| Posted: May 27
2010,11:30 |
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Postal address of
organization/institution |
Global
Co-operation House, 65-69 Pound Lane, London, NW10 2HH, UK
|
E-mail address of
organization/institution |
london@bkwsu.com |
Website address of
organization/institution |
www.bkwsu.org |
Telephone of
organization/institution |
00 44
20 8727 3350 |
PRIORITIES: All of the
organization's domains of culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
HUMAN RIGHTS
WOMEN'S
EQUALITY
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?
|
Our
major international partners and networks include:
United
Nations - BKWSU has general consultative status with the United
Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), is in consultative
status with The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and is
affiliated to the Department of Public Information (DPI)
The
Visions of a Better World Foundation
United Religions
Initiative
The UN University of Peace, Costa Rica
The Culture
of Peace Foundation
The Council for the Parliament of the World’s
Religions
World Congress of Faiths
Rights and Humanity
The
Global Peace Initiative of Women
The Fetzer Institute
The
Elijah Interfaith Institute
Commonwealth Youth
Forum
International Association of Sufism
Images and Voices of
Hope, a conversation |
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. |
Celebration of the UN International Day of Peace by
Brahma Kumaris Centres around the world
Special calendar
printed in Sao Paulo, Brazil to mark the Decade for a Culture of
Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the
World
Experiencing Inner Power and Protection - Events in
capital cities in over 100 countries from 1st to 30th September,
2009 to help people access inner peace and protection. Please see:
www.powerandprotection.org
just-a-minute project
(international) - enouraging people to take one minute pauses for
peace to encourage peace of mind, inner strenth and happiness.
The launch at Wembley Arena. London, UK included a minute of
silence for world peace, a worldwide link up with particpation by
over 30 million people. www.just-a-minute.org
Media for
Peace & Happiness (Thailand) - January 2008, 3 hours of TV
programming to promote virtues for peace and happiness.
“From
sound to Silence: for a culture of peace” September 2008 (Thailand).
Special event for for artists and musicians
Values
based life for peace and happiness, July-August, 2009 (Thailand).
Sukhothai hamathirat Open University invited the Brahma
Kumaris to arrange activities at the main campus in Nonthaburi and
in Educational Development Centers in 11 provinces, counting down to
International Day of Peace Peace.
Tu Corazon mi corazon
project (Chilli) - project for women all over Chille to tell their
stories of courage and compassionate values.
Parliament of
the World's Religions (Australia)
The Future of Power
Dialogue Series, (India)
Brahma Kumaris annual International
Youth Forum (international)
Choose Change and Become -
Programme of empowerment for young leaders
(international)
Choose Change - Become young leaders
Touch the
light - Values awareness in over 1,000 schools
(India)
Spirituality and Men (SAM) (international) - to
promote peace through exploring the spirit of man through
informative dialogue, honest interaction and the silence of
meditation.
The Four Faces of Women - spiritual empowerment
for women (international)
Courses in Places of Detention
(international)
"Inner Climate" panels and presentations
during and following the United Nations Climate Change Conference,
Copenhagen December 2009 (international)
World youth
Congress, Be the Change 2005 (Scotland)
World Youth Congress,
'Imece' 2010 (Turkey)
International Edinburgh Festival of
Spirituality and Peace
Inner Voice of Peace - a dialogue for
religious and spiritual leaders, Mt Abu, India, 2005
(international)
Inner voice of peace
Participation in the
International Peace Festival, Attersee, Austria, September
2009
Peace
painting - Mumbia, India
Burundi audience |
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? |
There
is a greater awareness that the foundation for culture of peace lies
in the practical application of spiritual and moral values in life
and of the inner empowerment that is needed to sustain those values.
Hence there has been greater participation in activities that
enhance those values. Many new Brahma Kumaris Centres have
opened all over the world, particularly on the continent of Africa
where people have shown great interest. In India the Brahma
Kumaris have adopted several villages to provide education in
literacy and farming techniques together with values training to
develop the community cohesion necessary to sustain these projects.
There has also been an expansion in our work with young people
both at the grass roots and with emerging leaders. We have
also seen greater willingness among leaders to particpate in high
level 'Thought Leaders Dialogues'. |
OBSTACLES: Has your
organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of
peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they? |
The
increased fear in society due to the financial as well as
environment crises has created a climate of insecurity and stress,
making it less likely for some people to adopt positive values such
as respect, tolerance and generosity in their way of working and
living. Thus an atmosphere of suspicion leads people to
resentment and prejudice not conducive to a culture of peace.
Over consumption is driving people to live on credit which is
a great source of anxiety. |
PLANS: What new engagements
are planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term
to promote a culture of peace and nonviolence? |
The
BKWSU has been encouraging the values that sustain a culture of
peace since its foundation. This will continue to be part of
its ongoing plans and work all over the world, in communities, for
individuals, at places of work, in schools, universities, hospitals
and places of detention and with the deaf community. |
GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you
think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and
supported at the world level?? |
A
Culture of Peace would greatly benefit by governments giving more
importance to non-violent ways of resolving conflict and to values
education to sustain a culture of peace. Encouraging the
development and use of alternative sources of energy and encouraging
people to live a simpler, more sustainable lifestyle such as
vegetarian diet and less petrol consumption would also greatly
enhance a culture of peace. Such lifetsyles require inner
strength and the awareness that benefit for whole community will
result in greater personal benefit and thus is a foundation for the
culture of peace. |
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