2020 Vision Campaign Progress Report 2009 published in English, French and Spanish

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A n n u a l Re p o r t 20 0 8 Annual Report 2008 P l a n s f o r 20 0 9 r e v i e w o f 20 07 p l a n s f o r 20 0 8 Progress Report 2009 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign www.2020visioncampaign.org Credit: Pierre Maréchal, MfP 2020 VC pres, November 10, 2008 - The City of Ypres welcomed the General Meeting and the Board of Directors of Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Association in the City Council meeting room in City Hall. The Ypres City Hall had to be reconstructed after the total devastation of the city during the First World War. Y CReditS Editors Aaron Tovish, Juliana Santos & Pol DHuy vet ter Photo editing Filip Verhulst Contributions Aaron Tovish, Filip Deheegher, Jackie Cabasso, Jean Pierre Vanhove, Jennie Corbet t, Juliana Santos, Mar tial Vermès, Myriam Louisa Chaabnia, Pierre Maréchal, Pol DHuy vet ter & Steve Leeper Credit: Pol DHuyvetter, MfP 2020 VC ContentS Special Thank s Assisted to gather information about national developments: Australia: Jessica Morrison, Tim Wright Austria: Aaron Tovish & Matthias Reichl Belgium: Filip Deheegher Canada: Debbie Grisdale Croatia: Jasminka Bajlo Czech Republic: Jan Tamáš Denmark: Caecilie Buhmann, John Avery & Niels Dahm France: Alexia Berny Germany: Bernd Grimpe, Wolfgang Schlupp-Hauck & Xanthe Hall Hungary: Lorenzo Molinari Ireland: Jennie Corbett Italy: Lisa Clark Iran: Shahriar Khateri Israel: Sharon Dolev Luxembourg: Claude Simon Netherlands: Dion van den Berg New Zealand: Alyn Ware & Kate Dewes Peace Boat: Sumiko Hatakeyama Portugal: Juliana Santos Russia: Elena Vasilevskaya Spain: Jaira Valenzuela Toledo Switzerland: Laurence Wiedmer UK: Peter Burt & Sean Morris US: Jacqueline Cabasso Venezuela: Akira Kawasaki Japan: Mihoko Sakamoto Preface Histor y Struc ture International Campaign Membership Development Ac tivities Africa Asia Europe Latin America Nor th America Oceania Financial Statements Fundraising Visibilit y Thank s and Acknowledgements 3 4 5 7 10 11 11 11 13 21 24 26 28 29 30 32 Cover Belem, Brazil, Januar y 2009 - “Another World is Possible”, here the opening march which gathered 70,000 people. Mayors for Peace par ticipated in World Social Forum and Forum of Local Authorities Graphic design Rein Mey ts w w w.hetMetier.be Printing De Wrikker (Belgium) MfP promotes environmentally sound practices in its own activities. This publication is printed on 100 per cent recycled and chlorine free paper. Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign vzw International Secretariat Cit y Hall, Grote Markt 34, 8900 Ypres, BELGIUM Phone: +32-57-38 89 57 • Fax: +32-57-23 92 76 E-mail: 2020visioncampaign@ieper.be Web: w w w.2020visioncampaign.org 2 | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign PReFACe Message from the Members of the General Meeting of Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Dear Members, Colleagues, and Friends, We are pleased to present the second Annual Report for the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign. This has been a year of amazing growth, thanks in part to a new and increasingly popular campaign tool – the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol (H-N Protocol). Mayors Akiba and Dehaene, together with Board member Senator Vankrunkelsven introduced this protocol to the world almost a year ago in April 2008. Speaking at the Nuclear Non-Proliferaton Commitee (NPT PrepCom) in Geneva, they announced to the assembled diplomats and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) representatives that Mayors for Peace would be promoting a new, overarching approach to nuclear disarmament. This simple document eliminates the discrimination between nuclear haves and have-nots, immediately gets negotiations underway, and sets a time-bound framework for results. Most importantly, it embodies a true, good-faith commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world, the only kind of commitment that can prevent the collapse of the non-proliferation regime. The H-N Protocol was prepared by our team of advisors and approved by our Executive Committee. Thus, the entire Mayors for Peace conference formally supports it. However, to emphasize that individual mayors and other city officials understand and support this initiative, we are collecting their signatures on a Cities Appeal. At the PrepCom in New York in May 2009, we expect to present this Cities Appeal supported by 1000 signatures. Meanwhile, our membership drive continues unabated. In 2008, we recruited a remarkable 555 new members, close to two per day for the entire year. This success is due in large measure to the leadership of the International Secretariat in Ypres working with colleagues around the world. An especially notable development in our membership campaign has been the emergence of Latin America. This year has been disappointing in terms of fundraising. Last year, we challenged the more than 2000 members of Mayors for Peace to match the contributions of two cities: Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We are extremely grateful to the 86 cities that have made contributions. However, as you will see in the financial report on page 28, we have not come close to our goal. We cannot expand our campaign without an expansion of resources. Thus, we will be pressing this appeal and hope all members will respond quickly. With one year left to the 2010 NPT Review Conference, we need your financial as well as moral support. Now that we have 2,777 members, just a small contribution from each city will provide the resources we need for a successful campaign. Some members may be hesitating because they don’t understand exactly what we intend to do with the funds we raise. The short answer to this can be found on page 28, which presents our budget and action plan for next year. The longer answer can be found in our Strategic Plan, which was approved by the Executive Committee meeting in Ypres in November 2008. The full plan is too lengthy to be included in this report, but we will be more than happy to send it to you on request. This will be a crucial year, not just for Mayors for Peace and the 2020 Vision Campaign, but for the future of the human family. The H-N Protocol is slowly gaining acceptance at the highest levels, with 19 nations already showing active interest. The abolition of nuclear weapons is receiving support from powerful groups and individuals that were previously indifferent or even opposed to the idea. We, human beings, have never had a better opportunity to liberate ourselves from the threat of nuclear annihilation. To take advantage of this opportunity, we need to keep growing in numbers, but we need to grow as well in commitment and capacity. The struggle against nuclear weapons is one we can and must win. Please make it one of your top priorities between now and the NPT Review Conference of May 2010. Together we can make history and earn the gratitude of our grandchildren and their grandchildren. President Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba Mayor of Hiroshima (Japan) Vice President Mr. Patrik Vankrunkelsven Former-Mayor of Laakdal and Senator (Belgium) Vice President Mr. Tomihisa Taue Mayor of Nagasaki (Japan) Vice-President Mr. Roman Grebennikov Mayor of Volgograd (Russia) Vice President Ms. Catherine Margate Mayor of Malakof f (France) Executive Of ficial Mr. Khder Kareem Mayor of Halabja (Iraq) Vice-President Ms. Mavis Smitheman Lord Mayor of Manchester (U.K.) Executive Of ficial Mr. Ivan Knez Mayor of Biograd na Moru (Croatia) Vice President Mr. Stephan Weil Mayor