| Posted: April 27 2005,11:26 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
There
is clearly a growing demand for the training courses and other peace
initiatives launched by us since 1999, after the Manifesto 2000,
especially:
-from the governmental and private schools. This demand
is of approximately 10 governmental schools weekly, that request
training in Universal Values and Culture of Peace; also private schools
request talks, workshops, and seminars on Peace for teachers, parents,
pupils, and staff.
- from the Municipal and State Legislative Assemblies that request consultancy on how to form Culture of Peace Advisory Boards
- from hospitals, health units, and community health agents that request training in Culture of Peace and Conflict Mediation.
-
from ONGs, especially those working in the area of violence and social
inclusion, as well as those involved in the National Disarmament
campaign, that will be subject to a referendum, initially scheduled for
October 2, 2005, now being voted in Congress.
It has not yet been possible to create indicators capable of measuring the results of this process.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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It
is difficult to create an efficient inter-sector articulation for
working at once with governmental departments, international agencies,
and NGOs.
Public policies and programs are interrupted every 4 years, when new governors, mayors, and president are elected.
Lack of engagement of governmental and private universities
ONGs lack efficiency and do not establish common goals for common projects with multi-institutional teams.
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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CULTURE OF PEACE PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
1. Gandhi Week
2. Martin Luther King Week
3. Inter-religious Dialogue
4. Gandhi and Non-violence for the: Military Police Force and Civil Police Force
5. Peace Wants Partners
6. Gandhi Square
7. Universal Values, Ethics, and Citizenship - Teacher's Training Courses
a. Priceless Values Seminars
b. From Linear to Complex in Thought and Action Seminar
c. Peace Schools
d. Textbook: Peace, how is it made? - Sowing Culture of Peace in Schools
e. Peace in Action - Culture of Peace Leadership Training Course
f. Young Apprentice Program
g. Peace Teachers
8. Peace Flag Network
9. Open Doors
10. Ethics of Welcoming
11. Gandhi Network
12. São Paulo Committee for the dissemination of the Manifesto 2000 of UNESCO
13. Culture of Peace Decade Committee of São Paulo
a. Culture of Peace Decade Committee of the Northwest region of São Paulo State.
b. 1st Restorative Justice Brazilian Symposium
14. Parliamentary and Municipal Culture of Peace Advisory Boards
1.
GANDHI WEEK
Since 1982, during the
first week of October, and to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi's birthday (Oct.
2, 1869) we have been holding a week of activities and reflections
regarding the methodology, grounding, and pedagogy of non-violence.
Since the year 2000, and observing the request by UNESCO to work on the
building of a Culture of Peace, the Gandhi Weeks started to include
activities in Parks and Public Squares in order to welcome all
citizens. 23 Gandhi Weeks have been produced and in October 2004 the
24th Gandhi Week will take place.
Guidelines:
- Simpler living - avoid excess and waste
-
Ethics of solidarity - foster the art of living together - promote
responsible citizenship - participate in the management of common
wealth and public spaces.
- Value differences and welcome them as sources of richness
Activities
based on these principles are developed in several Brazilian states and
cities (Araçatuba (Sao Paulo), Baurú (Sao Paulo), Sorocaba (Sao Paulo),
Belém do Para (Para), and Fortaleza (Ceara)), always open to the public
in general and free of charge. Over 750 people attend these activities
yearly.
2. MARTIN LUTHER KING WEEK
Since 2004, the first week
of April is dedicated to activities that invite us to remember,
consider, and talk about the life experience of Martin Luther King and
kindle the flame of vigilance, in order to create antidotes for all
that robs our humanity and retards the implementation of a global
culture committed to peaceful interaction, making diversity legitimate,
and a cooperative disposition. As the ancient African word ubuntu
expresses: "I am what I am because of who we all are". Talks, shows,
commented video exhibitions, and other activities all have free
admittance, and are carried out in public squares, governmental
schools, and at the Associação Palas Athena. In 2004 approximately 200
persons attended, and in 2005 approximately 700.
