Category Archives: Uncategorized

English bulletin September 1, 2021

. AFGHANISTAN AND HIROSHIMA/NAGASAKI . . .

The commercial media this month was dominated by the American withdrawal (in defeat) from Afghanistan. However, it was difficult to find anything worthy of this bulletin, since we insist that articles must “promote at least one of the 8 domains of the culture of peace”.

Eventually we found something positive: the courage of Search for Common Ground to stick with their culture of peace principles and to resist the mass exodus from Afghanistan. The organization will continue working there on the grounds that “intensive and consistent dialogue between all parties is the key to building a safe, healthy, and just society.” Similar decisions were taken by a few other aid organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières.

The defeat of the American Empire in Afghanistan has inspired renewed efforts to defend Julian Assange, who is under attack because of his courageous research and publications that predicted the defeat from the very beginning. As expressed in an article coming from his home country of Australia, “The true nature of the war in Afghanistan has long ago been revealed by Assange, Wikileaks and others, counter to the propaganda justifying and promoting the war. . . . As events in Afghanistan demonstrate, never has the call for peace and justice for all peoples been more urgent. And given Julian Assange’s situation, never has the call for his release been more urgent.”

Meanwhile, as usual, the most important events for human history are ignored by the commercial media. The greatest threat to humanity is nuclear weapons, and the media mostly ignored the calls coming from Hiroshima and Nagasaki and peace activists around the world to ensure that they will never be used again.

The mayor of Hiroshima, Kazumi Matsui, writes, “At this Peace Memorial Ceremony marking 76 years since the bombing, we offer heartfelt prayers for the peaceful repose of the souls of the atomic bomb victims. Together with Nagasaki and likeminded people around the world, we pledge to do everything in our power to abolish nuclear weapons and light the way toward lasting world peace.”

The mayor of Nagasaki, Tomihisa Taue, writes, “While extending our deepest condolences to those who lost their lives to the atomic bombs, I hereby declare that Nagasaki will work tirelessly alongside Hiroshima and all people who desire peace to spread a “culture of peace” around the world and bring about the abolishment of nuclear weapons and the realization of eternal peace.”

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres, says he continues to be humbled by the “selfless acts of the hibakusha, the name given to those who survived and continue to bear witness. Your courage in the face of immense human tragedy, is a beacon of hope for humanity. I reaffirm the full support of the United Nations to ensuring that your voices are heard by the world’s people, and especially by younger generations.”

And the United National Antiwar Coalition (USA) writes, “Many people now believe that the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki was not to end WWII, which was in its final days but to start the Cold War and show the Soviet Union and the world what the US could do if any country dared to oppose it. . . . the United National Antiwar Coalition sees the main danger of nuclear war coming from the United States and believes that we in the US have a special obligation to the world to oppose that danger.”

CPNN readers were invited this month to take part in three virtual conversations about Hiroshima and Nagasaki .

On August 6, a webinar on abolishing nuclear weapons was held by UNITAR, in collaboration with the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, Hiroshima Prefecture and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace.

Also on August 6, peace activists associated with the United Nations in New York, including the NGO’s Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons and Charter for Compassion held a webinar asking “Hiroshima Day: Have we done enough?”

And on August 5, antinuclear groups in Brisbane, Australia, commemorated the anniversary of the bombings with a webinar celebrating the work that the community has done over time in opposition to nuclear weapons. One of the speakers was the renowned Dr. Helen Caldicott.

We at CPNN join in the global chorus demanding the abolition of nuclear weapons before nuclear weapons destroy our planet.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Assange

Afghanistan and Julian Assange

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Benin

Benin: Traditional kings and religious leaders pray for peace in Parakou

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

IPCC
Climate change widespread, rapid, and intensifying – IPCC

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Declaration
Declaration for the Transition to a Culture of Peace in the XXI Century

In addition to articles, we list virtual events for the culture of peace: Click here for upcoming events. Last month we registered 17 virtual events.

  

WOMEN’S EQUALITY

UNWomen

United Nations: Strengthening women’s meaningful participation in peace processes

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY

Hiroshima
The City of Hiroshima: PEACE DECLARATION

HUMAN RIGHTS


voting

58 Years After Historic Rally, Thousands March on Washington for Voting Rights, DC Statehood

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Guernica

Childrens Message for Peace
Uncategorized

Past virtual events in August

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Here are events and application deadlines in August that were previously listed on the CPNN page for upcoming virtual events. Where possible links are provided to recordings of the events. Unless otherwise noted the events are in English.

August 4, 2:00PM – 3:30PM EDT USA
MMIGRATION NATION – UNDERSTANDING AND ADDRESSING THE WEAPONIZATION OF IMMIGRATION TO CREATE FEAR AND DIVISION IN THE UNITED STATES

U.S. officials are struggling to respond to the arrival of displaced people at the southern U.S. border. The challenges at the border are exacerbating perceptions inside the United States of immigrants and immigration as being a threat, which is fueling xenophobia, racism, animosity, and polarization. This perception has galvanized the anti-immigrant movement and made life substantially more difficult for all immigrants and the communities that welcome them.
— This session will explore the complex issue of immigration, starting with what is the state of our immigration system, what is happening at the border, why and how the issue is being weaponized and turned into a wedge issue that is fueling divisions in the country, and what immigrant rights groups are doing to change the narrative and address these divisions, while ensuring that immigrant communities in the United States can live in safety and peace.
— Zoom Registration

Thu 5th Aug 2021, 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm AEST (Australia)
Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki Webinar – Brisbane 2021

Brisbane antinuclear groups invite you to commemorate the nuclear bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945 with a webinar celebrating the work that the community has done over time in opposition to nuclear weapons, in Brisbane, nationally and internationally, leading to the recent UN Total Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty.
— The speakers, who will reflect on their personal histories as anti-nuclear activists, include:
Ross Gwyther, a founder of People for Nuclear Disarmament in Brisbane
Dr Helen Caldicott, international anti-nuclear activist
Bob Henricks, former secretary of Electrical Trades Union and driver of union support for the anti-nuclear movement
Chris Henderson, from the Cities and Towns Appeal for Australia to sign the Ban Treaty
— Get tickets here – free

Friday, August 6 at 2:00 – 3:15 pm EDT
Hiroshima Day: Have we done enough?

