51 new members bring total membership to 2,368 cities in 131 countries and regions

August 1, 2008

The past month, between June 30th and August 1st, another 51 Cities have joined Mayors for Peace bringing total membership to 2368 members in 131 countries and regions. New members are from Australia (1), Andorra (1), Belgium (3), Denmark (1), France (1), Netherlands (6), Spain (15), Iraq (6), Japan (15) and USA (2). With La Massana we welcome our first member in Andorra.

With 15 new members in Spain we should especially thank Mr. Josep Mayoral i Antigas, the Mayor of Granollers, who is working through the Catalan Association of Municipalities to increase support for the 2020 Vision. Also Greenpeace Spain continues to play a significant role in capacity building in Spain.

In The Netherlands joined efforts by IPPNW Netherlands, IKV/Pax Christi and the Dutch Association of Municipalities resulted in 6 new members and a successful meeting of Dutch Mayors for Peace in The Hague. Special guest during this meeting was Ms. Joke Kersten, Mayor of Uden. Uden hosts an estimated 20 US nuclear weapons at the Dutch airforce base of Volkel. During the meeting the Ms. Kersten expressed serious concerns about lack of transparency and security surrounding the base.

Also in Japan membership continues to grow significantly and adds up to 158 members, or already 156 Japanese new members for 2008 alone.

Mr. Khder Kareem, the Mayor of Halabja (Iraq) continues to mobilise support for a "world without weapons of mass destruction". Halabja was the scene of use of chemical weapons in 1988 during the Iraq - Iran war.