World Beyond War (distinct from Beyond War) is an anti-war organization with chapters and affiliates in about two dozen countries. The organization bills itself as "a global nonviolent movement to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace." It is opposed to the very institution of war and not just individual wars. World Beyond War pursues the abolition of war through regional organizing along with global campaigns to close military bases and divest from corporations that profit from.

World Beyond War's original logo

The organization was founded in January 2014 by David Swanson, Leah Bolger and David Hartsough. The global organization is headquartered in Chartlottesville, Virginia. World Beyond War is a grassroots organization funded by small donors. The nonprofit organization is a fiscal affiliate of Alliance.

Activities

edit
 
A World Beyond War billboard

World Beyond War has gotten coverage by Scientific American,[1] Truthdig,[2] Common Dreams,[3].

In 2020, Milwaukee congresswoman Gwen Moore referred to US military budget as a "feeding frenzy" at an event featuring World Beyond War's billboard in Milwaukee, which read "3% of US military spending could end starvation on earth." This was covered in Urban Milwaukee.[4]

World Beyond War initiated a letter-writing campaign for the cancellation of Canada's annual weapons expo, CANSEC, which was scheduled to take place in Ottawa, Canada in May, 2020.[5]

World Beyond War alternates global organizing activity with regional events, such as an April 2020 webinar on military bases in Guam.[6]

World Beyond War has gotten coverage for its campaigns in Democracy Now,[7] Canadian Broadcasting Corporation,[8] The New Zealand Herald,[9] TV New Zealand,[10] and Arkansas Online.[11]

Controversy

edit

In June 2019, World Beyond War "was refused permission to place advertisements featuring the slogan 'US troops out of Shannon' on billboards in Limerick during Donald Trump's visit to Ireland."[12] These billboards would have supplemented World Beyond War's three-day annual #NoWar2019 conference in Limerick, Ireland, which focused on calls by Irish activists and leaders to end the use of Shannon Airport as a military base for foreign aircraft.[13]

References

edit
  1. ^ Horgan, John. "War Is Our Most Urgent Problem--Let's Solve It". Scientific American Blog Network.
  2. ^ "Is MSNBC Now the Most Dangerous Warmonger Network?". Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists. 2 March 2018.
  3. ^ "In Open Letter, Scholars and Activists Call on Bernie Sanders to Embrace Foreign Policy That Rejects US Militarism, Bloated Pentagon Budget". Common Dreams.
  4. ^ Christofferson, Bill. "Op Ed: Milwaukee Pays High Price for War". Urban Milwaukee.
  5. ^ "WAIT 'TIL NEXT YEAR: CANSEC 2020 equipment show cancelled over COVID-19". ottawasun.
  6. ^ Sablan, Jerick (April 30, 2020). "World BEYOND War hosts webinar on military impact on Guam". guampdn.com.
  7. ^ "As Yemenis Protest U.S. Blacklisting of Houthis, Canadians Act to Halt Saudi Arms Sales". Democracy Now!.
  8. ^ "Protesters block trucks at Hamilton company, want Canada to stop selling arms used in Yemen"
  9. ^ "Hawke's Bay peace group marks 75th anniversary of Hiroshima". NZ Herald. 8 June 2023.
  10. ^ "Peace group says Government should have bought Air NZ planes instead of $1.5b Hercules". 1 News.
  11. ^ "Arkansans rally against war with Iran". Arkansas Online. January 5, 2020.
  12. ^ McCarthy, Justine (8 June 2023). "World Beyond War campaign against troops at Shannon 'blocked' during Trump visit" – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  13. ^ "Anti-War conference in Limerick followed by peace march in Shannon". www.limerickleader.ie.
edit