TOWARDS A WORLD WITHOUT VIOLENCE
Come to Barcelona
from June 23-27, 2004
to participate in a major international conference
organised by the
International Peace Bureau and Fundacio per la Pau

For information and to register:
http://www.peacedialogue2004.org
http://www.ipb.org

May 11, 2004
Four days ago the "Forum 2004" -- a gigantic 5-month festival of culture, politics and civil society movements -- opened with grandiose ceremony in Barcelona. Once again, Barcelona displays its avant-garde tradition, its colour and style, inviting the world to participate in a programme of unparallelled proportions (see: http://www.barcelona2004.org).
The main peace event during the "Forum 2004" is jointly organised by IPB, its local affiliate Fundacio per la Pau and the Barcelona Forum 2004. Entitled "Towards a World without Violence", the gathering is called a 'dialogue' or interactive conference. This is a meeting-place for all people, organisations and movements working for a peaceful world. It takes place in only six weeks time (23-27 June), so if you wish to come, it is time to register and book transport and lodging now.
Please find some basic information below -- or have a look at
http://www.peacedialogue2004.org/. A detailed draft programme is contained in the second attachment ("Draft short program").

Colin Archer
IPB Secretary-General

Basic information:

Towards a World without violence - A dialogue for people who want peace
"Towards a World without Violence" will cover a wide range of problematic issues, including Iraq, terrorism, Israel-Palestine, Africa, Basque country, military spending - and the remedies: peace education/culture, conflict resolution, disarmament, nuclear abolition, empowerment of women..... through panels, lectures, discussions, films, games and theatre. You will have one problem - to choose between all the offerings.

Among the speakers are: Cora Weiss (IPB President and Hague Appeal for Peace), Federico Mayor (former Director-General, UNESCO), Vandana Shiva (Indian writer and critic of globalisation), Jayantha Dhanapala (former UN Under Secretary-General for Disarmament), Maj-Britt Theorin (Member of European Parliament), Vincent Makanju (Peace Education Center, Nigeria), Hanaa Edwar (Al-Amal organisation, Iraq), Alexander Likhotal (Green Cross International), Michael Renner (Worldwatch Institute), Rosalie Bertell (Sean MacBride Peace Prize laureate 2001), Nineth Montenegro (Grupo de Apoyo Mutuo, Guatemala), Rebecca Peters (Director, Intl Action Network on Small Arms), Tadahashi Akiba Mayor of Hiroshima), Nava Sonnenschein (Neve Shalom-Wahat-el-Salaam, Israel-Palestine).

More than 100 sessions and 200 presenters during 5 days!
Through seminars, round tables, workshops, film and theatre presentations,
Fundació per la Pau and IPB have created a stimulating arena in which to discuss and share ideas about these vital issues. Each day will focus on one of the 5 key themes and through more than 25 different activities per day, we will examine and debate underlying and related issues, and how we can make a difference!

Five key themes:
Wednesday 23 June
1. The prevention and nonviolent resolution of armed conflicts
Moving from an analysis of the causes and contexts to an
exploration of nonviolent approaches to conflict transformation. The
experience of those pursuing peace in violent situaions will play a
central role in this process.

Thursday 24
2. The economy and preparation for war
Wars don't just happen: there are a series of factors that favour
military conflict (including the arms trade and the influence of
military industry). Peace avocates must be aware of these
factors and know how to analyse and respond to them.

Friday 25
3. Disarmament
Small arms, weapons of mass destruction, antipersonnel mines... All
perpetuate the same insecurity. An ambitious agenda needs to be
developed to monitor, reduce and eliminate these threats.

Saturday 26
4. Educating and mobilising for a culture of peace
All institutions involved in generating values (including schools,
non-formal education and the media) have a crucial role to play
in overcoming the culture of violence and establishing a peace culture.

Sunday 27
5. The concept of human security
Which concept of security is defined by which set of priorities? How
do such choices contribute to shaping our world? Moving from military
defence towards human security. Bringing together all the themes of
the dialogue in a multi-facetted approach.