3. INTER-RELIGIOUS DIALOGUE
This
movement started in 1982 due to the initiative of then Archbishop of
São Paulo, Dom Paulo Evaristo Arns, and afterwards supported by the
Casa da Reconciliação (Catholic) and the Jewish Congregation of São
Paulo. Formerly, in partnership with the United Religious Initiative
(URI), the Religious Studies Institute (ISER), and supported by the
World Business Academy (WBA), we have been promoting inter-religious
dialogue in Brazil.
4. GANDHI AND NON-VIOLENCE - for the Military Police Force and Civil Police Force (1999 - 2000)
This
project was developed in order to disseminate the ideas of the great
spiritual and political leader, and to discuss subjects that are
crucial for social interaction: violence, the environment, cultural
diversity, ethics, and citizenship.
The first essay-writing
contest counted with 82.000 military policemen of the Sao Paulo State,
sponsored by Associação Palas Athena and the Consulate General of
India, and institutional support of the National Secretary of Human
Rights and the project "Discrimination, Prejudice, and Stigmatization"
of the Education Faculty of the University of São Paulo (USP).
The
second essay-writing contest counted with 35.000 civil policemen of the
São Paulo state. Seminars and meetings for these policemen were also
conducted as part of the contest.
This project was also adopted in Natal (Rio Grande do Norte) and Belém (Para) in the years that followed.
5. PEACE WANTS PARTNERS
March 2001 to the present date
This
outdoors event is carried out in public spaces such as parks and
squares offering the population several recreational activities
designed to show and allow participants to experience the three basic
principles of Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy:
- Active non-violence: nurture pacific action and attitudes in all dimensions of our life.
- Individual responsibility: foster the awareness of our personal power to act in benefit of our community.
-
Simpler living: avoid waste and excess; circulate what is stagnant,
recycling things and ideas; minimize irresponsible consumerism.
Conducted
entirely by volunteers, and free of charge, the activities are: Dialog
and story telling, dancing, singing, origami, ikebana, collective
artistic activities, hiking, games, etc. They benefit the local
population that comes to parks and public squares in São Paulo and
other cities, and has been receiving over 650 persons yearly.
A Peace Wants Partners Event
6. BUILDING OF GANDHI SQUARE
In
July 2004 Gandhi square was created at the Túlio Fontoura Square, in
São Paulo, to stimulate and host culture of peace and non-violence
activities. In order to implement this idea, Associação Palas Athena
established a partnership with SENAC (landscape design department), the
Consulate General of India, and the Municipal Sub-district of Vila
Mariana. The project was sponsored by 10 private enterprises, and
building is under way. It will be a model public area in terms of
accessibility for visually and otherwise handicapped persons.
7. UNIVERSAL VALUES, ETHICS AND CITIZENSHIP PROGRAM
August 1999 to present date
PRICELESS VALUES SEMINARS
20-hours of training, with institutional support of UNESCO and sponsored by private companies.
Goals:
-
Create awareness and motivation for teaching ethics and universal
values in schools where many adolescents face problems such as drug
addiction and violence.
- Discuss basic human ethical issues, paving
the way for the construction of a society based on principles of
peaceful interaction and constant learning.
- Foster the development
of educational programs based on values such as: dialogue, peace and
non-violence - since they are urgent for society and can be
learned and taught.
- Prepare for the development of intercultural
values, according to principles based on respect of cultural
differences and religious traditions.
- Develop a critical
understanding of the consumer society in order to foster citizenship
and a sense of social participation in students.
- Discuss the
importance of knowing and taking care of ones own body, and the
adoption of healthy habits for the individual, the community, and the
environment.
This program has trained 5598 teachers up to this
moment. Another 10.000 teachers and education workers of governmental
schools have attended related workshops and talks in São Paulo and Rio
de Janeiro in their schools.
FROM LINEAR TO COMPLEX IN THOUGHT AND ACTION Seminars (2000)
Seminars for education officials of the governmental network of schools.
