All posts by CPNN Coordinator

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.

Africa: Sustainable development: The future of the land is in green energy

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article by Idrissa Sané for Le Soleil Online (translated by CPNN)

The availability of energy is essential for development. For this, the experts who took part in the Global local forum advocate the exploitation of the opportunities offered by renewable energy in Africa.

durable
Abdoulaye Sène, president of the Global local forum

The Global local Forum ended yesterday, July 22 in Dakar, with a range of recommendations. Stakeholders suggested that local authorities should play a more prominent role in the development of energy policy, including energy-saving initiatives. “We need to make energy policy a priority of local decentralized cooperation. Mosques, city halls, county councils must be illuminated with renewable energy, “suggested Abdoulaye Sène, president of the Global local forum.

In addition, there is a return on investment through the training of human resources for maintenance of batteries and storage and transportation of energy equipment. “We need local ecosystems. We need to have trained people capable of doing equipment maintenance,” suggested Mr. Sène. The deputy also emphasized the need for decentralized governance of energy policy. For his part, Seydou Sy Sall, the General Delegate for the promotion of the urban centers of Diamniadio and Lake Rose, proposed a pause in construction and also in the spatial distribution of habitats. He regretted that the construction of houses and buildings has not taken into account the need for climatic zoning.

(Article continued on the right column)

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

Question for this article:

What is the relation between the environment and peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

In fact, one needs to take into consideration the temperature, humidity and even sunlight. “Climatic zoning has been known, but we do not refer to it. We can not build the same kind of model in Diourbel as in Dakar. These two cities do not record the same temperatures, “argued Mr. Sall.

Earlier, the chief of staff of the Ministry of Local Governance, Development and Planning, Alassane Mbengue, pleaded for the recovery of solid waste production by developing energy sectors as done already in many countries.

The chairman of the Business Council of renewable energy in Senegal (Copères), Abdul Fall, advocated for the mobilization of funding that encourages policies contributing to the preservation of the environment. “The state and the communities should set goals for energy independence. Africa should not be so poor in energy, since it has so much potential in renewable energy, “he said.

The President of the Network of farmers organizations (Ropa), Mamadou Sissoko, called for the establishment of permanent mechanisms for consultation and dialogue at the grass roots level. It is necessary, he insisted, that those who benefit from policies and projects should be involved in the process of their development.

Africa, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Brazil: Public schools of São Vicente transform education through the culture of peace

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article by Herbert Lima and Myrian Castello 

A Culture of Peace committee composed of educators Carla Souza, Damiana Albuquerque, Herbert Santo., Ingrid Geraldo, Lourdes Santo., Myrian Castello, Regina Morais, Sandra de Aragão, Tatiana Rodrigues and Wagner Bessa, is carrying out a program of Training for Peace Education of 60 hours for professionals from all the public education units of São Vicente in partnership with the Secretary of Education.

Vicente
(Click on photo to enlarge)

The main objectives of the training are

– Stimulating new ways of living together;

– Improve group relations and climate at schools;

– Plan positive changes after identification of common problems;

– Create communication networks and undertake ACTIONS;

– Enable an affective perspective at the school units and work collectively on awareness and preparation of actions for local development

– Work for a culture for peace in education in order to assess, sustain, co-create solutions and view results.

To achieve these goals the training consists of seven modules in two stages:

Stage 1:
Contact
Consciousness
Transforming Action
Recognition
Connecting Action

Stage 2:
Practice
Presenting Actions

(Article continued in right column)

(Click here for the article in Portuguese)

Questions for this article:

What is the best way to teach peace to children?

Where is peace education taking place?

(Article continued from left column)

The modules were inspired by the following organizations and methodologies:

The Pedagogy of Cooperation and Culture of Peace: A method of teaching and cooperative learning, where each and every person is considered to be a master-apprentices engaged in the discovery of themselves and the world, through the encounter with others, in the face of problem situations challenging them to find cooperative solutions for the success and well-being of everyone.

