The Movement for the Abolition of War (MAW) is part of an ongoing world-wide uprising, challenging the inevitability of war and guided by the Preamble to the Charter of the United Nations signed in 1945; a vision of a world in which conflicts are resolved without resort to violence, to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war” which to this day continues to bring untold suffering to humankind as well as deepening the climate crisis.
MAW’s 2025 Remembrance Lecture “Ending Wars”
Speaker: Lord John Alderdice
Sunday 9th Nov at 3pm, Hamilton House, Mabledon Place, WC1H 9BD
To watch the lecture, or download the text of the lecture, visit: https://abolishwar.net/remembrance-lecture-2025
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9th November was a busy day for peacemakers!
https://abolishwar.net/9th-november/
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MAW Annual General Meeting 2025
held on Sunday, 9 November.
More information is available at: https://abolishwar.net/maw-agm-2025/
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Read the latest Abolish War newsletter, October 2025, which includes:
US Nuclear Weapons return to USAF Lakenheath, Suffolk
Update from the Bonn Climate Conference
Notice of the MAW AGM, 2025
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Statement on the United Nations, UN Day, 24th October 2025
Strengthening the UN has always been a key element in MAW’s outlook…
More here: https://abolishwar.net/un-80th/
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New! The Peace Movement and International Law
Read Professor Ian Linden’s elegant summary of a vast field:
https://abolishwar.net/the-peace-movement-and-international-law/
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A world in multi-crisis
John Gittings writes “How can we argue for peace when the talk is all of war?…”
Read more: https://abolishwar.net/a-world-in-multi-crisis/
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Celebrate the United Nations at 80!
Hilary Evan’s post: “…disasters and limitations make the headlines. The huge successes of the last 80 years, most notable in the fields of health, education and human rights, take a little more effort to identify…” Read more https://abolishwar.net/celebrate-the-united-nations-at-80/
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MAW is deeply concerned about the risk of a Russia-NATO war resulting from the latest upward spiral of missile and other attacks between Russia and Ukraine. Such a war has the potential to erupt into full-scale exchanges, and thus presents the ultimate peril of escalation to nuclear Armageddon. We therefore fully support the statement presented to 10 Downing St by CND and others, see announcement here:
https://cnduk.org/letter-to-the-prime-minister-about-the-escalating-crisis-in-ukraine-26-november-2024/
We urge members and supporters to follow this up with messages to MPs and other influential persons and organisations.”
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MAW opposes the installation of new nuclear weapons at Lakenheath.
Read the full statement at https://abolishwar.net/Lakenheath
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Tree for Bruce!
Poem for Bruce
Latest Newsletter
The MAW newsletter Abolish War is produced quarterly.
Nuclear Prohibition
The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons marks the beginning of the end of the military hegemony of the nuclear-armed powers as nation after nation asserts its right to live in a world free of the threat of nuclear annihilation.
Remembrance 2023
MAW Remembrance Lecture for 2023.
The role of the arts and culture in promoting peace and opposing war
Fifty people were privileged to hear Michael Mears, when he gave the 2023 MAW Remembrance Lecture in the lovely auditorium at the Oasis Hub in Waterloo.
Climate Change
Climate change can increase the risk of violent conflict, so why don’t we redirect some of the funding for military technologies to help tackle climate insecurity?
United Nations
How do we build up recognition of the UN as the one body which can deal with global problems facing humanity?
Rethinking Security
We challenge the narrow definition of “security” used by governments to justify military intervention. Human security means adequate food and water, education and healthcare, and a secure place to live on a planet not threatened by climate change.
War is not inevitable! Our aims are to:
Spread the belief that the abolition of war is both desirable and possible
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Raise awareness of constructive alternatives to war for resolving national and international disputes
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Develop research-based materials and strategies to educate pupils, students, the general public and members of local and national government
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Work with other people and organisations who are already active in the creation of alternatives to war
Inspiration from the Archives!
Lockdown reading?
Two recent books reviewed here: The Big Book of Wisdomby Larry CullifordHero Press Postnational Memory, Peace and War: Making Pasts Beyond Bordersby Nigel YoungRoutledge