The initial
meetings of The Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF) /
MEXICO Chapter, "Fundación Paz En La Era Nuclear"
(FPEN), were held in July 2003. Members of the founding
group discussed diverse points of view with respect to
the activities that will be developed by the Mexico Chapter
as a non-governmental organization (NGO), dedicated to
promoting and supporting the disarmament policies which
guarantee worldwide stability and peace, respect for human
rights and democratic life. These efforts will also be
promoted in other countries of Latin America.
The central nucleus to create the FPEN
in Mexico will be the Latin American Circle of International
Studies (CLAEI), a non-profit, non-governmental organization
of analysis, investigation and exchange of information,
with headquarters in Mexico City.
The first working meeting was attended
by:
- Rubén Arvizu, director for
Latin America of Nuclear Age Peace Foundation (NAPF).
- Luis Gutiérrez Esparza, president
of the Latin American Circle of International Studies
(CLAEI).
- Luis Alberto Garcia, executive coordinator
of the Latin American Circle of International Studies
(CLAEI).
- Víctor Payán, publisher
and journalist.
- Jaime Mausán, journalist and
film maker, expert in environmental subjects.
- Alejandro Vargas Lugo, broadcaster
and producer of audio-visual materials.
- Wendy Grove, educator and specialist
in children's education.
- Ernestina Hernandez Solano, director
of the Unomásuno newspaper.
- Rafael Solis, political analyst.
- Ana Laura Jiménez, publisher,
specialist in international affairs.
- Carmen Lila Romero, technical and
investigative secretary for the Latin American Circle
of International Studies (CLAEI).
- Miguel Garcia Reyes, specialist for
the Center for Studies on North America (CISAN) at the
National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).
- Cesar Villeda, investigator for the
Faculty of Political and Social Sciences of the UNAM.
It was established that CLAEI would jointly
work with FPEN in Mexico following the objectives expressed
by NAPF, whose headquarters are located in Santa Barbara,
California. It was agreed to make the legal arrangements
for the operation of FPEN and assistance has been requested
of expert advisers to fulfill the objectives of NAPF.
The FPEN aspires to provide in Mexico an
objective and trustworthy body of information and awareness
on the issues of weapons of mass destruction, with all
their perils threatening mankind and the environment,
as well as on the economic and political costs that the
use of nuclear, biological, chemical, radiological and
bacteriological arsenals cause to the human race.
FPEN will function as a research center,
gathering men and women able to act in an informed way,
rational, responsible, critical and committed with the
vision to pass on to the next generations a planet free
of the threat of war and weapons of mass destruction.
It will work to create and spread knowledge ethically,
scientifically and professionally.
The FPEN in Mexico will have among their
main objectives to distribute precise information on the
proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in order
to develop a more sensitive Mexican society regarding
the increasing spread of such weapons, which threaten
the world's civilizations. These perils are increasing
due to conflicting religious groups, intolerance and xenophobic
attitudes of ultra-conservatives in power.
The FPEN will be an NGO formed by individuals
with two fundamental characteristics: first, a commitment
to world peace, and second, a firm conviction to promote
a culture of peace.
The members of the FPEN/México
will have three fundamental goals:
1.
Promote initiatives
to eliminate the nuclear weapons that threaten humanity.
2.
Promote the regulation
of international laws involving the matters of disarmament.
3.
Build a legacy of peace
by means of education and activism.
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Only with the combination of all the aforementioned
will Mexico be able to establish the FPEN resulting in
the acceptance and goodwill of the public.
FPEN will establish a program for the exchange
of information, allowing international individuals and
organizations to participate. Organizing seminars and
conferences, with the participation of academics, legislators
and the general public interested in a disarmament policy.
It was suggested to approach the Secretary
of Public Education (SEP) to allow FPEN to offer conferences
in academic institutions. In addition, a special request
would be presented to SEP to consider the possibility
that the official school text books -- basically for primary
and secondary -- include a special chapter dedicated to
the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction. The
chapters would be elaborated by experts in the subject,
with simple and graphic language, in order to grasp the
attention of the readers.
FPEN anticipates making a public
presentation in Mexico with a press conference, inviting
national and foreign media and the general public. This
would take place in the Club of Journalists of Mexico
and would be attended by the President of the NAPF, David
Krieger; the NAPF Director for Latin America, Rubén
Arvizu; Luis Gutiérrez Esparza, as President of
the FPEN; Luis Alberto Garcia, who would be the executive
coordinator; along with other founding members.
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