Category Archives: global

International dialogue for peer mediation

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

received by email at CPNN from informazioni@risorsacittadino.org 

Good morning,

Risorsa Cittadino Soc. Coop. Sociale, an agency certified by the Italian Justice Minister to train mediators, is an organisation involved in a divulgation project about the mediation’s culture, called “Invece di Giudicare®” – “Instead of Judging” – (with the European Commission’s recognition). It develops around a network among secondary schools called “mediation’s friends”.

This project aims to raise awareness, in the matter of peer mediation, among every subject involved in schools and young people in general; the peer mediation practices could benefit students in school but even outside of it – for example, in youth communities.

We would be very interested in establishing a dialogue with organizations within countries where the peer mediation is well known, aiming at sharing experiences and building common opportunities.

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Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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Our proposal does not require an over formalisation: we would like to form an informal group, composed by organisations reflecting together on past experiences and the possibility of developing common projects which, through juveniles, could create a better future.

Furthermore, we look out for the chance of developing European projects and lobbying activities with the European Council and the European Union, if shared demands should emerge.

A phone contact will follow this letter: our operators will be happy to meet the needs and reasons of interested organisations.

We would be really grateful if you could tell us in advance if you’re interested, or not, in getting in contact with us to take a common path.

We thank you in advance for your interest and time,

Best Regards

The Organizing Secretary

N.B. for further details, you can:

– visit our website: Invece di Giudicare

– write us: informazioni@risorsacittadino.org

– phone us: +39 0543 37 09 23 / + 39 338 746 55 65

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Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize Win Could Not Have Come at a More Important Moment

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY .

An article by Joseph Gerson from Common Dreams

The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Nihon Hidankyo is long overdue and could not come at a more important time.

The Hibakusha (A-bomb witness/survivors) of Nihon Hidankyo have been among the world’s most courageous and steadfast advocates of nuclear disarmament. The organization has focused on three core demands: Preventing nuclear war, eliminating nuclear weapons, and obtaining essential medical care for A-bomb victims.


Members of Nihon Hidankyo, a grassroots Japanese organization of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki attend a press conference on October 12, 2024 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo: Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Hidankyo was founded in 1956, in the wake of the Bravo H-Bomb test 1,000 times more powerful that the Hiroshima A-bomb, which poisoned Japanese fishermen and Marshall Islanders.

As Wilfred Burchett, the first Western journalist to witness the ruins and suffering in Hiroshima in 1945 later reported, despite their excruciating physical and emotional suffering, the Hibakusha became the world’s most powerful and influential force for the abolition. With the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, the voices of the Hibakusha, their tortured testimonies, and their truth that human beings and nuclear weapons cannot coexist will now ring out more powerfully around the world.

Nihon Hidankyo was repeatedly nominated for its now well-earned Peace Prize, and the Nobel Committee is now to be celebrated for finally making this year’s decision. With the world, our species, facing the greatest danger of nuclear apocalypse since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, this year’s Peace Prize will refocus world attention on the urgency of renewing nuclear disarmament diplomacy. In addition to Russian nuclear threats related to the continuing Ukraine War, an accident, incident, or miscalculation growing out of provocative U.S., allied, and Chinese military operations in and around the Taiwan Strait and the South China/West could ignite escalation to a nuclear cataclysm.

With uncertainties about a possible Trump election victory, there are growing demands among Japanese and South Korean elites for their nations to become nuclear powers. The U.S. and Russia have lowered their official operational thresholds for launching their nuclear weapons. All of the nuclear weapons states are upgrading their nuclear arsenals and delivery systems, with the U.S. committing an estimated two trillion dollars to “modernize” its systems when that money could be spent to stanch and reverse the climate emergency and to address other urgent human needs.

Let us marvel and learn from the reality that Hibakusha, who were literally the last people on earth, once seen by U.S. leaders and media as “vermin” to be eliminated, have awakened the conscience of the world after suffering what was probably the world’s worst war crime. And contrary to the myth propagated by President Truman, the A-bombs were not necessary to defeat Japan. Senior U.S. military officials from Eisenhower to LeMay and Leahy advised the president that “it wasn’t necessary to hit Japan with that awful thing” Secretary of War Stimson had already advised that Japan’s surrender on terms acceptable to the U.S. could be negotiated.”

