Thursday, May 20th
A Special Night with Jan Eliasson

On Thursday May 20th just over thirty members of Pax et Bellum were treated to an exclusive evening with the distinguished Jan Eliasson. The former President of the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minster of Sweden, and Special Envoy to Darfur spoke candidly with the intimate crowd about issues such as career-defining choices, Swedish foreign policy, UN reform, and several current global crises. While listening and discussing with Mr. Eliasson, guests enjoyed thumb-print cookies, rhubarb cake, and delicious brownies, all provided by Pax et Bellum. All in all, the evening with Jan Eliasson proved to be very special indeed.

Thursday, May 13th
Waffles for Peace: Burma Night

On May 13, Pax et Bellum hosted the unforgettable Waffles for Peace. Hosted by Pax et Bellum’s partner organization, the Dag Hammarskjold Foundation, Waffles for Peace offered its guests the opportunity to discuss the peace and democracy movement within Burma and support Pax et Bellum, all while enjoying delicious waffles prepared and served by the board. The highlight of the evening came from the presentation and discussion period with two Burmese activists. Their candid recounting of events, and thought provoking ideas engaged the entire audience, piquing great questions from all, and leading to more discussions even after the evening had finished. Waffles for Peace was definitely an event not to be missed!

A special thanks to the entire staff of the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation for their gracious welcome – the evening would not have been possible without their generosity.

May 3rd and 6th
Career Days: Professional Workshop & Career Fair

Pax et Bellum’s growth over the past year become strikingly obvious at the 2010 Professional Workshop and Career Fair, with more than 30 different organizational representatives taking part, and over 100 participants. On the first day, attendees were treated to workshops and discussion sessions focused on project cycle management, PhD applications, and CV writing. And on the second day, participants of the career fair filled four different areas in the Department of Peace and Conflict Research to meet with potential employers and discuss their hiring mechanisms as well as their current openings. Apart from gaining novel insight and practical guidance, guests we’re also treated to delicious fika on both days! For more information on who participated in the 2010 professional workshops and career fair, please contact Pax et Bellum, and be sure to check it out next year!

Friday, April 16th

Study Trip to Stockholm

The first Pax et Bellum study trip was certainly a remarkable experience for everyone involved! On April 16, Pax et Bellum took 11 interested members to a fascinating and informative day trip to Stockholm. In the morning, Secretary General of the Olof Palme International Center, Jens Orback, invited the students from Uppsala to the headquarters of the Palme center. In a cozy and welcoming atmosphere he presented the Center’s work on the empowerment of grassroots movements around the world, answered the curious questions of the students and was eager to discuss current political affairs. After a social and cheerful lunch, the director of the Stockholm Center for Strategic Studies (SCSS), Robert Egnell, received Pax et Bellum’s members in the halls of the Swedish National Defense College, to talk about the SCSS, study opportunities at the College, his academic work and his experience from the field. Overall an unforgettable event and certainly not the last Pax et Bellum study trip!

Friday, April 9th
Annual Peace Gasque

They did it again!!! This year the student representatives of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research and Pax et Bellum co-organized the social event of the year for all those studying and working in the field of peace and conflict in Uppsala: the Peace Gasque! The annual event was held on April 9th, and was hosted in the beautiful Gamla Salen of Norrlands Nation. Honoured by the presence of Dag Hammarskjöld Professor Peter Wallensteen, the dinner brought together students, teachers, and researchers from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, who happily took part in the singing led by song master Jakob Piehl and the activities introduced by Toastmaster Jonas Baumann. During the evening speeches were given by professor Wallensteen, the Student Representatives of the department, and the Chairman of Pax et Bellum. There was also a performance by the UCDP staff (peace yeah!) and an interactive personality quiz given by Pax et Bellum. In addition, Pax et Bellum also auctioned off six items that were donated by the staff of the Department in order to raise funds for the Polaris Project. After the dinner, the Peace Gasque continued on the dance floor and in the lounge, where guests mingled and enjoyed the music provided by the DJ. See you next year at the 2011 Peace Gasque!

