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About CPNN Coordinator

Dr David Adams is the coordinator of the Culture of Peace News Network. He retired in 2001 from UNESCO where he was the Director of the Unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the Year 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly. View all posts by CPNN Coordinator →

Mexico: Artist’s Portraits Show Migrant Caravan’s Hope, Joy: ‘These Are Regular People’

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article copied from 12 News Online and still available at the Huffington Post

A third-generation Mexican-American artist hopes to show fellow Americans a more personal view of individuals in the migrant caravan making their way to the United States from Central America.
“These are regular people,” said Scarlett Baily, a Mexico City visual artist who talked to some of the 5,000 or so people in the caravan while they rested in Mexico recently. As she considered how to help, she said she “decided to go draw portraits.”

(Click on the photo to enlarge)

“It was hilarious, delightful, and the joy and courage of this crew is truly contagious,” Baily told HuffPost.

President Donald Trump has been claiming the caravan is an invasion, filled with terrorists, gang members and drug dealers. But Baily’s drawings show the worn but hopeful faces of people in the midst of an epic trek from poverty and violence in their home countries to the U.S., where many aim to apply for asylum.

Trump, whose campaigning ahead of last week’s elections relied on fear of the migrants, ordered more than 7,000 active-duty troops to the border to deter asylum-seekers. He has been silent on the topic on social media since the election.

Their story “felt too mythical to be real,” Baily said via email, and she “had to meet these people.”

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Question for this article

The refugee crisis, Who is responsible?

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“I think the bravest people on this journey are the mothers and children,” Baily said. News coverage, she added, “paints a very different picture of what I saw in my time spent at the camp.”

“Images of desperation, exhaustion, and suffering dominate a lot of the reports, when the reality is, there is actually a lot of joy,” she said. “This journey they are on is indeed hard-core. But imagine the conditions that someone leaves behind. I think there is a certain sense of freedom that comes with this decision.”

Mexico City officials turned a stadium into a camp where the migrants could pause on their journey, and “offered them every type of city service,” according to The New York Times. Doctors and dentists provided free checkups.

The caravan departed on Saturday morning to continue the walk north.

Baily said 25-year-old Jean Carlos told her he’s from Choloma, Honduras, worked in a bodega, goes to church every Sunday, loves to drive, and one day hopes to own a Mazda. He’s heading to Canada with cans of tuna in his pocket.

Two young girls, Lincy and Nataly, are traveling with their mother, father, and 1-month old brother, who was born in Honduras just before they left. Lincy told Baily that she hates brushing her hair. Nataly loves to draw.

The family told Baily that traveling has been hard, but “so many families on the caravan together have created a great support system.”

Baily also spoke with a barber named Osman, whose friends call him the “Talento Catracho,” or the local Honduran talent. He told her he’s walking “because he wants to be able to support himself with his craft, without fearing the mafia system taking over Honduras.”

“Sitting with someone to do their portrait is a very personal exchange,” Baily said. The mood of most of those she talked to, she added, is dominated by hope.

“My hope is that the caricatures provide a nice memory for people who left everything behind, a moment to feel celebrated, rooted for, and an alternative to what we see in mass media,” Baily said. “Perhaps these portraits may swap fear of migrants for a collective empathy.”

[Click here to see more of Baily’s drawings of people in the caravan.]

November 12, 2018Latin America, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITYLatin AmericaCPNN Coordinator

Navarra, Spain: The “Schools for Peace and Coexistence” Program will be extended to 61 centers and more than 10,800 participants

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Pamplona Actual

The “Schools for Peace and Coexistence” Program will continue for a third year, responding to the requests received from Primary, Secondary and Vocational Training centers throughout Navarra, as well as the Public University of Navarra.

Promoted from the 2016-2017 academic year by the General Directorate of Peace, Coexistence and Human Rights of the Department of Citizen and Institutional Relations in cooperation with the Department of Education, “Schools for Peace and Coexistence” has been consolidated and each course serves a greater number of students, families and education professionals.

The Program makes available to schools several educational and educational tools that enable both students and teachers and families to address, from a positive and educational point of view, different aspects of coexistence. It brings together training workshops, pedagogical experiential activities and participatory workshops that are being carried out in public and concerted educational centers throughout Navarre.

