| Posted: Mar. 18 2005,12:33 |
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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? |
Yes,
tremendous progress has already been seen with regards to awareness for
Peace Education in the first half of this decade. Awareness and
finally “coming to our senses” of the interconnectedness of the whole
of humanity is beginning to take on a much greater importance.
The
goal of PAX 2100 is to foster and develop a culture of peace so that by
the year 2100 we will have achieved, or progressed close to, social
wellness of all human beings, and the absence of war.
Substantial
progress has been made by our human structures committee both at the
local levels, in K-12 classrooms with the introduction of Peace Corners
and with increasing awareness locally about the interconnectedness of
humanity and the importance of respecting and appreciating differences,
as well as within the more structured think tank committees.
Currently,
the government structures committee is focused on United Nations
reform, specifically in strengthening, widening, and expanding the role
of the UN. In addition to dealing with the international security
system, the government structures committee is concerned with armament
control and non proliferation. PAX 2100 has made considerable
progress with these issues through meetings and think tank work.
The
environmental structures committee’s agenda currently encompasses:
sustainability and sustainable development, ecological balance among
all of earth’s inhabitants, energy systems and alternative energy
sources, and population control.
The focus of the economic
structures committee is on international trade and the reduction of
barriers, monetary systems, international controls, redistribution of
wealth, and economic development.
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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There
are many obstacles to peace work, ranging from limited economic funds,
to the thirst for immediate, tangible short term gains at the expense
of more farsighted, long term goals, which are necessary for peace
work. Politically and economically, the more affluent classes are
the ones making the decisions, and they will respectively make
decisions which benefit them, at the cost of the lower echelons.
“Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely.”
Environmentally,
the power-holders often times choose development at the cost of the
environment because with development comes immediate tangible benefits,
while the problems it creates for future generations will not be seen
by this generation.
In addition to a lack of funding, and the
relatively unseen immediate benefits peace work brings, our limited
minds can also serve as obstacles to progress.
Our minds sometimes limited view of "what can be". Governments and institutions stuck in old ways of thinking.
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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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PAX
2100 is an international organization whose goals are focused towards
peace, justice, the right of retaining cultural identity, fair and
equal access to the earth’s resources, sustainability and sustainable
development to ensure the level of economic growth that is compatible
with preserving the environment for future generations, health care,
education, the right and opportunity to work, freedom of speech and
religion, and the freedom to move freely around the world, and the
right to participate in its governance.
PAX 2100 works at all
levels, from the international level involving creating partnerships
and working through think tanks/structure committees, to more localized
levels with the peace education program in K-12 classrooms.
At the
international and national level, PAX2 100 is involved with think tank
structure committees including: governmental, environmental, human and
economic. The governmental structure committee deals with the
executive, legislative, and judicial branches, as well as with the
international security system, and armament control from conventional
weapons to WMD. The environmental structure committee deals with
sustainability, ecological balance, alternative energy systems and
population control. The economic structures committee focuses on
international trade and the reduction of barriers, monetary systems,
international controls, redistribution of wealth, and economic
development. Finally, the human structures committee is focused
on establishing a world wide code of ethics, irrevocable human rights,
conflict resolution, cross cultural communication, while offering hope.
Together, these four structure committees encompass a diverse
range of issues, and come up with recommendations on how to create a
Culture of Peace.
At the local level, PAX 2100 works with all ages
from children to adults. PAX 2100 has introduced peace education
programs involving the establishment of Peace Corners in the
classrooms, so that children can learn the importance of peace and
meditation at early ages. Peace Corners are being picked up by
children incredibly fast. Children, in fact, see the world in
many different positive ways. They see the solutions to some of
humankinds’ most complicated issues much more clearly than us “so
called” wise adults. In addition to working with children in the
classroom, PAX2100 also involves itself with adult education lecture
series whose aim is to promote hope and inspiration by exposing and
increasing awareness of the many positive things happening around the
globe. In addition, PAX 2100 both adheres to and preaches the
“Golden Rule,” which is helping humankind to remember the shared values
we all possess, and remembering to “treat others as you want to be
treated.”
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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? |
It
is important to continue to increase cross cultural awareness. We
must teach others to look for the common ground between their cultures
and traditions, whether they are religious in nature or not, and the
cultures and traditions of others. It is also important to
realize that no mater what culture or religion we adhere to, we are all
tied together under the umbrella of humankind. We must teach
people to see the similarities in those traditions and celebrate them,
while being equally thankful and rejoicing in the differences.
For it is in the differences that humankind is most alive and
most prosperous.
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
Nuclear
Age Peace Foundation, US Foundation, Seniors for Peace, The Fourth
Freedom Forum, Afghan Academy of Hope, Secure World Foundation, The
Parliament of the Worlds Religions, Forum Barcelona 2004 and Forum
Monterrey 2007, UNA-SB, No Place for Hate, Building Bridges Coalition,
Direct Relief International, Creating Peace Project, United Religions
Initiative.
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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)? |
Participation
and partnering in the next Forum of Cultures to be held in Monterrey
Mexico 2007. We are also working on hosting a smaller Forum
meeting in Costa Rica June 2006 (this meeting is an attempt to hear, in
person, what our partners are doing and explore the issues we may be
able to collaborate on). Continued Peace Education curriculum for
K-12...including Mark Greenberg's PATHS program. A PAX 2100 program
called Journey's for Peace (small teams traveling abroad with an
emphasis on local service projects). In addition, we will
continue the Adult Education partnership lecture series, which helps to
promote awareness of issues PAX 2100 is trying to reform…..
Finally, we hope to promote our more broad/international goals by
continuing to explore the issues through our think tank committees.
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Postal address of organization
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6067 Shirrell Way
Goleta, CA 93117
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E-mail address of organization
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inquiries@pax2100.org
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Website address of organization
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www.pax2100.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Education for a Culture of Peace
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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International Peace and Security
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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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United States
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