Our Work

In this section we describe our achievements before the foundation was registred, as well as what we do through different methods and ways of working.

Participation at the Öckerö Lighthouse Conversation September 13th-15th 2024

Ira Sundberg, co-founder of ADF, attended the first “Öckerö Lighthouse Conversation” September 13th–15th 2024. The theme was “How do we heal the public conversation? A gathering to find new paths forward”. The "pitch" for the conversation was expressed like this: "It is urgent that we find ways to explore seemingly impossible conversations and mobilize the best within and between us. We are assembling about 50 thought leaders and doers for a “reflection and action” gathering”. Four themes were the backbone

Citizens´ Debate at Commons Hub in Brussels About Multilateral Peace-making in Ukraine

In November 21st 2024 Ingvar Rönnbäck, Founder and Chair of Another Development Foundation was invited to a public dialogue about reviving European, multilateral, inclusive, negotiated peace-making, to help end the Russia-Ukraine war. In this post we copy from the invitation by the organizer World BEYOND War: "The horrific Russia-Ukraine and Israel-Palestine wars and the apparent unwillingness for negotiated solutions can make us forget that Europe has not only a tradition of conflict, but a long tradition of peace-making as well.

Participation at Imagine Africa Beyond War: Second World BEYOND War Africa Regional Peace Conference – November 15th-16th 2024

Another Development Foundation participated at the second World Beyond War Africa Regional Peace Conference. ADF was represented by Ingvar Rönnbäck, Founder and Chair of the Board. Approximately 100 persons attended the event. This annual free event was aimed at showcasing the opportunities that World BEYOND War (WBW) chapters in Africa have to end wars and contribute to world peace-building efforts. The first day of the conference focused on the work of the African chapters. It included an overview of the

Participation at the Swedish Forum for Human Rights in Skellefteå, Sweden – November 14th-15th 2024

It is 10 years ago since this event - the biggest event on Human Rights in the Nordic countries - took place in the County of Västerbotten, then in the City of Umeå focusing on culture and human rights with the title "Voices for Human Rights" and with the founder of ADF as the initiator and regional project manager. This time the event focused on "Human Rights in an Era of Transition". More information about this event is available at:

Lecture By and Meeting With David Swanson, Executive Director, World Beyond War

Yesterday, Ingvar Rönnbäck, Another Development Foundation had the honour of listening and talking to David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War who was in Stockholm talking about how to end war and abolish war as a social institution.David is the first-ever recipient of the Real Nobel Prize, awarded by the Lay Down Your Arms Foundation in Oslo, Norway where he was November 10th to recevie the prize.David Swanson is also an author, activist, journalist, and radio host. Besides of

Democracy and Inclusion – Nonviolence as a Force for Change

On United Nations Day for Nonviolence - October 2nd - an event on nonviolence as a force for changes was organized by the organisation Friend in Umeå, Folk University, The Library of the City of Umeå, the study association Bilda and Nonviolence 2024. In the first part of the event Professor Stellan Vinthagen, Amherst University, Massachusetss, US was held that discussed "What Can Activists for Social Justice Learn from Nonviolence and Civil Disobedience". The lecture was followed by a panel

Equality in Action – 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution – Participation by Meg Donevan

Our board member, Meg Donevan, was invited to share her research on the harms of pornography at the 4th World Congress for the Abolition of Prostitution. Titled “Equality in Action,” the event was hosted by CAP International, a global movement of grassroots and survivor-led organizations, and brought together survivors, researchers, frontline workers, activists, parliamentarians, and officials. The congress emphasized the multiple and intersectional oppressions that underpin the prostitution system, with a particular focus on the historical marginalization of indigenous women

Nonviolence 2024 October 15th – Nonviolent Resistance to Militarisation and Autocratisation

Welcome to Umeå (Ubmeje) and Umeå University (Ubmeje Universitiäthta) for a conversation on nonviolent and peaceful resistance to militarisation and autokratisation in US, UK and Sweden! Outline: Welcome and opening remarks by Ingvar Rönnbäck, Founder of Another Development Foundation Conversation 1: Resisting Militarisation in US, UK & Sweden Panelists: Phill Gittins, Director of Education, World BEYOND War, UK Office Joanne Sheehan, Staff at War Resisters League, US and former Chair of War Resisters International Kerstin Bergeå, Chair of Swedish Peace

Umeå for Antiracism – Summary and Future

On August 29th a summary evaluation of the project "Mobilisation for Antiracism in Umeå" was carried out. Part of the evaluation was a focus group interview with representatives for the reference group who have assisted the steering group and the project manager through out the project. The project has reached all result goals part of the impact goals. The project has produced an agreement for organisations in the civil society to sign, as well as a learning space on antiracism.

Sweden in NATO and Military Agreement with the US – What´s happening now?

On May 5th 2024 an open lecture was organized by the Left Party in Sweden on what is happening in relation to Sweden becoming a member of NATO and signing a a military agreement (DCA) with the US. The lecture was held by Gabriella Irsten, Expert at Swedish Peace and Arbitration Society. The lecture was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Caroline Täljeblad from the Left Party. The panel included: Gudrun Norberg, Member of Parliament, Left Party Kristoffer Fredriksson,

Reporting on Gaza in Swedish Newspapers and Media is a fatal failure – A Debate Article

In the magazine "The Journalist" (Journalisten in Swedish) a number of journalists and media professionals have signed a debate article about the reporting on Gaza by Swedish newspapers and in media. This is the first paragraph in this article: "When it comes to news reporting on Gaza, the deadliest place for civilians in the world, we see a fatal failure. Israel is presented as a democracy that fights terrorists, while the people who are subjected to horrible war crimes -

Project for Collective Civil Courage – A Report

The project Collective Civil Courage has now been reported to the funding organisation The Swedish National Council of Adult Education who is an NGO tasked with distributing national public grants to the adult education associationss and folk high schools. The report was delived to The Swedish National Council of Adult Education in March 2024. The project was managed by the Study Association Bilda in partnership with Swedish Fellowship of Reconcilliation and Härnösands Folk High School with Another Development Foundation as