of Hannover (Germany) Executive Of ficial Mr. Rober t Har vey Mayor of Waitakere (New Zealand) Vice President Mr. Donald L. Plusquellic Mayor of Akron (OH) (U.S.) Executive Of ficial Mr. Josep Mayoral i Antigas Mayor of Granollers, Spain Vice President Mr. Leonardo Domenici Mayor of Florence (Italy) Executive Of ficial Mr. Luc Dehaene Mayor of Ypres (Belgium) Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 3 HiStoRy pres, November 11, 2008. Mayors for Peace participated in the 90th anniversary commemoration of the end of World War I. Credit: Pierre Maréchal, MfP 2020 VC Y Mayors for Peace was formed in 1982 after the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki appeared at the 2nd UN Special Session on Disarmament and called for cities to come together in solidarity for peace and, specifically, the abolition of nuclear weapons. However, we discovered last year that the history of Mayors for Peace must actually be traced back to 1955 when Mayor Giorgio La Pira of Florence brought together the mayors of 55 Capital Cities to explore ways of working toward a nuclear-weapon-free world (NWFW). Though this meeting did not generate the hoped-for city-level momentum, it did introduce the revolutionary concept that cities should not merely sit back and accept dangerous national or international policies. Today, Mayors for Peace is an integral, leading force in a growing city diplomacy movement seeking to correct the balance of power between municipal and national governments. National governments have thus far proven largely incapable of addressing the serious global problems now confronting the human family as a whole. Because they are in close communication with and share the fates of their citizens, cities are stepping in to do what needs to be done. Around the world, cities have long been the primary caregivers for the poor, the sick, and the elderly. They have been educating the children. Now, they are even protecting the environment with transport and building policies designed to meet CO2 targets far more stringent than those of their national governments. Through Sister Cities International, cities form strong, friendly and cooperative relationships across borders, often despite significant animosity at the national level. And through Mayors for Peace, cities have been raising awareness of and pressing for solutions to the most urgent problem of all: the threat of nuclear weapons at a time of increasing instability and escalating violence. Thus, cities are emerging as the most vital, civilizing force on this planet and cities –not national governments– are the most appropriate model for “international” relations. In November 2003, when Mayors for Peace launched the Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons, we had 562 members. By the 2005 NPT Review Conference, the Emergency Campaign had become the 2020 Vision Campaign, and our membership had reached 1000. In 2006, we launched our Good Faith Challenge and Cities Are Not Targets (CANT) programs, and our membership grew to 1,553 before the end of the year. By March 2008, that figure had grown to 2,170 cities in 127 countries and regions. In April we launched the HiroshimaNagasaki Protocol (H-N Protocol), which stimulated even more rapid growth. As of March 2, 2009, our membership stood at 2,777. This growth is taking place because thousands of concerned citizens and mayors around the world recognize the crisis we face and the need for cities to play a leading role. In 2008, the 2020 Vision Campaign has two primary focal points: CANT and the H-N Protocol. CANT began as a narrowly targeted effort to 1) remind cities and their citizens that they are, in fact, still targeted for annihilation 2) inform the nuclear-weapon states that cities (and the International Court of Justice) utterly reject the right of any nation to obliterate a city for any purpose whatsoever. However, as we sought to protect cities from nuclear bombing, we encountered a widespread, intensifying desire to protect cities from every sort of bombing. An International Red Cross study found that the number one cause of civilian casualties is the use of explosive force in cities. Thus, our CANT project has evolved into a more generalized effort to protect cities from the scourge of war. The international community is showing genuine interest in outlawing not just landmines and cluster bombs but all bombs in populated areas. While some national governments still seem to view the deaths of women, children and elderly as acceptable collateral damage in pursuit of a dangerous terrorist, cities never allow their police to mow down innocent bystanders in pursuit of a criminal. The so-called war on terror is no excuse for killing the innocent, driving them from their homes, and making their cities, towns or villages unlivable. Mayors for Peace is working with a broad coalition of NGOs and national government representatives to stop this barbarism. In April 2008 at the NPT PrepCom in Geneva, Mayor Akiba announced the H-N Protocol. This protocol, along with CANT, is already proving to be a valuable 4 | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign StRuCtuRe General Conference All members of Mayors for Peace are eligible to participate in its General Conference. General Conferences are held every four years, and the next conference will be held in Nagasaki August 8 to 10, this year. All major policies, actions and appointments must be approved by the General Conference. Executive Committee The Mayors for Peace Executive Committee meets every two years. This body deliberates and approves actions deemed too urgent to await the next General Conference and other actions or policies too minor to require General Conference attention. In 2008, the Executive Committee was expanded to include four additional members, raising the total number of cities on the committee to 16. The members are: President City organizing tool at the grassroots level. A petition drive to support it has obtained over 400,000 signatures, and several organizations in Japan intend to gather millions of signatures on related petitions by the time of the Review Conference in 2010. In the US and Europe, the emphasis has been on getting support from mayors and NGO leaders. On March 21 over 560 mayors and local elected officials have signed the Cities Appeal in support of the H-N Protocol. Most importantly, a small but growing group of nations is showing interest in the protocol, increasing the likelihood of its submission to and acceptance by the 2010 NPT Review Conference. The H-N Protocol is vital to the campaign against nuclear weapons. First, if it or a similar measure is approved at the Review Conference, the international community will have made a convincing commitment to a NWFW, the kind of commitment now required to prevent rapid proliferation. Moreover, the H-N Protocol is a simple document that nations will either support or fail to support. Its mere presence on the table will make crystal clear exactly which nations are seeking a NWFW and which ones are blocking that effort. If the 2010 NPT Review Conference fails to approve the H-N Protocol or an equivalent measure, the protocol will keep the issue in the news, in public consciousness, and on the table. If the NPT Review Process proves inadequate to the task, the H-N Protocol will help us select and utilize another. Whatever happens in May 2010, Mayors for Peace will keep the pressure growing until the international community is firmly committed to and proceeding toward the total elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2020. Hiroshima, Japan Vice President Cities Nagasaki, Japan Hannover, Germany Malakoff, France Manchester, UK Muntinlupa, Philippines Volgograd, Russia Akron, US Christchurch, New Zealand Florence, Italy Laakdal, Belgium Executive Of f icials Ypres, Belgium Biograd na Moru, Croatia Granollers, Spain Halabja, Iraq Waitakere, New Zealand Executive Officials (appointed by President Akiba, welcomed in November 2008 by the Executive Committee, may become vice presidents on approval of the General Conference) Hiroshima-Nagasaki Secretariat The everyday administrative activities of Mayors for Peace, including General and Executive Conferences, are planned and implemented by the HiroshimaNagasaki Secretariat based in Hiroshima, working closely with the appropriate staff in Nagasaki and the International Secretariat in Ypres. 