World Peace Council

The Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC) hails Victory Day, May 9, the date on which World War II formally ended in Europe, with the surrender of what remained of the military forces of Nazi Germany. Seventy-seven years ago, after more than fifty million dead and thirty million wounded and maimed, the deadliest and most destructive war in all human history finally ended.

To mark this event today takes on added and particular significance, given the threats that Humanity faces in the current global context.

Every month holds reasons related to the history of the peace movement that deserve to be signalled – among these, April assumes a particular meaning.

On April 25, 1974, the Revolution was, itself, an act of peace, paving the way to the end of the colonial wars, to the creation of new countries whose people conquered their national independence or to the full relationship of Portugal with all the peoples of the world.

40th Peace Marathon March held by EEDYE, thousands attended the mass closing rally

The 40th Peace Marathon March was held by the Greek Committee for International Détente and Peace (EEDYE) on 22nd May 2022, which coincided with the date of the assassination of Grigoris Lambrakis, Vice-President of EEDYE and MP, in 1963 in the city of Thessaloniki.

The Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation (CPPC) salutes the 48th. anniversary of the April Revolution, one of the most notable events in the history of Portugal.

On this date, we honour the April soldiers and all the men and women who fought against the dictatorship in factories, fields and schools, paving the way for the revolution, which made it possible to respond to the just aspirations of our people who for decades longed for a society of freedom, justice, progress, fraternity and peace.

40th MARATHON PEACE MARCH
SUNDAY 22 MAY 2022
Start: 8.00 - Marathon Tomb
Finish and rally: 18.30 - Ministry of National Defense

With the conflict in Ukraine entering its third month, the likelihood of a successfully negotiated peace — an immediate necessity — is becoming ever more remote. This proxy war by the United States is designed to use the Ukrainian people to mortally disable Russia. Those who profit from war benefit, while those most vulnerable suffer: Ukrainian civilians, but more broadly working people internationally and especially in the Global South.

On 6th May 2022 the Regional Continental meeting of the Americas was held in the Cuban province of Guantanamo, hosted by the Cuban Institute for the Friendship of the Peoples (ICAP).

Besides the Cuban ICAP, delegates from the following countries and respective anti-imperialist peace movements took part in the meeting: Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Barbados, Guyana, USA, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico along with guest organizations from Switzerland, Britain and Syria.

Since 1974, April 17 marks an international day to express solidarity with Palestinian political prisoners who remain in Israeli prisons.

There are thousands of Palestinian political prisoners, including minors, who are jailed in Israeli prisons, many of them under so-called administrative detentions - arbitrary detentions, issued by the Israeli military and approved by its military courts, which can be continually renewed, imposing years of imprisonment without charges or trial.

April 4 marks the 73rd. anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). It has been 73 years of unjustifiable existence in the light of the United Nations Charter and 73 years of activity contrary to the principles of peace and disarmament.

On April 2, 1976, the deputies of the Constituent Assembly, elected in the first free elections in our country, adopted and promulgated the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic.