| Posted: April 07 2005,09:36 |
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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? |
With
regard to creating cultures of peace in the Eastern part of Europe for
example there has definitely been some progress in so far as the
debates and discourses about becoming member of the European Union and
other internal conflictual issues have constructively and nonviolently
been discussed on a very high level of civilized discourse - either on
the political or on the societal level.
Also, the African
Union has played a constructive role to mitigate or even mediate
violent conflicts / wars to some extent. But there is still an enormous
rate of failure because of a huge lack of awareness for the basic human
needs on the one hand and the brutal gain of power on the other hand,
mainly rooted in inter-religious causes with a long history from
colonialism. Especially Sudan, Congo, Nigeria and Somalia - and
unfortunately Zimbabwe - currently have no chance to step forward to
cultures of peace.
To talk about the islamic oriented world and
fundamentalism would mean to talk about the fundamental Christian
oriented bible belts (not only in the US) at the same time. I can't see
comprehensive cultures of peace in any of those societies.
The
picture of Asia is quite different. Within most of the so-called "Tiger
States" there is (was / has been) prosperous economic growth. On the
other hand some of them are worlds apart from democracy, f.i. the
government of China as one of the most important global players with a
political system and human rights awareness form medieval times. I am
not quite sure whether the culture of peace program could ever be
implemented over there and also f.i. in Myanmar ...
Russia becomes worse and worse ...
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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In
my eyes one of the major obstacles is the misperception of other
religions and beliefs while religions and beliefs themselves are deeply
responsible for most of the violent conflicts on earth. Religions and
beliefs do not automatically involve peaceful and nonviolent ways to
cultures of peace, in most of the cases just the opposite.
The
second important obstacle in my eyes is the bias between power and
participation, which is polarized and (un-)gendered in most of the
regions on earth. As long as democratization and gender balance has no
chance, there is no chance for real and deeply rooted cultures of peace
- globally.
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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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The
Arbeitsstelle Friedensforschung Bonn (AFB)/Peace Research Information
Unit Bonn (PRIUB) is a national and international peace and conflict
research transfer center. Its main functions include:
* setting
up, organising and running workshops and discussion groups aimed at
promoting mediation between academic peace research and political
administration and civil society;
* producing AFB-INFO, a
peace research newsletter published twice yearly in English and German,
covering projects and events in peace and conflict research and
reporting on peace education and peace research institutions;
*
maintaining and expanding the www.priub.org website, which together
with the continually updated AFB Peace Research Index embodies a unique
information service on more than 300 institutions involved in peace and
conflict research and peace education worldwide. Peace research
institutions that are not yet listed can register by completing the
interactive questionnaire. From mid 2005 this resource will include an
interactive database on Peace Education in Germany.
For further information, see our website at www.priub.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? |
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement 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)? |
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Postal address of organization
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Beethovenallee 4
53173 Bonn
F. R. Germany
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E-mail address of organization
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afb@priub.org
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Website address of organization
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www.priub.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Free flow of information
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for 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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Germany
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