The best answer to September 11 is a culture of peace
culture-of-peace.info
Since the September 11 terrorist attacks, many more people are looking for some way out of the escalating cycle of violence in the world. People are looking for a way to achieve justice without vengeance. The mainstream media doesn't help. Most are filled with calls for vengeance and give no idea that justice can be attained without violence.
The cycle of violence is not new. Read the Old Testament or the Iliad or epics of other civilizations. In fact, there is an eerie resemblance in recent events to the crusades of the Dark Ages, and the inquisition that accompanied them.
Does this mean that there is no way out? Does it mean that our species is inherently, genetically violent? That war is in our human nature?
No. The same species that invented war is capable of inventing peace. This is the conclusion of the Seville Statement on Violence, drafted by leading scientists from around the world during the UN International Year for Peace in 1986. The scientific arguments based on evolution, genetics, animal behavior, brain research and social psychology are examined one by one, and the conclusion is drawn that biology does not predestine us to war and violence.
In fact, our biological legacy of aggression is the basis of our capacity for righteous indignation against injustice which is essential for peace activism and peace education.
If war is not in our genes, where does it come from and why has been so persistent throughout history? The answer is in our culture. Over the course of history, humans have developed a culture that permits and encourages war and violence: a culture of war.
The culture of war is broader and deeper than war itself. Think of it this way. What do you need to have a war?
-an enemy
-armaments
-a society in which people follow orders
-a belief that power can be maintained through violence
-control of information (secrecy, propaganda)
In fact, if any one of these is missing, you can't have war. No enemy - no war. No armaments - no war. No control of information - no war. And if people don't follow orders and if they don't believe that power can be maintained through violence - no war.
Add to these three other important aspects of the culture of war:
-profitability - whether for plunder, colonies, economic domination or the profits of the military-industrial complex.
-male domination
-education for war
There is only one way out from the cycle of violence: a culture of peace:
-instead of enemy images,
understanding, tolerance & solidarity
-instead of armaments,
disarmament, universal & verifiable
-instead of authoritarian governance,
democratic participation
-instead of secrecy and propaganda,
the free flow & sharing of information
-instead of violence,
dialogue, negotiation, rule of law, active non-violence
-instead of male domination,
the equality of women
-instead of education for war,
education for peace
-instead of exploitation of the weak and of the environment,
economies of peace with equitable, sustainable development
Global Movement for a Culture of Peace
Utopian, you say. Yes, but all social change begins from those who dream and who strive to make their dreams come true. And the culture of peace is a dream whose time has come. All of the Member States of the United Nations voted for the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, calling for a Global Movement for a Culture of Peace. And during the United International Year for a Culture of Peace (1986), more than 1% of the population of the world (over 75 million people) signed the Manifesto 2000, pledging to practice a culture of peace in their family, school and community. |
