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INTERNATIONALPEACEBUREAU

ACTIVITYREPORT2008

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IPBACTIVITYREPORT2008INTRODUCTIONMuchofthisyear’snewswasdepressinglynegative,withwarsinvolvingwesternpowerscontinuinginIraqandAfghanistan,USincursionsintoPakistanandSyria,andthreatstoIran;manyviolentconflictsinotherregionsgivingriseto increasingrefugeepopulations;aworsening financialcrisis;andever-morealarmingreportsonthedramasofclimatechange,foodpricehikes,fossilfueldepletion,andmore.Andyet…November4broughtanextraordinaryreversalforthetide,withthehopefulneweraannouncedbythe election of BarackObama as the newUS President. Like everyone around theworld, IPBmembers arehoping for better times. We know, however, that these problems cannot be left to governments andcommercialinterests;resolvingthemwillrequireenormousamountsofhardworkonthepartofcivilsociety.ThefollowingtextoutlinesbrieflytheareasinwhichIPBhasbeenendeavouringtomakeadifferenceoverthelast10months.DISARMAMENTFORDEVELOPMENT(DFD)IPB has worked hard to consolidate its main programme – Sustainable Disarmament for SustainableDevelopment–whichwebelievehasamessageofhopeandchangethatisveryrelevanttothedifficulttimeswefindourselvesin.Globalmilitarybudgetscontinuetoriseatanalarmingrate(nowover$1300billionperyear),andtheneedsinfieldslikeclimatechangeandsustainabledevelopmentaregrowingevenfaster,soitisvitalthatcivilsocietyfindsnewandmoreeffectivewaystoraiseitsvoice.Wehaveendeavouredtoextendtherangeofourmessagetomanynewcountries,andnewconstituencies.OUTREACHWORK–people,places,networksCOPENHAGENSEMINARThis year’s big event is the seminar taking place in Copenhagen next weekNov 15-17 – linking some IPBhistory(centenaryoftheNobelPrizeawardedtoourfirstPresidentFredrikBajer)tocontemporarychallengessuch asmilitarism, development, human rights and terrorism. It is also the occasion for the annualCouncilmeetingandtheawardoftheMacBridePrize.OTHERCONFERENCESANDGATHERINGSIPBrepresentativeshavespokenontheDFDthemeonnumerousoccasions,including:Dar-es-Salaam–FinalsessionoftheHelsinkiProcessmeetings(Dec2007)(T.Magnusson)Paris–FrèresdesHommesassembly(C.Archer)Tokyo–severalIPBmembersparticipatedinthehugeconferenceheldinTokyotopromotetheGlobalArticle9 Campaign. This then gave rise to a programme of joint outreach work, together with our memberorganisationPeaceBoat.(C.Weiss.F.Durand...)Barcelona:SeptFundacioperlaPau25thanniversaryconference(C.Archer)Oslo:June6-8Eur.NetworkAgainstArmsTrade(C.Archer)