Sponsors:
Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, Charter for Compassion
Speakers:
Audrey Kitagawa
Jonathan Granoff
Marilyn Turkovich
Monica Willard
Pragna Vasupal
Kehkashan Basu
— zoom registration

Friday, 6 August 2021
NUCLEAR WEAPON ABOLISHMENT AND A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE — A CALL FROM HIROSHIMA

UNITAR, in collaboration with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), Hiroshima Prefecture, and the Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace (HOPe), will host a free, public seminar on promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons. The public is invited to join. Please
— The seminar will comprise of:
2:00 – 3:30 pm JST: Plenary Session
4:00 – 5:00 pm JST: Session on Partnership with the Private Sector
5:00 – 5:30 pm JST: Dialogue Session between UNITAR Director of Division for Prosperity and UNITAR Goodwill Ambassador
6:00 – 8:00 pm JST: Session on the Youth Initiative
— Register here

Aug 12, 2021 02:00 PM in Nairobi
Post-GEF Youth Forum International Youth Day

Nala Feminist Collective will be hosting a “Post-GEF Youth Forum” around the question: “What are the challenges and solutions for Generation Equality commitments, accountability?”
— As we move from the Generation Equality Forum towards action and implementation of Africa Young Women Beijing+25 demands, we are in constant reflection of how we will collaborate to ensure there is accountability to the commitments made.
— Join us to explore together, share stories and experience about how to establish youth-led accountability on Generation Equality commitments
— Who is invited? African youth and stakeholders
— When? 12th, 13th and 14th August 2021 – 2:00PM – 4:00PM EAT
— Please note that the following registration is uniquely for the 12th of August.
— Zoom registration

13 de Agosto, 18:30 Time in Brazil
Cultura de Paz: Um horizonte em permanente construção

Palas Athena – Celebração do 15Oth Fórum de Cultura de Paze Não Violéncia
Participação especial de:
Marlova Jovchelovitch Noleto
Leoberto Brancher
Lia Diskin
— youtube recording

August 13 16:15 India time
Ahimsa Conversations: The Seville Statement on Violence

The Seville Statement on Violence was drafted in 1986, by a group of natural and social scientists from several countries. Later adopted by UNESCO, the Seville Statement marshalled scientific evidence to show that violent behaviour is not generally programmed into human nature.
— Prof. Ashis Nandy from India and Prof. David Adams from USA, were two of the leading academics who drafted the Seville Statement. In this episode of Ahimsa Conversations, both scholars look back on the significance of the Seville Statement and reflect on possibilities of nonviolence in our times
— Moderator: Rajni Bakshi, freelance journalist and author
— youtube recording, short version
— youtube recording, long version

Wednesday, 18 August; 8 pm Europe, 9 pm Palestine
Palestinian Grassroots Organising against Colonial Incarceration

Palestinians are self-organising and pushing forward their liberation goals of freedom and justice, building upon the unity built through the past few months. In this conversation we will hear about these efforts, including the Dignity and Hope Detainees Fund Project to provide legal support and solidarity to the families and communities most impacted.
— This event is hosted by Baladna: Association for Arab Youth and Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and will feature a panel of activists and lawyers.
— Register here

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 • 7:00 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00)
End the Selective Service for ALL!

Registration with the Selective Service System, intended to collect information about draft-eligible U.S. residents, is a burden that has been unjustly placed on men for too long. Now members of Congress are attempting to expand the unnecessary, burdensome, and punitive system to women. Forcing Americans into warfighting doesn’t represent equality for women. It represents a step back toward militarism that hurts us all and should be ended once and for all.
— Join the American Friends Service Committee, Center on Conscience and War, and Women’s Action for New Directions (WAND) for a discussion about the Selective Service System, its individual and societal impacts, and how you can help end, rather than expand, the registration system.
— Register here

Tuesday August 24. 11am-1pm Eastern Time USA, 5pm-7pm Central European Time
Taking Climate Change to the World Court

Governments are not doing enough to prevent a catastrophic collapse of the climate. And so youth are taking action. One of the most exciting of the youth-led actions is the World’s Youth for Climate Justice campaign to take the issue of climate change to the International Court of Justice. Such a case could affirm, strengthen and ensure implementation of the legal obligation to stabilise the climate in order to protect current and future generations.
— To help you learn more about the campaign and how you can help, World’s Youth for Climate Justice and Normandy Chair for Peace are running a series of webinars on the importance of such a case, what to ask the court, how to win the case and how the outcome could be implemented.
— The first webinar held in June focused on the importance of climate litigation and assessed lessons from other Advisory Opinions, in particular the historical 1996 ICJ opinion on nuclear weapons. You can watch the recorded sessions on facebook. Session 1. Session 2.
— You are cordially invited to the 2nd webinar in this 4-part series:
Topic: What legal question to ask the Court?
What sources of law can be used?
— Register here

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 • 1:00 AM Central European Time
COP 26 Webinar: Countdown to Glasgow

CODEPINK and World Beyond War are hosting a webinar highlighting the intersection between militarism and climate change leading up to the COP26 talks in Glasgow, Scotland.
— For zoom registration, contact Nancy Mancias at nancymacias@codepink.org

Tuesday, August 24, 2021 • 7:00 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00)
Time to draft Women Too? A Call to End the Selective Service System for Everyone

Sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action. With Edward Hasbrouck. His Web site, Resisters.info, is the most comprehensive resource about the draft, draft registration, and draft resistance in the U.S. since 1980.
— Edward will discuss:
* The largely-unknown history of Selective Service since the end of the
U.S. war in Indochina, including how resistance to draft registration has
prevented activation of a draft.
* Why Congress is now considering proposals either to end draft registration (as endorsed by Peace Action) or to expand Selective Service registration to women, and the fallacy of trying to expand draft registration to women as a path to gender justice.
* How draft registration and contingency planning for a draft enable planning for longer, larger, and less popular wars, and how ending draft registration could constrain war planning and empower young people and older allies to greater resistance to war and war preparations.
— Register here

Aug 26, 2021 07:00 PM in Eastern Time (US and Canada)
The U.S. and China – Past, Present and Future: Conflict and Cooperation in U.S.-China Relations