The objective of the workshops is to advance in the construction of coexistence and a culture of peace through activities that allow the educational community:

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Questions for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

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– to learn the different ways of expressing and verbalizing a conflict in order to approach its solution in a positive way;

– to know which are the most important humanitarian crises worldwide and reflect on Human Rights in these contexts;

– to experience and reflect on the damage and the conflict that negative attitudes and prejudices cause when they put in risk the coexistence between people of different ethnicity, culture, ideology, religion, etc .;

– to learn to make correct use of new technologies free of abusive and violent practices;

– to learn to play cooperatively in the spaces and times that the educational centers allocate to activities, without discrimination, without exclusions and without violence;

– and to internalize skills and favorable attitudes for the positive transformation of conflicts.

In addition, this Program is complemented with other initiatives of Peace and Coexistence that are expressly open to the participation of schools, such as exhibitions, film forums, contests, etc.

The Program in data

During the 2016/2017 academic year, a total of 4,311 students participated in the first edition of the program, from 41 educational centers and throughout 140 activities carried out. In the 2017/2018 academic year, the number of participants increased to 6,499 from 63 educational centers, with a total of 385 activities carried out.

This course, the Regional Government has received the request of 61 centers, so that a total of 10,832 people participate in the programmed activities.

November 10, 2018EDUCATION FOR PEACE, EuropeEuropeCPNN Coordinator

The II Forum on Urban Violence closes in Madrid with the commitment to an agenda of cities of coexistence and peace

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Tercera Informacion (translation by CPNN)

The II World Forum on Urban Violence and Education for Coexistence and Peace closes Thursday [November 10] with the commitment to elaborate an agenda of cities of peace. Madrid continues the line started in April last year when, in the first edition of this meeting, a line of work was opened that highlighted the potential of cities as a stage to advance in the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (ODS), through the construction of a culture of peace.

The instruments to materialize such actions include:

– implement policies of caring rather than policies of security;

– articulate with the state governments the preparation, implementation and supervision of action plans for the prevention of violence;

– develop local action plans to address them.

In this sense, both the Forum and the commitment with which it closes its second edition “could become the basis for a more continuous and systematic expression of a local effort aimed at the prevention of violence.”

Pope Francis sent, through the archbishop of Madrid, Carlos Osoro, a letter to all the participants in the II World Forum on Urban Violence in which he expressed his hope that these days have served for dialogue and exchange: “That they have been an auspicious occasion to promote the construction of the social fabric of our towns and cities, so fragmented today by selfishness, injustice and aggression.”

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(Click here for a version in Spanish)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

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The Pope’s letter also encourages all participants to welcome certain people in a special way: “To the most fragile members, to the marginalized, to the discarded, so that they may have the opportunity to feel at home in a community that welcomes, integrates, sustains, and favors the recognition of the other in his own wealth and diversity.”

The words of the Holy Father were read by Carlos Osoro in the plenary on interreligious dialogue that was held early in the morning. Subsequently, Juan Luis Cano, the moderator of the closing, who read the letter during that session concluded the forum in a roundtable with a dozen women with experience in institutional representation and in government work and who have participated or actively participate in public life and the responsibilities of city government.

Women, agents of peace

“Women can feel safe being agents of peace. The most positive data on the culture of peace according to the latest statistics available for 2014 show that 16% of interpersonal violence has been reduced in the world “. This was pointed out by Mayor Carmena during the closing ceremony of the second edition of a forum that exceeded the figures of the previous year by bringing together 5,000 participants and sharing1000 experiences.

Liv Torres, executive director of the Nobel Peace Center, recalled that the regard and presence of women in conflict resolution is more important than ever: “The processes of mediation in which women participate last longer and they are more sustainable over time. We have to sit next to each other, support each other and show the value of women in their role as leaders.”

For its part, the Ibero-American General Secretary, Rebecca Grynspan, has pointed out that inequality is one of the main causes of violence and has added: “In Latin America there are 400 homicides per day but 80% of those cases occur in 2% of the Latin American territory.”

All have agreed on the importance of talking about education, changing the conception of masculinity and giving more economic autonomy to women to ensure that future generations really live in cities of peace.

After the debate, 400 girls and boys, between 12 and 16 years old, from different schools in the two districts of Valleca, have drawn the symbol of peace in Plaza Matadero, accompanied by an orchestra of social excluded children, an action initiated by the NGO Mundo sin Guerras.

November 10, 2018DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, EuropeEuropeCPNN Coordinator

Sierra Leone News: Women’s Movement reinforces

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article by By Ophaniel Gooding in Awoko

A two-day national conference with the theme “the women’s forum we have the woman’s forum we need” concluded with the authoring of a communique by representatives of women’s group nationwide. The national conference which was organized by Campaign for Good Governance and the Women’s Forum Sierra Leone is to strengthen and reinforce the “Women’s Forum Sierra Leone and celebrating our Silver Jubilee of women’s movement,” said Maude R. Peacock the president of Women’s Forum Sierra Leone.

