The 1st of March is a significant date for the Marshall Islands, as it marks the anniversary of the Castle Bravo nuclear test conducted by the United States at Bikini Atoll in 1954. This was the most powerful nuclear bomb ever tested by the U.S., with an explosion 1,000 times stronger than the Hiroshima bomb, causing displacement, radiation-related illnesses, and environmental devastation.

Each year, the Marshall Islands observe Nuclear Victims Remembrance Day on 1 March, honouring those affected by the nuclear testing programme that took place between 1946 and 1958 (download the flyer).

On 28 February 2025, the Permanent Mission of the Marshall Islands in Geneva, the World Council of Churches, and the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation organised a special commemoration at Maison de la Paix (DCAF) in Geneva. The solemn gathering brought together ambassadors, other Permanent Mission representatives, UN agencies and NGOs of International Geneva for a powerful moment of reflection and commitment, to honour survivors and call for justice, recognition, and disarmament.

We were honoured to welcome the Honourable Kalani Kaneko, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, who emphasised the need for collective action: “True justice has to be a collective effort. I call on the UN and all Permanent Missions to assist the Marshallese in the pursuit of nuclear justice.”

Peter Prove, Director of the CCIA at the World Council of Churches, praised the leadership of the Marshall Islands government in healing past wounds through accountability and justice.

Ambassador Doreen Debrum of the Permanent Mission of the Marshall Islands in Geneva highlighted the crucial role of youth, welcoming collaboration and celebrating a traditional Pacific dance performed by ten children and young people.

True justice has to be a collective effort.

Hon. Kalani Kaneko, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Republic of the Marshall Islands

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As Ignacio Packer, Executive Director of Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation, reminded us in his welcoming words:
“Today, as we honour the victims and survivors of the nuclear weapons tests conducted in the Marshall Islands, we are reminded of the devastating consequences when trust is broken, when power overshadows responsibility, and when collaboration fails. The theme of this year’s remembrance, Ain Bartak Ju Ae Maroñroñ—unite and work collaboratively— is not just a call for today but a guiding principle for how we must move forward: by creating inclusive and safe spaces where people from all walks of life can come together, share their experience, learn from each other and work collaboratively on sustainable solutions for the future. May this commemoration not only serve as a tribute to those who have suffered but also as an urgent call to action. Let us redouble our efforts to build a world where trust prevails over division, where dialogue leads to understanding, and where peace is not just an aspiration but a reality."

Let us redouble our efforts to build a world where trust prevails over division, where dialogue leads to understanding, and where peace is not just an aspiration but a reality.

Ignacio Packer, Executive Director, Caux Initiatives of Change

"Unite and work collaboratively" - The conversation continues

In the currenct global context, it is more crucial than ever to keep the conversations for peace, collaboration and dialogue going.

The Caux Forum 2025 at the Caux Palace, Switzerland, offers a safe space of trust, care, solidarity and respect and encourages each of us to reflect on our roles, explore our resources, and connect with our responsibilities as changemakers.

Join us this summer at the Caux Forum and let's collaboratively address the burning issues of our time to find innovative, creative and sustainable answers!

• Caux Democracy Forum: 8 - 12 July 2025  - #CauxDemocracy
• Caux Inner Development Goals Forum: 28 July - 1 August 2025 - #CauxIDG

We can all make a difference! Let's be united for change!

REGISTER NOW and stay tuned by signing up for our newsletter!

"It's time to speak up and stand up for democracy! This is the future we are talking about, and we have to let young people have their say and give them a platform!", explained Heinrich Pick, board member of IofC Germany and Co-Executive Director of Elfgenpick.

"In a time where discussions become heated and different opinions seem more and more irreconcilable, it is crucial to create spaces where we can exchange ideas and perspectives. Without headline rhetoric, but with respect, openness and a willingness to listen. This is the main reason why we decided to organise a dialogue on democracy in Germany, just two days prior to the German federal elections".

In the presence of a local TV channel, 65 people joined the event on 21 February 2025 in Augsburg, Germany, to listen to panelists from politics, academia and civil society and local artists on the theme "Are we out of our minds?" and to discuss what is needed to strengthen democracy in current times.

The event was a direct result of last summer's Caux Democracy Forum and organised by Elfgenpick in collaboration with Initiatives of Change Germany, as a contribution to the initiative "1000 Spaces for Democracy" by the German Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung).

Watch the livestream

Caux Forum 2025: Let's talk about democracy

It is essential to keep the conversation on democracy going. Therefore join us next July for the second edition of the Caux Democracy Forum!

The Caux Democracy Forum, taking place at the Caux Palace, Switzerland, from 8 to 12 July, 2025, comes at a critical juncture for global democracy. It creates a unique platform, bringing together voices from civil society, youth, grassroots movements, governments, academia, corporations and non-traditional sectors to delve deeper into the values essential to strengthen democracy in a rapidly evolving world!

