Local democracy in action for a greener, more peaceful world

Communities for Peace & Peace Dividend

Presenter(s): 
Jackie Cabasso
Frank Cownie
Wilson Riles
Marsha Rummel
Date & Time: 
November 7, 2009 - 4:30pm
Location: 
Doty Room, Inn on the Park

When the Cold War ended 20 years ago, the anticipated “peace dividend” failed to materialize. Instead the U.S. government consolidated its overwhelming military superiority and invested billions of dollars in modernizing its nuclear weapons facilities. Today, as American cities face the greatest economic challenge since the Great Depression, the United States is spending as much on its military as the rest of the world’s countries combined. What can local communities do to change national security doctrines based on militarism in order to redirect resources to meet human needs and protect the environment? One such initiative is being led by Mayors for Peace, a rapidly growing international network of cities founded in 1982 to promote local-government solidarity against war and the nuclear threat.

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CONVENERS

Convened by Liberty Tree, Lawyers Committee on Nuclear Policy, Western States Legal Foundation, Global Action to Prevent War, and Mayors for Peace in cooperation with Cities for Progress, Nukewatch, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Wisconsin Carbon Free/Nuclear Free, Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.

For a full list of conveners, organizers, and community, industry, major, and media sponsors, please click here

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BACKGROUND

Cities are assuming an active role in nuclear abolition and climate protection initiatives. Over 900 mayors have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to work to implement the Kyoto Protocol in their own communities.

Future Cities 2009 follows on a similar, smaller conference hosted by Des Moines Mayor Frank Cownie last October. For the details on that event, click here.