Peace Foundation International Representative Report September 2013 – August 2014 Alyn Ware
OSCE Forum anti-nuclear bike ride to the peace pole at the 3-countries corner, intersection of France, Germany and Switzerland Dear Peace Foundation It has been an honour and pleasure to serve as the Peace Foundation International Representative. Being based primarily in Europe since August 2012 has given me an opportunity to participate in a wide range of international projects and events of relevance to the Peace Foundation. I have been guided by regular contact with the Peace Foundation office, Council and Disarmament Committee. Hopefully my reports and participation in regular conference calls has assisted to keep the Peace Foundation informed and engaged in these international events and activities. I take this opportunity to report on a few of the activities in which I have been engaged. A full list of events is appended at the end.
1. Basel Peace Office
The Basel Peace Office has served as my main base in Europe. It was established by three Swiss and four international organisations at the invitation of the Basel Mayor Guy Morin, to bring together effective programs and key constituencies for the achievement of a nuclearweapon-free world. I was appointed as the Director. Despite low funding – insufficient for a full-time salary – we have managed to operate a full program of events and initiatives, engaging academics, legislators, youth/students, religious communities, diplomats, international organisations and general public. The proximity to Geneva enabled considerable engagement in UN initiatives and events. The proximity to European capitals enabled considerable engagement with governments and parliaments. See www.baselpeaceoffice.org.
8 The Peace Foundation / ANNUAL REPORT 2013-2014
Basel Peace Office logo. Seven strands are the seven cooperating organisations, which come together like the tributaries to the Rhine, which runs through Basel.