Hibakusha’s friends, families and neighbors were incinerated, irradiated, and physically ripped apart by the radiation’s heat and blast waves of the world’s first A-bombs. An entire city was destroyed and burned to the ground. Midst their own agonies, Many Hibakusha were unable to save their families in their shattered and burning homes. They witnessed ghostlike figures, no longer recognizable as human beings, some holding their eyeballs or intestines in their hands marching to their deaths, often in cisterns or the city’s rivers. In the months and years that followed, many died from radiation inflicted cancers and other diseases. Memories remain of the birthing of mutant babies and of other young children whose lives were cut short by radiation diseases.

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(Click here for an article in French on this subject.)

Question related to this article:
 
Can we abolish all nuclear weapons?

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With initial fears that the radiation diseases might be contagious and about genetic damages, Hibakusha’s suffering was compounded by marginalization and discrimination. As a result of the U.S. military occupation which continued until 1952 and subsequently with Japan functioning as the United States’ subservient ally, essential medical and other support services were long denied to Hibakusha.

Among the achievements of Nihon Hidankyo and its allies are the collaborations they have built with other “global hibakusha.” These included forced laborers who had brought from Japanese occupied Korea who also suffered the A-bombings. Compassionately and strategically they supported and joined with nuclear weapons test victims from the Marshall Islands, the United States, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tahiti, the Christmas Islands, and other Pacific Islands.

Together with their testimonies in communities across the world and in the United Nations they forged the powerful but still inadequate taboo against the use of nuclear weapons. With their testimonies at the U.N. and elsewhere they have won the majority of the world’s governments to the understanding that for the human species to survive, priority must be given to the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, not so-called “state security” interests. Hibakusha’s testimonies were essential to the successful negotiation of the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons which seeks to hold the nuclear weapons states accountable to their Article VI Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty obligation to engage in good faith negotiations for the complete abolition of nuclear weapons.

That nuclear weapons have not been used since the Nagasaki A-bombing was an unfortunate misstatement in the Nobel Peace Prize Committee’s award announcement. As Daniel Ellsberg, a principal author of the United States’ nuclear war planning in the Kennedy administration. taught during many international crises and wars, the U.S. has used its nuclear arsenal in the same way that an armed robber uses his gun when pointed at his victim’s head. Whether or not the trigger is pulled, the gun has been used. Tragically, this is playbook with which the Russian government has been working from with its Ukraine-war nuclear threats.

It is worth noting that in response to the announcement of the award, Hidankyo referenced the terrible assaults on the people of Gaza. The Hibakusha have identified with victims of other holocausts and massacres going back to Vietnam when they identified with the people under the bombs. They then warned of the danger that the U.S. might resort to nuclear attack (which the U.S. prepared and threatened in 1954, 1957 and with President Nixon’s 1969 “madman” nuclear mobilization.

Numerous popular initiatives are at work in the world which will be boosted by the Peace Prize award to Nihon Hibakusha. In the U.S., the Back from the Brink campaign, initiated by Physicians for Social Responsibility, has been at the cutting edge. It’s call for negotiation of a verifiable agreement to eliminate nuclear weapons, renunciation of first-use policies, ending the president’s sole authority to launch nuclear weapons, taking U.S. nuclear weapons off hair-trigger alert, and to cancel the plan to replace the entire U.S. nuclear arsenal with enhanced weapons has been endorsed by 43 members of congress and numerous U.S. cities and states.

The Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security works to prevent nuclear war and achieve a nuclear weapons-free world via its advocacy of Common Security. This is the ancient truth that no nation can achieve security at the expense of its rival. As with the INF Treaty that ended the Cold War before the fall of the Cold War, peaceful coexistence and security can be achieved only through mutual recognition, and respectful, if difficult, win-win negotiations between rivals.

In the face of the horrors on nuclear weapons and drawing on the courage of Hibakusha, this is the paradigm on which the Hibakusha’s vison of a nuclear weapons free world can be achieved.

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English bulletin October 1, 2024

. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE-2024 .

Expressed in Russian or Ukrainian, English or French, Japanese or Hindi, Arab or Spanish, Italian or Portuguese, the message is the same. The people of the world want peace! For the International day of Peace, more than 800 events in these languages may be found on the Internet, and we have published excerpts from them in the pages of CPNN last week. This year the official United Nations slogan is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace.”

The greatest number, 391 or almost half of the actions, càme from Western Europe. Expressed mostly in French and organized for the most part by the Mouvement de la Paix and militant trade unions, there were rallies bearing the rainbow flag of peace in over half of the more than 100 departments of France. Expressed mostly in Italian, there were events for the International Day of Peace in 44 cities and towns of Italy, led by the annual peace march of Assisi that drew marchers from many other cities. In Belgium, 189 cities and towns hung the rainbow banner of peace from their public buildings. In Portugal, dozens of towns and schools hung white cloth in their windows to express their desire for peace. Spain and the United Kingdom also saw many actions. “If you want peace, prepare peace” was a frequent slogan.

