Mayors of Fongo-Tongo (Cameroon), Montreal (Canada), Bastogne (Belgium), Mexico City (Mexico) and Montevideo (Uruguay) join international leadership Mayors for Peace
March 2, 2010
We have the pleasure to announce that the Mayors of Bastogne (Belgium), Montreal (Canada), Fongo-Tongo (Cameroon), Mexico City (Mexico) and Montevideo (Uruguay) have accepted to join the international political leadership of Mayors for Peace through Associate Membership of the 2020 Vision Campaign Association.
Associate Members are expected to take leadership in their country or region concerning capacity building, including membership recruitment, political lobby-work, involving national associations of local authorities, fundraising and joining the annual strategic meetings. The next meeting is planned during the NPT Review Conference at the UN in May.
Associate Members are expected to take leadership in their country or region concerning capacity building, including membership recruitment, political lobby-work, involving national associations of local authorities, fundraising and joining the annual strategic meetings. The next meeting is planned during the NPT Review Conference at the UN in May.
Associate Membership is a new category approved by Mayors for Peace as a first step for a growing number of cities to join the Executive Conference and eventually be welcomed as Vice-President Cities during the next general Conference of Mayors for Peace in 2013.
You can view the actual Executive Cities of Mayors for Peace on: http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/membercity/executive.html
You can view the actual Executive Cities of Mayors for Peace on: http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/membercity/executive.html
Fongo-Tongo is the first African city to join the political leadership of Mayors for Peace. Special welcome therefore to Mr. Daniel Tsakem, the Mayor of Fongo Tongo. The fast growth in Cameroon is the result of ongoing efforts by Jean-Paul Nanfack, Vice Mayor of Fongo-Tongo in charge of International Cooperation. Cameroon now counts 54 members, the highest number in Africa. Fongo-Tongo is also planning to play a role to develop Mayors for Peace in West Africa.
The decision of Montreal was reached after careful consideration by Mayor Gerald Tremblay and the international relations department. Montreal is a sister-city of Hiroshima and agreed to represent and build capacity in the French speaking part of Canada. As a firm sign of commitment, Montreal also agreed to donate 5,000 CAN$. Canada counts 77 members of Mayors for Peace.
Bastogne is the Belgian city in the southern region of Belgium which has secured the regional secretariat for Mayors for Peace since November 2008. Mayor Philippe Collard, also Member of the Belgian Parliament, plays a critical role. Wallonia now counts 94 members or 35,87% of the 262 Mayors in Wallonia. Efforts are underway to increase this number through a cross-party initiative and call all members for voluntary financial contributions. Bastogne is the third Belgian city joining the international leadership of Mayors for Peace with the City of Brussels coordinating the campaign in the Brussels region where 15 of the 19 Mayors have joined (78,94%) and Ypres in the Flemish region where 239 (77,59%) of the 308 Flemish Mayors have joined Mayors for Peace.
On February 11th Mayor Ebrard from Mexico City accepted the invitation to join the leadership of Mayors for Peace through Associate Membership. Mexico City is not only the place where the first NWFZ Treaty was signed, it is also the host of OPANAL. OPANAL is the intergovernmental Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Two days later, on February 13th, Mr. Luis Polakoff, Director General of the Dept. of Economic Development and Regional Integration announced during a press conference that Montevideo had also accepted the invitation to join the leadership of Mayors for Peace through Associate Membership. As a first step they are now working through the Congress of Mayors from Uruguay to invite other Mayors to join Mayors for Peace.
Following careful consultations, another 11 Mayors have been invited to become Associate Members. In Europe the Mayors of Basel & Lausanne (Switwerland), Ovar (Portugal) and Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) have received an invitation to join the international leadership. In North-America Whistler (Canada) was invited while in Latin-America Matagalpa (Nicaragua), Mora (Costa Rica) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) are now considering joining the leadership. In the Pacific the Mayor of Faa'a (Polynesia) has also been asked to bring his experience on board. The Mayor of Faa'a was very active to demand a halt of the French nuclear testing campaign in Polynesia.
Following careful consultations, another 11 Mayors have been invited to become Associate Members. In Europe the Mayors of Basel & Lausanne (Switwerland), Ovar (Portugal) and Luxembourg City (Luxembourg) have received an invitation to join the international leadership. In North-America Whistler (Canada) was invited while in Latin-America Matagalpa (Nicaragua), Mora (Costa Rica) and Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) are now considering joining the leadership. In the Pacific the Mayor of Faa'a (Polynesia) has also been asked to bring his experience on board. The Mayor of Faa'a was very active to demand a halt of the French nuclear testing campaign in Polynesia.