Pallas Athena: The organization Palas Athena promotes and incubates programs and projects in the areas of Education, Health, Human Rights, Environment and Social Promotion, in order to improve human society through the mutual understanding of cultures and the articulation of knowledge.

Oasis Game: The Oasis Game is a support tool for citizen mobilization for the realization of collective dreams.

Nonviolent Communication: supports the establishment of partnership and cooperation relations through effective and empathetic communication. It emphasizes the importance of determining actions the basis of common values.

Restorative justice is a paradigm, the opposite of punishment, based on values, which aims to repair the damages caused by an offense committed by one of the parties involved – victim, offender and community – and, where possible, the reconstruction of broken relationships.

Circle Dances: These promote group unity and community spirit, and interculturalism, as everyone joins hands and supports and assists each other.

Psychomotricity: The method of studying a person through his body movements in relation to his/her internal and external world.

During the modules, the training involved 93 teaching units and about 300 education professionals who were able thereby to promote a culture of peace within and outside the school walls.

A number of activities were carried out by managers in partnership with the community around the school.

Research carried out in the modules showed a high level of involvement and satisfaction of participants who requested the continuation and expansion of training.

The activities were carried out from January to June and will be continued.

For more information, contact comissaoculturadepaz@gmail.com

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Innovative program for leadership, ethics and culture of peace helps to transform young Brazilians

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

by Herbert Lima, 29 years old and one of the program participants.

If our culture promotes so many kinds of violence, how can we transform it into a culture of peace?

youth
(Click on photo to enlarge)

The idea of leadership, such as so many others is changing. We do not live in an era of constant transformation, but the change of an era. We have enough knowledge to build a society that favors an harmonic co-existence with others with ourselves and the ecosystems we are in. In order to promote such changes however, a change in vision and a new action is needed, and that is the goal of the program “Ethics and Culture of Peace – Youth leadership for Citizen Coexistence”, promoted by the organization Palas Athena and organized in 4 workshops and 3 nature imersions, with a total of 30 hours of activities. This program was designed by Palas Athena, which has worked with leaders from government and private companies, local leaderships and educators from all over Brazil for more than 40 years (more information here: )

As participants, 44 young leaders with different backgrounds in social transformation were selected. The selection process was conducted in a way to guarantee the diversity of the group. All of them now are following up their training and have already generated good results.

“It is really a remarkable program for us, I do believe that all knowledge that I receive here today I will be able to share in my daily activities, and certainly I am a better person since I start to know all these amazing people here. I will be able to work even more for the culture of peace and make the world a better place.”

(Click here for the article in Portuguese)

Question for this article:
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Young people from all over the world come together at Hiroshima to learn about peace and nuclear disarmament

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by Herbert Lima and Myrian Castello 

The Mayors for Peace Network organizes in partnership with the Hiroshima Peace and Culture Foundation and the Hiroshima University, a summer program in Japan called Hiroshima and Peace. The aim is to provide students with a general understanding of the nature and attributes of war and peace by illuminating various aspects of wartime experiences, including the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and, at the same time, to explore contemporary issues related to world peace in the era of globalization

Hiroshima
Students in the Summer Program, “Hiroshima and Peace” (2015)
(Click on photo to enlarge)

The program is hosted by different experts on the field from around the globe and has the special participations of two survivors of the bomb who give testimonials to the young students. This year, 40 young people from different countries were selected to participate in the program that lasts 10 days and it is included in the official calendar of events in memory of the many killed in the atomic bomb attack during the second world war on the city of Hiroshima in August, 1945.