April 8th and 9th
Spring Negotiation Workshop: Kashmir

On April 7 and 8, Pax et Bellum invited its members to a two-day Negotiation Workshop on the Kashmir conflict! The purpose of the workshop was not only to provide its participants with a thorough knowledge on the work of a mediators and major issues of the conflict, but also to practice tactics of mediation in a simulation. On Wednesday, Pax et Bellum invited Kristine Höglund, an expert on negotiations and third-party intervention from the Department of Peace and Conflict Research, to lecture on actors, reasons and strategies in mediation. After her challenging lecture, the highly motivated participants brainstormed on main issues of the conflict before preparing the upcoming simulation in subgroups representing the conflict parties: Government of India, All Parties Hurriyat Conference, and the mediator team. On Thursday the simulation took place. Gathering again in a pleasant atmosphere at the DPCR and being treated with fika, the participants switched to their roles as members of the conflict parties. The simulation proved to be highly demanding, offering the participants an insight into difficulties mediators face in situations of high mistrust and unwillingness to cooperate. In the end, the parties however could agree on a solution – a successful (hypothetical) end to the Kashmir conflict and a pleasant workshop for all its participants!

Thursday, March 18
Spring Peace Cafe

Pax et Bellum’s Spring Peace Café was definitely memorable, with its 24 participants, 4 impassioned moderators, and lively atmosphere. Held at Värmlands Nation on March 18th, the Peace Café brought Pax et Bellum a plentiful amount of attention, as the banner was visible to everyone entering the nation, and it even caused a few non-members to casually join in on the discussions! With topics ranging from drug abuse and trafficking policy all the way to the impact of violence on the work and presence of humanitarian agencies, the various discussions touched on a diverse number of controversial, albeit significant issues. The Peace Café provided a relaxed and comfortable arena for discussion and debate, leading to a fun evening had by all, and a great start to Spring 2010.

Wednesday, March 10
Post-Copenhagen Perspectives and the Role of NGOs

Post-Copenhagen Perspectives and the Role of NGOs was terrific event for Pax et Bellum to begin March with, as the friendly and casual atmosphere allowed all attendants (including Professor Peter Wallensteen), to participate in the discussions arising. Two different speakers took part in the debate, namely the keynote speaker, Bo Kjellen, Chairman of the Swedish Research Council FORMAS and Senior Research Fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute, and also Jakob Risberg, a climate negotiator representing the Swedish Church. Mr. Kjellen gave a 30 minute speech on the current state of climate negotiations and he also highlighted the challenges in the light of the upcoming conference in Mexico. Mr. Risberg complemented the previous presentation with relevant insight and perspectives on the role of civil society in climate negotiations. The speeches were followed by a lively and intense discussion that was fed by some thought-provoking participant questions. The discussion period allowed the participants to gain first hand insight and relevant information from the field, which was greatly appreciated by all. In addition to the discussion, Pax et Bellum provided a fika prepared with local products, in order to promote awareness on gas emissions. Thanks to the organizing committee, and all those in attendance, Pax et Bellum provided yet another exciting event for its members.

Thursday, February 11
Peace Education and Human Responsibility

The lecture started with a presentation on how the medical community approaches issues related to peace and security, and how it is involved in pro-peace projects. Dr. Lavender discussed his personal experiences, as well as the efforts and principles behind the Life Link project. Moreover, he also touched on some of Life Link’s activities, namely in Iran and Iraq.
After Dr. Levander concluded his presentation, the discussion was opened up, and provided an opportunity for participants to raise questions on education issues in post- conflict situations. In the discussion, Dr. Lavender also looked at the involvement of Life Link in Iranian peace education projects, and shared some of his many personal experiences. At the end of the lecture all of the participants had the opportunity to mingle with Dr. Levander, and continued the discussion while enjoying the fika provided by Pax et Bellum.

Thursday, March 4
World Domination Board Game Night

On March 4th, 2010, Pax et Bellum organized a Board Game Night at Uplands Nation.  More than 25 people joined in the fun, playing games from around the world.  Everyone seemed to enjoy the evening and the last people left Uplands at 00.50 after having finished a six hour game of Risk (!) and cleaned the place up. The game was ended without any definite winner, but Urooj Mian seemed to be the one to have won, had the game gone on.

