| Posted: April 20 2005,16:06 |
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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? |
Our
branch of Women in Black (which is international and has its origins in
Jerusaelm) began February 14, 2003. We hold a silent vigil for peace
twice each month in downtown Calgary. We dispense hopeful information
about peace actions in Calgary or around the world.
It is
difficult to ascertain if there is more societal progress toward a
culture of peace, but I believe that 5 or 10 years ago, there would not
have been enough interest to start a Women in Black group.
I
believe that in Calgary there are more people who view peace education
and peace activism as "normal" ways to spend time. We are much
photographed and queried about what we are doing.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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I
think the biggest obstacle to progress is that people think that saying
"don't fight" is enough to help peace blossom. Of course it is not
enough. We must educate people, especially children, to resolve
conflicts. We need to give them the language and the skills of peace
making. We also need to broaden the idea of peace. For me, peacemaking
must occur within ourselves, with our families and communities, with
the planet and with our global neighbours. For example, poverty and
pollution must be understood as violence.
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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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1.
Women in Black produce a different brochure twice each month. On this,
we try to educate passersby about the good events, organizations and
people making peace in our city and around the world. For example, we
have written about the Sisters in Spirit campaign and Peaceful Schools
International.
2. We invited children to send us their artwork
showing their ideas about a peaceful world. We then display this work
to inspire people to work for peace.
3. We have a website telling of our aspirations and connecting viewers to Women in Black groups worldwide.
4.
We write and speak about peace to adults or school children when we are
asked and provide interviews to the media, especially to student
journalists.
5. We participate in peace rallies and peace conferences.
6. We hold regular Peace Dances.
7. We write to peacemakers like Mayor Akiba of Hiroshima to thank him for his work.
8. We sent a small donation to students going on a peace mission to Serbia.
9.
We are raising funds to send two of our members to the international
Women in Black peace conference in Jerusalem this summer.
10. We sell wooden, locally made peace doves to adults and give them away to children.
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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? |
I
want to suggest that we focus on peace education for teachers and for
children. We need to learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully. We need
to learn to see "peace" as something that is spiritual, physical,
mental. We need to make peace with the Earth.
For this, we need books, games and films that teach peacemaking and that tap into human creativity.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Women
in Black Calgary networks with Women in Black in Jerusalem, mostly
exchanging information. Locally, we partner with Project Ploughshares,
churches and an inter-faith group. (Generally the peace groups network
in the city to some extent.)
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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)? |
1. We will continue with more peace education via the brochures.
2. We are considering inviting students to write about peacemaking and publishing their work.
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Postal address of organization
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132 Scarboro Avenue SW
Calgary, Alberta, Canada T3C 2H1
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E-mail address of organization
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cpogue@shaw.ca
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Website address of organization
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http://members.shaw.ca/cpogue/
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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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sustainable development
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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international
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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Calgary Alberta
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