ACTIVATING PEACE: THE PEACE MANIFESTO

This project was begun in the summer of 2024 by three Davids, David Adams, David Hazen and David Wick. We were appalled by the terrible state of our world, by the suffering from wars, by the suffering caused by the diversion of resources that should be used for human needs but instead are spent on the weapons of war, and by the ever-widening gap between rich and poor people and between rich and poor countries. Something had to be done! We could not sit idly by while our world is destroyed!

With the help of Fred Arment, the director of the International Cities of Peace, we prepared a course Activating a Culture of Peace that you can take for free even if you are not a city of peace by registering here.

To develop the course, we recalled the progress made and the hope generated during the United Nations International Year for the Culture of Peace, the Year 2000, when the United Nations adopted The Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. A simple version was circulated as the Manifesto 2000 and 75 million people signed it promising to work of a culture of peace in their daily lives. There were over a million signatures in India, Nepal, Algeria, Brazil, Colombia, Korea and Japan.

The Manifesto 2000 was terminated in 2001, due to the opposition of the most powerful member states, who denied that there is a culture of war in the world. This time we have launched a Peace Manifesto to be spread directly on social media without depending on the United Nations.

You don't need to take the course. You can begin by simply reading the Manifesto 2025 here, and spreading the word about it on social media. We hope that this will develop such a snowball of support by people around the world that the culture of peace becomes the agenda for the next evolution of human history.

SENIOR ADVISORY TEAM
David Adams


David Adams (born 1939) is an American peace activist, scientist, scholar, writer and journalist. As a professor at Wesleyan University he ran a brain research laboratory and published many scientific articles. Adams then served at UNESCO, where he worked on the Culture of Peace initiative that eventually led to the International Year for the Culture of Peace.
David Wick


In 1983 David helped launch the American NGO, Pathways To Peace (PTP) which had assisted the resolution passage of the UN International Day of Peace in 1981. He has been a leader in organizing the celebration of the International Day of Peace since 1984 and he currently serves as a PTP President. With his partner Irene Kai he co-founded the Culture of Peace Commission of the city of Ashland, Oregon. He is Past President of the Rotary E-Club of World Peace.
 
 
Alicia Cabezudo

Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, University of Rosario, Argentina and UNESCO Chair on Culture of Peace and Human Rights at the University of Buenos Aires. She has held offices in the Interntional Peace Bureau, and the Global Alliance of Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace.. She is working now in Colombia as Education Expert and Consultant after the Havanna Peace Agreements Process on Post Conflict Education.
Roberto Emmanuele Mercadillo Caballero

Psychologist, Medical Sciences Researcher at the National Institute of Psychiatry, Mexico, and Secretary of Transitional Justice and Peace, a civil society organization dedicated to peacebuilding. He researches the possibility of peace through neurobiology and cognition of cooperation, altruism, and compassion, as well as public policies for the mental health of victims of violence. 		 
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YOUTH ADVISORY TEAM
Myrian Castello


From Brazil, founder and Executive Director of Fabrica dos Sonhos and the Right to Dream Movement to transform dreaming into a human right and SDG with projects for a culture of peace that range from entrepreneurial education and income generation to reducing gender-based violence. International facilitator, passionate about developing communities and individuals, and promoting systemic changes through participatory leadership and regenerative strategies.
 
Nawal Amjad


Nawal Amjad is a thought leader on authentic leadership & a political scientist from the University of London, LSE & LJMU UK. She has been the Youth Ambassador for UNDP Pakistan and a fellow for YECAP - UNDP Asia-Pacific. In 2022, she was chosen as 1 of 50 Global Youth Leaders by UNESCO-APCEIU & subsequently as 1 of the 25 Regional Leaders of South Asia by UNESCO-APCEIU in 2024. She is a fellow at Academic Leaders Innovation Forum affiliated with UCL's Institute of Education.
Muhammad Ibrahim Sidi


A passionate Nigerian peace educator dedicated to advancing peace, equity, and sustainable development, Muhammad Sidi is the Founder of Salaam Peace Initiative Nigeria and a Teach For Nigeria Fellow. He holds a Bachelor's degree from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He completed the Global Justice and Peacebuilding program (GCED, UNESCO-APCEIU) and Teach For All, 1Million Teachers, and Teach4SDGs Africa (ADIIVE Africa).
Oluwatosin Samuel Ojo


Oluwatosin Samuel Ojo is a Nigerian peace advocate, conflict analyst, and Youth Coordinator for the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrasstructures for Peace (GAMIP). A graduate of Peace and Conflict Studies at Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria. He has trained with the United States Institute of Peace, Amnesty International, ADBI, and YALI, using his leadership experience to empower youths, advance human rights, and foster lasting peace.
Winner Ogogo


Winner Ogogo is a Peacebuilding Consultant, Educator, and SDGs Advocate passionate about promoting peace, humanitarian response, and sustainable development. She is the Founder of the Humanitarian Advocacy Peace & Education Initiative (HAPEI) in Nigeria. In 2023, she was selected by the Biennale of Luanda - Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace as a Youth Leader. She also served as the Youth Coordinator for the Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructure for Peace (GAMIP). 		 
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