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Mayor Welcomes Peace Forum
an article by voxy.co.nz
Mayor Annette Main will welcome guests to the 'Building Peace in Whanganui' Forum on Thursday, November 10, which is held in association with Operation for Peace Through Unity and the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (NCPACS) at the University of Otago.
The Wanganui Peace Sculpture
click on photo to enlarge
The aim of the forum is to identify and enhance local strengths and capacities to build a culture of peace and understanding, and to promote community partnership and resilience.
The morning session will take place at the Quaker Settlement in Virginia Road and the afternoon session in the Council Chamber at the Municipal Building in Guyton Street.
A keynote address will be given by Professor Kevin Clements, Director of NCPACS. "The forum presents an exciting opportunity for the community to come together to brainstorm ways to work together to make this district the safest and most peaceful place it can be," says Professor Clements.
"As far as I know, this is the first time in New Zealand that local government has assisted in gathering together relevant stakeholders to think intentionally about how to create and sustain a peaceful community, rather than to do so reactively after some terrible event. In this respect, I believe the district to be a genuine pioneer."
Professor Clements has been a regular consultant to a variety of non-governmental and intergovernmental organisations on disarmament, arms control, conflict resolution, development and regional security issues. His colleague, Senior Research Fellow Dr Elspeth MacDonald, will also contribute to the event. Dr Macdonald coordinates the peace education activities at the Centre and developed and manages the education4peace website.
"For our community this is an opportunity to come together and share what we are doing well and look at how we can meet the challenges ahead to create a better and more peaceful society and place to live." says Mayor Annette Main.
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?,
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Latest reader comment:
International Cities Choose Peace
J. Fred Arment
arment@internationalcitiesofpeace.org
International Cities of Peace, an association of global cities of peace, is using the U.N. Culture of Peace tenets as the guideline for forming initiatives. To date, thirty-one cities are part of the association. Some are grassroots organizations, others have the firm commitment by resolution or proclamation from the city council.
International Cities of Peace include the following:
• Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.
• Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A.
• Unity Village, Missouri, U.S.A
• Coventry, England
• Bradford, England
• Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
• Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Mataki, Philippines
• Pathuthani, Thailand
• Fizi, Democratic Republic of Congo
• Lake County, California, U.S.A.
• Aba, Abia State, Nigeria
• Nagpur, India
• Reno, Nevada, U.S.A.
• Bujumbura, Burundi
• Mzuzu and Lilongwe, Malawi
• Tunis, Tunisia
• Tuolumne County, California, U.S.A.
• Bihac, Bosnia, Herzegovina
• Yaounde, Cameroon
• Freetown, Sierra Leone
• Nyala, Darfur, Sudan
• Bujumbura, Burundi
• Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• Nakuru, Kenya
• Calgary, Alberta, Canada
• Kathmandu, Nepal
• Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
• Egg Harbor City, New Jersey, U.S.A.
• Warrake, Nigeria
• Kalamazoo, Michigan, U.S.A.
To start an initiative, go to the association's website for resources and tools.
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