Organized by CPDCS, with Mass. Peace Action and the Committee for a Sane U.S.-China Policy
— featuring the scholars Mark Selden and Zhiqun Zhu.
— Register here

August 26 (Thurs.), from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm Japan time
Mayors for Peace Youth Webinar for Peace Action

Mayors for Peace will hold a peace education webinar titled Mayors for Peace Youth Webinar for Peace Action, aiming to further stimulate youth-led peace activities in member cities. This webinar will be streamed live on YouTube. Registration for online viewers is now open until Sunday, August 22 Japan time.
— Young people from around the world, who will create our future, will give presentations on their peace activities and have a discussion.
— Register here

Thursday, August 26, 2021 • 11:45 AM • Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00)
Celebration to Honor David Hartsough, Recipient of the 2021 Clarence B. Jones Award for Kingian Nonviolence

Please join the USF Institute for Nonviolence and Social Justice as we recognize David Hartsough with the Clarence B. Jones Award for Kingian Nonviolence, and celebrate his life of moral achievement as an unparalleled nonviolent activist for peace, justice, and human rights.
— Our extraordinary group of speakers gathering in honor of David Hartsough includes some of the most prominent and impactful nonviolence activists and scholars in the United States:
Dr. Ken Butigan, Dr. Clayborne Carson, Professor Erica Chenoweth, Mel Duncan, Daniel Ellsberg, Father Paul J. Fitzgerald, Dr. Clarence B. Jones, KathyKelly, George Lakey, Rev. James L. Lawson, Jr., Joanna Macy, Starhawk, Rivera Sun, David Swanson, Ann Wright, Professor Stephen Zunes,
— Register here

Sunday, August 29, 2:00-4:00 PM Eastern Standard Time (Toronto)
Global Town Hall

On the last Sunday of every month (except for major holidays) Project Save the World holds an open Zoom meeting for activists everywhere in the world to discuss our concerns. There is no pre-determined agenda. After the show, the recording will be edited and uploaded to our Youtube channel Youtube.com/c/tosavetheworld within a week or so.
— Zoom link The host will admit you without a password, but please keep your microphone muted except when called upon to speak. Please do keep your camera on, however, for it is pointless to have a zoom conversation where the participants are invisible.

Tuesday, August 31, 2021 • 5:00-6:30 PM • Pacific Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-07:00)
Campaign Nonviolence Skillbuilding Webinar: Preparing for Protests

When we get ready for protests or street actions, we need to be prepared for a range of potential situations. In this skillbuilding webinar, we’ll look at everything from sensible shoes to great (waterproof!) signs to whether or not you should bring your phone with you. This is an excellent skillbuilding webinar to invite your organizing team to attend together.
— Please note that this webinar is free if you sign up to do some action for peace during the Campaign Action Nonviolence week
— Sign up with an action and receive webinar registration here

Uncategorized

English bulletin August 1, 2021

PROGRESS IN AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST

This month sees continued advances on the themes presented in the last few bulletins: the leadership of women and youth for a culture of peace in Africa; and the struggle against Israeli apartheid in the Middle East.

The Luanda Biennale, to be held October 4-8, will continue the development of networks promoting the “creation of a continental and sustainable movement for peace.” These include the Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace and the Pan-African Women’s Network for the Culture of Peace and Sustainable Development.

The Kinshasa Declaration, launched at the Generation Equality Forum [Paris, July 2], outlines concrete actions for African Union member countries to advance gender equality in Africa by 2030. The Declaration was drafted during the Conference on Gender Equality held in Kinshasa on June 10, and is the result of a large mobilization of pan-African groups including youth, civil society, researchers, government officials, activists and international organizations.

The African Union has announced that they have finished the call for nominations of African women who have exceptionally advanced the women, peace and security agenda in Africa. The selected women will be featured in an upcoming commemorative book featuring twenty African women. A chapter will be dedicated to each woman to share her story or contribution to either of the four pillars of UN Resolution 1325 namely; prevention, protection, participation and/or relief and recovery as part of the peace and security activities.

The African Union Special Envoy for Women Peace and Security, Mme Binetta Diop, has shared the findings of the UN-AU high level Solidarity Mission to the Republic of Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In both countries, the delegation met grass root women leaders, and the Chibok Girls, who have been rescued from Boko Haram.  There are big camps for IDPs (displaced persons) including the Dalori camp in Nigeria, and the Mugunga IDP camp in the Democratic Republic of Congo. We held a focus group discussion with women IDPs to further gain understanding and learn from their experiences.

In Nigeria, The First Ladies of Osun and Kaduna States have been elected chairpersons of the Southern Governors’ Wives Forum and Northern Governors’ Wives Forum respectively. The forums ensure increased participation of women in governance, the construction of a culture of peace in communities across the country and access to education for girls.

In Côte d’Ivoire, delegations of women from several African countries have been participating in a training workshop in peace education and socioeconomic empowerment. “Women cannot remain on the sidelines of our priorities. For this, we need to take into account the issue of gender and education for a culture of peace as a new and promising theme allowing everyone to truly play the role of mediators, educators, actors. of peace and reconcilers,” underlined Dr Diénéba Doumbia, the director of the Regional Center for Education and the Culture of Peace that provided the training.

At the WANEP-GUINEA school, a training workshop was held with about 50 women “in order to allow the communities of Conakry and those of Upper Guinea to develop the culture of peace.” The training enables a sharing of experiences between women with strong experience in their professional career and young women at the start of their careers.

In Uganda, 15 Rotary Peace Fellows gathered at Makerere University for the inaugural session of Rotary International’s new peace center. Among them, the peace center’s first cohort represented 11 countries and spoke, in addition to English, a dozen African languages, including Luganda, Swahili, and Zulu. “Coming from diverse backgrounds, and yet with a shared desire for peace in Africa, they are the epitome of unity in diversity,” said Anne Nkutu, the host area coordinator for the Makerere University peace center.

Finally, in a remarkable contribution to the struggle against Israeli apartheid, two former ambassadors from Israel to South Africa have written that “It is time for the world to recognize that what we saw in South Africa decades ago is happening in the occupied Palestinian territories too. And just as the world joined the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, it is time for the world to take decisive diplomatic action in our case as well and work towards building a future of equality, dignity, and security for Palestinians and Israelis alike.”