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Beijing:Asia-EuropePeople’sForum(AEPF)(T.Magnusson)Yaoundé,Cameroon:YouthPeaceWeek(message)–10Oct.Geneva:onceagainthisyeartheSGasspokentwicetogroupsofstudentsfromtheSchoolfor InternationalTrainingandsupportedthemwiththeirstudyprojects.HealsomadeapresentationtoagroupofinternationalrelationsstudentsfromExeterUniversity.Geneva:Women'sannualseminaronDisarmament(WILPF).IPBstaffparticipatedinthisyear’sseminar,whichfocusedinpartonmilitaryspending–andwasaddressedbyIPB’sUNRepresentative,CoraWeiss.UPCOMING Secretariat visits before the year end include:Dijon (60th anniversary of theMouvement de laPaix), London, Paris (advertising agencies), Brussels (NATO mtg), Gernika (Peace Museum), Oslo (ClusterMunitionsConventionsigning)SUPPORTFORMAJORNETWORKSAllduring theyear IPBhasgivensupportandpublicity tovarious internationalnetworksworkingonspecificweapon systems, notably: International Action Network on Small Arms, International Campaign to BanLandmines,ClusterMunitionsCampaign,InternationalCampaigntoBanUraniumWeapons,andtheEuropeanNetworkAgainstArmsTrade.GENEVADECLARATIONInourfield,oneoftheimportantdevelopmentsthisyearatthediplomaticlevelwastheconsolidationoftheinter-governmentalprocessknownastheGenevaDeclarationonArmedViolenceandDevelopment.Endorsedbymore than90 states, it commits themto supporting 'initiatives topreventand reducehuman, social andeconomiccostsofarmedviolence, toassess risksandvulnerabilities, toevaluate theeffectivenessofarmedviolencereductionprogrammes,andtodisseminateknowledgeofbestpractices'.TheDeclarationcallsuponstatestostrivetoachievedemonstrablereductionsintheglobalburdenofarmedviolenceandimprovementsinhumansecurityby2015.Even though it appears that thequestionof theeconomic resources invested inarmedviolenceandthemilitaryingeneralhasnotyetbeentackled,theissuesthataredealtwithwithinthisprocessareclosetoIPB’sconcernsandtheevolutionoftheprocessmeritscloseattention.A review summit of the Geneva Declarationwas hosted by the Government of Switzerland and the UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgrammeon12September2008.Some86statesandmorethan35NGOsattendedtheevent,includingIPB.NATOANNIVERSARYAmong the most important engines of growth in military spending is the NATO alliance. Not only does itencourage its member states to increase the proportion of their budgets to the military sector, but by itsactionsitstimulatesspendingamongitsopponents.ThisAugusttheworldsawthisdynamicinactionwiththeGeorgianattackontheS.Ossetiaenclave,theRussianinvasionofGeorgia,theagreementtoinstallUSmissiledefencesinPolandandCzechRepublic,andtheheightenedtensionbetweenthetwosidesreminiscentoftheworstdaysof theColdWar.ThedangerofanuclearwarbetweenNATOandRussia isa terrifyingprospect,whichisonceagainbreathinglifeintothenucleardisarmamentmovement(seebelow).IPBisthereforeactivelyengagedinpreparationsforactioninprotestatthecelebrationsofthe60thanniversaryof NATO, to be held in April 2009 in Strasbourg and Baden-Baden. A series of planning meetings andconferenceshavebeenheldatwhichIPBhasbeenrepresentedbythePresidentand/orBoardmembers:attheAfghanistanconference inHannover (June),at theEuropeanSocialForum inMalmö inSept,at theStuttgart

