IPB head shares challenges working for peace
Sean Conner greeted warmly on Canadian visit
Peace activists gathered in Toronto last week to meet the International Peace Bureau’s new Executive Director, Sean Conner.
Sean, 32, made the trip while visiting his family home in upstate New York for Thanksgiving to discuss peace work and activism with IPB members and supporters in Southern Ontario. The International Peace Bureau has over 300 members groups in 70 countries and is based jn Berlin, Germany.
He highlighted the importance of intersectional coalition building, intercultural and international exchange, and the strengthening of civil society.
In a casual, friendly conversation, he told the nearly 20 people who attended about the International Peace Bureau’s many campaigns – especially calling for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, and the more recent Israel-Hamas conflict.
A conference in Vienna organized by the IPB this year calling for a ceasefire in Ukraine was especially challenging for Sean because of fierce resistance by Ukraine supporters in Austria who see a ceasefire as an acquiescence to Russia’s ongoing occupation. Nevertheless, the conference proceeded and views were shared from many perspectives.
Likewise, with the outbreak of renewed conflict between Israel and Hamas following the Oct 7 attacks on Israeli civilians, and the ensuing bombing of Gaza by Israel, Sean has drawn on the IPB’s strong relationships with peace movements in both Israel and Gaza to work for peace.
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PeaceQuest would like to thank fellow IPB member group Canadian Voice of Women for Peace for co-hosting Sean.
Thanks to everyone for attending