Friday, December 4
Winter Peace Cafe

On Friday December 4, Pax et Bellum hosted the 2nd Annual Peace Café with the cooperation of the Department of Peace and Conflict Research. Designed as an informal discussion forum pertaining to peace and conflict related issues, the Peace Cafe welcomed 24 participants and 5 moderators to the event, which lasted just over 3 hours. Due to the diverse educational backgrounds of the moderators and participants, there was an assorted and dynamic number of discussion topics, ranging from issues such as post conflict elections, to the legality of humanitarian intervention.

For more pictures, visit our Facebook page.

On February 25th, 2010, Pax et Bellum screened the movie Milk, starring Sean Penn.  The movie was enjoyed by all, as was the carmel corn, coffee and regular popcorn made available to attendees.

November 9, 18.30
Miss the last Pax et Bellum event: A Nuclear Weapons Convention – An Idea Whose Time Has Come!

On November 9, nuclear physicist and AKRONYM Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy founder Rebecca Johnson awed a large crowd of Pax et Bellum members with a lecture and slide show on her work in Nuclear disarmament. Johnson, who also worked under the Weapons of Mass Destruction Investigation in 2003, has been a highly prolific proponent of nuclear disarmament, and she used her vast knowledge and experience to encourage audience members to become more aware of the costs and affects of nuclear weapons. The lecture, which ran for around 45 minutes, was preceded by a stimulating discussion and question period, which allowed audience members to ask Johnson a wide range of questions, stemming from disarmament policy to civilian impact. Afterwards, guests of the Uppsala Peace Museum were treated to fika as well as further discussion with Johnson, to the delight of the audience.

Monday, November 02
Reflections on Kosovo: Experiences and Perspectives

If you missed the event “Reflections on Kosovo: Experiences and Perspectives”, you can read the report and view pictures here.

Friday, October 22 – 23
Negotiation Workshop

If you missed the event “Negotiation Workshop”, you can read the report here.

Monday, October 05, 17.00
Who wants to Forgive and Forget?

If you missed the event “Who wants to Forgive and Forget”, you can read the report and view pictures here.

Download the poster.

September 10, 17.15

Dag Hammarskjöld and Martin Buber: Can We Save True Dialogue in an Age of Mistrust?

Lecture by and debate with Lou Marin
Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation, Övre Slottsgatan 2

In co-operation with the Dag Hammarskjöld Foundation

Hammarskjöld and Buber met three times between 1958 and 1961 and exchanged thoughts as well as letters on how Buber’s philosophy of dialogue could influence practices of international negotiations and interventions. According to Marin, this contact can be divided into two phases, both times initiated by Dag Hammarskjöld after having read some of Buber’s works. From 1958 to mid 1959, their discussions would focus on a more political analysis of the current situation of Cold War perceived as characterized by “walls of distrust within the age of mistrust” (in reference to expressions used by Hammarskjöld and Buber). Buber perceived the age of mistrust arising due to an ever extending and politicised sphere of the state destroying the social sphere in which the individual is embedded in a community on a smaller level. The resulting fear leading to mistrust is a situation, which Hammarskjöld witnessed in his daily life of international negotiations, hence joining Buber in his call for the restructuring of the society. The last month of Hammarskjöld’s life constitutes the second phase of the two men’s encounter, which emerged as a more philosophical discussion of Buber’s thoughts in ‘Between Man & Man’ and ‘I & You’ (the latter of which Hammarskjöld started to translate into Swedish). The reflection upon Buber’s mysticism and understanding of God being the ‘between’ of the I and the You in a situation of true dialogue led the two thinkers to different solutions in case that true dialogue fails. Where Buber would favour continuous initiatives to further dialogue, education, civil disobedience and unarmed ‘interventions’ by the newly founded World Peace Brigade (later Peace Brigades International), Hammarskjöld envisaged military Peacekeeping as an appropriate means if dialogue fails.

The discussion following Lou Marin’s presentation centred mainly around the latter aspects in relation to their appropriateness in situations needing short-term action by the international community.