In North America, there were 151 actions for the day of peace in 44 of the 50 states of the United States, with the most in California and Florida. City-wide celebrations took place in cities such as San Francisco, Chicago and Boston. In San Francisco the slogan was “You are a pathway to peace. Everyone is a pathway to peace.” School, universities and churches organized a great variety of actions to celebrate the day. While in Canada, there were events in 6 of the 10 provinces as well as an official declaration by the Prime Minister: “This week, as the UN General Assembly begins in New York City, let’s recommit ourselves to working together to build a better, safer, and more peaceful world.”

Despite the devastation of the war and the fact that it is illegal to mention it in Russia, there were 32 celebrations published on the Internet from Ukraine and 30 from Russia. While calling for peace, many of the actions emphasized support for their side of the war. In Moscow, where people have been sent to prison because they called for peace, many brought flowers and paper doves to put on the sculpture named “We demand peace!”. In the Ukraine, there were celebrations calling for peace that took place in air raid shelters during bombardments. As usual where it was possible, in many libraries and schools, children made paper doves and released colored balloons to mark the day. Perhaps most ironic was the article from Moldova where a school celebration was criticized for flying the rainbow flag of peace, because the rainbow flag can also be interpreted as support for homosexual rights.

There were 23 actions in 13 Arab and Middle Eastern countries, mostly reported in Arabic. Some of them emphasized the role of women for peace. The Syrian Women’s Council in Manbij Canton organized a dialogue seminar on the International Day of Peace, stressing the necessity of resolving the Syrian crisis and establishing peace there. In Aden, Yemen, An event was held with the participation of elite female cadres and members of the Women’s Solidarity Network, with discussions about the status of women and the importance of reflecting their priorities and needs in the Beijing Report.

In Asia and Pacific, there were 64 events in 14 countries, with the most published in Japanese and Hindi. In Japan, The organization “Wa Project TAISHI,” mobilized calligraphy clubs and 27 calligraphers from 49 schools nationwide to dedicate calliography messages of peace to Gokoku shrines around the country. At a conference in Mumbai sponsored by the International Institute for Peace through Tourism, Ajay Prakash its new president, spoke eloquently on the power of Tourism to connect people across all boundaries of race, religion or nationality. In Nanjing, China, Chinese and foreign young people from 11 countries gathered to sing songs of peace and sow purple gold grass seeds which symbolize peace. One student said: “It is very meaningful to sow these seeds with my own hands. I hope that when the Purple Grass flowers bloom in March next year, people can see these flowers and remember the history behind them.”

In Latin America and the Caribbean there were 59 actions in 19 countries, led by Argentina with 17 and Mexico with 16. In Nueva Leon, Mexico, The Nobel Peace Prize Laureates World Summit was timed to coincide with the International Day of Peace. 18 Nobel Peace Prize winners participated, as well as 1,200 young people from more than 70 universities across the country. vIn Mexico, the actions were especially emotions in the face of the violence that is tearing the country apart. The demonstration in Culiacán called on people not to normalize or accept the conditions of violence and fear that persist in the city, which have left more than 60 murders and more than 70 forced disappearances. In Colombia, events were dedicated to reconciliation and consolidation of the Peace Accords.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, there were 43 actions in 26 countries for the International Day of Peace. The official remarks of the African Union recognized the important role of the Biennale of Luanda. , the Pan-African Forum for the Culture of Peace. This year there was considerable participation by the military in African countries. In Nigeria, it was organized by the Security and Civil Defence Corps. In Ghana, it was organized by the Ghana Armed Forces at Airforce Base Takoradi. In Niger, it was organized by the by the High Authority for the Consolidation of Peace. In Gabon, the celebration took place in the stadium of the national gendarmerie. In Burkhina Faso the Ministry of Justice called for a return to endogenous values for the construction of peace and tolerance.

Among the many virtual events for the International Day of Peace, we may mention the following:
Dancing for Peace
Medicine for the Culture of War
Conference: Resisting the USA’s Military Empire
Songs for World Peace
Unite4Peace Worldwide Broadcast

The total number of actions this year was 834. This is greater than last year’s 942 if one adds the 153 new Montessori schools counted last year but no longer available on the Internet this year.

