Posted: April 17 2005,13:56 |
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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? |
The
progress achieved during the Decade thus far, has been confined to the
small U.N. community of missions, secretariats and civil society
organizations who participated in fora for the Decade inauguration.
Althoughmany players spread the word to their constituancies
internationally, the concepts and values of a culture of peace never
amounted to a major campaign in the United States. Indigenous
organizations introduced the Culture of Peace at major conferences in
North Africa (Niger, Mali, and Morrocco through the Tazzla Institute
for Cultural Diversity and P.I.P.E (Partnerships for Indigenous Peoples
Environment).
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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The
obstacle to disseminating information about a Culture of Peace and
Non-Violence for the Children were the changes initiated after 9/11
which through fear of terrorism brought about an acceptance of security
through militarism, exsultation toward war and abrogation of human
rights to enlist governments an their populations in an all out war
effort. Without resources to counter false information through the
media the efforts of the Peace Movement and their cultural supporters
seemed ineffective and trivial.
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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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Peace
Action International Committee and its extended network, the Peace
Caucus of NGO's, has been involved with the concepts and programs of
the Culture of Peace since its first public announcements. The former
director of the New York office of UNESCO, Nina Sibal, consulted
frequently with the U.N. representatives of our NGO on programs that
would alert the U.N. community and the networks evolved by the NGO's to
the possibilities of pursuing disarmament, demilitarization and human
security through the work that culture plays in societies for good
purposes (or as obstacles to survival).
The first program at the
New York headquarters of the U.N. during meetings on Sustainable
Development had as guest speaker, Federico Major, Director-General of
UNESCO, who spelled out the interconnection of sustainable development
and the Culture of Peace. From that time on, our organizations planned
programs, wrote articles and tried to connect peace, disarmament,
security issues with the human values issues related to a Culture of
Peace.
We planned the introductory meetings at U.N. headquarters
on the resolution authorizing the Year of the Culture of Peace and
began a sub program involving artists, educators, and visionaries
leading to the Decade program that focused on children.
Programs
and fliers are available to show the network that was evolved and the
partnerships entered into with U.N. agencies, U.N. missions and other
NGO's.
One of the best relationships forged between the missions
writing the resolution for the Culture of Peace and the NGO's was made
through the generous invitation extended to the representative of Peace
Action by Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury to participate.
In
addition Director Federico Major invited and set up a meeting in Paris
with his legal team to use the Hague Convention for the safeguarding of
Cultural Property in Wartime to save prehistoric heritage sites in the
former Yugoslavia from bombing by NATO forces. This was followed by a
trip to Budapest to join Joseph Rotblatt to bring the values and
program of the Culture of Peace to the attention of the world bodies of
scientists attending the First World Congress on Science organized by
UNESCO.
The values and participation of women have been
emphasized by the visits of the Chair of Peace Action International
Committee in visits to Afghanistan and the Middle East.
At the
five year review point of the Decade, we are deeply concerned that war
and militarism, terrorism and genocide have made our efforts seem
trivial. In comparison with the mobilization of violent means to quell
the fears and insecurities that people everywhere have experienced, our
efforts have been feeble and almost without resources.
In
preparing for a new effort for the coming years and beyond, we must try
harder and more imaginatively to propagandize for peace more
effectively.
In our mission statement for "Creating
Peace through the Arts and Media", we wrote of the power of images to
reach hearts and minds. In response to the "expert" use of media for
violence, we must strive harder to expose those concrete efforts and
images that create and sustain individual growth towards the peaceful
resolution of conflict.
In New York we had been deeply involved
in programs that helped to sustain neighborhoods around the needs of
urban families, leading to the American Headstart and Neighborhood
Youth Corps programs. Some of the NGO representatives have made
concrete suggestions for working towards a global Headstart movement
for communities. This would include and need involvement and input from
the existing U.N. agencies and programs dealing with children (and
womens') needs and rights such as, UNICEF, UNIFEM, The Convention on
the Rights of Children and the Programs for Aids and Children in Armed
Conflict.