To know more about the program, visit the Hiroshima City university website: www.hiroshima-cu.ac.jp/Hiroshima-and-Peace/index.htm

To know more abou the Mayors for Peace network, access: www.mayorsforpeace.org/

(Click here for the article in Portuguese)

Question for this article:
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Brazil: The Dream Factory creating new paths for Culture of Peace and Non-violence

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by Herbert Lima and Myrian Castello 

Fábrica dos Sonhos (“Dream Factory”) is a Brazilian movement born in 2013 that create spaces for development of people and organizations, realization of dreams, connections and culture of peace. The movement was conceived by Myrian Castello, Thayná Monteiro and Herbert Lima. They dream of a better world where people can make dreams come true. They create activities such as courses, speeches and meetings that awaken the best side of each person by using tools that improve action and reflection.

dream
Cooperative game activity

An activity recently organized by the Dream Factory is the Des-Connection Trail, a new movement that has begun in June 26th and united a group of persons from 14 to 56 years old at Ibirapuera Park in São Paulo. The purpose was to open a space in the stressful and rushed environment of the city where people could disconnect from their routine and smartphones and connect with themselves and with the nature around them, thus promoting a culture of peace, self-knowledge and their relationship with the world.

The Des-Connection Trail has counted on the participation of specialists and activities including:

Cooperative Games – “We play in game as we play in life” – With the purpose of promoting reflection and self-knowledge in a humorous way, the cooperative games invite you to be who you are, without barriers and without judgement.

Biomimicry – Discover solutions to the world through observation of nature.

Culture of Peace – Discover, learn and share what is peace for each person and how we can bring it into our routine.

Neuro Linguistics Programming – Discover and reframe each person’s history.

(Article continued in right column)

(Click here for the original article in Portuguese)

Question for this article:

Where is peace education taking place?

(continued from left column)

Another methodology created by the organization to promote consciousness is “Collaborative Mentoring” that is the collaboration between the participants and the developing of dreams and consciousness.

The Dream Factory proposes the creation of an economy that would be more conscious and positive with the development of a new relation with money for which the organization plans to develop courses accessible to the participants. The Trail participants could choose between: paying for just the material used in the course, the material plus the hourse of organizating work, or else to collaborate with the organization by voluntarily paying more than the costs.

Surprisingly 85% of people choose the last option. Here are some of their comments:

Rodrigues, A. “I thought the payment system was incredible. It made the trail accessible to more people and able to be constructed by everybody. My suggestion is to keep this system of payment choice, so that more people can feel comfortable and participate.”

Finotti, A. “I’ve learned that I don’t need lots of time of being together to become a friend of someone, I learned that a Sunday at the park can be much more than that, I learned that simple moments such as sharing a meal with someone can be amazing.”
During the walk there were some stops with reflections and connections with each person’s history. This was essential for each one to discover more about self-awareness, about nature, opening space to cultivate peace from inside so they can promote it in the world.

The trails take place regularly and with a specific calendar. For more information contact by email fabricadossonhosx@gmail.com or consult the website www.fabricadossonhos.net

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Florianópolis, Brazil: World Peace Forum: a space to build a better world

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by Claudia Quintero in FIPU Press (Federación Internacional de Prensa de la Pueblos) (translated by CPNN)

Representatives of 60 countries will be in Florianópolis from 22 to 25 September for the Version 2016 X World Peace Forum (World Peace Forum). Florianopolis is the capital of the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina, located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean, known for its natural beauty, host of the largest and most important meeting of world peace agents.

forum2
Click on the photo to enlarge

The organizers, the Schengen Peace Foundation, have created the forum “to promote the message of peace in Europe and throughout the world, contribute to building a more peaceful world by promoting peace, tolerance and multicultural understanding through dialogue, debates, publications, exhibitions, workshops, internet platforms, meetings, and education programs, as well as peace studies “.

Since 2007, this NGO organizes the World Peace Forum, which brings together teachers, academics, peace activists, businessmen, journalists, students, religious leaders and politicians, as well as any citizen who is interested in building world peace/

(Article continued in right column)

(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article)

Question related to this article:

How can the peace movement become stronger and more effective?

(continued from left column)

Among the promoters of the forum are Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Nobel Peace), the University of the Sorbonne in Paris, and the president of the European Commission, Jacques Santer.

