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Organization: OPERATION PEACE THROUGH UNITY
The following information may be cited or quoted as long as the source is accurately mentioned and the words are not taken out of context.
Posted: April 30 2010,16:37 If you wrote this report, you will find a button here that you may click
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Postal address of organization/institution

Te Rangi, 4 Allison St.
Wanganui 4500
NEW ZEALAND

E-mail address of organization/institution

optubrookiana@xtra.co.nz

Website address of organization/institution

www.peacethroughunity.info

Telephone of organization/institution

+64- 6-345-5714

PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
WOMEN'S EQUALITY
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY

TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity

EDUCATION FOR PEACE

PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace?

*UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND
*COMMITTEE ON SPIRITUALITY, VALUES AND GLOBAL CONCERNS—NEW YORK (CSVGC—NY)
* CULTURE OF PEACE WORKING GROUP of the Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns—New York (two of OPTU’s representatives to the UN are it’s co-chairs)
*AQUARIAN AGE COMMUNITY
* INTUITION IN SERVICE
*WORLD GOODWILL
*GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF PEACE
*U.S. DEPARTMENT OF PEACE CAMPAIGN
*SPIRITUAL CAUCUS
*VALUES CAUCUS
*LEGION OF GOODWILL
*LIFEBRIDGE
*also many other groups and organisations, such as Soka Gakkai, World Peace Prayer Society, United Religions Initiative UN, NCW, ZONTA, the Quakers national/international, Ockenden Venture (UK), local Art centres, Maori Women’s Welfare League, Rotary, PPSEAWA, the media, Whanganui School of Design, Women’s Network, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Otago University, local District Council, and others.

ACTIONS: What activities have been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010 report.

• 2006 celebration of the International Day of Peace
• 2007, apart from the yearly celebration of the International Day of Peace, OPTU sponsored a 3 week exhibition of Soka Gakkai’s “Building a Culture of Peace: for the children of the world” in the Wanganui Community Arts Centre. At the opening Meg Hartfield read her poem with her vision of a ‘peace-filled’ culture. (appeared in MtM December 2007). 2007 was the year that Ambassador Anwarul Chowdhury visited Wanganui and saw the sculpture "Handspan" dedicated to a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.
• February 2008 Brunch Meeting with speaker Diane Winder at OPTU’s residence (Article and photo in Wanganui Chronicle) Reporting on 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference on Climate Change and attended by Maori Women’s Welfare League, NCW, Probus, Whanganui River Institute, Sustainable Wanganui, Quakers, the press and more.
• 31 May – 1 June 2008 Workshop & PowerPoint, UNANZ Annual Conference, “Peace, Security and Disarmament”
• 21 September 2008 Wanganui Int’l Day of Peace, speaker Human Rights Commissioner Jeremy Pope in Wanganui Sarjeant Gallery,  Pope interviewed by Wanganui Chronicle. Report can be found at the following address:  http://www.peacethroughunity.info/peaceDay2008.htIml\  Several schools attended and spoke about what HR meant for them.
• 21 October, 2008 Seminar 2nd Annual Week of Spirituality, Values & Global Concerns, a formal panel presentation discussed “Is Peace a Human Right?” at the United Nations.  Featured were: Philippines Ambassador, culture of peace specialist, UNESCO culture specialist and Global Alliance representative.
• 19-21 September 2009 UN International Day of Peace Festival, a 3-day Wanganui Int’l Day of Peace celebration with panel discussion “Reconciliation, Truth and Bridge-building”, several separate events and multi-faith, multi-cultural Peace Vigil at 12 Noon and blessing of walkers for World Peace March,
• 21 September 2009 UN International Day of Peace Festival, Contributory Peace Walk for the International launch of the World March for Peace & Nonviolence, Wellington, 2 October 2009, “Walk for Peace and Reconciliation: Whanganui to Wellington” Local Peace Vigil at Peace sculpture Handspan at 12 Noon and blessings on the Wanganui Walkers by local Kaumatua and leaders of different faiths. This event was on the front page of main local paper and other events also written up with photos. A 30-minute video is being prepared to cover all events plus the Wellington launch of World March for Peace and Nonviolence.  Also, new hands attached to sculpture Handspan and dedicated to a culture of peace and non-violence for the children of the world as part of 2009 Peace Day.

Throughout the years “Te Rangi” has been serving as a meeting place for different groups and also hosted international and out-of-town guest speakers/lecturers for Wanganui conferences, seminars and other meetings.


International Quaker Gathering at the Whanganui Peace Sculpture "Handspan"


"The wonder of human hands."

PROGRESS: Has your organization seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of action and in your constituency during the second half of the Decade?

ABSOLUTELY!

OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?

We often encounter extensive bureaucracy within the United Nations and its organizations.  This requires the utmost patience and perseverance, and is very time-consuming.  Nonetheless, it is in the “doing” that the culture of peace is implemented.

PLANS: What new engagements are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence?

"Many to Many", our quarterly newsletter, continues to bring Culture of Peace/Ministry of Peace updates and information.
--We also use other tools, such as the pamphlets and bookmarks and occasional papers to highlight the importance of a new mindset which will allow the emergence of CoP. A new pamphlet entitled “Unity of People and Nations” will be available summer 2010.
--Planning and participation in a national conference 7-9 May 2010 in cooperation with The United Nations Association of New Zealand entitled, “Peace with Justice” –A world without weapons of mass destruction and with climate change solutions that put people at its centre.
Ongoing:
--Planning events for the International Day of Peace 2010
--Participation in the CULTURE OF PEACE WORKING GROUP of the Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns—New York (please refer to its report)
--Advancing the Draft UN Resolution for building governmental “Infrastructures of Peace” (also referred to as Ministries & Departments of Peace)
--Finding ways to new ways implement the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace
--Finding new ways to support and bring attention to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??

The culture of peace and nonviolence for the children of the world decade opened the way for the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action for a Culture of Peace, and it is only proper that we try to assess what was achieved within this decade. But for such an assessment to help the future work, perhaps we need to look much further into the world and much deeper into ourselves?
We are working together toward the culture of peace which is anchored in Heart; a universal transformation of an old mindset so that this new culture can emerge and be expressed in all relationships and all we do. - But is this new culture not emerging, potentially at least, through each human being, through all communities and neighbourhoods? Do those of us, who recognize each other as workers within this field, need to learn and develop new sensitivities and new skills (alongside those we already have and use) to encourage and 'love forth' this new culture wherever and whenever opportunities arise?  – A new mindset is such a wonderful concept and provides a most welcome challenge to each and everyone within today's community.
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Organization: OPERATION PEACE THROUGH UNITY

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