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The Alliance for Peacebuilding (AfP) is a coalition of diverse organizations working together to build sustainable peace and security worldwide. Members of AfP are directly engaged in applied conflict prevention and resolution. They provide negotiation and mediation services, train negotiators, facilitate communication to break down barriers, and help find solutions to the issues and pressures that otherwise drive groups and nations to achieve their objectives through violent force. Members also conduct research and provide evaluation and education. The role of AfP is to bring these organizations together for collaborative peacebuilding. More »
What's New?
The Global Peace Index (GPI) , a strategic partner of AfP, will release the second annual edition of the GPI on May 20, 2008 with events in London and Washington, DC. The Global Peace Index, which was developed in conjuction with the Economist Intelligence Unit, is the first study to rank nations by their peacefulness and identify the key drivers of peace. The 2007 Index was very favorably received around the world and it received media coverage in over 100 countries. For information about attending the Washington, DC release event, please email Zoë Cooprider. For more information about the Global Peace Index, click here.
AfP has recently updated our member profiles and have released a new executive report that profiles our programs, projects, and activities. Please click here to access the report and here to access our financial report for 2006.
AfP recently added a multimedia page to showcase video and audio clips from our meetings and presentations, along with links to articles and our members' appearances in the media. Click here to view an excerpt from an eloquent speech by Ela Gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi's granddaughter and former member of Parliament in South Africa. We will be adding more links shortly.
Article IX, Japan
A global conference is underway this week in Tokyo in support of Japan’s constitution, Article 9, which renounces war as a means of settling international disputes. No one from AfP was able to travel to Tokyo for the conference, but we joined an international campaign to commend Japan for creating and sustaining Article 9. We also encouraged them to resist mounting pressure to abandon or alter it. Peacebuilding organizations all over the world have visited their local Japanese embassies to convey a similar message.
On Friday, May 2, Zoë Cooprider, Melanie Greenberg, and Chic Dambach met with Yudai Ueno, First Secretary, Management and Coordination Section of the Japanese Embassy. Mr. Ueno seemed genuinely pleased to see them, and to hear their expression of appreciation of and support for Article 9. He discussed the nature of the dialogue that is under way regarding Article 9, noting that some younger people feel Japan should be more engaged in UN Peacekeeping missions and other engagements, but he implied that no one really wants Japan to become engaged in warfare. He added that older people remain committed to Article 9 as it is, and that it is not clear how it will be resolved.
They discussed the Global Peace Index and the fact that Japan ranks 5th. He had not been aware of the Index, and he seemed to be very pleased and proud of their high ranking. We invited him to the May 20 launch of the 2008 Index.
We will keep you informed of developments on Article 9 and on the GPI.
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FEATURED PEACEBUILDER |
Macaria Barai is a peacebuilder.
Ms. Barai is the Coordinator of a group called “Citizens for Goodwill” which promotes democratic solutions in Guinea-Bissau. more»
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