PeaceLink

PeaceLink (also styled Peacelink) is an Italian eco-pacifist association and telematic network founded in 1991. It began as a bulletin board system (BBS) network for exchanging telematic messages, inspired by Fidonet, and has since evolved into a web-based platform for peace, environmental, and social justice information. The name means "link of peace." The organization is based in Taranto, Italy, and operates primarily in Italian, with some content available in Spanish, English, and French. PeaceLink's mission is to provide transparent information about wars and nonviolent initiatives, and to democratize knowledge. Its activities are carried out entirely by volunteers—editors, technicians, and translators receive no compensation—a model described as "volunteerism of information." The website runs on PhPeace, a custom content management system developed by Francesco Iannuzzelli. Over the decades, PeaceLink has been active in numerous peace campaigns, including during the First Gulf War (1991), the Kosovo War (1999), and the Iraq War (2003), when the site reached its peak traffic. It has conducted in-depth studies on depleted uranium use, nuclear submarine transit risks, and industrial pollution in Taranto, including dioxin, benzo(a)pyrene, mercury, and arsenic contamination. The association also supports humanitarian initiatives, particularly in Africa, and has backed the work of missionary Renato Kizito Sesana and doctor Chiara Castellani. In recent years, PeaceLink has continued its peace activism, including initiatives for Ukraine starting in 2022, and launched "PeaceLink for Future" in 2019, an active citizenship training program. The organization remains a volunteer-driven, non-profit entity, with no commercial products or services, and is recognized for its citizen science and data journalism efforts, such as monitoring ILVA's industrial pollution.

PeaceLink was founded in 1991 as a bulletin board system (BBS) network for exchanging telematic messages, inspired by Fidonet, with which it shared several nodes. Its name means "link of peace." The initiative emerged in the wake of the First Gulf War of 1991, aiming to provide transparent information on wars and nonviolent initiatives. In 1996, its history was published in the book "Telematica per la pace" by Apogeo, written by Carlo Gubitosa, Enrico Marcandalli, and Alessandro Marescotti, co-founder and president of PeaceLink. The association continued its pacifist activities during the Kosovo War (1999) and the Iraq War (2003), when the website reached its peak traffic. A particularly thorough study was conducted on the use of depleted uranium, brought to media attention through a map of locations where such weapons were used. PeaceLink also campaigned on the risk of accidents related to the transit of nuclear-powered submarines. PeaceLink supports humanitarian and international solidarity initiatives, especially for the poorest parts of Africa. It has backed the initiatives of Comboni missionary Renato Kizito Sesana and doctor Chiara Castellani. The organization is also engaged in environmental issues, launching campaigns on dioxin pollution in Taranto, benzo(a)pyrene, mercury, and arsenic. It has linked environmental aspects with ongoing research on health data, focusing on excess mortality in neighborhoods near Taranto's industrial pole. Several agencies and national newspapers have used information processed by PeaceLink, particularly regarding the Taranto pollution case and the fate of the steel plant. PeaceLink gained national prominence on April 27, 2019, when a public confrontation took place in the Prefecture of Taranto between then-Minister Luigi Di Maio and Alessandro Marescotti, president of PeaceLink, who accused the minister of "misleading advertising" regarding ArcelorMittal's pollution data, admonishing him with the words "Look at me, Minister." In November 2019, "PeaceLink for Future" was launched, a training path for active citizenship aimed at peace education, ecology, and solidarity, using distance learning tools to promote seminars, press conferences, meetings, conferences, and forums across Italy. Since the beginning of 2022, PeaceLink has been engaged in peace activities for Ukraine, signaling nowar initiatives through its calendar. The website is based on PhPeace software, created by Francesco Iannuzzelli. Editors, technicians, and translators receive no compensation; the entire activity is configured as "volunteerism of information."

• 2022

  Engages in peace activities for Ukraine.

• 2019

  April 27: Public confrontation between Minister Luigi Di Maio and Alessandro Marescotti in Taranto Prefecture.

• 2019

  November: Launch of 'PeaceLink for Future' training program.

• 2003

  Active during the Iraq War; website reaches peak traffic.

• 1999

  Active during the Kosovo War.

• 1996

  History published in the book 'Telematica per la pace' by Apogeo.

• 1991

  Founded as a BBS network for telematic message exchange, inspired by Fidonet.

Volunteer-driven eco-pacifist association providing transparent information on wars, nonviolent initiatives, and environmental pollution; no commercial products.

Product categories. online peace advocacy · telematics services

1. 1PeaceLink official websitepeacelink.it
2. 2Peacelink - Wikipedia (Italian)it.wikipedia.org
3. 3PeaceLink - Wikidatawikidata.org