In 2015, the World Peace Forum made progress in the search for peace by organizing the 1st World Peace Forum of Youth in Cairo, Egypt, and the World Peace Forum in the city of Baia Mare, Romania where the objective was the “Search for common global values.”

The World Peace Forum is a partnership involving people from all over the world in the search for world peace. There we can debate, for example: What contribution can each of us make for peace? Here in Colombia, we are on track and at the forum will seek to elucidate the most urgent issues, the root causes of violence and the need to overcome them in order to achieve a peace with justice.

No place is more appropriate for this great event than the UNIPAZ University in Brazil which is dedicated to training for peace. The university is recognized for its holistic curriculum for the culture of peace, which puts integrity of the human being in first place and the need to elaborate regional peace proposals.

Representing Colombia in the Forum will be the director of the Foundation for a New Life (Funuvida), Alejandro Toro, who will present the Qantu Project – Plan for International Support for the non-recurrence of armed conflict in Colombia, a peace strategy for the country with international vision.

Click here for more information about the World Peace Forum

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, Latin America

Mexico: Presentation of the project “Oaxaca Intercultural”

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from ADN Sureste (translated by CPNN)

Oaxaca, July 18. The project “Oaxaca Intercultural” is being organized by a number of cultural and social associations in order to strengthen cultural life and citizenship skills for coexistence and dialogue through the linkage of education and culture,

oaxaca
Click on photo to enlarge

Lucina Jimenez, Unesco expert consultant and director of the International Consortium for Art and the School A.C. (ConArte), said that the project has been launched with resources provided by the Federal Ministry of Culture thanks to legislative management by federal deputy Francisco Martínez Neri.

She explained that the themes of culture of peace and intercultural dialogue are the keystones for which ten organizations of civil society will support a series of projects in Oaxaca. The project will encourage reflection and dialogue about contemporary art production through academic exchanges in urban artistic and cultural sectors as well as with young speakers of indigenous languages.

For his part, the federal legislator praised the willingness of civic associations to join the project which shows that regardless of any differences, they can work together towards a common goal of dialogue and coexistence in Oaxaca through artistic and cultural activities.

It should be noted that the project began on Saturday and will continue until next August in various locations.

(Click here for the article in Spanish)

Questions for this article:
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Mexico: The government promotes mediation as an alternative for the resolution of conflicts

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from La Jornada Aguascalientes (translated by CPNN)

As the representative of the General Secretary of the Government [SEGOB], Alejandro Bernal Rubalcava has released the 6-month report from the Coordination of Mediation which indicates that between January and June 2016 the Coordination of Mediation completed 736 mediations of conflicts between individuals, as well as 653 legal advisories for citizens who opted to use this service.

SEGOB

The Coordination of Mediation offers citizens legal advice as well as the dialogue and the construction of accords by means of alternative conflict resolution, free of charge and confidential, creating channels to facilitate communication in order to resolve problems between individuals in a way more rapid and efficient than the judicial process, explains Bernal Rubalcava.

He emphasizes that the promotion of mediation among citizens as an effective tool for achieving satisfactory agrreements of conflicts between two parties has contributed to generating a culture of peace among the population of Aguascalentes, while decreasing the demands on the judicial system.

He adds that in addition to the satisfactorily concluded mediations and agreements constructed and accepted by the parties involved, the 653 legal advisories on civil, criminal and family law, provided a guide allowing people to assert their rights and clarify conflicts.

Mediation, through its form and content, promotes a more peaceful and just society. To this end, the representative of the General Secretary of the Government invites citizens requiring advice or looking for a quick and peaceful solution to a conflict, to come to the offices of the Coordination of Mediation located on Hornedo street 104, first floor, in the city center, with hours open to the public from 8:30 to 15:00 hours.

