Dear John,

You're invited to join us on Sunday, September 22 in Washington, DC for our annual global conference, #NoWar2024: Resisting the USA's Military Empire! #NoWar2024 will bring together activists from dozens of countries to examine the impacts of the USA's network of foreign military bases, which provoke war, pollute communities, and steal land from Indigenous peoples. Over 40 speakers from around the world will address the social, ecological, economic, and geopolitical impacts of U.S. military bases in their regions, plus the powerful stories of nonviolent resistance to prevent, close, and convert bases to peacetime uses.

The September 22 event in Washington, DC will conclude 3 days of sessions across 4 cities, from September 20-22, coinciding with the International Day of Peace. When you register to join us in Washington, DC, your ticket also includes the Zoom link for the other sessions throughout the weekend.

What: #NoWar2024 Conference: Resisting the USA's Military Empire
When: Sunday, September 22 from 1:00pm-5:00pm Eastern Time
Where: New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, 1313 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC

The #NoWar2024 Conference is our most ambitious conference yet, spanning 4 locations across 3 days, starting September 20 and concluding in Washington, DC on September 22. Plus all sessions will be livestreamed on Zoom.

• Livestreamed from Australia on Friday, September 20 from 7:00pm-11:00pm ET, we'll hear from eminent strategic thinkers, Indigenous campaigners against nuclear weapons, activists, and civil society leaders about Australia's complicity with U.S. war-making and how the country hosts dozens of U.S. bases.
• Then, on the International Day of Peace, Saturday, September 21, from 8:00am-12:00pm ET, we'll hear from campaigners in Germany and from across Europe about U.S. and NATO expansionism across the continent -- and how activists successfully prevented military bases in the Czech Republic and Montenegro.
• On the afternoon of Saturday, September 21, from 3:00pm-7:00pm ET, we'll hear from activists in Latin America about militarization across the region, and three powerful success stories of preventing or closing bases in Vieques, Puerto Rico; Ecuador; and Colombia.
• We conclude #NoWar2024 in the heart of the empire, in Washington, DC on Sunday, September 22 from 1:00pm-5:00pm ET -- full schedule below!

In the welcoming remarks, John Reuwer, WBW Board Member, provides an introduction to the conference theme, followed by spoken word poetry by Marjan Naderi, an Afghan-American poet and performer and the former D.C. Youth Poet Laureate (2020).

Session 1: Mapping Out the Empire: Socioeconomic Costs of Bases

In this session, we will map out the extent of the empire using World BEYOND War’s bases mapping tool and examine the local and global impacts of these bases. Featuring:

• David Swanson, World BEYOND War's Co-Founder and Executive Director
• Dr. Cynthia Enloe, author of Bananas, Beaches and Bases
• Khury Petersen-Smith, the Michael Ratner Middle East Fellow at Institute for Policy Studies
• Moderator: Jessica Sun, a member of the Leadership Team for the Pax Christi Young Adult Caucus

Session 2: Toxic Impacts of Empire: Linking Environmental Justice & Anti-War Movements
Session 2 explores the environmental impact of U.S. military bases at home and abroad, including the extent of PFAS contamination at bases around the world. We examine the ways in which the anti-war and environmental justice movements are interconnected and how activists are taking action to close bases and redirect resources towards environmental protection. Featuring:

• Kazuyuki "Kaz" Nakazato, Director of the Okinawa Prefectural Government (OPG) Washington D.C. Office
• Jared Hayes, Environmental Working Group (EWG)'s Senior Policy Analyst
• Megan Russell, Coordinator of CODEPINK’S China is Not Our Enemy Campaign
• Moderator: Pat Elder, Director of Military Poisons

In the final session, World BEYOND War’s Board President Kathy Kelly will offer closing words with key takeaways from the 3 days of sessions and next steps for continued engagement in the global nonviolent movement to end all war.

Hope to see you at #NoWar2024,

Greta Zarro
Organizing Director
World BEYOND War
[email protected]

P.S. Have you seen our conference trailer video? Watch it on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Tiktok.

World BEYOND War is a global network of volunteers, chapters, and affiliated organizations advocating for the abolition of the institution of war. 
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