| Posted: April 18 2005,08:46 |
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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? |
Yes,
we have witnessed a process of progressive elimination of barriers
between the peoples, territories and nations. The European Union
institutions and other types of regional cooperation mechanisms are
perfect illustrations of this gradual process.
We can also testify
to the fact that great progress has been achieved in the general
mentality and acceptance of principles such as democracy, invalidity of
racial superiority, equality of men and women, universal human rights,
and the rejection of war between nations as a means of solving
conflicts.
After each project and periodically, the BIC Bureau in
Paris evaluates the outcome of the activities it coordinates. For
instance for the project in the Balkans, the number of participants
(trainees) and the ensuing activities were measured and analysed. As to
the European Parliament exhibitions, the number of visitors, the number
of contacts and the follow-up activities were metrics used to measure
the results of this activity.
With regard to measuring progress of
our activities, the number of trainees and participants in the
different activities described below, the number of children educated
in the principles reflecting a culture of peace, the involvement of
women in activities, the inter-ethnic and inter-religious activities
and cooperation, the progress in upholding human rights and the
practice of tolerance and solidarity within and without the community
are tangible and measurable indications of progress in this area.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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We consider the major obstacles for the promotion of a culture of peace to be:
- Unbridled nationalism
- Fanaticism
- Individual and national interest taking priority over the collective interest
- Materialistic ideology with its different facets of egotism, loss of values, consumerism, corruption etc.
Given
the diversity of activities we engage in, the difficulties that we
encounter are equally diverse. Nevertheless, from an internal
point of view, despite the dedication and goodwill of the members of
our community, one of the major difficulties we face is the lack of
many qualified and capable human resources. From an external
point of view, the greatest difficulty is a modest level of interest by
the general public, media and at times by the authorities regarding the
activities related to a culture of peace. Our challenge is to
find interested audiences and to enlarge the circle in order to
sensitise more people to this vital subject.
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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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As
a whole, the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) has developed, all
over the world, a range of activities aimed at overcoming prejudices,
upholding human rights, fostering equality between men and women,
empowering future generations through education, promoting social,
cultural and economic development and thereby promoting a culture of
peace.
Despite significant activities at international, national and
local levels, only very few of our affiliates have reported their
activities in the framework of the Decade. Among those, certain
projects of our local branches in Hungary and Russia are described
separately in direct response to the questionnaire.
One of
the two activities reported by the BIC-OPI Paris aimed at fostering
good neighbourly relations between the warring nations of the Balkans
and promoting peace and understanding in the region.
The other
activity, an exhibition at the European Parliament in Brussels and
Strasbourg had the objective of familiarising the MEPs and the staff of
this institution with the concrete contributions of the Bahá’í
communities in Europe over the last 100 years towards the high ideal of
Unity in Diversity, the motto shared between the thousands of Bahá’í
communities and the European Union.
1) The first project
entitled ‘Promoting Positive Messages Through the Media’ was
implemented within the framework of the Royaumont Process - a process
towards stability and good neighbourliness in South-Eastern Europe. The
Royaumont Process was launched by the European Union in 1996 and is
currently integrated within the Stability Pact for Eastern Europe.
Through this process, the BIC in collaboration with its
affiliates conducted the project ‘Promoting Positive Messages through
the Media’, which consisted of training a significant number of
representatives of the mass-media and non-governmental organisations,
as well as educators and actors in the implementation of the ‘The
Happy-Hippo Show’. This concept uses theatrical art and
participative methods to transmit positive values. The project
was successfully implemented in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Macedonia (FYROM), Hungary, Romania and Slovenia, and
particularly developed in Romania.
2) The second project consisted
in displaying an exhibition at the European Parliament in Brussels in
June 2003 and in Strasbourg in February 2004, mainly addressed to the
Members of the European Parliament. The exhibition which
continues to tour other European cities is entitled: ‘Promoting
Unity in Diversity throughout Europe’. The exhibition is composed
of 17 panels and highlights through photographs and texts the
contribution of Bahá’í communities and organisations in Europe to
social harmony and understanding. In particular, their concrete
implication in promoting peace, integration and upholding ethical
values and behaviour is shared through concrete examples of programmes
and activities. Titles of the panels include: ‘An Emerging
World Identity’, ‘Collaboration with the United Nations’, ‘The
Advancement of Women’ ‘Youth in Action’, ‘Peace and Understanding’, ‘
Inter-Religious Dialogue’, ‘Multicultural Integration’, ‘Education’,
‘Corporate Social Responsibility’, ‘Environment and Development’.
Furthermore, two cylindrical displays feature very large
photographs of children engaged in artistic activities in celebration
of the Decade for a Culture of Peace. The exhibition was
inaugurated in Brussels with an address on "The Ethics of
Globalisation" by Professor Suheil Bushrui, who holds the Bahá’í Chair
for World Peace at the University of Maryland, United States.
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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? |
The
culture of peace, or its opposite, is transmitted and learnt in the
very early stages of our lives. The childhood years are the most
crucial ones during which our future attitude and behavior is shaped.
If we were to make one suggestion, we would recommend to concentrate
the greater part of our efforts during the second half of the Decade on
children and youth.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
We
believe that partnerships are extremely important in the creation of a
culture of peace. These partnerships depend on the nature of our
activities. We have in the past developed and will in the future
continue to develop ties with international, national and local
organizations, of inter-religious, inter-governmental and
non-governmental nature. We look forward to intensifying these
relationships in the second half of the Decade for a Culture of Peace.
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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)? |
We
shall continue and intensify our activites through education,
collaborative projects and concrete projects. We will continue to work
in sensitizing our local and national branches, which are involved with
projects fostering peace, towards the goals and objectives of the
Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence.
Given that our
organisation is decentralised, it is difficult for us to list the new
projects planned in the next five years. Nevertheless, we can
underline the 4 main areas upon which we will continue to focus:
- Human Rights
- The Status of Women
- Global Prosperity
- Moral Development
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Postal address of organization
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45 rue Pergolčse, Paris 75116 FRANCE
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E-mail address of organization
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opiparis@club-internet.fr
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Website address of organization
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http://www.bahai.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Fostering a culture of peace through education
Promoting respect for all human rights
Ensuring equality between women and men
We feel that these domains are the foundations upon which other domains can be built.
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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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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INTERNATIONAL
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