(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Question for this article:
EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Culture of Peace: Artistic Creations by African Youth

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Special for CPNN by Kiki Chauvin (English translation by CPNN)

Last week, CPNN republished an article concerning the launch of the youth campaign for a culture of peace in Central Africa which took place in Libreville, Gabon. This week, we have received two remarkable videos created by the youth for this campaign. They are presented on the Facebook page of the campaign, appropriately named “Africa4peace”.

The first is a spot video of one minute 20 seconds which will be run by many television and radio stations in Gabon. The youth of the campaign are shown bearing traditional ceremonial torches and calling out the word “peace” in various languages spoken in Central Africa. The word “peace” in the 40 languages of the region are arranged as a design for the composite logo for the campaign:

gabon2
Click on the image to enlarge

The second video features a song, “Donnons la paix”, composed by Annie-Flore Batchiellilys and presented by the youth campaign as an artistic production. Click here to view it.

Introducing the campaign members and their videos, the representative of UNESCO in Gabon, Enzo Fazzino, emphasized that it took three months of work by the youth to prepare these productions. The work was in itself a “veritable culture of peace, as they took responsibility and engagement on a daily basis as the actors of the project, participating with others to construct socities that will be more just, more equitable, inclusive and peaceful.” (Click here for the video of the presentation ceremony.

( Click here for the French version.)

 

Question related to this article.

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

The Third International Conference on Mediation to take place in Guatemala

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Noticias Panorama (translated by CPNN)

The International Mediation Center (CIM) has announced that the Third International Congress on Mediation will take place on Thursday August 18 from 8:00 to 18:00 at the Salón Jade y Plata of the Hotel Camino Real. The Congress aims to provide effective methods for the solution of social and trade conflicts that affect the development of our society through dialogue. Mediation seeks to provoke changes that will benefit the people of Guatemala.

mediation
Mario Bucaro, President of CIM

The method of mediation is practical, effective and suitable because it helps people find the solution to their conflicts and dialogue and peace as a result. “The mediator does not decide the result of a dispute, the parties retain the autonomy of their solution.”

“The aim of the Congress is to show firsthand the benefits of the method and how to put into practice the techniques in the social and business environment through dialogue. The intention is to achieve peace in the world “, stated Mario Bucaro, President of CIM.

The activity will be attended by national and international speakers who will share their experiences, techniques and methods in order to promote the culture of peace around the world.

(Articles continued in right column)

(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for culture of peace and nonviolence

(continued from left column)

The International Mediation Center is a private institution created and supported by CAMEX [The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Guatemala/Mexico], made up of experts in the method of mediation to facilitate the resolution of disputes on a voluntary basis through dialogue and cooperation as the best way to resolve the differences between people and entities in the national and international private sector.

Mediation began in the public sphere in 1998. Under the program of modernization of the judiciary, the President of the Judicial Agency created the Pilot Center of Mediation and Conciliation (21/998 and 22/998 agreements). Currently there are 78 public mediation centers in 14 departments led and managed by the judiciary. The one private center is the International Mediation Center.

Congress Keynotes:

* The Phenomenon of Mediation and Its Trends. Mario Bucaro – Lawyer, Certified Mediator, President International Mediation Center Guatemala.

* Alternative Dispute Resolution in International Trade. Judge Cristina Pareyra, lawyer, journalist Mediator and Legal Expert JAMS (Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services) Miami USA.

* Prevention and management of conflicts in Labor Relations. Wanda Azmitia – expert in mediation, Coordinator of the Unit of alternative dispute resolution Judicial Branch.

* Juan Carlos Lucero-Lawyer, International Labor Mediator, an expert in social dialogue.

* Community and Business Mediation as a response to restore social harmony. Laura Avila, Lawyer, Master in Business Law, Center for Arbitration and Mediation Center, Legal College, Costa Rica.

* Workshop: Techniques to manage nonverbal language in conflict resolution. Dr. Virgilio Gordon, consultant, professional coach, writer, university professor, therapist and lecturer. – Guatemala

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America