Russell Tribunal
The Russell Tribunal is like a big group of grown-up people who get together to talk about really important things like war, peace, and justice. Just like how you and your friends have conversations about things that happen at school or in your neighborhood, these grown-ups talk about things that happen in the world that affect many people.
The Russell Tribunal was started by a famous philosopher named Bertrand Russell who wanted to find a way to bring attention to the impact of the Vietnam War. He thought that if a group of experts- like judges- could hear about the war and the horrible things happening in Vietnam, and then talk about it in public, people would listen and maybe try to make a change.
So, he gathered a group of experts from all over the world, called them jurors, and organized a trial-like session. The jurors heard testimonies from people who were affected by the war: soldiers, civilians, and activists. They listened to evidence about the harmful effects of Agent Orange- a chemical used during the war, and also about the torture of prisoners. Then they discussed what they heard and issued a ruling about what they thought should be done to end the war and help the victims.
Since then, the Russell Tribunal has held sessions on many different issues, like the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, indigenous people's rights, and environmental issues. It still brings together groups of experts to hear about problems and talk about solutions, so that people can be aware and get involved in finding ways to make a change.
The Russell Tribunal was started by a famous philosopher named Bertrand Russell who wanted to find a way to bring attention to the impact of the Vietnam War. He thought that if a group of experts- like judges- could hear about the war and the horrible things happening in Vietnam, and then talk about it in public, people would listen and maybe try to make a change.
So, he gathered a group of experts from all over the world, called them jurors, and organized a trial-like session. The jurors heard testimonies from people who were affected by the war: soldiers, civilians, and activists. They listened to evidence about the harmful effects of Agent Orange- a chemical used during the war, and also about the torture of prisoners. Then they discussed what they heard and issued a ruling about what they thought should be done to end the war and help the victims.
Since then, the Russell Tribunal has held sessions on many different issues, like the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, indigenous people's rights, and environmental issues. It still brings together groups of experts to hear about problems and talk about solutions, so that people can be aware and get involved in finding ways to make a change.