US Peace Memorial Foundation
(November 4, 2021) — The 2021 US Peace Prize has been awarded to World BEYOND War “for exceptional global advocacy and creative peace education to end war and dismantle the war machine.”
Michael Knox, Chair of the US Peace Memorial Foundation, thanked World BEYOND War and its members “for years of outstanding and prolific antiwar actions and extensive peace educational projects involving many people and organizations. We appreciate your leadership and the significant impact your members and programs have had throughout the world.”
Upon learning of the award, David Swanson, Executive Director, said, “World BEYOND War has grown so large that this prize needs to be shared among hundreds of thousands of people, not just in the United States but around the world. We are deeply honored to be placed in the company of the amazing individuals and organizations who have previously received the US Peace Prize and are grateful for all the work done by the US Peace Memorial Foundation to advance demilitarization and the building up of a culture of peace in the world’s leading war-making nation.”
WBW President Leah Bolger remarked, “I am thrilled that World BEYOND War is the recipient of the 2021 US Peace Prize! I believe that World BEYOND War is doing some tremendous work, and it is so gratifying to have that work recognized and lifted up by the US Peace Memorial. Winning this year’s US Peace Prize is quite an honor and validation that WBW might just be onto something! The publicity and attention this award will bring will only help broaden our international network working together to abolish war forever.”
Peace Prize Award with WBW and Michael Knox (9 minutes)
See photos and more details at: http://www.USPeacePrize.org.
In addition to receiving the US Peace Prize, our highest honor, World BEYOND War has been designated as a Founding Member of the US Peace Memorial Foundation. WBW joins previous US Peace Prize recipients Christine Ahn, Ajamu Baraka, David Swanson, Ann Wright, Veterans For Peace, Kathy Kelly, CODEPINK Women for Peace, Chelsea Manning, Medea Benjamin, Noam Chomsky, Dennis Kucinich, and Cindy Sheehan.
The Foundation honors Americans who stand for peace by publishing the US Peace Registry, awarding the US Peace Prize, and working to promote and raise funds for the US Peace Memorial in Washington, DC. We celebrate these role models to inspire other Americans to speak out against war and work for peace.
WBW Executive Director David Swanson and son Ollie.
World BEYOND War Awarded 2021 US Peace Prize
(November 4, 2021) — The 2021 US Peace Prize has been awarded to World BEYOND War“for exceptional global advocacy andcreative peace education to end war and dismantle the war machine.”
The US Peace Memorial Foundation awards the US Peace Prize to recognize and honor the most outstanding American antiwar leaders. These courageous individuals and organizations have publicly opposed military interventions such as invasion, occupation, production of weapons of mass destruction, use of weapons, threats of war, or other actions that threaten peace. By honoring these and other courageous role models, we hope to inspire more Americans to speak out for peace and to work to end the hatred, ignorance, greed, and intolerance that lead to war.
Recipients have been designated as Founding Members of the US Peace Memorial Foundation. Read details about the inspiring antiwar/peace activities of the recipients and all nominees in the US Peace Registry.
US Peace Memorial Foundation Chair Michael Knox thanked World BEYOND War and its members “for years of outstanding and prolific antiwar actions and extensive peace educational projects involving many people and organizations. The Foundation appreciates your leadership and the significant impact your members and programs have had throughout the world.”
Armistice/Remembrance Day Webinar — August 4 (1.5 hours)
Hosted by World BEYOND War
The Peace Prize was accepted by Leah Bolger, President, and David Swanson, Executive Director, during A Global Webinar on “The Past and Future of Armistice/Remembrance Day” held on November 04, 2021.
World BEYOND War is a grassroots, global network of activists, chapters, and affiliated organizations that advocate for war abolition and establishing a just and sustainable peace. Since it was founded in 2014, WBW has worked to debunk the myths that war is inevitable, just, necessary, or beneficial. Instead, it advocates for an “alternative global security system” based on demilitarizing security, managing conflict nonviolently, and creating a culture of peace.
A core pillar of WBW’s work is peace education, which outlines the economic, environmental, democratic, cultural, and moral downsides of war and preparations for war. The organization’s grassroots campaigns focus on weapons divestment and closing military bases around the world as critical steps toward dismantling the war machine.
The other 2021 US Peace Prize nominees were Julian Aguon, Bruce Gagnon, David Hartsough, and the National Network Opposing the Militarization of Youth. You can read about the antiwar/peace activities of all recipients and nominees in our publication, the US Peace Registry.
