The "big news" this month on the culture of peace comes from UNESCO, where the 36th General Conference was devoted to the culture of peace (see below) and attending heads of state spoke on its relevance to their countries (see CPNN, October 31).
Having followed the culture of peace at UNESCO since being involved in its founding, David has put the following comments in the discussion of the CPNN article:
"In my opinion the Global Movement should continue to be led by the civil society, which has been the case for all great social movements in the past, but the involvement of UNESCO once again can provide a focal point and a source of inspiration. It is ironic that it comes at a time of budgetary retreat due to the withdrawal of funding by the United States, but movements are not institutions; they do not need budgets, but rather the consciousness and action of the people.
"One is reminded of the line so wisely placed into the preamble of the Constitution of UNESCO in 1946: 'that a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind.'"
Indeed the civil society is increasingly involved with the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace. In the month of October, alone, CPNN articles concern initiatives from Algeria, Armenia, Brazil, Cuba, France, India, Italy, Kenya, Mauritania, Mexico, Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, Spain, Sudan, United Kingdom and United States.
For these and other recent articles, see below.
Note: if the photos do not show up, you may also get the bulletin at http://cpnn-world.org/bulletin/bulletin-11-11.html.