GLOBAL



What has happened this year: International Day of Peace

UNITED STATES AND CANADA



United States and Canada: International Day of Peace

EUROPE



Europe: International Day of Peace

ASIA AND PACIFIC



Asia and Pacific: International Day of Peace

  

EX-SOVIET COUNTRIES



Ex-Soviet Countries: International Day of Peace

ARAB STATES AND MIDDLE EAST



Arab States And Middle East: International Day of Peace

LATIN AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN



Latin America and Caribbean: International Day of Peace

AFRICA



Africa: International Day of Peace

What has happened this year (2024) for the International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
This year we give links to 391 actions carried out in 16 countries of Western Europe and 84 in 7 countries that were once part of the Soviet Union. We link to 166 actions in 6 Canadian provinces and 44 of the 50 states of the United States. There are 64 actions cited in 14 countries of Asia and the Pacific, 59 from 19 Latin American and Caribbean countries, 43 from 26 African countries, and 23 from 13 Arab and Middle Eastern countries. See the CPNN bulletin for October for a synopsis.

Detailed data may be found on the following CPNN articles:

Europe: International Day of Peace

Ex-Soviet Countries: International Day of Peace

United States and Canada: International Day of Peace

Asia and Pacific: International Day of Peace

Arab and Middle Eastern States: International Day of Peace

Latin America and Caribbean: International Day of Peace

Africa: International Day of Peace

For an Urgent change in Global Governance

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article by Federico Mayor Zaragoza* in Other News (translation by CPNN)

“No challenge is beyond the creative capacity of the human species.”
J. F. Kennedy, June 1963.

A turning point has arrived where situations of an irreversible nature have been reached. We must ensure that circumstances do not occur that inevitably require new solutions. And that despair does not spread. A citizenry that is aware of its equal dignity and capable of expressing itself that must, at last, put into practice the lucid Charter of the United Nations: “We, the peoples… have resolved to spare succeeding generations the horror of war.” War and other “horrors,” such as the deterioration of the environment and, therefore, of the habitability of planet Earth.

The urgent time has come to act, to move from being impassive spectators of what happens to being very diligent actors. Not one more day of “silent listeners.” It is time for action, not to be simple receivers of frequently biased information, but actors who participate, each in our own field, keeping in mind Burke’s maxim: “No one makes a greater mistake than he who does nothing because he thinks he could do only very little.” Every seed, without exception, is necessary. Every grain of sand. Every drop.

There are moments, very few, when suddenly change is possible. The radical change that is required can only be imagined as the result of a great global clamor of “We, the peoples”, finally capable, with a resolute attitude, of carrying out the transition from force to words, from imposition to joint reflection.

It is necessary and urgent that many voices be mobilized, aware that now – equal in dignity and capable of participating – we must act without further delay. Yes: now, for the first time in history, “We, the peoples…” can achieve the removal of the veto in the United Nations … and in the European Union, also disqualified from decision-making by the requirement of “unanimity”, the antithesis of democracy.

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

Questions related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

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It is imperative to address the great challenges on a global scale, before their solution is no longer possible. The major priorities of food, access to drinking water, quality health services, care for the environment, education, emigration… are challenges to which we must respond together.

Inventing the future. Through modern technology, the best expression of the voice of the people, of solidarity at a global level, can take place. Civil society now has, in addition to its undeniable leading role in solidarity aid, the possibility of making itself heard.

The human species yearns for, dreams of, a “new beginning”, where instead of preparing for war, it achieves peace by listening, understanding, uniting voices and efforts.

In 79 years (since 1945) it has NOT been possible to apply the UN Charter, to fulfill the will of “We, the peoples…”, always silenced by the veto, by plutocratic and supremacist governance. It was Eisenhower, the President of the United States, who had the courage, on January 20, 1961, to convey to his successor, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, and to the American people, that it was not the president who really ruled in America, but the “military-industrial complex.” From President Wilson’s creation of the League of Nations at the end of the First World War to Roosevelt’s founding of the United Nations, the opportunities for the transition of the power of the word have progressively faded. Now, as I continue to stress the time has come for “We, the peoples…”

And what must we do immediately, thinking of future generations? It is not a question of economic, political, social dispositions… It is, above all, a question of inventing a different future. In this regard, I will never forget what Professor Hans Krebs, Nobel Prize winner in Biochemistry, told me in his Oxford laboratory: “The solution is not in these sophisticated instruments, nor in the collection of data… The solution is to think what no one has thought before”… Yes: each human being, is unique and capable of creating, our hope.