TRAINING FOR THE "PEACE SCHOOLS" PROJECT IN RIO DE JANEIRO/RJ (2002)
Training
of the teachers taking part of UNESCO's pilot project for Peace Schools
in Rio de Janeiro. 380 teachers and monitors were trained.
TEXTBOOK
"PAZ, COMO SE FAZ? SEMEANDO CULTURA DE PAZ NAS ESCOLAS" (Peace, how is
it made? Sowing Culture of Peace in Schools) (2002).
This textbook
was written by the Palas Athena team for UNESCO and provides tools for
teachers that want to guide their pupils in the development of
communication, creativity, acceptance of others, and dialog - abilities
that contribute to the construction of active peace in communities. It
provides a bridge between theory and practice, and is based on the four
pillars of Education for the Future (learning to know, learning to do,
learning to live together, learning to be), presented in the UNESCO
Report by the International Commission for Education in the XXI
century, presided by Jaques Delors: Education a treasure to discover,
and also in the 6 points of the Manifesto 2000. Over 300.000 copies
were distributed in several Brazilian States, and also available for
download at www.unesco.org.br (publicações / edições nacionais /
edições em desenvolvimento social / Paz, como se Faz? / online).
PEACE IN ACTION - TRAINING IN CULTURE OF PEACE LEADERSHIP (in partnership with UNESCO). (2003 to present date)
Goals:
Provide training for teachers, principles, and other education
professionals that are willing to create Culture of Peace and
Non-violence dissemination centers in their schools in order to
influence the students' families and the communities they belong to.
During
its 120 hours, this course covers the following subjects: Diversity and
social inclusion; Responsible consuming; Culture of Peace and law; The
seven knowledges necessary for the education in the future; Politics,
complexity and Culture of Peace; Poisons for the mind: anger, envy, and
jealousy; Ethics and peace education; Fundaments and strategies of
Non-violence; Philosophical contribution to education for the 21st
century.
270 education professionals have attended 2 courses in São Paulo and 1 in Caxias do Sul (Rio Grande do Sul)
YOUNG APPRENTICE PROGRAM (2003 - 2005).
Training
in Human Values and Professional Ethics for Adolescents. A 132-hour
course for classes with 70 adolescents participating of the First Job
Program of Banco Real ABN-AMRO in São Paulo and in Rio de Janeiro.
PEACE
TEACHERS (2002 to present date). Training of teachers from the
governmental network of schools. Upon request of the Municipal
Government and Education Department of Araçatuba, and State Department
of Education, this project was implemented in the following cities of
São Paulo State: Araçatuba, Guararapes, Rubiácea, Bento de Abreu,
Valparaíso and Santo Antonio do Aracanguá. Every fortnight, school
principles, teachers, and coordinators are trained by the Palas Athena
team. In Araçatuba all 41 schools are already in the second phase of
the project, implementing dialogue and focus techniques. In 2005 the
entire pedagogical planning was based on the 6 principles of the
Manifesto 2000. The program has trained 13.067 education professionals
up to the present date.
8. PEACE FLAG NETWORK Jan. 2000 to present date
In
partnership with Abaçaí Cultura e Arte (Culture Department of the State
of Sao Paulo), the first Peace Flag was planted in Jan. 25th, 2000.
After that, the network of flags has been growing in the State of São
Paulo, with each flag planted, a sustainability unit is created in
order to: promote Culture of Peace and Education for Peace by means of
research, education, and experience; to foster autonomy, dialog, and
cooperation in order to avoid conflicts by strengthening the social
tissue, peaceful coexistence and envisioning a multicultural world; to
allow the access to useful knowledge and ethical values, and create
awareness regarding human rights and responsible citizenship; to
produce knowledge capable of fostering a Culture of Peace. There are 6
sustainability units to the present date in:
- Atibaia, SP (in partnership with: Education and Culture Municipal Departments)
- Jarinu, SP (in partnership with the Education Municipal Department)
- São Bernardo do Campo, SP (in partnership with Meimei Social Assistance Institute)
- São José dos Campos, SP (in parnership with Cassiano Ricardo Cultural Foundation and Culture of Peace Municipal Council)
- São Paulo, SP (in parnership with the Rio Branco School)
Yearly, approximately 2000 persons attend the planting of the flags.
