Europe

Famine can be defeated using only 10% of what is currently spent on arms. This is the demand that volunteers from the international humanist organisation “World Without Wars and without Violence” put to the Presidents of the world, meeting this morning in Rome at the Summit proposed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

World leaders convened at FAO Headquarters for the World Summit on Food Security today unanimously adopted a declaration pledging renewed commitment to eradicate hunger from the face of the earth sustainably and at the earliest date.
The Summit declaration vows better governance, increased investment and proactive climate change strategy.

Almost 1,000 square metres of fabric sewn together by the young people of GPace formed the biggest peace flag in the world. The multicoloured cloth was laid out on Saturday November 14 on Lecce’s beautiful Piazza Duomo. The event was part of the ‘More Fun No More War’ campaign which condemns the terrible reality of child soldiers.

Just like the World March, the cinematic series “Nonviolence goes to the movies” continues its journey. Each film takes the viewer away, leads them to discover new locations, people, countries, cultures, but also takes them on a journey to discover their own feelings and challenges them to figure out their purpose….

IDN-InDepthNews Service – Desperate for “the lack of concrete action on hunger despite all the promises made”, the United Nations has called for a world hunger strike on Nov. 14-15. The call has been launched in Rome by Jacques Diouf, director general of the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), on the eve of the Nov 16-18 World Summit on Food Security in Rome.

Various events marked the Base Team’s first day in Madrid upon their arrival from Barcelona, including a meeting with the press, an honorary ceremony at the monument for the 11th of March victims, and a demonstration full of color and rhythm along main avenues. Thousands of people and diverse groups marched for peace and non-violence.

The Hiroshima Flame promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons was successfully carried from Paris to Perpignan form 6th to 12th of November. It will continue its journey to New York where it will arrive in May 2010 where there will be a huge manifestation for the abolition of nuclear weapons and where the 8th Review Conference for the Non-Proliferation Treaty will be held.

Humanist activists change the names of several streets in Malaga from those of military figures from the Spanish civil war. The names chosen for temporary “substitution” have been key non-violence figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Aung San Suu Kyi or the generic “Non-violence Avenue”. This action is part of the introductory discourse from the arrival of the World March in Malaga.

I had the honor to participate in the X Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Berlin 10-11 November. The Summit, entitled “Breaking down new walls and building bridges to ensure a World of Human Rights and a World without violence” brought together Nobel laureates who have made a significant contribution in breaking down the walls of conflict, poverty and human rights violations.

International music legend Annie Lennox will be presented with the Woman of Peace Award by former Soviet President and 1990 Nobel Peace Laureate Mikhail Gorbachev at the 10th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates meeting in Berlin Nov.10 and 11. Lennox was chosen by 22 Nobel Peace Laureates for her work in raising awareness of the HIV/AIDS impact on women and children.