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follow upmeeting (oct.) and (UPCOMING) at the Dec 1stmeeting in Brussels, at theWorld Social Forum inBelem,BrazilinJanuary,andaninternationalactivityconference(Strasbourg,February14th/15th2009).OUTREACHWORK–toolsWEBSITEThanks to theefforts ofmany volunteers andmembers,wenowhave a lot of newmaterial at thewebsitewww.ipb.org, which focuses particularly on the Disarmament for Development programme. A new, moredynamicwebsiteisnowbeingactivelyplanned.IPBNEWSWe hope all members are receiving our twice-monthly electronic newsletter IPB NEWS,which features alltypesofnews,reports,publications,actionsandeventsonthemesrelatedtoIPB’swork.BOOKSOverthelast3yearsIPBSecretariathasdevotedlargeamountsoftimetowriting,publishing,translatinganddistributingtwomainvolumesthatsketchoutthebasisoftheDFDcampaign:WarfareorWelfare?andWhosePriorities?.ThefirstanalysestheproblemsinthebroadareaencompassedbyDFD,andthesecondofferssomesolutionsbywayoffocusingoncampaignstrategiesandgiving18shortaccountsofcampaignsagainstmilitaryspending and arms trade around the world.Warfare or Welfare? is now available in French and Germaneditions,andWhosePriorities?inGerman,aswellasEnglish.(seewebsite).SeebelowfordetailsofthenewIPBbookpublishedthisyearonthecostofnuclearweapons.CALLFORACTIONIPBhasrecentlylaunchedamajorworldwideCallforActiononmilitaryandsocialspending,entitledTimeforNewPriorities!WehopeallIPBmembergroupswillendorsethisCall,anddistributeitwidelywithintheirowncountriesandsectors.Wearehopefulthatitwillgraduallyattractsupportfromsectorsfarbeyondthepeacemovement itself. Given the topic, it is especially important to garner support from the development andenvironmentsectors,andthis isnowstartingtohappen.Thelistofendorsementsisgrowingrapidly,andwewillbeusingthistobuildamorecomprehensiveworldwidenetworkofgroupsinterestedinworkingtogethertomakeanimpactonthespendingissue.MEDIACAMPAIGNFollowingmeetingsandpresentationsatpreviousCouncilmeetings, thesecretariat isdeveloping furtherourin-depthworktocreateamediacampaignbasedonaphoto-exhibitionontheDforDtheme.This isbeingcarriedout inassociationwithAshleyWoods,oftheParis-basedRealExhibitionDevelopment.Theplan is tobuild a web-based gallery of high quality photographs taken by renowned photographers, combined withaudio, video, text, artwork and other material. This gallery will be advertised via a billboard-and-magazinecampaign,organizedwiththehelpofamajoradvertisingagencyandsponsoredbyprogressivecompanies.Theplanistolaunchthiseffortin2010.A50pppowerpointpresentationisnowclosetocompletion–thiswillbea useful tool for a variety of purposes, including demonstrating to PR agencies and funders the power andrelevanceofIPB’smessage.FOLLOWUPOFTHECONFERENCEBOOKSORBOMBS? -held at theBibliothecaAlexandrina, Egypt, inNov.2007–theconferencereportwaspublishedthisyearinEnglishandArabiceditions(availablefromSecretariatonrequest).Followingthesuccessofthatconference,theIPB’sPeaceEducationworkinggroupisdevelopingaplanforaTeachersworkshoptoexplorethepotentialoftheDFDissueforworkwitheducators.Wehopetobeabletocarryoutthisplaninmid-2009.