Goals:
-
Join several segments of the community in order to discuss violence and
search for integrated solutions based on a common ground of needs and
interests.
- Stimulate the creation of projects and support their activities
-
Efficiently articulate, organize and harmonize the several activities
developed in order to reduce violence in the city of Ribeirão Preto.
9. OPEN DOORS Jan. 2001 to present date
Goals:
Improve
the perspective of social inclusion, life quality, and a better future
for children and youth by creating relationships based on and sustained
by universal ethical values, thus contributing to build a Culture of
Peace.
The project was created when the Municipal Health
Department of Sao Paulo city requested a program to teach universal
values to young people (12 - 25 years). The project is now carried out
entirely by volunteers, who maintain constant relationships with 130
children and adolescents by means of activities such as capoeira,
music, dance, arts, information on health issues, and professional
training courses.
10. ETHICS OF WELCOMING
Aug. 2000 to present date
This
project was initially developed upon request of the Municipal Health
Department of São Paulo State. It is now an independent project and is
being carried out in several cities in Sao Paulo and in Caxias do Sul,
Rio Grande do Sul.
Goals:
- Create awareness, within the
Municipal Health Network, of the harmful consequences of considering
human and subjective aspects less important than technical, scientific,
and operational ones when working with patients.
- Demonstrate, by means of cases, that this situation can be changed, not only in the Health services.
-
Show that the change is operated initially by establishing trust,
solidarity, and familiarity between patient-citizens and health
professional-citizens of the administrative area and those working with
patients.
- Develop the potential for relationships latent in the
health professionals and create awareness for the need to use their
full potential.
- Broaden the participation of public healthcare users by welcoming their representatives and volunteers.
- Stimulate the search for partnerships with other private and public institutions and organizations
-
Foster communication skills in order to face an environment where fear,
mistrust, and alienation are the main themes, creating a conversational
network that disseminates trust, participation, inclusion.
Persons trained: 3611
40.000
copies of the book "Welcoming" were distributed free of charge to
workers of the public health network, published by the Municipal Health
Department of São Paulo, with the official seal of UNESCO, and written
by Associação Palas Athena.
This project was extended to other
areas: Education, Health and Social Assistance in Caxias do Sul, Rio
Grande do Sul. This was accomplished by means of the course: Training
of Multipliers in Values, Ethics, and Culture of Peace for Prevention
of Violence. (96 hours - 100 participants).
Also, in the
Municipal Hospital of Ermelindo Matarazzo in São Paulo, SP, the
course:Training of Multipliers in Ethics of Welcoming was attended by
the hospital staff and members of the community committee. (64 hours -
150 participants).
Another 42 events have been held in several
cities of several Brazilian States (7 meetings, 7 workshops, 4
seminars, 6 talks). A total of 1700 persons attended.
11. GANDHI NETWORK
March 2004 to present date
This
initiative was created during the XX National Congress of Municipal
Health Secretaries, and I Brazilian Congress of Health, Culture of
Peace and Non-violence on March 17 - 20, 2004, in Natal, Rio Grande do
Norte, Brazil, where 1500 participants representing over 500 Brazilian
cities were attended. The constitution of Gandhi Network was approved
by 14 states,
Goals:
- To supply training, information, and guidance on Culture of Peace-oriented activities and knowledge
- To supply grounding for efficient public policies capable of mobilizing civil society
- To create new scenarios for social inclusion
- To promote and disseminate Culture of Peace skills, abailities, and talents.
- To welcome diversity in order to generate life quality
- To foster the creation and sustainability of programs, projects, and activities conductive to the goals of this network
Mission:
Reduce violence in all of its aspects and manifestations, and promote a
Culture of Peace, not only as the opposite of war but also as the
necessary condition for satisfactory social coexistence, and full
development of each human being's potentialities.
From May 10 - 13, 2005 the II National Health and Culture of Peace Congress will be held in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso.