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Luanda

Culture of Peace and the Luanda Biennale

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Peru
Different religions come together to pray for peace in Peru

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

indigenous
WWF report: The custodians of nature crucial to any and every effort to protect our planet

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

mayors

Mayors for Peace Adopts New Vision and Action Plan

In addition to articles, we list virtual events for the culture of peace: Click here for upcoming events. Last month we registered 9 virtual events.

  

WOMEN’S EQUALITY

Kinshasa

African women propose a 10-year plan for gender equality in Africa at the Generation Equality Forum in Paris

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY

IPB

Barcelona will host the Second International Peace Congress from October 15-17, 2021

HUMAN RIGHTS


apartheid
It’s Apartheid, Say Israeli Ambassadors to South Africa

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Argentina
Argentina: Teachers lead national strategy for Comprehensive Environmental Education
Uncategorized

Are there countries that promote a culture of peace?



A negative and pessimistic view is provided in the blog Democratic participation is advancing – from below:

It is not by accident that the progress in democratic participation is being made at the level of the city and not at the level of the nation state.

At the level of the nation state, there is no progress. Instead, we are going backwards. More and more the American model is being imposed at the level of the state: a two-party system with alternation of electoral victories for the two sides, both of which are controlled by “big money”, i.e. the capitalist class. This is accomplished by control of the mass media. Voters are given the “choice” of two capitalist alternatives and are forced to vote for the “lesser of two evils.” Electoral candidates at the national level spend millions of dollars and are usually millionaire capitalists themselves. A few exceptions are elected from time to time, but they have only a few votes against hundreds of others that simply represent the interests of the capitalist class.

But one should not be surprised at this. As I have shown in the History of the Culture of War, the nation-state has literally become the culture of war in the course of recent centuries. And it is the capitalist class that continues to profit from the culture of war. Socialism does not survive in the competition of nation-states, because it does not profit as much from the culture of war. We saw this most clearly in the case of the Soviet Union, but we see it today in countries like Cuba and Vietnam.

As a result, the budget of the modern state is largely devoted to preparation for war since military domination is necessary for the success of the capitalist class. Not surprisingly, since it heads up the American empire, the most extreme example is the United States where more than half of the national budget is devoted to the military expenditures, nuclear weapons and interest payments on previous military expenditures.

But perhaps there are exceptions to this negative picture.

This is the theme of the organization, Global Alliance for Ministries and Infrastructures for Peace. See also Building Infrastructures for Peace.

Here are some CPNN articles and discussions that support a more positive view.

Discussion question: Does Costa Rica have a culture of peace?

Bangladesh: Dhaka to host World Peace Conference on Dec 4-5

However, there is nothing in the voting record of Costa Rica at the United Nations that would distinguish it from countries that are clearly culture of war. Even the history of the UN University for Peace that was installed in Costa Rica is one of contradictions. The university was placed in a remote area where it would be so isolated as to be powerless and of no consequence to the rest of the country. And, in general, Costa Rica seems more peaceful than other Central American countries because it has almost no indigenous people. They were killed off in the genocide waged by the Europeans and North Americans that colonized the country.

As for Bangladesh, it is true that it plays a positive role at the United Nations in support of the culture of peace, a legacy of their ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury during the 1990’s. However, the internal situation of the country is one of conflict and inequality.

Uncategorized

Past virtual events in July

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Here are events and application deadlines in July that were previously listed on the CPNN page for upcoming virtual events. Where possible links are provided to recordings of the events. Unless otherwise noted the events are in English.

Mardi 6 juillet 2021 – 11h Central European Time (Paris)
Repenser la Diplomatie Nationale dans une vision Panafricaine
Rethink National Diplomacy in a Pan-African vision

Organsé par l’Institut Mandela, et ses Partenaires l’Ecole Doctorale Gouvernance de l’Afrique et du Moyen-Orient (GAMO) ainsi que le Laboratoire de Recherches et d’Actions Diplomatiques (LaRAD),
Avec les interventions des éminentes personnalités :
– Premier ministre Olivier Mahafaly
– Ministre José Brito
– Ambassadeur Ezzeddine Zayani
– Ambassadeur Dieudonné Ndabarushimana
– Maître Tall Nadia Biouelé
— Participer à la réunion Zoom Code secret : 633945

Thursday, July 7, at 5:00 PM Pacific Time (USA)
The New Cold War with China: Can We Keep It From Getting Hot?” a talk by Michael Klare, followed by discussion

The US and China are engaged in what can only be described as a New Cold War. Both sides are rapidly expanding their military capacity to engage in war with one another, and engaging in dangerously provocative maneuvers in the South China Sea and in the waters around Taiwan.
— Both are also engaged in diplomatic efforts to isolate the other and to restrict the access of the other to international markets. These policies could easily result in an incident likely to trigger a major war, much as mutual antagonisms among the great powers of Europe resulted in the outbreak of World War 1.
— Michael Klare will discuss the causes and characteristics of the New Cold War, the risks of its triggering a hot war, and strategies for preventing this from occurring. He is a professor emeritus of peace and world security studies at Hampshire College and a Senior Visiting Fellow at the Arms Control Association in Washington, D.C.
— This event is co-sponsored by the Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club and the Committee for a Sane US-China Policy.
— The event will be held on Zoom. Please register in advance here.

7 July 2021 at 9am Eastern Standard Time (US)
Fostering Multi-Religious Collaboration And Global Partnerships

Based upon the feedback and recommendations received from the first Global Webinar Series, Religions for Peace, in coordination with Regional Offices, will convene the second series of global capacity development webinars in 2021, with a view to continuing to facilitate the process of strategic Learning Exchange among IRCs across the movement. These webinars will focus on our Six Strategic Goals:
Promote Peaceful, Just, and Inclusive Societies
Advance Gender Equality
Nurture A Sustainable Environment
Champion the Freedom of Thought, Conscience, and Religion
Strengthen Interreligious Education
Foster Multi-religious Collaboration and Global Partnerships
Simultaneous translations for Arabic, French, and Spanish will be provided for all global webinars. Following each of these, regional webinars will be organized under the leadership of the Religions for PeaceRegional Secretaries General, in coordination with Religions for Peace International Secretariat.
— This event is by invitation only. Inquiries can be sent to pbartoli@rfp.org.