2020 Vision Campaign Association This element of our structure was created in 2007 by the Executive Conference and must be approved by the 2009 General Conference. The Association is a non-profit organization based in Ypres and incorporated under the laws of Belgium. Its purpose is to promote the 2020 Vision Campaign around the world. Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 5 Mayors for Peace 2,777 member cities in 134 countries and regions March 2, 2009 General Conference of Mayors for Peace (one in four years in Hiroshima or Nagasaki) Executive Conference (every two years) 2020 Vision Campaign Association Campaign Staf f The current staff of the International Secretariat (hired and fired by the Board of Directors) is responsible for implementing the decisions approved by the General Meeting and Board of Directors of the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Association. They work closely with the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Secretariat, but report directly to the Board of Directors. Relationship to Mayors for Peace The 2020 Vision Campaign Association has been provisionally commissioned by the Executive Conference of Mayors for Peace to manage the 2020 Vision Campaign. The Executive Conference maintains overall direction of the Campaign on behalf of Mayors for Peace through it membership and participation in the Association’s General Meeting. The Campaign Secretariat (based in Ypres, as supervised by the Board of Directors) is responsible for all tasks related directly to the campaign. The 2009 General Conference provide the membership of Mayors for Peace with the opportunity to express its satisfaction (or otherwise) with these lines of control and overall Campaign direction. The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Secretariat conducts 2020 Vision Campaign and recruitment activities in Japan as well as continues to serve the non-campaign policies and tasks of Mayors for Peace, as determined by the Executive Conference and the General Conference. These tasks include planning and implementing Executive Conferences and General Conferences, and managing all formal matters associated with Mayors for Peace membership registration. The two secretariats work jointly to recruit and communicate with members. They support each other, offering and requesting assistance as needed, but are not in a chain-of-command relationship. The International Secretariat in Ypres reports directly to the Chairman of the Board is meant to cary out taks assigned to it by the Board and the General Meeting. The Hiroshima Secretariat is directly answerable to the President of Mayors for Peace and is meant to carry out organizational tasks assigned to it by the General Conference and the Executive Conference. President (1) Hiroshima, Japan Vice President (10) Nagasaki, Japan – Hannover, Germany – Malakoff, France – Manchester, UK – Muntinlupa, Philippines – Volgograd, Russia – Akron (OH), US – Christchurch, New Zealand – Florence, Italy – Laakdal, Belgium Executive Officials (5) Ypres, Belgium – Biograd na Moru, Croatia – Granollers, Spain – Halabja, Iraq – Waitakere, New Zealand General Meeting (once a year) Hiroshima, Japan – Nagasaki, Japan – Hannover, Germany – Malakoff, France – Manchester, UK – Volgograd, Russia – Akron, US – Florence, Italy – Laakdal, Belgium – Ypres, Belgium – Biograd na Moru, Croatia – Granollers, Spain – Halabja, Iraq – Waitakere, New Zealand Meeting of Board of Directors [Members] Chairman: Mayor of Ypres Members: Hiroshima, Akron, Florence, Laakdal, Malakoff, Manchester Daily Board Mayors for Peace Secretariat 2020 Vision Campaign Association Secretariat General Meeting Every member of the Executive Conference of Mayors for Peace has a right to be a member of the Campaign association and participate in its membership meetings, known as General Meetings. General Meetings must held once each year (telephone or video conferencing acceptable). Members General Meeting Board of Direc tors Elected by the General Meeting, it can include NGO representatives as well as city representatives. It must be at least one member smaller than the General Meeting. The November 2007 General Meeting approved a slate of Board members with Mayor of Ypres as Chairman of the Board. The Board meets at least twice annually and is responsible for monitoring and guiding implementation of the general plan and budget approved by the General Meeting. The Board had held meeting in May and November 2008. The International Campaign Director is an ex officio member of the Board, and serves as its Secretary. Daily Board The November 2008 General Meeting approved the establishment of a Daily Board capable of convening on short notice to deal with Campaign Secretariat business. The Daily Board consists of the Chairman of the Board, the Association Treasurer, the International Campaign Director and the Secretariat Director. Hiroshima, Japan – Nagasaki, Japan – Hannover, Germany – Malakoff, France – Manchester, UK – Volgograd, Russia – Akron, US – Florence, Italy – Laakdal, Belgium – Ypres, Belgium – Biograd Na Moru, Croatia – Granollers, Spain – Halabja, Iraq – Waitakere, New Zealand It elects the Board of Directors, approves general plans, budgets and reports, and sets basic policy for the Association. The first General Meeting was held in November 2007 during the Executive Conference in order to incorporate the Association by adopting and signing its Statutes. 6 | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign inteRnAtionAL CAMPAiGn nited Nations Geneva, May 2008 - Mayors for Peace participated in the 2nd NPT PrepCom at the United Nations. U Credit: Pierre Maréchal, MfP 2020 VC 2008: FRoM tHe 2020 ViSion to HiRoSHiMA-nAGASAki PRotoCoL In 2008, Mayors for Peace marked the 5th anniversary of the 2020 Vision Campaign. With this milestone approaching, it was essential to take stock of not only the progress achieved, but also of expectations not met. Mayors could take great satisfaction that they were no longer alone in talking about a vision of a nuclear-weapon-free world (NWFW). Elder statesmen of nuclear weapons states and their allies had made far reaching statements on the importance of upholding the vision of a NWFW. This was most welcome, but unlike Mayors for Peace, they did not mention any target date; indeed, the vision was often discussed as if its attainment would take many generations. Even more to the point, while Mayors for Peace campaigned vigorously and its membership nearly quadrupled in half a decade, governments had made no progress whatsoever on establishing an overarching approach to achieving a NWFW. The original 2020 Vision envisioned a Nuclear Weapon Convention (NWC) being agreed and its implementation commencing by 2010. But with just two years left, it was clear that the 2010 target could only be met if governments were challenged to act in more urgent and specific terms. It was with this in mind that Mayors for Peace, with the help of experts and activists, developed the ‘HiroshimaNagasaki Protocol.’ The Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol (H-N Protocol) can be thought of as a ‘bare-bones’ framework agreement on achieving a NWFW. Unlike a fully articulated NWC, it simply defines four general aspects of nuclear disarmament and sets two targets dates for their realization. The NPT is taken as the foundation for these future measures, and so the target dates are linked the Treaty’s five-year review cycle: adoption of the Protocol at 2010 Review Conference; verified cessation of nuclear-weapon acquisitions and preparations for use by the 2015 Review; and verified elimination of all nuclearweapons and related acquisition facilities by 2020. By agreeing to this basic course of action, the world would have a decent chance of ridding itself of nuclear weapons by the year 2020. In 2009, the UN will declare 2010-2020 an International Decade for Disarmament. The overarching approach provided by the H-N Protocol is the way for the world to ensure that this is a decisive decade for nuclear disarmament. The H-N Protocol calls for negotiations to begin immediately and continue without interruption until a Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 7 nited Nations - Geneva, April 29, 2008 – The HiroshimaNagasaki Protocol is officially presented to all governments delegates by Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima and President of Mayors for Peace, Mr. Luc Dehaene, Mayor of Ypres and Senator Patrik Vankrunkelsven. U Credit: Pierre Maréchal, MfP 2020 VC more detailed Framework Agreement or a NWC is concluded. As a gesture of good faith, the nuclearweapon states are called upon to immediately cease acquiring and preparing for the use nuclear weapons on a unilateral-reciprocal basis, pending multilateral verification thereof (by 2015). Nuclear forces are also to be placed in safe and secure storage at the earliest possible date to guard against inadvertent use or theft by terrorists. Mayors for Peace is encouraging State Parties to the NPT to make every good faith effort to have this H-N Protocol adopted by the 2010 Review Conference. To that end, the H-N Protocol was introduced in Geneva as part of the NGO Presentation to the 2nd PrepCom in May 2008. And a further meeting was held with the Middle Powers Initiative to promote the H-N Protocol and launch the Cities Appeal in support of the HNP [speakers in photo caption]. Already in June 2008, the U.S. Conference of Mayors endorsed the H-N Protocol at its Summer Meeting in Miami, Florida. (See US activities report) Mayors Akiba and Taue then wrote to all members asking their assistance in getting the Cities Appeal signature drive off to a strong start. Further appeals to the membership by Mayor Dehaene, Mr. Aaron Tovish, Mayor Akiba and Mayor Taue in connection with the Hiroshima-Nagasaki August Memorials, the International Day of Peace, and UN Disarmament Week, and the New Year season respectively helped to boost the signature total to over 500 city representatives by the end of 2009. During UN Disarmament Week, Mayor Akiba met with the UN General Assembly President, Father Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann to present an interim report on the signature drive. It continues in 2009, with several national and regional efforts underway. The backing of mayors for the H-N Protocol as demonstrated by the Cities Appeal has been a major asset when lobbying governments on achieving a NWFW. As governments prepare for the final Preparatory Committee meeting for the 2010 NPT Review Conference, the 2020 Vision Campaign is serving as a catalyst to bring together countries to press the Review Conference to take responsibility for launching Nuclear Weapons Convention negotiations. In Vienna, Mayor for Peace convened a working group of 19 countries from all continents to begin drafting a possible decision by Review Conference on this matter, with the H-N Protocol serving as an initial common point of reference. In April and May, this work will be pursued further in New York, with a view to submission to the 3rd PrepCom of a draft Review Conference decision. One of the main activities of the Mayors for Peace delegation to the PrepCom will be the promotion of this new governmental initiative for realizing the 2020 Vision. This effort will be given a boost by a resolution on the NPT which is now under consideration in the European Parliament that, among other things, endorses the H-N Protocol. 8 | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Credit: City of Volgograd his picture of Stalingrad – now Volgograd – during the Second World War symbolizes the work ahead of Mayors for Peace. T “CitieS ARe not tARGetS!”: FRoM A RALLyinG CRy to A ReSPonSe CAPAbiLity The rallying cry, “Cities Are Not Targets!” naturally resonates among city organizations. Indeed the United States Conference of Mayors and the United Cities and Local Governments took it up already in 2007. It is, however, one thing to declare that cities are not targets and quite another to get governments uniformly to respect such a major constraint on the ‘freedom of action’ of their armed forces. This gap was the topic of a seminar at the United Nation, co-sponsored by Mayors for Peace and the Governments of Mexico and Peru, October 26, 2008. A video message from Mayor Akiba was played that set down the challenge of moving from the rally cry to a capacity to effectively challenge violations of the sanctity of cities. The panel featured international legal experts, and veterans of the campaign for the Land Mines Convention, the Cluster-Munitions Convention and for the International Criminal Court. Mr. Aaron Tovish spoke about national associations of cities developing a capacity to collectively represent the noncombatant rights of their citizens and pressing governments to include such representatives in delegations to negotiations to strengthen international humanitarian law. The general conclusion of the seminar was that it would be a long but worthwhile struggle to change the face of modern warfare. In November, at a symposium in Brussels City Hall, representatives of the city of Volgograd announced that they would help to coordinate a project advisory group made up of cities which had experienced the scourge of war. In 1943, their city had been consumed in a firestorm triggered by two days of relentless aerial bombing. Forty thousand civilians died in those first days of the Battle of Stalingrad (as Volgograd was then called). In the following 200 days almost three million soldiers died battling over the charred, depopulated core of the city and the still functioning military production facilities on its outskirts. Hundred of cities have had similar experiences, if not on quite such an epic scale. In line with the “Cities Are Not Targets” (CANT) Project, the leading body of Mayors for Peace, acting on behalf of its 2635 member cities, has issued a statement on the conflict in and around the Gaza Strip (as you can see below). The disproportionate nature of the Israeli attack on the densely populated Palestinian cities is singled out for the harshest condemnation. Unleashing massive explosions in the heart of a city is simply intolerable -- no better than terrorism. The Gaza experience exposed the inability of Mayors for Peace or any other cities organization to respond quickly and meaningfully to rapid military developments. Mayors for Peace aims to work with other city associations to rectify this shortcoming. Executive Conference condemns bombardment of Gaza through CANT Cities are not targets! Populated areas are not targets! Anger at or fear of terrorists, unjust