Let us give wings to the human species so that, without vetoes, it may act democratically for the great transition from the force to the word.

The world is entering a new era. We have many things to preserve for the future and many others to change decisively. At last, the people. At last, the voice of the people. At last, citizen power. At last, the word and not the force. A culture of peace and never again a culture of war.

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*Federico Mayor Zaragoza (Barcelona, ​​1934) Doctor in Pharmacy from the Complutense University of Madrid (1958), has been a professor at different Spanish universities and has held numerous political positions, including that of Minister of Education and Science (1981-82). Between 1987 and 1999 he was Director General of UNESCO. He is currently President of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace.

UN General Assembly demands Israel end ‘unlawful presence’ in Occupied Palestinian Territory

. . HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article from the United Nations

The United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday [September 18] voted overwhelmingly to adopt a resolution that demands that Israel “brings to an end without delay its unlawful presence” in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

With a recorded vote of 124 nations in favour, 14 against, and 43 abstentions, the resolution calls for Israel to comply with international law and withdraw its military forces, immediately cease all new settlement activity, evacuate all settlers from occupied land, and dismantle parts of the separation wall it constructed inside the occupied West Bank.

[Editor’s note: Click here for a full listing of how the countries voted.]


UN Photo/Evan Schneider Result of the General Assembly vote on a draft resolution on the ICJ advisory opinion on the legal consequences arising from Israel’s policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory

The General Assembly further demanded that Israel return land and other “immovable property”, as well as all assets seized since the occupation began in 1967, and all cultural property and assets taken from Palestinians and Palestinian institutions.

The resolution also demands Israel allow all Palestinians displaced during the occupation to return to their place of origin and make reparation for the damage caused by its occupation.

The resolution stems from the advisory opinion  issued by the International Court of Justice  (ICJ) in July, in which the Court declared that Israel’s continued presence in the Territory “is unlawful”, and that “all States are under an obligation not to recognize” the decades-long occupation.

Click here for the full text of the resolution  and here for our live coverage of the meeting.

Threat to peace and security

The Assembly “strongly deplored the continued and total disregard and breaches” by the Government of Israel of its obligations under the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions, stressing that such breaches “seriously threaten” regional and international peace and security.

It also recognized that Israel “must be held to account for any violations” of international law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including of international humanitarian and human rights laws.

The text says Israel “must bear the legal consequences of all its internationally wrongful acts, including by making reparation for the injury, including any damage, caused by such acts.”

The General Assembly highlighted the need for the establishment of an international mechanism for reparations to address damage, loss, or injury caused by Israel’s actions.

It also called for creating an international register of damage caused, to document evidence and related claims.

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Question related to this article:

How can war crimes be documented, stopped, punished and prevented?

How can a culture of peace be established in the Middle East?

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International conference

The resolution also includes a decision to convene an international conference during the Assembly’s current session to implement UN resolutions pertaining to the question of Palestine and the two-State solution for the achievement of a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the Middle East.

Additionally, the Assembly requested the UN Secretary-General to present proposals for a mechanism to follow up on Israel’s violations of article 3 of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, as identified by the ICJ.

Article 3 refers to racial segregation and apartheid and the undertaking by International Convention’s States Parties to prevent, prohibit and eradicate all practices of this nature in territories under their jurisdiction.

Call on States

In its resolution, the General Assembly called upon all UN Member States to comply with their obligations under international law and take concrete steps to address Israel’s ongoing presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

The Assembly urged States to refrain from recognizing Israel’s presence in the Territory as lawful and to ensure that they do not provide aid or assistance in maintaining the situation created by the occupation. This includes taking measures to prevent their nationals, companies, and entities under their jurisdiction from engaging in activities that support or sustain Israel’s occupation.

Additionally, the Assembly called on States to cease importing products originating from Israeli settlements and to halt the transfer of arms, munitions, and related equipment to Israel in cases where there are reasonable grounds to suspect they may be used in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Moreover, the resolution urged States to implement sanctions, such as travel bans and asset freezes, against individuals and entities involved in maintaining Israel’s unlawful presence in the Territory. This includes addressing issues related to settler violence and ensuring that those engaged in these activities face legal and financial consequences.
Adjournment

Finally, the Assembly temporarily adjourned its tenth emergency special session and authorized the President of the General Assembly to reconvene the session upon request from Member States.