SÁBAD0 10 de JULIO, 8:00 am a 11:00 am – Hora Colombia – México
Seminario ” Introducción a las Comunicaciones en proyectos en Derechos Humanos y Culturas de Paz.
– Comunicación Radial. Producción de contenidos radiales. Lenguaje y libreto para distintas piezas radiofónicas. Planificación de Programas radiales.
SABADO 17 de JULIO, 8:00 am a 11:00 am – Hora Colombia – México
– Teoría de las Comunicaciones. Comunicación No Violenta. Elementos Básicos que lo caracterizan. El lenguaje joven en la estructura comunicacional actual.
SABADO 24 de JULIO, 8:00 am a 11:00 am – Hora Colombia – México
– Principios fundamentales para la comprensión de los Derechos Humanos como sistema de garantías y defensa en la sociedad actual. Su aplicación y desarrollo en el mundo juvenil.

Se espera convocar a jóvenes de la región a profundizar conocimientos y prácticas sobre el análisis de las comunicaciones vinculadas a estos temas – particularmente la comunicación radial – , fortalecer los grupos de trabajo existentes y crear nuevos en el ámbito universitario, comunitario, organismos gubernamentales e instancias públicas y privadas. . . . Es nuestro deseo que este Seminario promueva en la región latinoamericana participación juvenil e interés en las acciones y proyectos solidarios mediante prácticas concretas de Voluntariado, creando redes de colaboración y trabajo conjunto entre las Juventudes participantes
— Link de Inscripción al seminario

Wednesday, July 21 • 4:00pm Eastern Standard Time (USA)
Civil Resistance Against Climate Change: What’s Happening and What Works?

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) is pleased to host Robyn Gulliver and Winnifred Louis as they discuss their forthcoming monograph, co-written with Kelly Fielding, Civil Resistance Against Climate Change: Strategies, Tactics and Outcomes of a National Climate Change Movement in Australia. Beginning with an overview of the groups which engage in climate change civil resistance and the tactics they use, the presenters will then discuss the extent to which this activity is succeeding in achieving its goals. The webinar will also include a discussion of the dynamics and outcomes of two case study campaigns (the Stop Adani anti-coal mine campaign and the Divestment campaign), before concluding with consideration of how different levels of the Australian government is responding to climate change related civil resistance.
— You Tube recording

Jul 23, 2021 03:00 PM (Central European Time)
Launch of Nuclear Games

As athletes gather in Japan for the start of the Olympic Games, much attention is being given to the value of the Games for sports, protection at the Games from the COVID virus, and the Olympic Ideal for Peace and Humanity. But there are other, threatening and deadly Games involving Japan – and the entire world – that will continue during the Olympics and after. These Games involve the deadly nuclear arms race and the misguided pursuit of nuclear energy. Nuclear Games, which will be launched on July 23, tells five nuclear age stories – in new, animated web documentary and ‘manga’ formats – designed to educate and engage.
— Facebook recording

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 • 12:00-1:30 PM • Eastern Daylight Time (US)
Walking a Path to a World Beyond War – The Abraham Path Initiative

How can walking lay a path for a world beyond war? The Abraham Path Initiative (API) has been developing walking trails in Southwest Asia (aka “the Middle East”) since 2007. This U.S.-based NGO promotes walking as a tool for economic development, intercultural experiences, and fostering friendships across the challenging divides of our times. When basic needs are met and people are seen in the fullness of their humanity, a foundation for fruitful engagement becomes possible. When people walk together toward a shared destination, their visions for what may be possible also align.
— In this webinar, we explore the work, successes, and challenges of creating walking trails in a region known for conflict. We meet API’s executive director and it’s consultants in Palestine and Iraq. The conversation will be moderated by Salma Yusuf, Advisory Board Member of World BEYOND War, and Q&A facilitated by David Swanson, Executive Director of World BEYOND War.
— click the You Tube recording

Uncategorized

English bulletin July 1, 2021

AFRICAN WOMEN, YOUTH LEAD THE WAY

As UNESCO helps prepare the Biennale Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace that will take place in October in Luanda, the UNESCO Directrice-General Audrey Azoulay, has emphasized the participation of women, especially in the session on “Women’s Networks for Peace in Africa”. She explains that “Around the “Pan-African Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation” ( FemWise-Africa ) created in 2017, it is important that the various networks of women for peace that exist in Africa can exert more influence, unite and enhance their complementarities. It is only through collective action that we can effectively contribute to building and consolidating peace on a daily basis.”

The Biennale is also placing a priority on African youth. It is being organized as an intergenerational dialogue. 150 young people (from all AU countries and the Diaspora) will be invited to take part in this Dialogue. These young people will be selected from among members of National Youth Councils, National Coordinating Bodies of the Pan-African Youth Network for a Culture of Peace (PAYNCOP) and other youth leaders and organizations, through a call for applications.  They will discuss with Heads of State and Government, Ministers in charge of Youth / Culture, Commissioners of the AU and Regional Economic Communities in charge of Youth, representatives of the United Nations, international organizations and technical and financial partners invited to the Biennale. 

Among the many networks of women for peace in Africa, several have featured in recent CPNN articles.

The Nala Feminist Collective (Nalafem); a  Pan African group of 17 young feminists with a mission to foster and mobilize young women from Africa and the diaspora, advocate for Africa Young Women B+25 Manifesto; a groundbreaking political document that sets out ten critical issues of concern for young African women. The manifesto calls on world leaders to scale up action for progressive gender inclusion and will be presented at the upcoming Generation Equality Forum in Paris.

In Mali, the national restitution conference “Palabre trees of Timbuktu and Gao” engaged more than a hundred women from the north, some of whom are on their first trip to the capital. The initiative lays the groundwork for a return to lasting peace and cohesion with a dual objective:
– to restore and make available to all participants the diagnosis of the Mali situation by women in the regions;
– and to give a voice to the representatives of women from the municipalities for the implementation of structuring projects for local community development.