governments, or warriors of any kind is no excuse for the wanton slaughter of innocent noncombatants. In August 2006, Mayors for Peace condemned both the indiscriminate firing of thousands of rockets toward populated areas in Israel by Hezbollah and the disproportionate bombardment of populated areas in Lebanon by Israeli armed forces. Today, with Hamas firing only one tenth as many rockets as Hezbollah and with Israel concentrating firepower comparable to that used in Lebanon on an area ten times smaller, i.e. the Gaza Strip, evenhanded criticism is no longer appropriate. Our condemnation of indiscriminate rocket fire stands. We call on Hamas to immediately halt all violent attacks. However, to simply condemn the disproportionate use of explosive force is, under these circumstances, grossly inadequate. We are appalled by the Israeli Government’s lack of humanity and demand immediate international intervention. We demand an immediate halt to all use of explosive force in and from the Gaza Strip; a guarantee of immediate access for humanitarian aid to assist the Palestinian civilian population; an internationally monitored ceasefire; and negotiations involving all parties to begin as soon as the ceasefire has taken effect, as called for in UN Security Council Resolution 1860. We are convinced that the search for a political solution through dialogue and respect for human rights are the most effective avenues towards peace. Signed on January 15, 2009, by The Conference of Mayors for Peace Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 9 MeMbeRSHiP deVeLoPMent Mayors for Peace, founded in 1982, grew steadily but slowly for its first 21 years. on november 2003 membership stood at 562. the launch of the 2020 Vision campaign in 2003 inspired people around the world, and is reflected in a much more rapid growth in membership in the last five years. in 2007, the 25th anniversary year, the organisation set the goal to have 2020 members by the start of 2008, a goal which was achieved. in just over four years, the organisation had quadrupled its membership. in 2008 it was also decided to continue membership recruitment as a priority action. New members 2008 Top 10 membership recruitment Iraq 51 Spain 66 Japan 176 Netherlands 13 USA 17 Czech Republic 19 Norway 21 Italy 23 Belgium 36 Nicaragua 39 Report 2008 For 2008, 2009 and 2010 there was a consensus to recruit at least one new member a day. This should have brought membership up to 2385 members by the start of 2009. We did a lot better. With 555 new members during 2008, on December 1, 2008 the Hiroshima secretariat announced that membership reached 2,536 members. This higher than expect figure was due to membership being opened up in Japan to cities other than the two founding cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan has done an excellent job of catching up with countries like Belgium, Germany and Italy. Top 10 success stories for 2008 A few other short stories provide interesting pointers on successful membership recruitment. These stories about how some individuals took effective initiatives could be duplicated in any country or region. We saw high levels of activity in Spain (66) and Iraq (51). In Spain the Mayor of Granollers involved the Catalan association of Cities. In Iraq, the Mayor of Halabja invited many of his colleagues, for example during the conference marking the 20th anniversary of the chemical attack on Halabja. The leadership demonstrated by the Mayors of Granollers (Spain) and Halabja (Iraq) was acknowledged by an invitation to join the Executive leadership of Mayors for Peace. In Belgium, over 50% of all Mayors joined Mayors for Peace by the start of 2008. A new cross-party letter by the Mayors of Bastogne, Brussels and Ypres resulted in a continued growth by the end of the year, now exceeding 56% of all Mayors. The very high level of membership and activity resulted in political parties changing their nuclear security positions in favor of a more balanced approach of non-proliferation and nuclear disarmament. In Italy a cross-party letter signed by 5 Italian Mayors and circulated by our VicePresident City of Florence through the Italian National Association of Cities and Municipalities resulted in further growth and presence of Mayors for Peace. In Nicaragua the Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure helped us to recruit new cities after his visit to Hiroshima last July 2008. This resulted in 71 new Mayors joining Mayors for Peace as of March 2009. In the Czech Republic it was the cooperation between Mayors for Peace and the Czech League of Mayors against the deployment of a US radar base (part of the so-called National Missile Defence) which resulted in a stronger presence of Mayors for Peace in this part of Europe. In the Netherlands it was especially the work of IKV/Pax Christi Netherlands which helped bring new members on board. First results 2009 Mayors for Peace counts 2,777 members on March 2, 2009 Also the first quarter of 2009 has been a great encouragement for all of us. In the first three months of 2009 we already welcomed 241 new members. In most cases this continued growth was the result of initiatives taken in 2008, such as in Japan, Nicaragua, Spain, Italy and Belgium. The growth of our membership in Venezuela is credited to a group of survivors of the atomic bomb, called Hibakusha, who traveled around the world with Peace Boat to share their testimony and recruit Mayors. We hope that these short stories will be an encouragement for you to take initiatives towards further growth of Mayors for Peace. Top 10 recruitment first quarter 2009 Belgium 12 Sri Lanka 17 Italy 18 Venezuela 22 Spain 26 Nicaragua 32 Japan 76 US 3 Iraq 3 Cameroon 6 Israel 7 10 | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign ACtiVitieS A-bomb survivors find support for Mayors for Peace during Global Voyage Peace Boat, a Japanese NGO, has been helping Mayors for Peace recruit members for several years now. In 2008, they organised a global voyage with a group of A-bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese cruise ship traveled during 129 days to 23 port cities in 20 countries. During the voyage, the Peace Boat voyagers called on Mayors of the countries they visited to join and support Mayors for Peace. As a result 27 cities joined Mayors for Peace, while 25 cities signed the Cities Appeal in support of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol. Through public testimonies held at each port of call, the Hibakusha shared their message with a broad audience, from young children who do not know the horrors of war, through to elderly people who are also victims of wars. Peace Boat is a Japan-based international non-governmental and non-profit organization that works to promote peace, human rights, equal and sustainable development and respect for the environment. Info: www.peaceboat.org Credit: Syunya Miizumoto, Peace Boat Africa 2008 saw few activities for Mayors for Peace in Africa with only a slight increase in membership. The one real exception was Cameroon where the Mayor of Fengo Tongo began helping with recruitment toward the end of the year, netting one new member in 2008 and 6 new members in the first months of 2009. Asia Iraq (96 members) Africa 111 MEMBER S Benin (2), Botswana (3), Burkina Faso (1), Burundi (1), Cameroon (9), Cape Verde (1), Côte d’Ivoire (1), Egypt (1), Eritrea (1), Gambia (3), Ghana (1), Kenya (2), Lesotho (1), Liberia (1), Malawi (2), Mali (5), Mauritania (2), Mauritius (1), Morocco (1), Namibia (1), Nigeria (1), Rwanda (1), Senegal (2), Sierra Leone (1), Somaliland (1), Republic of South Africa (7), Tanzania (1), Togo (1), Uganda (53), Zambia (3). Mayors