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BROCHURES: a number of brochures have been developed during the year, including French and EnglisheditionsoftheintroductoryIPBflyer,andanoutreachleafletdevisedjointlybyIPBandPeaceBoatonbehalfoftheArticle9campaign.Alsoavailable:IPBMembership,andIPBPublicationsCatalogue.RELEASEOFSIPRIMILITARYSPENDINGFIGURES. IPBonceagain issueda communiqué, commentingon theincreasinglevelofspendinghighlightedintheannualyearbookoftheStockholmInternationalPeaceResearchInstitute(June2008).NUCLEARDISARMAMENTIPB’s work to promote the elimination of nuclear weapons has deep roots in our post WW2 history. Wecontinuetofindwaystostimulate,supportandreportonactivitiesinthisfieldinmanypartsoftheworld:Non-ProliferationTreatyTheNPTiscomingupforreviewinspring2010.Thisyear’sPrepCommwasheldinGenevafromApril28-May9, and IPB was among the NGOs accredited to this event. Among IPB’s contributions to a very variedprogramme was an IPB-organised meeting held on the fringe of the conference on April 28 on the topic:Nuclearweapons atwhat price?An economic,moral and political assessment.Speakers included StephenSchwartz,authorofthecelebratedreferenceworkAtomicAudit,andSisterMarieDennis,Co-PresidentofPaxChristiInternational.ThemeetingalsoservedasthelaunchofapreliminaryversionofanewIPBbookNuclearWeapons: At What Cost? written by IPB Council member Ben Cramer. This event proved to be a usefulopportunitytolinktogetherourtwomainprogrammeareas.OthereventsinwhichtheSecretariatandotherswereinvolvedwere:TheWorldCourtProject(ofwhichIPBisafoundermember)heldaday-conferenceonMay1stattheWarwickHotelGeneva.ThepurposewastoexplorethepossibilitiesofareturntotheInternationalCourtofJusticeonthequestionofthelegalstatusofnuclearweapons–inparticulartheissueofwhetherstatesarenegotiating‘ingoodfaith’.AmongthedistinguishedspeakersatthisimportanteventwasJudgeBedjaoui(Algeria),formerPresidentoftheICJ,whogaveaninspiredpresentation.AnimportantexhibitionorganizedbyRealExhibitionDevelopment,entitledIn-Security:theNuclearDilemma,openedattheMuseumoftheRedCrossandRedCrescentinGeneva,inlateFeb.,andranonthroughtheNPTPrepComm period until the end of July. This presentation looks critically at both aspects of the nuclearindustry,militaryandcivil.Ithasattractedthousandsofvisitors,andhasbeenespeciallyappreciatedbyschoolgroups. It is now touring Europe, beginning at the Gernika PeaceMuseum in Spain. IPB has supported thisprojectfromtheearlydays,andtheSGspokeatthePressConferenceontheopeningday.BANg:BanAllNukesGenerationisaEuropeangroupofyoungpeople(basedinGermany)workingonnucleardisarmamentissues.Agroupofsome80-90studentsandotherscametoGenevafortheNPTPrepCommandorganised awhole series of activities there, including a vigil, lobbyingwork and aModel NuclearWeaponsConventionnegotiation,heldattheInternationalSchool.IPBassistedwithlogisticsandotherformsofsupport.UPCOMING:IPBalsoplanstotakepartasusualinthenextPrepComm,duetotakeplaceinspring2009inNewYork.PlanningisalreadyunderwayamongtheAbolition2000networkforamajorpublicactionatthetimeoftheNPTReviewin2010.GlobalSummitforaNuclearWeapon-FreeWorld:layingthepractical,technicalandpoliticalgroundwork.OnFeb.16-17,2008,many IPBmembersparticipated intheconferenceheldatCityHall inLondon,tomarkthe50thanniversaryofthefoundingoftheCampaignforNuclearDisarmament.

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GenevaseminarandroundtableontheNuclearWeaponsConventionIPB secretariat has given assistance in recent months to Alyn Ware (IPB Vice-President) in organising animportantseminarandroundtableforgovernmentsandexperts,toexplorestepstobetakenatthenationalandinternationalleveltomovemorerapidlytowardsthecompleteeliminationofnuclearweaponsusingtheframeworkofaNuclearWeaponsConvention.ThismeetingwasheldinGeneva13Sept.FootprintsforPeace-AntinuclearwalkersInlateJulyIPBstafftookpartinwelcomingagroupofanti-nuclearwalkerswhohadsetoffmanyweeksearlierfrom London and had held meetings and actions all along the way. IPB teamed up with local activists toorganiseawelcomeprogrammeincludingstreettheatre,socialevening,mediacoverageandavisittotheUSandotherdisarmamentdelegations,andtotheHeadofDisarmamentAffairsattheUN.WorldConferenceagainstA&Hbombs,Japan-Aug6-9IPBwas represented this year at the annual Hiroshima-Nagasaki commemorations by our former PresidentBruceKent.Thehighlightofthislargeeventdrawingtogethermanythousandsofactivistswasthelaunchofamajor signature drive promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons, to be submitted at the 2010 NPTconference.YouthsummerschoolonnucleardisarmamentTwoIPBspeakersmadepresentationsatthesummerschoolonnucleardisarmamentorganisedbytheWorldFederationofUNAssociations(president:HansBlix),heldatthePalaisdesNationsinAugust.Thisprogrammewasdesignedasaprizeforthewinnersofaninternationalyouthessay/posterdesigncontest.SeanMacBridePeacePrizeThisyear’sprizewasawardedtoJackieCabasso,DirectoroftheWesternStatesLegalFoundation,California,forherworkinexposingnewdevelopmentswithintheUSnuclearweaponscomplex,andherroleinpromotingtheglobalabolitionmovement.NobelPeacePrizenominationThisyearIPBnominatedMayorsforPeacefortheNobelPrize.Middle Powers Initiative (MPI), Global Secuiruty Institute (GSI), Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-ProliferationandDisarmament(PNNDIPBhascloselinkswiththesethreeclosely-connectedgroupings.IPBisamemberofMPI,andGSIisamemberof IPB. Alyn Ware, the Coordinator of PNND, is IPB Vice-President. IPB gives political, logistical andinformationalsupporttoallthreeorganisations.NGOCommitteeforDisarmamentThisCommitteeofCONGO(conf.ofNGOsinconsultativestatuswithECOSOC)bringstogetherNGOsworkingaroundtheUNondisarmament.TheCommitteenowadays focusesmainlyonnuclear issues. IPBactsas theGenevaCommittee’ssecretariat.TheCommitteeassistedWILPFandotherswiththepreparationsfortheNPTPrepComm.AmeetingoftheCommitteewasheldonMarch5,followingtheWomen’sDayseminar,atwhichinformationwassharedaboutactivitiesinvariousnetworks.UPCOMING:TheCommitteewillgatheronceagainonDec5,combiningdiscussionoffutureplanswithparticipationintheunveilingofamemorialtoEleanorRooseveltinfront of the UN building in Geneva on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the UniversalDeclarationofHumanRights.