In Kenya, The inaugural season of Think African  is inspired by Nobel Prize Winner Wangari Maathai’s political philosophy, which she likened to a traditional African stool, comprising a seat and three legs. First leg: Inclusive Democracy. Second leg: Sustainability. Third leg: ” a culture of peace”; fairness, respect, compassion, forgiveness, recompense and justice. The first episode features Kenyan climate change activist Elizabeth Wathuti. She is the founder of the Green Generation Initiative, which nurtures young people to be environmentally conscious from a young age and has planted 30,000 tree seedlings in Kenya.

In Senegal, the members of the Platform of Women for Peace in Casamance (PFPC) have called for serenity and social stability in the country. “Our nation is characterized by a multiethnicity which, instead of being a source of division, is a richness and a pledge of a symbiosis, a harmony, a mutual respect. The joking cousin is the real social cement that unites the Serer to Pulaar, Diatta Ndiaye to Diop, the game of fraternal alliances which banishes any hostility between Diola and Serer.”

African youth networks for peace have also been featured recently.

In Gabon, The Pan-African Youth Network for the Culture of Peace, Gabon section (PAYNCoP Gabon) has recently launched, in Libreville, a project to promote the culture of peace and fight against violence in schools. The initiative will sensitize key actors (supervisory staff, students, parents of students) on the effects of violence in schools, train them on the culture of peace and peaceful conflict resolution. In order to engage students in the continued promotion of the culture of peace within the school, the project also plans to create a club of young peacemakers within the school.

In Chad, an interactive conference was held on “The involvement of young people in the preservation of culture of peace”. The objective was to make young students understand the essential role of peace and the culture of peace. Following ideas expressed by students regarding peace, the speakers emphasized that peace is the acceptance of others, peace being the foundation or the basis of life in society. The president of the organizing committee, Wardougou Moussa Abdelkader, on behalf of the students of HEC-TCHAD, thanked the United Nations association of Chad, for the initiative, and pleaded for the sustainability of this theme.

In Cameroon, UNESCO is supporting five exemplary leaders of youth-led organizations engaged in early warning and response Mechanisms for peacebuilding. These young leaders include- Christian Achaleke of Local Youth Corner (LOYOC), Loic Atangana Nkulu of the Pan-African Network for a Culture of Peace (PAYNCOP), Brice Nisebang of the Cameroon National Youth Council (NYC), Paul Bernard Noah of “G-54 Afrique Avenir” and Gladys Tchegoue of Dynamique Mondiale des Jeunes (DMJ). Other youth leaders equally participated in this initiative such as Desmond Ngala of Rog Agency for Open Culture, Stephane Mebonde of Accord Parfait and Ramatu Abdou of the Association for the Welfare of Women and Indigenous Persons (ASOWWIP).

In her interview, Directrice-General Audrey Azoulay concludes that “Africa is the continent of today. The African continent is rich in knowledge and opportunities, it is the youngest continent in the world and UNESCO is committed to ensuring that this youth has the skills, education, creativity, all the capital. human potential to build a better future.”

And in supporting the Luanda Biennale, the African Union says, “The strategic objective of the event is to promote a peaceful and prosperous Africa through the defense and encouragement of actions that prevent conflicts in the management of national and cross-border natural resources on the African continent, as well as to educate a generation of young Africans as agents of peace, stability and development.”

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY

Bibang

Gabon: Youth for the Culture of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

virtual
Past virtual events in June

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Shell

Netherlands: Court orders Shell to cut carbon emissions 45% by 2030

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Tlalpan

Mexico City prepares third culture of peace meeting

In addition to articles, we list virtual events for the culture of peace: Click here for upcoming events. Last month we registered 26 virtual events.

  

WOMEN’S EQUALITY

Mali

Mali National Restitution Conference: Women propose possible solutions

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY

summit

US-Russia Summit advances key points in international Open Letter

HUMAN RIGHTS


Biden

#NowIsTheTime – A global call to President Biden

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Autesserre

Building peace, from the bottom up: A Q&A with Séverine Autesserre
Uncategorized

Movement Letter to Facebook

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

A petition from Facebook We Need to Talk


dear sheryl sandberg,

We write as civil society organizations in the United States, Palestine, and beyond, angered and disturbed by the recent censorship of Palestinian users and their supporters on your platforms. We are equally horrified by the high levels of inciting content directed towards Palestinians on Facebook’s platforms. At this moment, social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are often Palestinian protestors’ and residents’ only tools to share information to keep each other safe in the face of repression by the Israeli government and police, and during attacks on civilians. These platforms also play a key role in Palestinian users and their allies in documenting Israeli government human rights violations, and sharing the images, videos, and accounts of the murder and violent dispossession of Palestinians being perpetrated by the Israeli government and Zionist Israeli settlers. This blatant censorship of Palestinian political content is putting these activists further at risk. 

As Palestinian residents defend their homes in Jerusalem from forced dispossession by the Israeli government and state-sanctioned Zionist settler groups, their calls for support have received widespread international attention—inspiring social media campaigns and mass protests around the world. This international outcry only grew after the Israeli military attacked Ramadan worshippers at al-Aqsa mosque and started brutally bombing Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip —an ongoing onslaught that killed over 200 people, including at least 60 children. And the the international community continued to mobilize as, immediately in the wake of a ceasefire, Israeli police fired stun grenades on Palestinian worshippers at the al-Aqsa complex and embarked on a mass-arrest campaign of Palestinian citizens of Israel that has resulted in over 1,500 arrests targeting protestors.

Facebook executives’ decision at this moment to directly collaborate with Israeli Defense and Justice Minister Gantz on content moderation, without appropriate parity of government engagement until prompted by civil society, is beyond outrageous. Facebook may need to consult governments on various content and policy issues in its work; however, to coordinate with the Israeli government — which the United Nations and multiple human rights organizations have called an apartheid state — publicly in the middle of a military assault on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, attacks on Palestinian citizens in Israel, and forcible displacement of Palestinians in East Jerusalem is dangerous overreach at best. 