for Peace representative Pol DHuyvetter participated in a 3-day event “From Genocide into Peace” at the invitation of the Governorate of Sulymanyah, the Mayor of Halabja and the Regional Government of Kurdistan. All events took place in the Region of Kurdistan, Iraq and marked the 20th anniversary of the gas attacks on the city of Halabja. The gas attack on Halabja in March 1988 killed around 5,000 civilians. Our presence at this conference was the start if a close co-operation with Halabja Mayor Kareem Khder who was invited to join the Executive Conference of Mayors for Peace. Ongoing efforts by Mayor Khder have resulted in a sharp increase of membership in Iraq with 51 new members in 2008. The financial supports announced by Mayor Kareem Khder impressed many of his colleagues during the General Meeting of the 2020 Vision campaign in Ypres. The announced financial contributions coming from a war torn country are heartfelt by everybody. These are an encouragement for everybody to dig deeper and show solidarity with the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. H Credit: Pol DHuyvetter, MfP 2020 VC alabja, March 2008 - Mayor Khder Khareem in Halabja marking the 20th anniversary commemoration of the gas attack. Iran (13 members) Since 2006, the annual “Peace tour” of the Society for Chemical Weapons Victims Support (SCWVS) has included in their agenda the presentation of the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign to Iranian mayors. This tour visits Iranian towns along the border with Iraq which were targeted by chemical weapons during the 1980’s. Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 11 In September 2008, the SCWVS and the Tehran Peace Museum in collaboration with Tehran Municipality, for the first time organized a big ceremony and a candlelit vigil to commemorate the International Day for Peace. During that ceremony, the message of Mayor Akiba addressing the 2020 Vision Campaign was read by one of the survivors of gas attacks. In April 2008, a SCWVS delegation visited the Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Secretariat in Ypres. During the meeting contributions of Iranian mayors to the 2020 Vision Campaign were discussed, including a visit of a delegation of Iranian mayors to Ypres or Hiroshima. The Director of Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the SCWVS agreed to have Joint A-Bomb / C-Bomb exhibition in Tehran Peace Museum in fall 2009. This proposal is strongly supported by Tehran Municipality. Israel (5 members) In December 2008 membership recruitment started one month after municipal elections. Greenpeace Israel sent most Israeli Mayors a letter from the Mayor of Hiroshima accompanied with a translation in Hebrew. A joint letter from Greenpeace campaigner Sharon Dolev explained the campaign. Unfortunately, this work was interrupted with the terrible events resulting from the conflict between Hamas in Gaza and Israel. Still 7 new members came on board in 2009 including the Mayor of Dimona. Dimona is where Israel has its secret nuclear weapons facility. The focus for 2009 will be contacting Arab mayors and establishing contacts with Israeli mayors who can help recruiting their colleagues. Japan (178 members) to explain why several European countries have hundreds of members but Japan has only two, the decision was made to allow Japanese cities to join Mayors for Peace. In response primarily to mailed invitations, already 178 Japanese cities had joined by the end of December 2008. In addition, more than 170 cities have signed the Cities Appeal to express their support for the H-N Protocol. Another important project in Japan is the drive for signatures on a grassroots petition in support of the CANT project and the H-N Protocol. This petition drive has been led primarily by the Japanese consumer cooperative. However, several high schools have taken this project on and have gathered thousands of signatures. Furthermore, Hiroshima’s professional baseball team, the Carp, gave tremendous support to this effort in August by holding a “paper crane night game.” With over a hundred volunteers collecting signatures, and with announcements between innings, this one event brought in over 3700 signatures. More importantly, tens of thousands of viewers watching the game on television heard about the campaign and watched after the seventh inning as the fans in the stands lifted their placards and the entire stadium turned Mayors-for-Peace green. Thanks to all of these efforts, we have gathered more than 400,000 signatures, but we and our contacts are determined to gather hundreds of thousands more. In July, in conjunction with the G8 Summit at Lake Toya, Hokkaido, Hiroshima sponsored an A-bomb exhibition in Sapporo, and Mayors for Peace made a strong appeal there asking Hokkaido cities to join. Then, the G8 Lower House Speakers Meeting took place in Hiroshima September 1 and 2, 2008. While giving Hiroshima an opportunity to tell its story to these world leaders, this meeting also gave Mayor Akiba an opportunity to establish relationships that have already proven beneficial to our campaign. This event confirmed our belief that most world leaders personally support the abolition of nuclear weapons. M 12 ayor Akiba gathering signatures under the Cities Are Not Targets petition in Hiroshima. This has been a revolutionary year for Mayors for Peace in Japan. When Mayors for Peace was first formed in 1982, the decision was made to keep it an “international” organization. Thus, despite widespread support in Japan, the only two Japanese members were Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the secretariat was based in Hiroshima. (Nagasaki still manages a separate Council of Nuclear-Free Local Authorities for Japanese cities.) This decision was taken to keep Mayors for Peace from starting out with hundreds of Japanese cities making it look like a Japanese organization. This year in June, after numerous requests from allies in Europe who were under increasing pressure Asia 4 47 MEMBER S Afghanistan (1), Bangladesh (8), Bhutan (1), Cambodia (1), China (7), Cyprus (3), India (16), Indonesia (3), Iran (13), Iraq (96), Israel (5), Japan (178), Jordan (2), Lebanon (1), Malaysia (6), Mongolia (4), Nepal (5), Pakistan (12), Philippines (14), *The West Bank and Gaza Strip (Palestine) (26), South Korea (2), Sri Lanka (20), Syria (2), Taiwan (2), Thailand (1), Turkey (10), *Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (3), Vietnam (3), Yemen (2). * indicates Regions | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign Europe E uropean Parliament, Brussels, July 1, 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign help to launch a cross-party Appeal signed by well over 70 Members of the European Parliament (MEP). The Appeal endorses the Nuclear Weapons Convention for the prohibition of all nuclear weapons. The event marked the 40th anniversary of the NPT. (from left to right) Mayor Theo Kelchtermans, Belgium, MEP Angelika Beer (Greens/EFA, Germany), MEP Annemie Neyts (Liberals, Belgium), MEP Ana Gomes (Social Democrats, Portugal), MEP Girts Kristovskis (Union of Europe of Nations, Latvia), Ms. Adriana Bolanos, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Costa Rica, and MEP Frieda Brepoels (Christian Democrats, Belgium). Credit: Caroline Dossche, Greenpeace Belgium Belgium (323 members) Belgium remains today without doubt the country with most Mayors for Peace members, supporters and activities. This success should be accounted to a strong leadership and systematic use of crossparty letters since 2005. Based on the satisfying results of the pilot project concerning fundraising, the Executive Conference of Mayors