12.
SÃO PAULO COMMITTEE FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF UNESCO'S MANIFESTO 2000
Dec. 1999 to Oct 2000
This
Committee was created by a Cooperation Agreement between UNESCO and
Associação Palas Athena, and hosted by the Public Health Faculty of
USP. It collected 570.000 signatures for the Manifesto 2000. Also, by
means of Agreements signed with the São Paulo State Secretary of
Education, of Culture, and of Citizenship.
13. SÃO PAULO COMMITTEE FOR THE CULTURE OF PEACE DECADE
Oct. 2000 to present date
In partnership with UNESCO
Further mobilized the social movements and persons that adhered to the Manifesto 2000, having accomplished the following:
-
41 monthly forums on Culture of Peace issues. Entrance is free of
charge. Speakers are volunteers, and eminent specialists in their
respective subjects.
- Training and management meetings are held
once a month. During these meetings Culture of Peace issues are studied
in depth and the activities of the Committee are planned.
- The site
www.comitepaz.org was created in order to offer the main international
documents and reference texts on Culture of Peace in Portuguese, as
well as pedagogical materials for Culture of Peace. It also supplies
the dates of the Committee's activities and other information.
-
Jointly created the Parliamentary Culture of Peace Advisory Board with
the Sao Paulo Public Assembly. This Board is composed of delegates and
members of the civil society, religious organizations and social
movements. Its goal is to foster public policies conductive to a
Culture of Peace. It was the first initiative of this kind in the
world, and today there are similar boards in another 6 Brazilian cities.
- Participated in several campaigns and events, among which the National Campaign for Disarmament.
Activities are attended by 250 persons monthly.
CULTURE OF PEACE DECADE COMMITTEE OF THE NORTHWEST REGION OF SÃO PAULO STATE
On
November 4th, 2003 this Committee was created, inspired by the Sao
Paulo Committee. It is coordinated by Interação - Educação Corporal e
Integração Humana, a partner of Associação Palas Athena.
-
13 forums and 16 management and training meetings have been held to the
present date at the Casa do Advogado de Araçatuba, SP. Approximately
100 persons attend these events monthly.
- A Culture of Peace
Volunteer Agency was created to act as an interface between
organizations with culture of peace projects and persons willing to
work for this cause, who receive training based on the 6 principles of
the Manifesto 2000
- Participation in the seminar "Ethics in Politics" at the Araçatuba Municipal Assembly.
- Dissemination of Culture of Peace concepts and projects at the Agribusiness Fair in Araçatuba.
1ST
BRAZILIAN SYMPOSIUM OF RESTORATIVE JUSTICE - CULTURE OF PEACE IN THE
JUDICIARY BRANCH - April 28, 29 and 30 - Araçatuba, SP, Brazil.
Co-organized by Espaço Interação and Associação Palas Athena, with institutional support of UNESCO.
For
the first time in Brazil specialists in penal law and the
administration of justice to adolescents and children will gather to
discuss this innovative way of transforming our legal procedures into a
non-violent process capable of: leading young law breakers back to the
condition of responsible citizens integrated to the community;
repairing the victims losses; and strengthening the community.
The
goals of this symposium are: to inspire Restorative Justice projects
within the Brazilian legal system; to create a permanent network of
restorative practices and studies; to foster partnerships and
professional projects with local communities; to promote training of
mediators and conciliation agents; to create a permanent reference
information board on restorative concepts and practices. Judges,
prosecutors, lawyers, technicians and civil servants of the judiciary
branch, members of the network of support and protection to children
and adolescents, university students, entrepreneurs, and the community
as a whole are invited to attend.
14. PARLIAMENTARY AND MUNICIPAL CULTURE OF PEACE ADVISORY BOARDS
Oct. 2001 to present date
The
first Parliamentary Advisory Board of its kind in Brazil. It was
created and inspired by the São Paulo Committee for the Culture of
Peace Decade on December 17, 2002, and made official by Resolution nº
829 of the São Paulo State Assembly.