The special session is a continuation of the tenth emergency special session of the General Assembly that last met in May amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza, during which it adopted a resolution , laying out additional rights for the State of Palestine’s participation in Assembly meetings.

That resolution did not grant Palestine the right to vote or put forward its candidature to UN Main Organs such as the Security Council or the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

It also did not confer membership to the State of Palestine, which requires a specific recommendation from the Security Council.

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Secretary-General’s remarks to the UN Peace Bell Ceremony

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from the United Nations

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
 
We come together today to sound the call for peace. 

Here at the United Nations, peace is our raison d’être, our guiding light, and our founding creed. 


Secretary-General António Guterres rings the Peace Bell during the ceremony in observance of the International Day of Peace. PHOTO:UN/Cia Pak

Yet peace is under threat.

War is on the march. 

From the Middle East, to Sudan, Ukraine, and beyond, we see bullets and bombs maim and kill; bodies piled high; populations traumatised; and buildings reduced to rubble.  

Meanwhile, the foundations of a peaceful world are fracturing. 

Geo-political divisions are widening. 

Inequalities are growing. 

Disinformation is fanning the flames of hate. 

New technologies are being weaponised with no guardrails. 

And the climate crisis is fuelling instability: depleting resources, and forcing people from their homes. 

International institutions must be better positioned to respond. 

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Question(s) related to this article:

What is happening this year (2024) for the International Day of Peace?

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And we have a chance for change. 

Later this month, at the Summit of the Future, we can begin the process of reform and revitalisation: 

By adapting multilateral institutions to today’s reality, instead of the reality of the Second World War; 

By advancing a New Agenda for Peace;

By revitalising the Sustainable Development Goals; 

By protecting human rights;  

By tackling the point where climate and security meet;

By agreeing guardrails on new technologies in conflict; 

By defending and advancing gender equality; 

By combatting racism and discrimination;

And by securing full and meaningful participation in civic life and peacebuilding –particularly young people, women and girls, and other historically marginalised communities. 

In short, we must “cultivate a culture of peace.”

That is the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace. 

And it is a cause all us devotees of peace and justice must rally behind, this day and everyday – through the Summit of the Future and beyond. 

That is the call we make today. 

May it ring out around the world.  

Before I sound the peace bell, please join me in a moment of silence to reflect on the meaning and necessity of peace – and the way in which each of us can nurture the conditions needed for a peaceful world to flourish.

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Character Strengths That Support Peacebuilding

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

Special to CPNN from Dr. Steven Handwerker*

” Dialogue must transform recrimination…innovative justice has to displace vengeance…determination over a long period of time is required to overcome entrenched forces… (and a ) ..transformation of motivation must accompany action.” (Hopkins, 2000)

      Throughout the course of human history, there is no doubt, that often, the outcome of a violent and/or potentially violent encounter is dependent upon the character strengths of the negotiators and peace workers. In this practitioner’s 50-year history in the realms of peace building, as a clinician, mediator, and educator, five traits and qualities were essential.


Photo of Nobel Peace Prize winners on the cover of the Hopkins book

– First, is clarity and faith in intent to create peace (Hopkins 2000), (Nelson 2021) and (Alston 2010).

– Second, not necessarily in order of significance, is empathy/compassion and perspective taking (Hopkins 2000), (Hart 1997), (Groot 2023), (Rogers1980).

– Third, is the vital need to be authentic in all expressions and representations of effort to build peace (Stewart 2021), (Groot 2023).

– Fourth, is Hope (Saleem 2023).

– The fifth quality is perseverance (Zomeren 2018) in the intent and practice, with constant correction in modifying efforts, to move toward the goal of peace (Ueshiba 1992), (Valez 2021). 

From 1997, in the arena of the American Psychological Association, within the divisions of Humanistic Psychology, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, Peace Psychology, and International Psychology, a working group was established to build peace in each of these venues through various efforts. This has been manifest in over 200 symposia, ongoing endeavors, newsletter articles, and working group meetings and discussions where examples of the applications of these character strengths were presented.

Community work in Haiti

For many years the international focus of our peace work has been focused on the economically and environmentally devastated population of Haiti. The work included humanitarian assistance and trauma relief as well as economic support. We worked with faith leaders, corporate leaders, NGOs and colleagues on behalf of these displaced and traumatized people. In addition, employment opportunities were created. The engagement of community-academic partnerships with community psychologists allowed for effective collaborative actions. Perspective taking within a cultural-relational perspective (Zomeren, 2018) helped to make our ongoing evaluation process reliable and effective. Many jobs for youths and sustainable projects in academic settings were created as byproducts. (Stewart 2021) addresses these issues and describes how important evaluative actions occur with trusted partners across community sectors to provide alternatives within socioeconomic levels.

