About Beyond War Northwest
Beyond War was a non-political educational organization that was active from 1981 to 1991 and from 2002 to 2012 to support a growing movement to change planetary thinking about war. On December 15, 2012, the national/international organization Beyond War announced that, with its broad focus and historical approach to seeking “a world beyond war,” it was no longer needed as an independent organization. It stated that “What is needed is for all organizations to embody the principles of living beyond war in their work, and to collaborate and consolidate in building the new systems in the culture of peace.” Click here for more information on the history of the group.
Beyond War Northwest continues the efforts of the International Beyond War as an educational resource for living the principles, practices, and core values that guide how we work together in moving the world beyond war. Our purpose is to develop the Beyond War message in new forms to keep the principles and practices dynamic, alive, contemporary, and cross-cultural.
Our Global Projects
- UNESCO
Beyond War hosted a luncheon and discussion with the worldwide UNESCO Chairs at University of Oregon. We received feedback about the core principles of Beyond War and on the BW DVD. Currently, Beyond War Northwest has a community board member sitting on the UNESCO board at the U of O and the two organizations have collaborated with Sr. Helen Prejean to move the discussion from resisting the death penalty and policies of violence within our country to include resisting policies that support international violence. The core strategy continues through engaging people through stories, dialogue, and education. Locally, UNESCO has just embarked on a collaboration with Peter Laufer in the University of Oregon Journalism Department to develop journalists who engage in conflict-sensitive journalism. unesco.uoregon.edu
- ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
We actively support and assist the Jubitz Family Foundation’s War Prevention Initiative. Their mission is to advance the global peace system by supporting, developing and collaborating with peacebuilding efforts in all sectors of society. Through the extensive club network of Rotary International, we envision a world beyond war by 2030 with humanity united by a global system of peace with justice. http://warpreventioninitiative.org/
Our Local Projects
- UNIVERSITY OF OREGON STUDENT GROUP
University of Oregon Beyond War has sponsored films, designed and promoted “Breaking the Silence” panel discussions, created and displayed a poster series on the stages of genocide, created media events, and worked to transmit information on peaceful alternatives to conflict on the campus.
- CHURCHILL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT GROUP
The Churchill High School Beyond War is working to spread a message of peace on both a local and global scale. In classes the students have learned in depth about the issues of the world today and are now inspired to do something about them. The club’s first project was a mural in the courtyard of the school which was painted with the help of Esteban Camacho Steffensen, an Eco Muralist. It is the club’s hope that the mural will encourage students to see that we are all interconnected, to start conversation about how to move the world beyond war and to attract students to the new club.
- INTERNATIONAL CITIES OF PEACE
In Eugene, we collaborate with a variety of groups working toward peace and are active participants in the International Cities of Peace initiative which fosters prosperity, safety and quality of life globally. For more information, click here http://www.internationalcitiesofpeace.org/cities/eugene/eugene.html
