Youth movements for climate action, peace and nuclear disarmament have sprung up in Europe and around the world in the past few years as young people have become concerned about existential threats to current and future generations, and increasingly frustrated at the insufficient action by governments to address these threats.
In this article we highlight the recent United Nations resolution on Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation, the new UN resource on Disarmament and You(th), and initiatives/events of the Move the Nuclear Weapons Money campaign, Abolition 2000 Youth Network, Basel Peace Office & PNND linking youth actions and voices on climate, peace and nuclear disarmament.
UN adopts resolution on Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation
On December 12, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a resolution on Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation. It calls on governments, UN agenices and civil society to educate, engage and empower youth in the fields of disarmament and non-proliferation.
The resolution was introduced by the Republic of Korea and co-sponsored by 42 additional governments including a mix of nuclear-armed, nuclear allied and non-nuclear countries. As such, it provides impetus for non-governmental organisations to develop youth-focused and youth-led programs in cooperation with the United Nations and with the support of their governments.
Youth move the nuclear weapons money (to better purposes)
From October 24-30, 2019 (UN Disarmament Week), a team of volunteers (mostly youth) in New York City counted out $542 billion – the approximate global nuclear weapons budget for the next five years – and symbolically reallocated this to climate protection, poverty alleviation and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The action, part of the Move the Nuclear Weapons Money campaign, was initiated by the World Future Council and organised by Peace Accelerators, a youth-led network of ‘ethical futurists and entrepreneurs’ working for a sustainable future.
The money was counted in various locations around the city including;
- At the United Nations in cooperation with students from the School Strike for Climate movement (see Nuke Money counted with School Strike 4 Climate at UN),
- In front of New York City (NYC) Town Hall to support an initiative to divest NYC pension funds from the nuclear weapons industry;
- Outside the office of Jacobs Engineering, a nuclear weapons contractor;
- At Strawberry Fields, in honour of peacemaker John Lennon.
Young activists are also promoting the Move the Nuclear Weapons Money campaign through social media memes – short quotes from youth on the issue with their photos.
Youth and divestment from fossil fuels and nuclear weapons
Move the Nuclear Weapons Money is also building connection and cooperation between young activists advancing fossil fuel and nuclear weapons divestment from funds held by universities, cities, states and federal governments. These include endowment, pension and soveriegn wealth funds.
Youth played a leading role, for example, in the 2019 international conference in Basel on divestment and other actions by cities, universities, parliaments and religious institutions to reverse the nuclear arms race and protect the climate.
Youth voices on climate, peace and nuclear disarmament
The Basel Peace Office and Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-proliferation and Disarmament have initiated a new project Youth voices on climate, peace and nuclear disarmament, in cooperation with the Abolition 2000 Youth Network. The project includes:
- Climate, peace and security: From youth voices to policy action, a roundtable event in Basel on January 9 bringing legislators and experts together with European youth leaders in the climate, peace and disarmament movements;
- Video Project: Youth voices on climate, peace and disarmament, a compilation of youth video statements about climate, peace, security and nuclear disarmament and the role of the European Union, United Nations and Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE);
- Peace and Climate action of European Youth (PACEY) Award, a new prize of €5000 to support a European youth project or proposal for action on climate, peace and nuclear disarmament. Submissions/nominations are open until January 5, 2020;
- Additional youth actions and forums arising from consultation amongst youth leaders in climate, peace and disarmament.
For further information contact Chaimae Sebbani, Basel Peace Office Youth Programs coordinator.
UN resource Disarmament and You(th)
The United Nations Office in Geneva has recently released a new resource Disarmament and You(th). The resource follows up on recent UN initiatives relating to disarmament and the role of youth. These include:
- UN Security Council resolution 2250 on Youth, peace and security (adopted in 2015);
- ‘Securing our Common Future: A new agenda for Disarmament,’ which was launched by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres at the University of Geneva on May 24, 2018;
- UN General Assembly Resolution adopted in 2019 on Youth, disarmament and non-proliferation.
Disarmament and You(th) includes and introduction by Anja Kaspersen, Director of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) in Geneva, and sections on how youth can stay informed, express themselves, organise events, advocate for disarmament and create a community of changemakers. The publication complements other UNODA resources for youth available at UN Disarmament and Youth.
“ I hope you will use your power and your connections to advocate for a peaceful world free from nuclear weapons, in which weapons are controlled and regulated and resources are directed towards opportunity and prosperity for all. ”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaking at the launch of Securing our Common Future at the University of Geneva, May 24, 2018.