| Posted: April 23 2005,14:22 |
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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? |
We
have seen progress. The United Religions Initiative, which was born in
2000, just a year before the Decade began, is evidence of this
progress, having grown to include thousands of members in over 50
countries representing more that 100 religions, spiritual expressions,
and indigenous traditions coming together in understanding and mutual
respect. The URI-UN was formed to serve as a bridge between this
international, multi-faith community and the United Nations.
Our
way of measuring the progress is the increased participation and number
of activities, celebrating the International Day of Peace each Sept 21.
People use the IDP to have an annual, shared day to focus on the
Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.
Our Cooperation Circle participates in the annual DPI Youth
Program for IDP at UN Headquarters. We promote IDP participation within
the UN and globally.
We encourage others to observe this day,
www.internationaldayofpeace.org.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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The
biggest obstacle to the culture of peace is that not enough attention
and resources are being given to develop and publicize it. There
is a lack of coordination and shared vision to make the culture of
peace a priority in daily living. For example, the International Day of
Peace UN Resolution calls on UN Member States to observe the
International Day of Peace as a day of ceasefire and non-violence.
If this resolution were taken more seriously, progress could be
measured by listing places where ceasefires are happening and honoring
areas where conflict has ceased and IDP observances are taking place.
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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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To
open the Decade, we co-sponsored a “Blessing for the Children of the
World,” by Wangari Maathai at the Interfaith Service for the Work of
the UN.
Annual observances of the International Day of
Peace (IDP) at the UN are primary to our focus on developing the
culture of peace. In 2003 this program linked youth to five UN
Messengers of Peace. After young Rwanda genocide survivor
Jacqueline Murekatete told her story to Elie Wiesel at the IDP program,
she was asked to speak in the General Assembly as the voice for the
survivors at the UN Day of Reflection for Rwanda, April 7, 2004.
Jane
Goodall became involved with the youth program in 2003 and then joined
us at the site of the World Trade Center for a peace walk with giant
doves for IDP in 2004. IDP programs can be seen in full on the UN
Cyberschool Bus website, www.cyberschoolbus.un.org.
United Religions Initiative Cooperation Circles around the world
observe the day working with various faith partners, organizations,
governments and schools to hold activities, develop ongoing programs
and to pray for peace. Reports on these activities have been sent
around the world as well as to the office of UN Secretary-General.
In
2004 we began a series of workshops on the "Spiritual and Ethical
Dimensions of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)." The
workshop is available on our website, www.uri-un.org.
Since peace is not one of the MDGs or even mentioned in them, this
workshop also stresses the importance of including the values from the
Millennium Declaration in working toward achieving the goals.
In
addition, the URI-UN has made an outreach to URI cooperation circles
worldwide to relate their interfaith work to the Millennium Development
Goals, all of which are important components of a culture of peace.
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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
UN has a great opportunity to promote itself and transform the world by
working to advance the culture of peace. The UN can be that firm
foundation that shows that although peace is not easy, it can be lived.
When the Secretary-General invited the World Council of
Churches to participate in the International Day of Peace, 65 million
people were invited participate. The UN can put out a clarion
call for the world to share a day of peace and non-violence each IDP as
a reminder that peace is possible. As we practice and plan for peace
one day each year, peace is lived. Put the focus on PEACE to
develop it.
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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
work in partnership with various UN departments, programs, agencies and
networks of NGOs including: CONGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and
Global Concerns, The Values Caucus, Spiritual Caucus, and the Committee
of Religious NGOs.
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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
International Day of Peace 2005-2010. To remind ourselves and
others that in order to achieve a culture of peace and nonviolence we
need to practice it, plan for it and work to promote it. We plan
to publicize successes and increase visibility on activities that
promote the culture of peace, especially the IDP.
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Postal address of organization
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26 Benton Rd.
Wessaic, NY 12592
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E-mail address of organization
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MBWillard@aol.com
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Website address of organization
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http://www.uri-un.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Understanding, tolerance, solidarity
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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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