Chapter 1

In the 21st century it has become necessary to abolish war itself as an accepted means of settling international disputes, much in the same way as we have abolished slavery in the 19th century and colonialism in the 20th century. 

 

“Reaffirming further that the provisions of the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 and of this Protocol must be fully applied in all circumstances to all persons who are protected by those instruments…”

Chapter 2

 

Chapter 3

 

... the uncertain combination of human fallibility and nuclear weapons carries a high risk of a potential catastrophe. Is there a military justification to accept that risk? The answer is no.

The technological revolution applied to information technology, has been diffusing power away from governments and empowering individuals and groups to play roles in world politics — including wreaking massive destruction — that were once reserved for the governments of states...

Chapter 4

 

Chapter 5

The 20th Century will go down as the bloodiest century in all of human history. We will have lost 160 million people, killed at conflict... If we want to avoid repeting this tragedy in the 21st Century, it is high time to start...

Do not bombard Buenos Aires, we cannot defend ourselves. 
The guys in my neighbourhood hid inside the pipes, 
They spy the sky, wear hemmets, smoke crack, while listening to Clash. 

 

Chapter 6

 

Chapter 7

 

The possibility of integrating all the countries in the region to advance on the declaration “LATIN AMERICA: REGION OF CITIES FOR PEACE” is based on the search of consensus with a view to decide on a regional policy to banish war, terrorism and armed conflicts of any origin whatsoever from the continent. 

 

Chapter 6 - The City

 

 

Do not bombard Buenos Aires, we cannot defend ourselves. 
The guys in my neighbourhood hid inside the pipes, 
They spy the sky, wear hemmets, smoke crack, while listening to Clash. 
(...) If you want to I will listen to the BBC though you might want us to do it in the evening. 
And if you would ever want to kiss me, I may go into your car. 
But do not bombard Buenos Aires. 
Charly García, Do not bombard Buenos Aires

 

 

Cities have, as a rule, been the stage “par excellence” for the development of human life and human activity, eversince ancient times and, even with stronger emphasis, since the rising of bourgeoisie. A social, economic, cultural as well as architectural space created by man which, at the same time, can transform his life with expressions stemming from the permanent encounter of diverse initiatives, manifestations and tendencies. 


In that respect, the city of Buenos Aires represents a kind of paradigm, a living reserve for local culture, born of the mix between “gauchos” and european immigrants: epicentre of “porteñidad” (characteristic of people or things from a port city). 


Buenos Aires, adopted home of province-born intellectuals, such as Juan Bautista Alberdi and Domingo Faustino Sarmiento, who chose the city as the place from where Europe was to be watched, in search of values and principles for the founding of their nation; home of outstanding poets and writers, like Ricardo Rojas , from Tucumán, and Santiago del Estero-born lyricist Homero Manzi , who showed their ability to depict the city in a much more beautiful and artistic way than many “porteños” artists.


Favoured destination for European inmmigrants who settled in the country by the end of the 19th century and the beginnings of the 20th century , bringing, with them, the dream to provide their families with a prosperous future in an unexpectedly extended rich land. It was also host to millions of compatriots who arrived from the poorer interior provinces during the following three or four decades, to join the rising working class which used to dwell in the ouskirts, thus transforming its metropolitan nature into a characteristic megalopolis.

 

Cradle of “conventillo”, tango and milonga, which earned Buenos Aires the monarchic nickname of “the Quenn of the Plata”; scene of Roberto Arlt´s dramatic stories, Jorge Luis Borges´short stories and the lyrics of the first rock’n’roll music in Spanish language. Centre of the intellectual and artistic avant-guard of the 1960’s and 1970’s, and of a significant cultural outbreak which reached every neighbourhood soon after the advent of democracy in the 1980’s. 

 

Administrative hub of the economic activity developed in industrial and rural neighbouring areas, Buenos Aires was founded and re-founded after the large European cities’ model. At present, it houses almost three million inhabitants together with a cultural heritage which is deemed as rich as its history.

 

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