Dear Friends,

Over the past few years, I have often been requested to write a book with a strategy for the global movement for a culture of peace. Since I have often been critical of the strategies proposed by others, it has seemed only fair and just that I should propose a strategy myself.

But before writing a strategy for the culture of peace, I found it necessary to write a history and analysis of the culture of war.

I have also tried to imagine how such a strategy could come about over time, and therefore I have also written a utopian novella in which the author looks back from the year 2026 to recall how the transition from culture of war to culture of peace came to pass.

The strategy proposes a new world system to replace the system of nation states that in the course of history has come to monopolize the culture of war. To achieve such a global realignment, civil society organizations such as NGOs should work as much as possible in collaboration with local government. Here is an excerpt from the book explaining the reasons for this:

"It makes sense to redirect the primary emphasis of the civil society toward working together with elected officials at the local level. That does not mean abandoning completely their national and international work, which will continue to help restrain the culture of war at that level. But it does mean a radical shift of emphasis and priorities if we are to arrive at a culture of peace.

First, by working together with local elected officials the civil society can achieve the legitimacy of working for the people as a whole, and it increases the possibility of broadening the base of involvement to include everyone in the community.

Second, by working together with local elected officials, the civil society can find common ground, above the level of their competition for limited resources...

Third, by working together on the culture of peace, the civil society organizations that would normally concentrate on their own particular area, can now take part in a more holistic and mutually-reinforcing approach.

Fourth, by putting energy into local government, they can help build the base for a new world system that is free from the culture of war."

The three books are now available. You can read them on line at the following Internet addresses. If you prefer printed copies, you can order them for $10 each, by following the links on the Internet pages.

The History of the Culture of War
http://culture-of-peace.info/books/history.html

World Peace through the Town Hall: A Strategy for the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace
http://culture-of-peace.info/books/worldpeace.html

I Have Seen the Promised Land: A Utopian Novella
http://culture-of-peace.info/books/promisedland.html

RECENT CPNN ARTICLES

Since the previous mailing of the Bulletin for March-April, there have been four articles posted at CPNN . They are the following:

Peace Research Center Tamera: Creating Models for a Peace Culture
... "We would love to have people from other communities and ecovillages to form this global ring of knowledge and cooperation."

U.S. Association for the University for Peace
... "The U.S. Association for the University for Peace (UPEACE/US) is pleased to announce the launch of its new website: www.upeaceus.org"

Peace through Special Education
... "the latest attempt by Service Civil International - Sri Lanka Branch in its persevering efforts to contribute in some little way to the much needed peace effort in the country"

Book Publication: Peace: A World History
... "Peace: A World History is the first study to explore the full spectrum of peace and peacemaking from prehistoric to contemporary times in a single volume aimed at improving their prospects."

Peace,

David Adams

http://decade-culture-of-peace.org
http://cpnn-world.org