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PEACEHISTORYAmongIPB’smoregeneralrolesisthepromotionofPeaceHistory,includingsomesupportforthenetworkofPeaceMuseums,aswellasforindividualhistorians,archivists,educatorsandresearchers.Oslo-NobelCentenaryThecentenaryofIPB’sownNobelPeacePrizewilltakeplaceinOsloin2010andourNorwegiancolleaguesarebusydevelopinganexcitingprogramme.PreparationswereadvancedthisyearthankspartlytothreevisitstoNorwaybytheSG:

• Oslo–S.Asiaconference,April• Oslo–EuropeanNetworkAgainstArmstrademeeting,June• Stavanger–PointofPeacesummit,10-12Sept.

ItwaspossibletocombinethesevisitswithatourofthenewNobelCentre(wherewehopetheIPBexhibitwillbedisplayed);meetingswithmemberorganisations,DFDpartnersandofficers;andopportunitiestomeetwiththeForeignAffairsministry,NobellaureatesandofficialsoftheNobelCommittee.London-2ndPeaceHistoryconference,March28-29Thiswasco-organised(asin2006)bytheMovementfortheAbolitionofWar,incollaborationwithIPB.ManyIPBmembersattendedthissuccessfulevent,whichwasonceagainheldintheImperialWarMuseum.UPCOMING:A3rdconferenceisplannedforspring2009.One encouraging outcome was the co-publication in booklet form of a paper presented at the 2006conference,outliningthelifestoryofthegreatMuslimexponentofnonviolence,AbdulGaffarKhan.UPCOMING:Paris-HistorycolloquiumAn example of our historical work is the contact made this year with the French historian, Paul-HenriBourrelier,whichhasledtoIPBbeinginvitedtospeakataconferenceintheSenateinParison29January2009onLes combats républicains de la Revue Blanche,amongwhomfigurestheIPBpioneerGastonMoch.ArchivesThe SG is grateful for the assistance provided on a voluntary basis over the last fewmonths by a trainedarchivistfromtheUnivofBr.Columbia,AdamCowling,whohasembarkedonthetaskofestablishingasimplecatalogue/findingaidforthearchivesheldattheRuedeZurich(1945-).Wehopetomakethisavailableonlinenextyear.GENERALNOBELSUMMITSStavangerIPBhasparticipatedinalltheNobelPeaceLaureatessummitssincetheywereestablishedin2000byMikhailGorbachev and the City of Rome. The event in Norway this year was an additional event to the normalprogramme.Whileonlyahandfuloflaureatesattended,theprogrammewasenrichedbyalargecollectionofexperts frommanyfields,andallmannerofculturalactivities.Aspecialhighlightwasthe launchof thenewweb-basedTVprojectPeaceChannel.tv,ledbyBobGeldof.The summitwas organised byPoint of Peace as part of Stavanger’s programme as 2008 European CulturalCapital.IPBrepresentativesspoke,chairedmeetings,andcontributedinotherways.Inaddition,theIPBBoardwasabletomeetinStavangerthefollowingdays.UPCOMINGNobelPeaceLaureatessummit–Paris,December.

