144 new members bring 2,020 membership-drive within reach

December 12, 2007

Details new members October 2007  http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/topic/list/43.htm

Details new members November 2007 http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/topic/list/44.htm

Mayors for Peace is moving swiftly to reach its target to count 2,020 cities and municipalities on January 1st 2008. On December 1st 2007 Mayors for Peace counted 1,937 members in 126 countries. During October and November 2007 the network welcomed 144 new members, consolidating Mayors for Peace in Europe and welcoming membership in four new African countries: Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ghana and Mauritius. On average over 2 new members joined every single day. With 83 members short on December 1st efforts are now underway in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Scotland and the US.

New members were welcomed in 25 countries: Australia (1), Belgium (21), Botswana (2), Burkina Faso (1), Cameroon (7), Canada (1), Czech Republic (2), Denmark (6), Estonia (1), France (7), Ghana (1), India (2), Iran (1), Iraq (18), Italy (10), Mauritius (1), Netherlands (1), Pakistan (1), Portugal (1), Romania (3), Serbia (1), Tanzania (1), Turkey (2), South-Africa (1) and Uganda (51).

Significant was the new membership of 51 Mayors from Uganda as well as membership of the Mayors of Incirlik (Turkey) and Aviano (Italy) where US nuclear bombs are deployed. Membership by the Mayors of Incirlik and Aviano signals the democratic deficit and growing opposition to deployment of US nuclear weapons in Europe. In a common position marking the 20th anniversary of the INF Treaty last December 8th seven Mayors confronted with US nuclear weapons deployments on the territory of their municipality in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey demand withdrawal of US nuclear B-61 to comply with NPT Article VI.

Encouraged by the results of the membership-drive the Executive Conference of Mayors for Peace meeting in Florence (Italy) decided on November 22nd to continue capacity building with on average one new member per day for the 2008 - 2010 period. Further growth of the organization is essential as Mayors for Peace prepares for the decisive decade for nuclear disarmament and the elimination of all nuclear weapons by 2020.