News
First-ever War Abolisher Award Ceremony: October 6
Please join us on October 6 for the presentation and acceptance of the first annual War Abolisher Awards, awarded by World BEYOND War, a global nonviolent movement, founded in 2014, to end war and establish a just and sustainable peace.
Three awards will be presented:
The Lifetime Organizational War Abolisher of 2021: Peace Boat
The David Hartsough Lifetime Individual War Abolisher of 2021: Mel Duncan
The War Abolisher of 2021: Civic Initiative Save Sinjajevina
Peace Boat is honored to have been selected among hundreds of nominees, and to have our nearly four-decade-long work for disarmament, regional solidarity, and peace building recognized in this way. Read World BEYOND War’s official press release here.
It is likewise an honor to receive this award alongside such inspiring ‘War Abolishers’ as Mel Duncan and Civic Initiative Save Sinjajevina!
Unarmed Civilian Protection
Mel Duncan, the recipient of the David Hartsough Lifetime Individual War Abolisher of 2021 Award, is a co-founder and Founding Director for Nonviolent Peaceforce, a world leader in Unarmed Civilian Protection (UCP).
While the award is for Mel Duncan, it is in recognition of the work of many people around the world involved in Nonviolent Peaceforce. Providing an alternative to war and to armed peacekeeping, Nonviolent Peaceforce builds teams of trained, unarmed, civilian protectors, at least half being from the host country, who work with local groups on violence deterrence. They create space for negotiations between warring parties. They help prevent violence during elections, including the 2020 U.S. elections. They also create a link between local peace workers and the international community, and educate governments and institutions on the need to greatly scale-up the same nonviolent approach.
Joining Mel Duncan for the event on October 6 will be Ms. Rosemary Kabaki, Nonviolent Peaceforce’s Head of Mission for Myanmar.
Opposing military bases
Civic Initiative Save Sinjajevina, the recipient of the War Abolisher of 2021 Award, is a popular movement in Montenegro that has prevented the implementation of a planned NATO military training ground on the grasslands of Sinjajevina Mountain, a unique landscape of great natural and cultural value, part of the Tara River Canyon Biosphere Reserve and surrounded by two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The area is used by more than 250 families of farmers and nearly 2,000 people, while many of its pastures are used and managed communally by eight different Montenegrin tribes. Opposing military bases is absolutely crucial to abolishing war. Opposing the establishment of the NATO base in Sinjajevina, however, not only blocks military expansion, but also protects a natural environment, a culture, and a way of life.
Several representatives of the Save Sinjajevina Movement will take part in the award event.
Ceremony Details
Date and Time: Oct 6 at 5am Pacific / 8am EST / 2pm CET / 9pm JST
Content: Presentations of three awards and awardees, musical performance by Grammy Nominated Canadian flutist Ron Korb, and breakout rooms for participants to meet award recipients.
Click here for more information.
Participation: Participation is free, and Japanese interpretation will be available.
Registration: Register here for Zoom link: https://actionnetwork.org/events/first-annual-war-abolisher-awards
Peace Boat staff celebrate the announcement of the award!