Dear Friends,
Youth initiatives continue to top the list of activities for the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace. They will be considered here by continent followed by the relevant articles in the Culture of Peace News Network, http://cpnn-world.org.
ARAB STATES
In Egypt, 1200 participants, mostly youth, took part in the International Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh. The Arab version of the Youth Report on the Culture of Peace was distributed and very well received, and hopefully we will be hearing much more from the youth of this region in the future. The Arab version of the report is now available on the Decade website, http://decade-culture-of-peace.org.
International Youth Forum in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
... "One Thousand and twelve hundred participants attended the forum which promoted interaction between youth and decision-makers, the private sector, government and civil society organizations"
AFRICA
In the Great Lakes region of Africa, hundreds of community mediators aged between fifteen and twenty-five are being trained by the program Amahoro Amani in how to take action in their communities to prevent, mediate, and resolve conflicts peacefully.
In Uganda, the Fourth African Conference of International Institute of Peace through Tourism was preceded by a Student/Youth Leadership Forum and the awarding of prizes for the best paper on "Building a Culture of Peace through Tourism."
Amahoro Amani: Lasting peace promotion in the Great Lakes
... "By the end of 2007, 420 community mediators aged between fifteen and twenty-five will have been trained in how to take action in their communities to prevent, mediate, and resolve conflicts peacefully."
Fourth African Conference of International Institute of Peace through Tourism
... "More than 400 delegates from 33 countries participated in the conference sharing their experiences, ideas, wisdom and commitments."
LATIN AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
As we have come to expect in recent years, the people of South America continue to take leadership in the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace.
The initiative of the World Social Forum movement continues to come from Brazil, as described in their most recent meeting and mobilization schedule. And Sao Paulo continues to take the lead, with over 60,000 citizens participating in the fifth annual City Games under the banner of the culture of peace.
World Social Forum 2008 and 2009: Meeting defines mobilisation schedule for process and working groups
... "The meeting had two main agendas: the preparation for the week and day of mobilisation and global action (January 26 2008) and discussions on the first initiatives towards 2009 event organisation"
No need of great things to gain a lot!
... "I started teaching in a new school with 18 years old teens. So I told them to start working on things such as: peace, human rights, discrimination, etc."
Sports for Peace in São Paulo
... "Over 60,000 citizens of São Paulo are participating in the fifth annual City Games under the banner of the culture of peace"
EUROPE
Along with Cecile Barbeito of the School of the Culture of Peace in Barcelona, I participated in an international conference on the role of local governments in peace-building. We discussed with them the possibility of a project for culture of peace in cities, and we hope to have more news about this project in the near future.
City Diplomacy in Action
... "The Mayor called for local authorities to address the sensitive issues underlying violent conflicts and to "contribute to the creation of a culture of peace by developing and sustaining relations and effective communication at the level of the community""
ALL REGIONS
On a global level, the International Day of Prayer for Peace involved a newly organized Peace Youth Network as well as the network of the World Council of Churches.
International Day for Prayer for Peace and Youth Network
... "The World Council of Churches joined this initiative to encourage churches to be in Spirit of prayer with those who face Violence in their daily life."
Yoga for Peace Holds World Event on 9/11 Anniversary
... "speakers explained the yoga philosophy of non-violence and the recognition of the sacred within all human beings and nature"
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DISCUSSION TOPICS
Here are some of the topics that have been discussed since the previous Bulletin. They may be found under the Forum indicated on the CPNN DiscussionBoard (http://cpnn-world.org/cgi-bin/ib3/ikonboard.cgi ).
GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE
Global meetings, conferences, assemblies: What is the best way for delegates to interact afterwards?
MAKING AN EFFECTIVE PEACE MOVEMENT
How are you celebrating peace day?
OTHER THEMES
The understanding of indigenous peoples: Can it help us cultivate a culture of peace?
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For details on how the CPNN website works, please see the bulletin for April/May which was sent to you by email and which is available online at http://decade-culture-of-peace.org/bulletin/may2007english.html
To repeat from the last bulletin, "Please go to the website http://cpnn-world.org and write your own news report about events or media that promote a culture of peace. It may be something that you and your organization have done, or something that your read or saw in the media that promotes one or more aspects of a culture of peace (human rights, democratic participation, understanding, tolerance and solidarity, sustainable development, free flow of information, equality of women, peace education or disarmament).
Also add your comments to the DiscussionBoard which already hundreds of questions that have already been raised. Your comments may be on your own story or to any story previously submitted.
Peace,
David Adams
http://decade-culture-of-peace.org