Photo from the facebook page of the Women’s Forum Sierra Leone

This conference, funded by Trocaire, brought together women and women’s community based groups and Civil Society Organizations, across the sixteen Districts, with the aim of examining the strengths, opportunities and challenges affecting the women’s movement in our country; Reaffirming that ‘Women’s Rights are Human Rights’ and the fundamental rights of all as enshrined in Chapter 3 of the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone, including the elimination of all forms discrimination against women.

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Question for this article

Can the women of Africa lead the continent to peace?

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CGG Executive Director, Marcella Samba explained that effective women’s participation in the democratic processes of any developing country is the foundation for good governance, gender equality and sustainable development; Reminding the Government of Sierra Leone of its duty to protect and promote the rights and advancement of women and girls in Sierra Leone. She applauded the efforts made over the past years by the various women and women led organizations to promote women’s advancement, empowerment and access to basic socio-economic services, despite the challenges. Also, appreciated the efforts and invaluable contributions made by the older women generation and urging the younger women generation to join the Women’s Movement, with particular focus on making Sierra Leone a better place for all.

President of 50\50 group Dr Fatou Taqi acknowledged the challenges hampering the effective functioning, networking and collaboration of the Women’s Movement from having a formidable voice for change and transformation.

YWCA Sierra Leone National President, Bondu Manyeh welcomed the new initiative of self- assessment and internal reform. Some of the recommendations in the communique were to ensure the promotion and strengthening of intergenerational dialogue among women and women’ groups across the country, and reinvigorate all aspects of the Women’s Forum Sierra Leone. Also to develop and implement a clear road map of the roles and responsibilities of the Women’s Forum of Sierra Leone and member organizations, and that emphasizes participation, communication, and empowerment of women. To promote the culture of peace and tolerance among the various women’s groups to improve interpersonal relationships and to solidify and achieve their economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights. Also to Provide capacity building of women for women’s groups for gender engagement and civic participation on a continuous basis. However, some of these recommendations are expected to be actualized within a 5 years time span, disclosed CGG Program Director, Bernadette French

November 10, 2018Africa, WOMEN'S EQUALITYAfricaCPNN Coordinator

7th Fair of Nonviolent Initiatives in Quito, Ecuador

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article and photo album by Walker Vizcarra in Pressenza (reproduced according to a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license) (translation by CPNN)

Questions for this article:

Can festivals help create peace at the community level?

More than 15 organizations that develop activities, projects and initiatives for active nonviolence, building a culture of peace, non-discrimination and respect for diversity have come together on the boulevard the United Nations in the city of Quito, last Saturday October 27th for the 7th Fair of Nonviolent Initiatives , which is one of the iconic activities carried out during “Nonviolent October.”

NonViolent October brought together collectives and organizations from 14 cities that launched more than 100 initiatives between the last week of September and the entire month October which ended a few days ago.

Click here for the photo album.

(Click here for a Spanish version of this article or here for a version in French. )

November 10, 2018DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin AmericaLatin AmericaCPNN Coordinator

Sustainable Peace in West Africa: International Youth Conference Opens on November 15

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by Dramous Yéti in Fraternité Matin (translation by CPNN)

The 3rd International Conference for Youth for Peace will take place from 15 to 16 November 2018 at the Permanent Representation of ECOWAS in Abidjan.

The event will take place on the sidelines of the celebration of the Day of Peace, and will be on the theme: “Solutions of the African youth to stop the migration crisis and violent extremism?

Two hundred and fifty young leaders from the sub-region are expected at this annual meeting. It will be a window to reflect on the conditions for lasting peace in West Africa.

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(Click here for the original French version of this article.)

Question(s) related to this article:

Youth initiatives for a culture of peace, How can we ensure they get the attention and funding they deserve?

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Unemployment, illegal immigration, the challenges of entrepreneurship, ICT are the main themes that will be discussed during the six (6) workshops planned. During this meeting, young project leaders will have the opportunity to present their ideas in a resource mobilization perspective.

Also on the menu are sports and socio-cultural activities that will take place at the Stadium Felix Houphouet-Boigny of the University in Cocody.

This conference is an initiative of Elite West Africa (Ewa), composed of youth organizations from the fifteen member states of ECOWAS. Its field of action covers several areas including the culture of peace and excellence, sub-regional integration, sustainable development, etc.