Graca Michel and Nelson Mandela have already launched
a "Global Movement for Children". The task we wish to undertake with
considerable help from the entire international community is to make
the hopes and possibilities visual. It is agreed by many educators that
books, reports and the three R's have not been successful in violent
war-torn societies and those with endemic poverty and survival issues.
We must get our message out from the conference rooms and schools to
the landscapes and places where daily life expresses the core values
that determine public action. We propose an initiative as a corollary
to our call to enlist peace messengers, artists, visionary and media
people to create visual displays that will symbolize and propagandize
for peace. We need to project and build settings for non-violence and
intergenerational communication for protection of children locally, as
well as where former child soldiers and ex-combatants can be returned
to community life.
In the past U.N. Culture of Peace programs,
we have utilized music and musicians to bring people together. We have
organized round table discussions and panels in conference room
settings. We need to get out into the landscapes and into peoples'
homes. We now hope to plan exhibits and web sites for new and sacred
sites called "Landscapes of Peace", alternative meeting places that
reflect authentic cultural heritage and provide peaceful settings for
conflict resolutions and truth and reconciliation efforts. Alternative
media including radio and minimal technology, festivals, pageants,
labyrinth walkways can symbolize human interaction in harmony with
nature. Many models of democratic architectural building practices were
tried out in the 60's - 80's in urban habitats in the United States
during the civil rights and anti-Vietnam War eras. They drew from the
tangible cultural heritage of which the American people are constituted
(the original Native Americans, the Africans, Asian and Europeans who
brought their forms and technologies to reflect their values and
cultural world view). Much of this has been lost in recent times where
globalization is promoting technological conformity rather than
harmonious, diverse, and ecologically sensitive environments. Resource
extraction and exploitation are more the norm than the exception in the
global habitat today.
We can still incorporate some of the best
practices and lessons learned from indigenous and traditional cultures.
These include new and old symbols from indigenous cultures, meeting
places for spiritual and secular dialogue, peace parks, peace pagodas,
community gardens, safe playgrounds for small children and "adventure
playgrounds" for youth, incorporating the excitement and enticement of
video arcades but without the sensationalism and bombardment of violent
imagery. All this must be done with the sensitivity and consent of the
local population. In some cases people safeguard their symbolisms and
practices to enhance their survival and cultural identity. In all such
cases wishes of the local community and environment must be respected.
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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? |
The
Ribbon International has displayed cloth panels and banners at many
Culture of Peace events. United States NGO's presented a ribbon panel
to each member of Congress in 2001. For the Decade program, the founder
of Ribbon International Justine Merritt and Michelle Peppers journeyed
to Vatican City and presented a peace ribbon to Pope John Paul II. The
Values Caucus of NGO's and the United Religious Initiative made
valuable contributions to the programs and follow up to the Decade
meetings held at United Nations headquarters in cooperation with the
Peace Caucus.
As in past programs, the Tazzla Institute for
Cultural Diversity which represents a large indigenous international
network of Amazighan ( Berbers and Tuarags) under Helene Hagan
and the Partnership for Indigenous Peoples Environment representing 240
organizations under Goodluck Diigbo continue to be involved at every
step of the programs we sponsor.
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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)? |
The
suggestion of a Culture of Peace initiative "Landscapes of Peace" and
other visual materials on CD-Rom's are being suggested to the Asia
Society in New York, the Indira Ghandi National Arts Center in New
Delhi and other museum and arts groups for an exhibit and program in
the fall of 2005 to coincide with the International Day of Peace at the
United Nations. These institutions are being asked to give support and
ideas to this initiative from their vast professional experience.
Spontaneous models were projected by artists and visionaries at the
World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil. According to the Nation
March 21, 2005, "For the first time, the World Social Forum made
creative expression an integral part of its program - and there was art
in the streets".
Our first "Landscape for Peace" program will
involve a tour of community gardens in New York City during the NPT
review conference on May 21, 2005 honoring Karl Linn, peace activist
and progenitor of the community gardens and co-founder of Urban
Habitat.
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Postal address of organization
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E-mail address of organization
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chesneyshirley@yahoo.com
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Website address of organization
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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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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Second priority country of action (or international)
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