for Peace approved the launch of a worldwide appeal of voluntary contributions to all its members. In 2008, Belgian cities remained important financial contributors in solidarity with the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The regional secretariat of Mayors for Peace for Wallonia moved from the city of Huy to Bastogne. Bastogne was on the front line during the Battle of the Ardennes during the second World War. Ypres and Brussels keep on track for the other two regional secretariats where membership is now wellover 75% both in the Flemish and Brussels regions. In 2008, Belgian Mayors of Bastogne, Brussels and Ypres launched a new cross-party letter. As a result 36 new Belgian members joined the network. In the first months of 2009, another 12 Mayors joined the network. With 335 members in March 2009, almost 57% of all Belgian Mayors have joined the organisation. The support for the H-N Protocol through the Cities Appeal grew also well beyond the one hundred signatories and a parliamentary resolution in support of the H-N Protocol was tabled by Senator and Councilor Patrik Vankrunkelsven. First steps were taken to develop a Belgian section for Mayors for Peace. A first national Mayors for Peace meeting was held in the city hall of Brussels on November 12 in attendance of Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba. On November 10 the Mayor of Ypres hosted the Board of Directors and General Meeting of the 2020 Vision Campaign association in the City Hall of Ypres. At the start of 2009, Mayors for Peace Belgium welcomed Ms. Ingrid Pira, Mayor of Mortsel, as the President of Mayors for Peace Belgium. Croatia (25 members) B In April 2008, the city participated in the NPT PrepCom & Mayors for Peace meetings at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland. Biograd has committed financial support to the organization. The city of Biograd na Moru became a member of the organization in spring of 2008 and was the first city to sign the Cities Appeal in support of the H-N Protocol. In autumn 2008, Mayor Ivan Knez was invited to join the Executive Conference and participated in the Board of Directors and General Meeting of the association in Ypres, Belgium. Biograd na Moru is demonstrating examplary leadership as they send E-mails and faxes from the City Hall of Biograd na Moru to all the Croatian cities (286), encouraging Croatian Mayors to support the Cities Appeal in support of the H-N Protocol. Signed appeals are constantly arriving. Biograd celebrated its feast day on January 15 2009, and Aaron Tovish, Executive Advisor and internation Campaign Director of Mayors for Peace, spoke at the festivities attended by over one thousand citizens. russels, November 10, 2008 - The President of Mayors for Peace was in Belgium to promote the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol during a four days visit. The tour brought Mayor Akiba to Bastogne, Ypres, Kortrijk, Gent and Brussels. In the picture Mayor Akiba as the key-note speaker during an “academic session” in the Flemish Parliament in Brussels. Credit: Pierre Maréchal, MfP 2020 VC Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 13 Today preparations are being made in Biograd na Moru for a Hiroshima Crane statue which will be placed on the waterfront near the City Hall. Elementary school children are preparing a thousand cranes for Hiroshima. This manifestation is planned for the end of April 2009 with the participation of the President of Croatia, Mr. Stipe Mesi. Other Executive cities of Mayors for Peace have been invited. The event is expected to attract the main national TV networks and, therefore, a growing number of Croatian cities to the Mayors for Peace. Credit: Pugwash Denmark Denmark (13 members) C Czech Republic (28 members) In 2008 Mayors for Peace attracted 19 new members in Czech Republic. This is linked to the solidarity demonstrated by Mayors for Peace for the campaign of the Czech League against the radar base, a US project part of National Missile Defense and the Star Wars project. During the year the Czech League of Mayors and the Czech NGO ‘Nonviolence movement’ worked closely together to prevent the US Missile Defense/ Star Wars from being expanded into the Czech Republic. Two thirds of Czech population continue to oppose the Star Wars project and more than 140 000 people have signed the on-line petition against the US radar. One of the most significant actions to this respect was the 21day hunger strike of Jan Bednar and Jan Tamáš. On February 18, 2009, forty Czech Mayors traveled to Brussels to meet with members of the European Parliament and the Belgian Senate. This event received support with a video message from the President of Mayors for Peace, Mr. Tadatoshi Akiba, and the presence of Ms. Ingrid Pira, the President of Mayors for Peace Belgium and Senator Patrik Vankrunkelsven. On March, the Czech Government dropped its effort to ratify the radar base agreement with the United States, due to united opposition to the agreement in the Czech Senate. Opinion polls had consistently shown that the radar plan never had the support of the Czech people. Mayors for Peace congratulates the Czech League of Mayors for their role in this victory for democracy. Belgian Senate supports Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol n January 29, 2009 the Belgian Senate approved a resolution calling upon the Belgian government to support the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol in the framework of the NPT. The Belgian Senators call on their government to put the H-N Protocol on the international agenda. The initiative for the resolution was taken by Mr. Patrik Vankrunkelsven, Senator and former Mayor. The resolution (number 4-1111) was adopted with an overwhelming majority of 39 votes, with 8 abstentions. Contact the International Campaign Secretariat if you want to receive a copy of the resolution for consideration in another Parliamentary Assembly. O In 2008, six new members joined. Caecilie Buhmann from Danish Physicians Against Nuclear Weapons (DLMK/danish IPPNW) explained the obstacles to be overcome: “We encountered great difficulties because of a law which prohibits Danish mayors from expressing themselves officially on matters related to international affairs. Nevertheless in 2007 we persuaded Copenhagen to join Mayors for Peace and a number of other cities followed”. In November, the Danish Pugwash Group organised a successful high-level symposium in the Danish Parliament, including presentations by Hans Blix, Alyn Ware (PNND) and Pol DHuyvetter for Mayors for Peace. They also nominated Mayor Akiba for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize. openhagen, November 17, 2008 - Pol DHuyvetter promoted the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol during a Symposium on strengthening the Non-Proliferation Treaty in the Danish Parliament. Other speakers included Hans Blix, John Avery, Danish MP Holger K. Nielsen and Hans Kristensen. France (98 members) 14 new members were welcomed during 2008. “Cities are not targets”was introduced and promoted during speeches while member cities address the subject of elimination of nuclear weapons year-round through local activities such as public lectures and projects with schools. Most the members of the “Association Française des Communes, Départements et Régions pour la Paix”(AFCDRP) organized events on September 21 to mark the International Day of Peace. A growing number of French NGO’s are getting involved in the promotion of the 2020 Vision Campaign, such as “Le Mouvement de la Paix”, “Monde sans Guerre” and Abolition 2000 France. 