Created in 2015, Elite West Africa has more than 55,000 members, including more than 15,700 in Ivory Coast.

November 10, 2018Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATIONAfricaCPNN Coordinator

Peace and disarmament on the streets of Germany

. .DISARMAMENT & SECURITY. .

An article from Pressenza

During the Days of Protest for Peace and Disarmament, actions were carried out in almost 50 German cities and thousands of signatures were collected.

The days of protest from 1 to 4 November 2018, organised by the national initiative “disarm instead of rearm”, have not yet ended. Some actions in different cities will last until 10.11.2018. In many places they were actively supported by trade unions. The cooperation at national level in the initiative “disarm instead of improve” continued in many places. This action was supported by the two big networks of the peace movement “Cooperation for Peace” and the Committee of the Federal Peace Council.

The days of protest were held almost exactly one year after the foundation of this initiative and more than 120,000 signatures had already been obtained on the days of action. Among the first signatories were four trade union leaders, the presidents of major environmental associations, scientists, including a German Nobel laureate, church leaders*, politicians from various parties and peace activists. The exact list of initial signatories can be found at https://abruesten.jetzt/

Some of the first points of this successful action can already be mentioned:

We have intervened actively and with commitment in the budgetary debate of the German Bundestag, we have said no to armament, to mad increases in the armament budget to 85 billion. Between 2018 and 2019 alone, the defence budget is expected to increase by 11.8%, and no other budget line even has an approximate increase in this percentage.

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Question for this article:

How can we be sure to get news about peace demonstrations?

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 In thousands of debates we have been able to point out the link between armaments and social affairs, we have made it clear time and again that every euro can only be spent once, either on armaments and war or on the people. Never in recent years have we had such a coordinated offensive of national dialogue from the peace movement towards the people of our country.

 In almost 50 places in the republic, actions took place in the streets. They were often well-designed information booths with active collectors of signatures. Up to 1000 participants demonstrate the possibilities of decentralized actions. The “peace question” and disarmament were present in public.

 In many places the collection was combined with rallies and demonstrations. In large cities, several hundred people participated in these events. Speakers from the peace movement and trade unions support the call for disarmament.

 Several thousand were collected, in the end probably as many as 10,000 new signatures. The collection of signatures was welcomed with great sympathy and support from the population.

 The days of protest have led us to take a good step forward. We were able to converse simultaneously with many people in many places and with an active presence. We were able to provide intensive information and clarification about the dangers and costs of updating. We have also shown in many small towns and villages that something is happening for peace.

The actions of local peace alliances in the streets and squares were supported by committed people from trade unions, environmental associations and Christian initiatives. Members of various political parties and movements were present and actively supported our protests.

For future actions we need many more participants and even better cooperation. Peace, climate and environmental protection go hand in hand. Disarmament frees funds to finance the International Climate Fund.

By calling for an end to arms exports and wars, we are making the causes of leakage a problem. Every euro can only be spent once on education, schools, science, health and care or on arms and war. We need a new policy of détente in Europe and also with Russia. These common positions are shared by many millions of people. Let us build on this foundation and move even more active street activities into public space over the next few years. Let us take advantage of the good experiences of the protest days for wider and more central actions.

November 10, 2018DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, EuropeEuropeCPNN Coordinator

USA: Marquette University Center for Peacemaking celebrates 10 years

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article by Donna Sarkar for the Marquette Wire

The Center for Peacemaking celebrated its 10-year anniversary Sept. 13 at the Haggerty Museum of Art, marking a decade of exploring the power of nonviolence.

Video of anniversary event

A reception featured speeches from founders of the center as well as members of the board of directors. A $1 million grant was announced during the ceremony to continue development work in the community.

The Center for Peacemaking was founded in 2008 through the vision of Marquette alumni Terry and Sally Rynne. The center operates several programs for students that support research promoting peace and nonviolence. It is the only such center on a Catholic university campus in the United States, Terry Rynne said.

Patrick Kennelly, director of the center and a Marquette University alumnus, said the center’s impact is clear. “Peace education has transformed the lives of Marquette students, and Marquette peacemaking initiatives have addressed indignities and communities locally and around the globe,” Kennelly said.

Zoe Gunderson, a junior in the College of Communication said she recently started working at the Center for Peacemaking as a communications assistant. She said she noticed the welcoming atmosphere right away.

(Article continued in right column.)

Questions for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

University campus peace centers, What is happening on your campus?

(Article continued from left column.)

“The students involved seem to be really dedicated and passionate about nonviolence movements and other related issues, and I’m really glad I joined,” Gunderson said.

