| Posted: April 30 2005,01:42 |
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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? |
A
'smile' is the beginning of Peace. Peace is an internal feeling of
contentment and control of undeserving desires. This comes through good
rearing and value-based education in an individual. Individuals make up
a society and societies make up civilization.
Our Tollygunj slum
inmates in Calcutta were the experts in making explosives for supplying
during the fights between political groups and were also used as
mercenaries by hoodlums. The area was abandoned by many and infamous
for criminal activities. Violence was part of everyday life. After the
launching of our Project Sushiksha - which was a value-based
functional literacy program for the girl children, mothers and elderly
women, the women of the slum families turned their families into the
mindset to improve the quality of life.
After our 3 year tenure in
the slum, the number of school-going children increased, making of
explosives totally stopped, regular clashes between groups almost came
to nil, men no longer earn through being mercenaries of hoodlums or
gambling. They have resorted to daily wage earning or other casual
workers. Women are part of the decision-making process in their
families as well as in the slum society. A local club has been formed
with the slum inmates to impart ethical and moral sessions through
cultural activities for the families in the slum. Now we are invited by
this local club for welfare and cultural activities where all the slum
dwellers participate and the area is no more a fearful area in the
neighborhood. Our Institute evaluates this situation of progress and
development as an impact of safe and peaceful society.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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The obstacles were:
1) Political interference
2)
Lack of financial support from development agencies to appreciate and
participate in the comprehensive/integrated sustainable development
drive of ours.
3) The time lost in the internal resistances to our
awareness programs on safe lifestyle and values/morality from the
beneficiary sector.
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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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We
have facilitated inter-faith dialogues, observed Peace Days by holding
painting contests amongst children so that the word Peace is ingrained
in their minds as a happy and competitive situation. We have also
organized rallies with placards displaying the importance of 'Peace'
with the participation of youngsters, students and people from all
walks of life.
We lay stress in ethics in work and social life
through our seminars and activities. Refer to the EVENTS section in our
website: www.iisd-ngo.org
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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? |
We
would like to suggest Promotion of Peace through promotion of
spirituality in the lives of the people. Ethics and values can bring
the ingredients of Peace at the individual level, societal level and
global level.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Refer to our website www.iisd-ngo.org and search for MDG 8
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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)? |
Cultural
activities with the spiritual flavor for all ages and people from all
walks of life. This would be supplemented by promoting spiritual
practices and understanding. We would endeavor to promote the
commonality and unifying spirit amongst us all. We would also endeavor
to help bring about a change in the lives of disadvantaged people so
that their progress towards betterment can bring forth peace through
lesser conflicts amongst the 'haves' and the 'have-nots'.
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Postal address of organization
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P65 LAKE VIEW ROAD, KOLKATA-700029, WEST BENGAL, INDIA
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E-mail address of organization
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rajyashreechaudhuri@yahoo.co.in; shomik2@aol.com
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Website address of organization
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www.iisd-ngo.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for 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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International
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