14 | Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign In 2008 our international campaign staff was invited to make presentations about the 2020 Vision Campaign in Lille, Marseille, Paris and Saintes. In 2009 the AFCDRP expects a fast increase of new members of Mayors for Peace, amongst other by having each member city recruit at least two new members. Opposition to nuclear disarmament is still very vivid in France, which is one of the five nuclearweapon states recognized by the NPT. The launch of a AFCDRP campaign to sign the Cities Appeal in support of the H-N Protocol is expected to be endorsed by a hundred French mayors. Details will be decided by AFCDRP at the general assembly in April 2009. in eight cities: Gedenken, Mahnung, Bedrohung (Hiroshima-Nagasaki: Memorial, Warning, Threat). A regional Mayors for Peace meeting was held in January 2009 in Kirchheim unter Teck in Baden-Württemberg and another is planned for Chemnitz in Saxony, in Autumn. A cross-party letter from the Lord Mayors of Mr. Eberhard David (Bielefeld), Mr. Stephan Weil (Hannover) and Mr. Dr. Eckart Würzner (Heidelberg) was sent to all German Mayors for Peace member towns and cities, calling on them to follow the example of the letter’s signatories by financially supporting the 2020 Vision Campaign. The authors of the letter hope for a positive response despite the recent financial problems affecting almost all local authorities as a consequence of the world financial and economic crisis. An increase in members’ support for the H-N Protocol is also expected. On the initiative of Hannover, the Niedersächsischer Städtetag, the representative body of towns and cities in the fourth-largest Federal State by area and population, has called for support for the H-N Protocol in its newsletter. The priority in 2009 will be to increase joint efforts in all these matters. At the annual meeting, planned for late autumn in Hannover, there will be reports from the 7th General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki and, it is hoped, on further progress and successes in pursuing our common aims. The Cities of Stuttgart and Schwäbisch Gmünd (Schwaebisch Gmuend) participated in the delegation of Mayors for Peace to the NPT PrepCom in Geneva. The Mayor of Schwäbisch Gmünd reported about the “Mutlangen Manifesto” demanding the multiateralization of the INF Treaty (Intermediate Range Nuclear Forces Treaty) and other disarmament steps in the line of the 2020 vision. Germany (313 members) Germany welcomed 10 new members in 2008. ‘Our future - nuclear weapon-free’ was the motto of the 2008 campaign initiated jointly by the “Atomwaffen Abschaffen” (Abolish nuclear weapons) network of German peace groups and Mayors for Peace. Mayors from four federal states also took part in a week of action at Büchel in August, which included encircling the German air force base where the last remaining US nuclear weapons are stored in this country. On November 14, the Berlin City Parliament (Abgeordnetenhaus) was the venue for the 2008 German Mayors for Peace general meeting. Among the highlights was the speech by the Mayor of Hiroshima, Dr. Akiba, who had included the conference in his tour of Europe. In Credit: Wolfgang Schlupp-Hauck the closing declaration, Mayors reiterated their demand that the Federal Government implement withdrawal of all nuclear weapons from Germany and end its participation in all NATO nuclear weapons’ activities. The meeting also offered a forum to exchange information and views between towns and cities, and proposals for future activities. As an example of the promotion of regional cooperation, a report was presented on the campaign in Herford county (North Rhine-Westphalia), where the following exhibition Hiroshima-Nagasaki was shown in schools uechel, August 2008 - German Mayors for Peace with youth at the main gate of NATO airbase. An estimated 20 US nuclear weapons are stored at Buechel and could be “shared” with Germany in wartime. B Hungary (3 members) In 2008, we welcomed 2 new member cities. For 2009, we are hopeful to increase the presence of Mayors for Peace in this country through our support for the “World March for Peace and Nonviolence”, a project from World Without Wars. Mayors will be invited to join Mayors for Peace and sign the Cities Appeal in support of the H-N Protocol. Annual Report 2008 Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign | 15 (from left to right, back) Cllr John McArdle, Newry and Mourne District Council; Stephen J Cooper, N & M District Council; John Farrell, N & M Distrcit Council; Sean Morris Secretary NFLA (from left to right, front) Cllr John Connor, Roscommon County Council; Cllr Michael Carr, N & M District Council and Co chair NFLA All Ireland Forum; Cllr Caroline Burrell, Bray Town Council; Cllr Mark Dearey, Dundalk Town Council and Co-chair NFLA All Ireland Forum Credit: Jennie Corbett, MfP 2020 VC undolk, March 13, 2009 During a meeting of the all Ireland NFLA (Nuclear Free Local Authorities) Mayors for Peace were invited to present the 2020 Vision Campaign. On the picture, Irish City Councilors signing the Cities Appeal in support of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol. D Ireland (3 members) Italy (281 members) Historically, the Republic of Ireland has always taken a firm stance against nuclear weapons. Mayors for Peace intends for this strong national consensus to be reflected in the engagement of Irish local authorities in the 2020 Vision Campaign in the near future. Jennie Corbett, an Irish European Voluntary Service (EVS) volunteer at the International Campaign Secretariat in Ypres, is increasing efforts to develop the presence and activities of Mayors for Peace in her home-country during her one year project. In 2008, membership in Ireland stood at three and signatories to the Cities Appeal at zero. In 2009, we plan to see a sharp increase in support and awareness of the 2020 Vision Campaign in the Republic of Ireland. In close cooperation with the Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA), a focused Irish Campaign initiative has already been launched and the first Irish signatures to the Cities Appeal in support of the H-N Protocol have been welcomed. On March 13, 2009, two representatives from the 2020 Vision Campaign were invited to speak at the NFLA All-Ireland Forum in Dundalk. There the Irish initiative was kick-started, with the Mayors for Peace message receiving a particularly warm reception. A cross-party letter initiative is also underway that aims to gain membership and support for the H-N Protocol in the 111 non-member local authorities in Ireland. With 23 new members in 2008 and 18 in the initial months of 2009 Italy has almost crossed the 300 threshold. It is expected that soon over 300 member cities and provinces, with dozens actively contributing to the 2020 Vision Campaign. On March 27 2008, the Italian Campaign “A Future Without Nuclear Weapons” delivered to the President of the Chamber of Deputies (Italian Lower House) the signatures collected by over 50 civil society organizations submitting draft legislation to have the country declared “nuclear weapon free”. The Mayors of Ghedi and Aviano were the first to sign, and all the signatures (in the end over 80,000) were certified by an elected city or province official. It was a campaign that strengthened the collaboration between Mayors, City Councillors and activists for the abolition of nuclear weapons, with the active collaboration of Italian Mayors for Peace and supporters of the 2020 Vision Campaign. In 2008, Hiroshima/Nagasaki commemorations were organised in Vicenza, Ghedi and Aviano. US nuclear weapons are stored at the air-force bases of Aviano and Ghedi. Mayors, elected city officials and civil society represent