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Questions for this article:

How important is community development for a culture of peace?

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We examined underlying processes and thereby administered and maintained a humanitarian and sustainable initiative for several years. We were able to infuse hope into the populace for this period of time (Saleem, 2023) which significantly moderated the relationship between an intolerance of uncertainty and psychological wellbeing.  This highlighted the importance of hope as a protective factor within a highly compromised population. Hope is a critical coping strategy, within an environment of a humanitarian and sustainable initiative along with economic support (Saleem, Appiah-Boateng, 2023).  As Tolstoy expressed, “the strongest of all warriors (in the battle to create peace) are these two – time and patience.” 

* Dr. Handwerker is a licensed psychologist. His website is www.peacewk.org and his email is peacewk@peacewk.org.

References

Alston, B. (2010) editor. Chapter on “Promoting deeper values: lessons learned and some common themes” in Visions in Conflict: International Perspectives on Values and Enmity. ND Enterprises. Hawaii, USA.

Appiah-Boateng, S. , Bukari, K.N. (2023) Coping Strategies for Victims of Farmer-Herder Conflicts in Ghana. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 29(4), 448-458. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000655.

Groot, M., Schaafsma, J., Veerkamp, J. et. al. (2023) “Righting the Wrong”: A Multicounty Study on Peoples Perceptions of “Making  Things Right” in the Wake of Human Rights Violations. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 29(4), 394-408. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000691.

Handwerker, S. (2023) “On Building Societal Peace: A Humanistic and Humanitarian View. Society for Humanistic Psychology November Newsletter. 

Hart, T. (1997) Transcendental Empathy is the Therapeutic Encounter. The Humanistic Psychologist. 25(3),245-270. https://doi.org/10.1080/08873267.1997.9986885.

Hopkins, J. editor (2000). The Art of Peace. Snow Lion Publications, New York. ISBN: 1-55939-149-9. https://www.shambhala.com/snowlion_articles/the-art-of-peace/https://www.shambhala.com/snowlion_articles/the-art-of-peace/.

Nelson, L. (2021) Identifying determinants of individual peacefulness: A psychological foundation for peace education. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 27(2), 109-119.

Rogers, C. R.. (1980) A way of being. Houghton Mifflin. New York. 

Saleem, M. , Rizvi, T. & Bashir, I. (2023) The role of hope in buffering the influence of intolerance of uncertainty on student’s psychological well-being. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 29(4), 374-384. https://doi.org/10.1037/pac0000697.

Shifferd, K. , Hiller, P. and Swanson, D. (2016) A Global Security System: An Alternative to War. WORLDBEYONDWAR.ORG.

Stewart, D., Jesson, N., and Watson, F. (2021) Examining conflict mediation to prevent violence through multivector partnerships. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 27(2), 170-81.

Ueshiba, M. (1992) The art of peace. Shambhala. New York.

Valez, G. and Gerstein, L. (2021) Supporting peaceful individuals, groups and socieities. Peace psychology and peace education. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 27(2), 103-108.

United Nations (1948) Universal Declaration on Human Rights.

Yueh-Ting Lee and Holt, L. (2019) Chapter 6 Daoist Psychology, Peace and the Process of Transformation. in Dao and Daoist Ideas for Scientists, Humanists and Practitioners. Nova Science Publishers. New York. ISBN: 978-1-53616-544-9.

Zomeren, M. (2018) Social Movements and Political and Social Transformation: In Search of a Bigger Picture: A Cultural-Relational Perspective on Social Transformation and Violence. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. 24(1), 171-76.

ICP course: Activating a Culture of Peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

A course of International Cities of Peace (ICP)

The purpose of this course is to answer two questions:

1. What is the Culture of Peace?

2. How can I participate in its growth?

Twenty five years ago, in 1999, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, the Declaration and Programme of Action. It launched the International Year for the Culture of Peace (2000) and a global movement during which 75 million people all over the world signed the Manifesto 2000.

The Lessons in this Course include:

1. Introduction

2. Human Rights

3. Disarmament/Nonviolence

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Question for this article:

Culture of peace curricula: what are some good examples?