In addition, the numerous reports of removal or chilling of political speech that several of our organizations have received over the past two weeks, combined with the report released by 7amleh last week that includes 429 reported incidents from Instagram and Facebook, raise concerns about Facebook’s relationship with the Israeli Ministry of Justice’s extra-legal Cyber Unit. The fact that since May 6 there has been widespread removal of Palestinians’ content or supportive content (including removal of content and deactivation of accounts or pages based on Community Standards violations, as well as the mass removal of Instagram stories) that after review have been restored for lack of any violation, indicates that Facebook is perhaps voluntarily agreeing to takedowns recommended by the Israeli Cyber Unit. This unclear relationship between Facebook and the Israeli Cyber Unit is concerning, as it is not subject to any formal governmental or legal process. 

Such indications of Facebook’s privileged relationship with the Israeli government contradict the assurances that Facebook community engagement and content policy representatives have repeatedly made to those of us that have engaged in good faith as stakeholders in Facebook’s content policy process, specifically over the past six months around Facebook’s possible reinterpretation of “Zionist.” When expressing concern that current or future policies (such as those stifling criticism of “Zionists” or “Zionist” institutions) would silence Palestinians and those of us organizing to hold the Israeli government accountable, we have often been assured that Facebook does not have a privileged relationship with the Israeli government —that our concerns are unfounded. Given Facebook’s decision to collaborate with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Justice, the possible relationship between Facebook and the Israeli Cyber Unit, and The Intercept’s recent investigation regarding Facebook’s content moderation rules silencing criticism of Israel, our communities’ mistrust of the company is increasing.

Facebook must take the following urgent and crucial steps to repair this mistrust with our communities and ensure that we can count on Facebook and Instagram as free civic spaces and tools for holding governments accountable:

  1. Uphold your own commitment to respect human rights and “to be a place for equality, safety, dignity and free speech” as set in your corporate human rights policy, engage with human rights organizations and civil society groups to immediately address the concerns we have raised, and stop censoring Palestinians on your platforms.

  2. Provide transparency on how Facebook is applying content policies, such as those around hate speech and incitement of violence, as it relates to the following ethnic and religious identities and political ideologies: Palestinians, Jews, Israelis, and Zionists. 

  3. Evaluate Facebook’s relationship with the Israeli government across ministries and sever ties with Israel’s Cyber Unit, which may be directing the takedown of content that does not violate any community standards and, therefore, may be leading to the censorship or chilling of political speech. 

  4. Preserve and share all data on content removals. This includes, but is not limited to, information about which takedowns did not receive human review, whether users tried to appeal the takedown, and reported incidents from Facebook and Instagram users that were not acted upon.

  5. Allow independent researchers and stakeholders to review blocked or removed content and all data related to such content removals, subject to data protection and privacy requirements. This good-faith gesture will allow external oversight of moderation mechanisms to vetted researchers and independent stakeholders with relevant expertise to provide additional oversight of redress mechanisms and the fairness and effectiveness of appeal mechanisms, particularly for historically marginalized groups, and work to rebuild trust with those groups.

 Urgent action is required from Facebook to examine its complicity with the Israeli government’s apartheid and ethnic cleansing policies. We urge you to reply to this letter publicly and engage with us immediately. 

(Continued in the column on the right.)

Questions related to this article:

Is Internet freedom a basic human right?

Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

(Continued from the column on the left.)

Sincerely,

(list as of May 27)

7amleh – The Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media

Access Now

Action Center on Race and the Economy (ACRE)

Adalah Justice Project

American Friends Service Committee

American Muslims for Palestine

BDS Berlin

BDS France

Center for Constitutional Rights

CODEPINK

Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)

docP – BDS Netherlands

Een Andere Joodse Stem, Another Jewish Voice, Belgium

Fight for the Future

For Us Not Amazon

Free Speech on Israel (UK)

Friends of Sabeel North America

ICNA Council for Social Justice

IfNotNow

Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Jetpac Resource Center

Jewish Voice for Just Peace (Ireland)

Jewish Voice for Labour

Jewish Voice for Peace

Jewish Network for Palestine

Jordan Open Source Association (JOSA)

Kairos

La ColectiVA

Masaar – Technology and Law Community

MediaJustice

MENA Rights Group

Mnemonic

MPower Change

National Lawyers Guild

National Students for Justice in Palestine

Palestine Legal

Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Palestinian BDS National Committee (BNC)

Ranking Digital Rights

R3D: Red en Defensa de los Derechos Digitales

South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT)

SMEX

Taraaz

The Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy

United Methodists for Kairos Response (UMKR)

Uplift – A People Powered Community (Ireland)

We Are Not Numbers

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global, Uncategorized

Are the people of Haiti making progress towards a culture of peace?

Haiti: CNDDR workshop finalizes its national disarmament strategyr

The Rotary Club of Pétion-Ville : promoting the culture of peace in Haiti

UNIFA, the University of the Aristide Foundation in Haiti

Pour une ‘culture de paix’ dans la presse du Cap-Haïtien

For a ‘culture of peace’ in the press of Cap-Haitien

16 Days of Activism: Meet Marjorie Lafontant, Haiti

MPP’s Much Ado About Women

Haïti – Social : Vers la Paix sociale à Cité Soleil

Haiti – Social : Towards Social Peace in Cité Soleil

Uncategorized

English bulletin May 1, 2021

. OVERCOMING ISRAELI APARTHEID . .

Believing that a solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine is the key to peace in the Middle East, CPNN has carried many articles on this subject. Increasingly it is recognized that the situation resembles the apartheid of South Africa.

The overcoming of apartheid was accomplished by a combination of struggle within South Africa and international pressure through boycotts, divestment and sanctions. In this regard, a number of important developments have occurred since the beginning of this year.

SANCTIONS

A report released by Human Rights Watch : Abusive Israeli Policies Constitute Crimes of Apartheid, Persecution Human Rights Watch on April 27 states that the Israeli oppression of Palestinians has reached a “threshold and a permanence that meets the definitions of the crimes of apartheid and persecution.” According to HRW director Kenneth Roth, “Those who strive for Israeli-Palestinian peace, whether a one or two-state solution or a confederation, should in the meantime recognize this reality for what it is and bring to bear the sorts of human rights tools needed to end it.”

The HRW report confirms previous reports, such as that of January 12 by the Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem labelling Israel as an “apartheid state.” According to Richard Falk, who served from 2008-2014 as the  United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, B’Tselem is Israel’s most respected human rights organization. He states that the report “confirms earlier UN reports and allegations that the Palestinians are victimized by an apartheid regime that seeks to impose policies and practices that ensure the supremacy of Jews by victimizing the Palestinian people.”