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OTHERNETWORKSInadditiontoitsparticipationininternationalcampaignsonavarietyofissues,IPBisamemberof,andactiveparticipantinthefollowingmoregeneralumbrellaorganisations:

• Ubuntu–WorldForumofCivilSocietyNetworks• ConferenceofNGOsinConsultativeStatuswithECOSOC(CONGO)• FederationofInternationalInstitutionsinGeneva(FIIG)

MEDIACOVERAGE:AmongthehighlightsthisyearweretwoTVappearances:CNN-Japan-interviewwithSGTSR/TV5Géopolitis–SGwasspecialguestfora30mineditiononBurmaPLANSFOR2009(SeeCalendar)TheprincipalchallengeforIPBinthecomingyearwillbetoexpandtherangeofsupportingcommunitiesfortheDFDcampaignandtodeepenitsimpactintermsofpressureondecisionmakers.Weplantodothisby:

§ buildingsubstantiallythelistofendorsingorganisations,andworkingwiththemtocreateaviableandvibrantglobalnetwork;

§ engaging in dialogue with a) development and environment organisations, b) governments andtheirrepresentatives,bothincapitalsandinUNcentres,andc)expertsandinternationalagenciesofvarioustypes;

§ encouragingandsustainingeffortsatnationalleveltocreatecoalitionsandlobbyingprogrammes,esp.onthespendingissues;

§ deepeningourworkonthemediacampaign/photo-gallery,andoneducationaleffortssupportingtheDFDmessage–esp.inthelightoftheupcomingIPBjubileein2010;

§ reaching out specifically to members and partners in developing countries and helping themestablishprogrammeswithintheframeofDFD.

Secondly,weneedtoexploresystematicallywhatarethebestrolesforIPBtoplayinthenucleardisarmamentfield–esp.inthelightoftheupcomingNPTconferenceandotheractivitiesin2010(eglaunchoftheproposedDecadeforDisarmament).Inaddition,IPBwillendeavourtomakestrongandpositivecontributionstojointandcollectiveprojectssuchastheNATOanniversary,Nobelsummits,UbuntuForum,CONGOetc.InordertobolsterIPB’spoliticalandadministrativecapacity,itisvitaltobuildonthegainsmadethisyearinthefunding fieldtomovetheorganisationtoahigher levelofperformance.Thiswill requiresome intensiveworkthroughouttheyearbythewholeIPBteamaswellastheSecretariat.FUNDINGWearemostgratefulforfundingsupportfrom:

• CatalanAgencyforDevelopmentCooperation• NorwegianMinistryofForeignAffairs• RisshoKoseiKai,Japan• FergusonTrust,UK• DowellTrust,UK• TidesFoundation,USA

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plus:IPBmembers,organisations(fees)IPBmembers,individuals(fees)IndividualdonorsSpecialthankstoDonaldandNicoleKingforagenerouscontribution.Fundraisingeffortscontinuethroughouttheyear.Wehaveanumberofapplicationspending.Allsuggestions,contactsordonationsofanysizearemostwelcome.IPB’sAccountsareavailableasaseparatedocument.STAFFSecretary-General:ColinArcherVolunteers,interns,localconsultants:BruceAbramsonYounisAhmedGiovanniChiericoAdamCowlingBinodDunghanaFredericDurandSamuelFluckigerAlanLeatherKennethMostadMinhNguyenLuciePanebiancoJacobRomerSorinaSerboteiSaraShaweshHorstStasiusChantalStellSilviSterrRenzoVolpatoLeeWeingartenNicolaWinterAuditors:DavidAtwood,PeterHerbyComputerServices:TarkusSADesignwork:ParfabSAPrinting:ImprimerieMinuteSA