3 of the ANNIVERSARY WEBINAR SERIES

“20 YEARS OF INTERNATIONAL ACCOMPANIMENT IN COLOMBIA”

May 7th 2022 at 5pm CEST on Zoom

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR, together with its branch IFOR Austria - VersöhnungsbundPeace Presence and its affiliate Peace Presence, is pleased to invite you to the webinar #3 "Peace efforts in Colombia: current challenges and opportunities" of the ANNIVERSARY WEBINAR SERIES.

The webinar is scheduled for May 7th 2022 at 5pm CEST.

This webinar #3 will focus on ongoing peace work highlighting challenges and opportunities and will present specific peace building experiences such as the peace community peace Comunidad De Paz San José De Apartadó and the humanitarian space Espacio Humanitario Puente Nayero and other local experiences with the participation of IFOR Swedish branch Kristna Fredsrörelsen, Swefor.


Our main speakers will be:

- Jose Roviro Lopez, Peace Community of San Jose de Apartado

- Nhora Isabel Castillo, Humanitarian Space Puente Nayero, Buenaventura

- Henry Alberto David, Life and Work Community La Balsita, Dabeiba

- Miriam Heins, SweFOR Choco Office Coordinator

- Irmgard Ehrenberger, FOR Austria


Moderators: Zaira Zafarana (IFOR), Manuel Müller (FOR PP), Michaela Soellinger (FOR Austria)


The webinar will provide more information on how to support such peace efforts and partner with local actors

Participating individuals and organizations will have the possibility to raise questions and engage in a direct exchange to explore opportunities to get involved and contribute to peace efforts in Colombia.

Register at bit.ly/20FORPP and participate!

The webinar will be in English and Spanish.


Share on Facebook here

Click here to read about webinar #1

Click here to read about webinar #2

IFOR-International Fellowship of Reconciliation, 

junto con FOR Peace Presence y FOR Austria, se alegra de invitarle al 

WEBINAR #3 de la SERIE DE WEBINARIOS DEL ANIVERSARIO

"20 AÑOS DE ACOMPAÑAMIENTO INTERNACIONAL EN COLOMBIA"

7 de mayo de 2022 a las 5pm CEST en Zoom

International Fellowship of Reconciliation - IFOR, junto con su rama IFOR Austria - VersöhnungsbundPeace Presence y su afiliado FOR Peace Presence, se complace en invitarle al webinar #3 "Esfuerzos de paz en Colombia: retos y oportunidades actuales" de la SERIE DE WEBINARIOS ANIVERSARIOS.
El webinar está programado para el 7 de mayo de 2022 a las 5pm CEST.
Este webinar #3 se centrará en el trabajo de paz actual destacando los retos y oportunidades y presentará experiencias específicas de construcción de paz como la comunidad de paz Comunidad De Paz San José De Apartadó y el espacio humanitario Espacio Humanitario Puente Nayero y otras experiencias locales con la participación de la rama sueca de IFOR Kristna Fredsrörelsen, Swefor.


Nuestros principales ponentes serán:
- José Roviro López, Comunidad de Paz de San José de Apartadó
- Nhora Isabel Castillo, Espacio Humanitario Puente Nayero, Buenaventura
- Henry Alberto David, Comunidad de Vida y Trabajo La Balsita, Dabeiba
- Miriam Heins, Coordinadora de la Oficina de SweFOR, Chocó
- Irmgard Ehrenberger, FOR Austria


Moderadores: Zaira Zafarana (IFOR), Manuel Müller (FOR PP), Michaela Soellinger (FOR Austria)


El seminario web proporcionará más información sobre cómo apoyar estos esfuerzos de paz y asociarse con los actores locales.
Las personas y organizaciones participantes tendrán la posibilidad de plantear preguntas y participar en un intercambio directo para explorar las oportunidades de involucrarse y contribuir a los esfuerzos de paz en Colombia.
Inscríbete en bit.ly/20FORPP ¡y participa!
El webinario será en inglés y español.

Comparte en Facebook aquí

Haga clic aquí para leer sobre el seminario web nº 1
Haga clic aquí para leer sobre el seminario web nº 2

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Acharya K K Chandy Commemoration

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Acharya K K Chandy Commemoration

On April 20th IFOR's Indian branch has run a special program titled "Acharya K K Chandy Commemorative meeting" on ecumenism gathering the denominational heads of the Orthodox Church, Marthoma Church, Jacobite Church, Church of South India and the Catholic Church which represents more than sixty one hundred thousand members in Kerala alone.

The book "Psychological, Social and Spiritual Well being- Key to a violence free society- A possible impossibility", edited by Suseela Mathew -member of FOR India- has been also released and presented during the event.

This program was also about the need to use our resources for #Ahimsa, against violence of any kind.

Ukraine and the political decisions which lead to destruction and despair were discussed. Churches could ask its members to pray and give support for sustainable peace and guarantee of human rights to people everywhere.



Watch the special program here ( some parts are in English as well)



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