Perhaps the most important development is the decision of the International Criminal Court on February 5, 2021. By a 2-1 vote the Chamber’s decision affirmed the authority of Fatou Bensouda, the ICC Prosecutor, to proceed with an investigation of Israeli war crimes committed in Palestine since 2014. Richard Falk considers that ICC decision may turn out to be a turning point in the struggle against Israeli apartheid, not unlike the 1960 Sharpeville Massacre in South Africa.

According to Michael Lynk, the present United Nations Special Rapporteur for the situation of human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory, the ICC decision “offers profound hope to those who believe that consequences, not condonation, must be the answer to the commission of grave crimes . . . Ending impunity and pursuing justice can only bring us closer to peace in the Middle East.”

BOYCOTTS AND DIVESTMENT

Boycotts and divestment continues to develop around the world, especially from religious and academic institutions, as reviewed in the website of the BDS movement.

STRUGGLE WITHIN PALESTINE

Pressure continues to grow for elections in Palestine in order to arrive at a unified struggle against apartheid, since elections previously scheduled for May have been postponed. Palestinian activist Mazin Qumsiyeh reports on key points towards a electoral program for the needed social change, as agreed to in recent discussions with Palestinian activists. These include, among other points :

– Support for human rights including a) the right of return for refugees to their homes and lands and to be compensated for their suffering, b) the full equality to women (in all aspects of social, educational and economic rights, c) the right to education to all, d) the right to due process of law, e) the right to clean and healthy environment, d) right to food/sustenance and shelter;

– Complete freedom of expression through all communication media;

– Mechanisms created to weed out corruption, nepotism and other unethical behaviors in all levels of society;

STRUGGLE WITHIN ISRAEL

Israel has not seen mass demonstrations for justice for Palestine since 2017 when some 15,000 Israelis attended a Tel Aviv rally to demand progress for a two-state solution to the conflict.

However, there continues to be a movement among young Israelis to refuse to serve in the armed forces. In January of this year sixty Israeli teenagers published an open letter addressed to top Israeli officials declaring their refusal to serve in the army in protest of its policies of occupation and apartheid.

WHEN WILL IT END, AND HOW?

Quoting Richard Falk, “the African majority waited more than 30 years for their emancipation from apartheid. The Palestinian people have already endured the hardships and humiliations of racist subjugation and Jewish supremacy for more than 70 years. When will it end, and how?”

HUMAN RIGHTS




Human Rights Watch : Abusive Israeli Policies Constitute Crimes of Apartheid, Persecution

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION



Glen Greenwald : My New Book on Journalism, Exposing Corruption, and the Resulting Risks, Dangers and Societal Changes

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT



Biden’s Climate Summit Falls Short : Lofty Words But Where is the Plan?

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION



We the Peoples : Call for Inclusive Global Governance
In addition to articles, we list virtual events for the culture of peace: Click here for upcoming events. Last month we registered 19 virtual events.

  

WOMEN’S EQUALITY



Generation Equality Forum: Mexico City, 29-31 March 2021

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY



Latin American Congress of Research for Peace will be held virtually in August

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY


Richard Falk: A Palestinian Balance Sheet: Normative Victories, Geopolitical Disappointments

EDUCATION FOR PEACE



Brazil: Compaz invites schools to the 19th edition of the book Londrina Pazeando
Uncategorized

Hans Küng: Towards a Global Ethic

TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY .

An article by René Wadlow in the Transcend Media Service

Hans Küng was a Swiss Roman Catholic theologian who died on 6 Apr 2021 at the age of 93. He always stressed the Swiss aspect of his life, its democratic traditions, and the need to discuss widely before making a decision. He wrote his doctoral thesis at the Sorbonne University in Paris on the Swiss Protestant theologian Karl Barth (1886 – 1968) who spent most of his teaching life at Bale Universit


Le théologien catholique Hans Küng, en 2006, à Paris. JOEL SAGET / AFP

Küng always hoped that some of the democratic spirit would enter the Roman Catholic Church, and he had high hopes at the time of the Vatican II Conference which brought some reforms to Church administration.  Küng also saw Vatican II as a time when Catholic thinkers such as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955) and Henri de Lubac (1896-1991), who had been marginalized, were again being read.  However, the conservative forces within the Church and especially within the Vatican itself regained influence.  The more liberal voices were less heard, and in some cases were driven out of the Church itself.

Thus from the early 1980s Küng turned his attention to other religions.  He wrote a book on Judaism and another on Islam. Then he turned his attention to the religions of Asia, looking for common themes that could provide a bridge.

(continued in right column)

Question related to this article:
 
How can different faiths work together for understanding and harmony?

(continued from left column).

Like Karl Barth, the political tensions in the 1980s between the U.S.A. and the USSR became a preoccupation.  In addition, the tensions in the Middle East were growing. Küng wanted to find a moral code that would provide a global way of life conducive to peace.  He became active in the Parliament of the World’s Religions which had been an effort in the 1880s to develop dialogue among representatives of religions.  A century later the Parliament was revived and has held a session every five years or so meeting in different parts of the world.

For the Parliament, Hans Küng wrote a text Toward a Global Ethic around which the Parliament could discuss.  The Text began,

 “Peace eludes us, the planet is being destroyed, neighbors live in fear, women and men are estranged from each other, children die. This is abhorrent.” 

The text goes on,

“We affirm that a common set of core values is found in the teachings of religions and that these form a basis of a global ethic.”

He then calls for a radical change in consciousness.

“We are interdependent. Each of us depends on the well-being of the whole, and so we have respect for the community of living beings, for people, animals, and plants, and for the preservation of Earth, the air, water and soil.”

I had participated in an inter-religious discussion in Geneva in which Hans Küng was active.  True to his democratic spirit, he listened respectfully to what each was saying, although he was the best-known participant in the meeting.  The concept of a global ethic as a base for peace has not yet taken hold, although the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an important step in that direction.

Hans Küng’s intellectual effort set a direction in which citizens of the world will continue to walk. There is still a good distance to go until the ideology becomes a practice, but the need remains and new voices will come to the fore.

Europe, TOLERANCE & SOLIDARITY, Uncategorized