It is composed of 36
representatives of social institutions or movements from civil society,
and 12 deputies from the several parties.
Its mission is to
create awareness, mobilize, and articulate all segments of society so
as to engage them in the building of a Culture of Peace.
Due to the accomplishments of this first Parliamentary Advisory Board, others were created:
São Paulo Municipal Assembly - Law nº 01-0075/2003
Itapecerica da Serra Municipal Assembly - Law nº 1107/2003
São José dos Campos Municipal Assembly - Law nº 15/2003
Diadema Municipal Assembly - Law nº 11/2003
Curitiba Municipal Assembly - soon to be voted
National Congress - to be voted
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Regarding
the International Peace Day (September 21), we have been creating and
organizing events to disseminate the Culture of Peace concepts as
presented by UNESCO. Some of them include: Peace Wants Partners Project
in public squares and parks on this date (2001, 2002); Training for
teachers at the CIEESP Education Congress (2003); Training for
journalists of the Editora Abril (leading media agency), Vida Simples
Magazine (2004).
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
Involve
all UN agencies (and not only UNESCO) in the Culture of Peace efforts,
and allot resources for the publication and dissemination of books,
videos, and audio recordings and other materials for implementing tools
such as conflict mediation, deliberative democracy, inter-religious and
inter-ethnic dialogue, and the approximation of traditional knowledge
(of minority cultures, indigenous and others) and science.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Our
programs and projects are held in partnership with governmental
departments, international agencies, religious institutions, and
non-governmental organizations. Formal partnership agreements have been
signed with:
Abaçaí Cultura e Arte / Aliança pela Infância /
Associação Comunitária Monte Azul / Banco Real ABN AMRO / Brasfanta /
Casa das Áfricas / CECCO - Centro de Convivência e Cooperativa Santo
Dias / CONASEMS - Conselho Nacional de Secretários Municipais de Saúde
/ Consulado Geral e Embaixada da Índia / COPIPAZ - Comitê Primeira
Infância na Cultura de Paz / EMBRAER / Espaço Interação / Faculdade de
Saúde Pública da USP / FERSOL / Gandhi Peace Foundation / GARP -
Grupo Ambientalista Ribeirão dos Pássaros - Monteiro Lobato (SP) /
Iluminattis / Imprensa Oficial do Estado de São Paulo / Instituto de
Estudos do Futuro / IPAZ - International Peace Agency / Joseph Campbell
Foundation - USA/ Natura / Projeto Cooperação e UNIMONTE - Santos - SP
/ PUC São Paulo / Rede Gandhi: Saúde, Cultura de Paz e Não-violência /
Rede Paz - Rede de Educação para a Paz/ Secretaria de Estado da Cultura
de São Paulo / Secretaria Municipal da Educação de São Paulo /
Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de São Paulo / SENAC-SP / SESC-SP /
Subprefeitura de Vila Mariana / UNESCO / UniFMU / Universidade de
Caxias do Sul / Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul / UNIPAZ -
Universidade Holística Internacional Fundação Cidade da Paz / UPEACE -
Universidade para a Paz das Nações Unidas - Costa Rica / URI - United
Religions Iniciative / VIVA RIO
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
To consolidate and widen our network within the educational, cultural, health, and justice areas.
To evaluate the efficiency of the actions of the Culture of Peace Municipal and Parliamentary Advisory Boards.
To write, and publish books on Culture of Peace and related themes.
To
create a Reference Research and Studies Center on Peace, Conflictology,
and Mediation. To this effect we have already contacted and started to
work with UPAZ (Universidade para la Paz de Costa Rica), with Gandhi
Peace Foundation (India), and with Educación para la Paz (Spain), among
other institutions.
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Postal address of organization
|
Rua Leôncio de Carvalho, 99 - 04003-010 São Paulo, SP - BRAZIL
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E-mail address of organization
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liapalasathena@uol.com.br
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Website address of organization
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www.palasathena.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a Culture of Peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Free flow of information and knowledge
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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Brazil
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Second priority country of action (or international)
|
India, since we are connected to gandhian social movements and institutions
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