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4. Education for Peace Sharing

5. Free Flow of Information/Dialogue

6. Sustainability/Responsible Consumption

7. Women’s Equality and Full Participation

8. Democratic Participation and Practice

9. Tolerance and Solidarity

10. Activation and Conclusion

11. Resources and Links

12. Quiz

NOTE: This course was written by three individuals who have spent their lives pursuing a Culture of Peace: Mr. David Adams, former UNESCO Unit Director and Chair of the Task Force for the U.N.’s International Year for the Culture of Peace; Ashland, Oregon’s David Wick, President of Pathways to Peace, and co-founder of the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission; and David Hazen of Eugene, Oregon, one of the original Cities of Peace and author of Love Always Wins.

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OCDS Video about Culture of Peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

A video by Bro. Jose Arnold Alferez published in Chaindesk for OCDS, Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites

The video delves into the significance of fostering a culture of peace and the necessity of a “vaccine” to prevent war. It explores the values, attitudes, and practices that underpin peace education, focusing on respect for life, rejection of violence, and sharing. The manifesto for a culture of peace emphasizes respecting human life and dignity, rejecting violence towards vulnerable groups, and promoting inclusivity, justice, and sustainable development practices. It stresses the importance of defending freedom of expression, cultural diversity, women’s participation, and democratic principles to enhance peacebuilding efforts at individual, national, and international levels.

The video also highlights the International Day of Peace on September 21st as a platform to spread the message of peace and non-violence globally, and discusses the six components to achieving peace, including dismantling the culture of war, promoting human rights, and nurturing inner peace within families and communities.


Video

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Introduction to promoting a culture of peace and the need for a vaccine to prevent war.

Understanding Culture of Peace
Exploration of the culture of peace, its values, attitudes, and practices.

Peace Education
Discussion on peace education by To Sweeney and Virginia Kawagas.

Values of Culture of Peace
Explanation of the values, attitudes, and ways of living that promote a culture of peace.

Manifesto for Culture of Peace
Overview of the manifesto for a culture of peace focusing on respect for life, rejection of violence, sharing, and solidarity.

Respect for Life
Importance of respecting the life and dignity of each human being without discrimination or prejudice.

Reject Violence
Manifesto highlighting the rejection of violence in all forms, including towards vulnerable groups like children, adolescents, and women.

Share with Others
Encouragement to share time, material resources, and talents to promote inclusivity and justice for all.

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Question(s) related to this article:

What are some good films and videos that promote a culture of peace?

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Defend Freedom of Expression
Importance of defending freedom of expression and cultural diversity while avoiding fanaticism and rejection of others.

Preserve the Planet
Emphasis on promoting responsible consumer behavior and development practices that respect all forms of life on Earth.

Rediscover Solidarity
Promotion of women’s participation, respect for democratic principles, and creating new forms of solidarity to enhance peacebuilding efforts.

Efforts for Peace
Call to action for individuals, nations, and international organizations to work towards promoting a culture of peace and non-violence.

International Day of Peace
Recognition of the International Day of Peace on September 21st and the importance of spreading the message of peace and non-violence globally.

Path to Peace
Exploration of the six parts to peace, including dismantling the culture of war, promoting human rights, and living in harmony with the environment.

Inner Peace
Discussion on nurturing inner peace as a foundation for promoting peace within families, communities, and society.

FAQ

Q: What is the manifesto for a culture of peace?

A: The manifesto for a culture of peace focuses on values such as respect for life, rejection of violence, sharing, and solidarity.

Q: Why is it important to respect the life and dignity of each human being without discrimination or prejudice?

A: Respecting the life and dignity of each human being without discrimination or prejudice is important to promote inclusivity, justice, and peace for all.

Q: What are some of the values, attitudes, and ways of living that promote a culture of peace?

A: Values, attitudes, and ways of living that promote a culture of peace include respect for life, rejection of violence, sharing, and solidarity.

Q: How can individuals promote a culture of peace and non-violence?

A: Individuals can promote a culture of peace and non-violence by sharing time, material resources, talents, defending freedom of expression, respecting democratic principles, and creating new forms of solidarity.

Q: What is the significance of the International Day of Peace on September 21st?

A: The International Day of Peace on September 21st is significant as it emphasizes the importance of spreading the message of peace and non-violence globally.

Q: What are the six parts to peace as discussed in the file?

A: The six parts to peace include dismantling the culture of war, promoting human rights, living in harmony with the environment, nurturing inner peace, promoting women’s participation, and creating new forms of solidarity to enhance peacebuilding efforts.

– – – – – –

If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title “Comment on (name of article)” and we will put your comment on line. Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.