Sign up here and secure your seat at the Caux Democracy Forum!  Let's talk about democracy!

Nestled in the mountains above Lake Geneva, the Caux Initiatives of Change Foundation and its emblematic centre for peace and reconciliation, the Caux Palace, continue to pursue their mission of dialogue and exchange while also making the centre more accessible to the local community. Ignacio Packer, Executive Director of the Foundation, shared insights into the vision and future of this unique place in an interview with journalist Cyril Zoller on Radio Chablais.

A site steeped in history and looking to the future

The Caux Palace, inaugurated in 1902 as a luxury hotel of the Belle Époque, has borne witness to history, serving as a sanctuary for refugees and prisoners of war during the 1940s. Since 1946, thanks to a group of Swiss citizens who bought the palace, it has served as a space dedicated to dialogue, reconciliation and peace, in particular for the Initiatives of Change network. Today it continues to welcome participants from around the world to engage in dialogue on critical issues including the revitalisation of democratic values and Inner Development Goals, which will be central themes in the Caux Forum this July.

Strengthening connections with the region is a key focus for the Caux Foundation. ‘This place belongs to us all, and we want it to be a space where everyone can have a unique experience,’ explains Ignacio Packer..

A rich programme accessible to all

In its efforts to foster greater local engagement, the Caux Foundation is running the Caux Encounters event, scheduled for 15 March 2025 - a day dedicated to inspiration, creativity and connection. On the programme: inspiring conversations and encounters, mysterious and mesmerizing performances by the Cie Zappar, a shared meal and moments that bring us together, a dynamic concert with pianist Xavier Silva Ferreira, a thought-provoking exhibition by Syrian visual artist Dilawer Dildar, and to round off the evening, a little touch of humour and caustic surprise.

‘We want to break down barriers, build bridges between cultures and offer new opportunities for sharing,’ Ignacio emphasises. The event on 15 March is free and open to everyone. You can register here!

Art also plays an essential role in this vision, with the Caux Palace hosting cultural and artistic events throughout the year in partnership with the Saison Culturelle de Montreux, Septembre Musical and other regional partners. ‘Art is a powerful tool for connection and creative expression ,’ says Ignacio Packer.

Additionally, the Caux Palace's exceptional spaces are also available for private occasions, offering local residents the opportunity to experience this exceptional setting.

A commitment to local and global collaboration

With the support of the municipality of Montreux and in close collaboration with the Montreux Tourist Office, the Caux Palace continues to develop its offers. Collaborations with local associations, such as EVAM and the PAIRES association, reflect our commitment to inclusion and intercultural dialogue.

Beyond its role as a meeting place, the Caux Palace is also partially leased to a prestigious hotel school of the Swiss Education Group, fostering synergies between students, visitors and the wider community.

Listen to the podcast with Ignacio Packer (in French):

• Part 1
• Part 2

Welcome to the Caux Palace: a call for local initiatives

Caux is more than a historic landmark—it is a living, breathing space where ideas take shape, relationships are forged, and new initiatives find a home. Whether through dialogue, artistic expression, or community engagement, the Caux Palace invites all to take part in shaping its future.

Interested? Find more information on:

• our hospitality offers
• our guided tours of the Caux Palace
• our initiatives and our upcoming events
• our training and facilitation offers
• or subscribe to our newsletter

SEE YOU SOON AT THE CAUX PALACE!

A Brave New World? What do the concepts of stability, community and decay mean in our lives and in an ever-shifting world? This January, Sarah Noble, Head of Global Engagement at Caux Initiatives of Change, joined the inspiring Emergent Future conference at Asia Plateau, the IofC centre in India.

In a world where the stirrings of something new can be felt on all levels of society, the event brought together global changemakers from diverse backgrounds, exploring the delicate balance between community, stability, and the challenges ahead and providing a space to pause, reflect, and reimagine—both individually and collectively.

In one of the sessions, Sarah shared one of her favourite quotes from The Honorable Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Canada, who said that "innovation isn't always about creating new things or new ways of doing. Rather it sometimes involves looking back at our old ways and bringing them forward to this new situation."

The conference in India might be over but the conversation on new and emergent ways to sustainable change continues! Join us this summer at the Caux Forum with two inspiring events at the Caux Palace in Caux, Switzerland:

• Caux Democracy Forum: 8 - 12 July - #CauxDemocracy
• Caux Inner Development Goals Forum: 28 July - 1 August - #CauxIDG

Early-bird registrations to join global changemakers from around the globe are still possible until 20 February 2025!  

REGISTER HERE FOR THE CAUX FORUM

Photos: Wangyal Damko