On 23 February 2025, the “Global Day of Action to Close Bases” will take place. In the year of the Jubilee, as Pope Francis appealed to redirect military industry funds to combat world hunger, Pax Christi International and some of its national sections will join in this global manifestation. More information to come!
The thousands of military bases, both foreign and domestic, around the world are a critical piece of the war machine. Closing bases is a necessary step to shift the global security paradigm back towards nonviolent conflict transformation and justice as the only lasting foundation to peace.
“With war, a senseless and inconclusive venture, no one emerges a winner; everyone ends up defeated, because war, right from the beginning, is already a defeat, always.”
– Pope Francis, June 2024, as reported by Vatican News
“In the life of the Church, just war theories are a secondary element in Catholic teaching; the first is that we should not engage in warfare at all.”
– Card. Robert W. McElroy, September 2024, as reported by Vatican News
Visit WorldBeyondWar for more information about the Global Day of Action, and to find resources for organising your own action. All actions will be nonviolent actions that will not cause physical harm to people. Example action types include:
- Rallies and vigils at military bases
- Demonstrations at decision-makers’ offices, such as at embassies and Parliament buildings, to advocate for policy change to prevent, close, and convert bases
- Flyering workers at the entrance gates as they drive in and out of the base
- Educational events, such as teach-ins about the impacts of military bases in your area
- Celebratory events at base sites that have been prevented, closed, or converted
- …
