Newsletter #31 |
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Newsletter #31 |
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#31 An Ending-War Plan, Drones, Belfast (July 2013)![]() How Do We End War? An Action Plan
AFWW founder Judith Hand attended the recent conference in Belfast, Northern Ireland organized by the Nobel Women's Initiative, the theme of which was "Moving Beyond Militarism and War: Women-driven Solutions for a Nonviolent World." (see the block below). She took with her the skeleton of an action plan for organizing and energizing a directed-action movement that has the potential to bring an end to war in two generations or less. In a new blog post she writes: "For over ten years I've studied war. And I've concluded from my perspective as an evolutionary biologist that if we want it bad enough and make the choice to act, we can end war. And a fascinating pattern emerges when I speak with long-time, dedicated peace activists, people who have spent years struggling to end war. In one way or another they ask me the same question. Not, can we end war? They believe we can and have been trying mightily to do it. The question they ask is, how?" You can read Dr. Hand's article on this topic, which in addition to How? includes a brief explanation of Why? Why can humanity achieve a goal at this time in history that no other people before us have been able to achieve? In addition, a page that links to the skeleton of the action plan she took to Belfast can be found on the AFWW website. ![]() Belfast, 2013, Nobel Women and Ending War
In late May 2013 the Nobel Women's Initiative, a project of six of the living women Nobel Peace Prize winners, hosted a conference in Belfast Northern Ireland entitled "Women Beyond War." The theme was "Moving Beyond Militarism and War: Women-driven Solutions for a Nonviolent World." ![]() Over 100 grassroots activists, scholars, and philanthropists from around the globe attended the invitation-only conference to share ideas and network. A Future Without War's founder, Judith Hand, was a participant and shared her Action Plan for a global, direct-action movement to end war. In the photo below she is center-right, dressed in white. Videos from the conference plenary talks and workshops can be found on the NWI website. The NWI blog provides a full list of content including photos, video, tweet manuscripts, Laureate blogs, media coverage and more.
![]() Drones - Friend or Foe?
What are drones? Why are so many people gravely concerned about the rapid acceleration of the use of drones? This technology-which allows us to build aerial, unmanned flying machines-has enormous power. Power to rob individuals of their privacy, and power to create havoc with global security that affects us all. In early April 2013 several dozen organizations deeply concerned with the public's alarming ignorance of the growing use of drones and the threats they pose organized four days of "drone awareness" in San Diego, California. The video created by AFWW, Drones-Friend or Foe?
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Quotable Quote
"Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose." Helen Keller A Good Book War Is a Racket - Marine Major General Smedley Butler. An insiders view of war as a business machine, which since it does so much harm should by any sane standards be considered a criminal enterprise. A Good Movie Lord of War. Starring Nicholas Cage. Arms dealer confronts the immorality of war and the machine that supports it. A Future Without War Believe in it. Envision it. Work for it. And we will achieve it. QuickLinks These three quick links are to Dr. Hand's core articles on paradigm shift: To Abolish War Shaping the Future Paradigm Shift: Swift and Enduring More Links: How Long Ending War Would Take Why Women Are the Key to Security The Nine Cornerstones AFWW Newsletter Archives |