World BEYOND War – Launching a Dutch Chapter

World BEYOND War is a nonprofit organization with chapters around the world using educational, activist, and media work to advance the cause of ending all war and establishing lasting peace. WBW has a board, advisory board, staff, and chapter organizers all over the globe and works with allied organizations, many of which are WBW affiliates.

WBW was founded on January 1^st, 2014, when co-founders David Hartsough and David Swanson, together with a group of like-minded peace advocates set out to create a global movement to abolish the institution of war itself, not just the “war of the day.” If war is ever to be abolished, they decided, then it must be taken off the table as a viable option. Just as there is no such thing as “good” or necessary slavery, there is no such thing as a “good” or necessary war. Both institutions are abhorrent and never acceptable, no matter the circumstances.

So, if we can’t use war to resolve international conflicts, what can we do? Finding a way to transition to a global security system that is supported by international law, diplomacy, collaboration, and human rights, and defending those things with nonviolent action rather than the threat of violence, is the heart of WBW.

Our work includes education and media production that dispels myths, such as “War is natural” or “We have always had war,” and shows people not only that war should be abolished, but also that it actually can be. We engage in all variety of nonviolent actions and campaigns that move the world in the direction of ending all war.