On March 15th we celebrated the "2nd Humanist Forum of the New Generations in Central America” in San Pedro Sula (Honduras).

2008 - 15 March

World Actions in Memory of the Start of the Iraq War.

In many places around the world people gathered to in memory of the beginning of the war in Iraq. World Without Wars participated actively in all of them.

2008 - 11 March

Cambridge, USA - Meeting with Noam Chomsky

Professor Chomsky is really a very warm and charming man who showed great interest in what we said.

Together with Jan Tamas and others we met with Professor Chomsky in Cambridge for almost 40 minutes.

Jan and our video team, organized by Marco, have done an excellent job.

The meeting was very warm and with a lot of connection. We recorded three declarations on video for the European Forum, No to the Bases and other projects.

The door is open to continue this relationship and we have good reason to stay in touch.

2008 - 8 March

Barcelona, Spain. Workshop on Active Nonviolence

Reflection and intensive practice of the Methodology of Active Nonviolence in situations of conflict as a tool for a personal and social transformation, to build a world without violence of any kind.

2008 – 5 March

Press statement from World Without Wars International
 

Latin America should not follow the path of conflict that the USA is pursuing.

In light of the Colombian army’s recent incursion into Ecuador, it would be a big mistake and would mean a huge step backward for the region to again enter into armed conflict between countries.

We have to see this military intervention not only as an isolated fact, because it enters into the strategy of destabilization of this zone, provoked by the North-American Bush government, by the multinationals, and by all those who are interested in a divided, fragmented and weak Latin America. Their purpose is to proceed with their plans to negotiate with corrupt governments and exploit resources, impose their unilateral rules of the game, and obstruct the process of democracy in the region.

After the “success” in Iraq and Afghanistan in which the arms and security enterprises, the paramilitary and the oil companies have secured the greatest gains in their history, Bush now wants to end his mandate by starting new conflicts in Latin America to keep his “businesses” alive.

If the countries in Latin America continue following the path of peace, of cooperation, of a peaceful way to solve the conflicts, of integrating energy and the economy, of eliminating borders for individuals, etc. then the region will quickly progress along the path of integration. And this will mean that it will become a zone of power and increasing importance not only in America but worldwide.

Therefore this is a very delicate moment in which the “nonviolent” forces must come together and raise their voices as the only real way out for the region.

It is the revolutionary proposal of Evo Morales, who recently celebrated his first anniversary in office, to include in the new Constitution the rejection of war as a way of resolving conflicts. This policy can open a new future for the whole area, and is a decision that should be taken by all its countries in the region.

This would further the advance of Latin American integration sustained by processes like those led by Evo Morales, Hugo Chavez, Rafael Correa and Daniel Ortega. Along these same lines we believe that the FARC must abandon its plan of armed insurgency, liberate all hostages and enter the path of pacification and support for the process of Latin American integration.

A dynamic of war would mean using scarce resources to reinforce military and arms budgets. We believe it is much better for these sums currently being spent on the industry of death to be directed toward a better quality of life for Latin Americans, investing in programs for health, education, improved living and working conditions, and in eradicating hunger and poverty in the region. This is what is urgent and truly important for Latin America.

We support the words of Tomas Hirsch, Humanist spokesperson for Latin America: “We need peace for economic transformation, for the recovery of natural resources and for the restoration of the people’s political rights.”

From “World Without Wars” we invite all politicians, associations, social movements and individuals who support the proposals of Peace in this critical moment, using the methodology of Nonviolence as the only way out of conflict.

Rafael de la Rubia