The center also works to recruit students and build curriculum for the peace studies major and minor offered in the College of Arts & Sciences.

“Undergraduate time is a place where students can change new things,” Terry said. “It’s our call as Christians to help serve students and the power of nonviolence is just so wonderful. The number of students involved grows exponentially each year.”

During the ceremony, the center recognized its partnership with Catholic Relief Services, the official international humanitarian agency of the Catholic community in the United States. It gives students and faculty access to the agency’s international projects, experts and resources.

Ellie Lyne, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and a research assistant on the Park Initiative project, which promotes reducing crime in the Near West Side neighborhoods, said learning about the power of nonviolence is beneficial and the center has taught her how to have tangible impacts on the community.

“I’ve also worked with professors over the summer to research how to solve domestic violence and eviction in Milwaukee, and we are close to reaching some answers,” she said.

Kennelly said he has witnessed graduates of the peace studies program working around the globe using skills of nonviolence learned at Marquette to address indignities and solve dense social issues.

“Our faith calls us to show love to one another and our enemies in times of crisis,” Kennelly said. “That is the mission I hope students (take away).”

November 7, 2018EDUCATION FOR PEACE, North AmericaNorth AmericaCPNN Coordinator

South Sudanese speak on new peace deal

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from Africanews

South Sudan is preparing to celebrate what President Salva Kiir and Riek Machar have called the ‘final’ peace agreement on Wednesday, October 31.

Juba residents want a culture of peace at every level of society to avoid a return to violence.

Alfonso Albino, 32 is expecting a real political, social, economic and security change. He’s a member of ‘Salam Junub’ or Peaceful South Sudan, an entity that goes around Juba raising awareness about the need for peaceful co-existence amongst communities.

“We expect that after the celebrations of Peace Day created by the government, things will return to normal and everything will change”, Albino said.

Question related to this article:

Can peace be achieved in South Sudan?

For Juba resident John Ayom “this is a day when South Sudanese can come together, gather and reflect on why peace is so precious to all of us. Especially with our war history, you know. And we must start talking about and developing the culture of peace. And having this day is so important to achieve this culture of peace objective, you know, for this country of Southern Sudan”.

It is not clear whether Machar will attend the celebrations. On Friday, a spokesman for his group said in a statement “we are still waiting for the release of political detainees and prisoners of war.” Presidents of Sudan, Uganda and Kenya are expected to attend the celebration.

Machar was last in South Sudan in 2016, following his reinstatement as vice president under a short-lived peace deal agreed in 2015.

The East African country has been torn apart by an ethnic civil war since late 2013, two years after its independence.

This agreement aims to end years of civil war in Africa’s youngest state, which has claimed 400,000 lives, according to a study by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Earlier this week, the World Food Programme said violence in Southern Sudan is blocking the delivery of food aid badly needed to fight hunger in some areas.

It said this confirms that the peace agreement signed last month is not holding.

November 6, 2018Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATIONAfricaCPNN Coordinator

Can peace be achieved in South Sudan?

It was back in 2015 that we reported on a peace agreement in the long war in South Sudan. At the time Nonviolent Peaceforce told us that “While the signing of the agreement is not a guarantee of peace, it is a public declaration of constructive, peaceful and positive intentions to end the war. Having been on the front line of the conflict since the first day, the Nonviolent Peaceforce team is greatly relieved at the signing of the agreement and we want to extend our appreciation and support to the parties as they move into this new phase. We look forward to seeing strong, people centred leadership and action to move into the implementation of this agreement starting with an urgent and immediate cessation of hostilities. Getting to peace is as complicated if not more so than getting to war. The road ahead will be a long one that will take the dedication of all South Sudanese and the support of the international community to engage in reconciliation, justice and reconstruction.

Since then the struggle goes on to make the peace agreement take hold, and we continue to report on whether progress is being made.

Here are the CPNN articles on this subject:

South Sudan : Community leaders in Unity state pledge to promote a culture of peace

Sudan: Darfur deal welcomed by UN chief as ‘historic achievement’

Humanitarian community praise Sudan PM’s visit to Nuba Mtns

Churches in South Sudan promote “three pillars of peace”

The women who helped bring down Sudan’s president

Southern Sudanese leaders agree to promote a culture of peace

South Sudanese speak on new peace deal

South Sudan Chapter of African Union Master Plan Roadmap “Practical Steps To Silencing The Guns By 2020”

‘Back to Learning’ education campaign to benefit half a million children in South Sudan

Nonviolent Peaceforce in South Sudan: The extremes of the human spirit