“Beyond Vietnam”, April 4th, 1967, “Every nation must now develop an overriding loyalty to mankind as a whole in order to preserve the best in their individual societies.” The time has come for everyone to be committed to unity. Throughout time, people have been fighting wars. In the twentieth century, countries banded together to form the United Nations (UN) to attempt to resolve conflicts peacefully. The UN has not been able to achieve their main goal, despite formidable efforts. There are millions of reasons why the goal has been elusive, but the efforts must be continued. Out of the peace efforts, a multitude of wonderful humanitarian programs have been developed. Working together for peace creates unity! Perhaps, what is needed is a new commitment to unity. The world has entered the twenty first century and has encountered a new major conflict. The new world is fighting the old, the west against the east, two philosophies, two cultures, two ways of thinking. How is the conflict to be solved? Is there a prophetic symbolism in the name, United Nations, for solving the problem? People have a choice between separation or unity. Violence and death create anger and hostility. Solving the problem militarily seems to separate people. Dialogue and diplomacy would unite people. Is the world able to seek world-wide unity – unity based upon trust and common goals, nobility found through compromise, peace through nonviolence and love? Are people able to work together? Are people able to show each other that they are not enemies? There is a wedge of mistrust and fear being driven between the east and the west. There must be an initiative to find common bonds, to mend the wounds, not aggravate them. What if there was a “World-Wide Unity Campaign” to show that the people in every country have great similarities. Everyone could be made to feel they are a part of the whole. People in every village, town, and city, in every country of the world could participate. Efforts for peace could be conducted with humility, respect, and nonviolence. People of the world could work towards common goals rather than fighting and killing one another. The objective would be to build bridges and transcend ideological, religious, national, and political borders. People around the world are the same. They have differences but they can be solved peacefully. How can a common bond between people be created? Is there a way to create a family for all the children? Perhaps, the answer lies by analyzing what happens when a disaster strikes. When the Tsunami struck in December, 2004, people around the world contributed to helping those in distress and rebuilding the areas destroyed. Why can’t the world mobilize without a disaster? James Carroll wrote profoundly about unity in an article entitled “Discourse in the Middle East,” in the Boston Globe, February 26, 2007. Carroll was relating the difficulties of peaceful relations in Jerusalem between the three major religious groups, Jews, Muslims, and Christians. He stated, “One person’s true belief is another person’s fundamentalism. Tolerance is proclaimed a religious virtue, but can it tolerate the intolerant?” The inference is that it has to be done. He wrote, “Incompatible narratives do in fact unfold side by side. Arabs and Jews do intermingle.” A Palestinian leader was quoted as saying, “There is no choice but partnership.” And a Jewish leader spoke of “the coalition of civilizations.” Carroll’s brilliance is in seeing that people can find ways to work together and his writing expresses his view without forcing it upon people. He makes people think! It gives me hope. It makes me believe in unity. It makes me want to work hard for that unity, in a peaceful way. There are thousands of organizations working to help others. These group’s efforts must be brought into the mainstream of political life and made priority. World humanitarian efforts will help bring unity. What is world-wide unity? What does it mean? Are people able to differentiate between everyone being the same versus everyone working for a similar goal? If people work together, they would still be able to maintain their own identity and integrity. They would still be able to live the lives they choose, within their own communities, and continue their own national and religious identities. If they work together on common goals, they would be sending a message to others stating, we trust you, we honor your rights, and we want to help you. The time has come for people to live in peace. Howard Zinn, author of “A People’s History of the United States”, wrote, “We need to assert our allegiance to the human race, and not to any one nation.” Why did he write that? Was it because, if the countries do not realize it they will always be in conflict? In 2006, Kofi Annan announced the design of an “Alliance of Civilizations” via the UN because the UN saw the need for unifying. The announcement stated, “The initiative is intended to respond to the need for a committed effort by the international community -- both at the institutional and civil society levels -- to bridge divides and overcome prejudice, misconceptions, misperceptions, and polarization which potentially threaten world peace.” Also, “The Alliance of Civilizations is intended as a coalition against such forces, as a movement to advance mutual respect for religious beliefs and traditions, and as a reaffirmation of humankind's increasing interdependence in all areas -- from the environment to health, from economic and social development to peace and security.” The UN has prepared Millenium Goals and Manifestos (great words!). They have an initiative called the Culture of Peace, as well as hundreds of other programs for people to work together. People around the world don’t see the work everyday. An extroverted method must be designed to make people aware of the amazing peace efforts being implemented everywhere! The bad things are going to happen. People can take it. The good must be emphasized, not the bad! There must be a commitment to nonviolence. People are attempting to “break down borders.” (See Power of Collectivity) Why are there coalitions? Why are people trying to unite? Is it because they would be stronger if there were more people involved? Why are people sending out announcements about peace rallies, protests and vigils on the internet? Why are emails constantly asking for people to write their Congress people and Senators? Why are there rallies in Washington DC and other major cities of the world? Why are people always concerned with the amount of people that are at the rallies? Is more better? If there were more, would it help? Of course. An organizer, Mark Lipman, wrote, “there was an energy and excitement that I hadn't felt before, as more people than we even expected came to join and swell our ranks, from all walks of life - new faces, new voices, new hope.” If countries of the world attempt to solve the problems themselves, they will struggle much more than if everyone worked together for a common goal. There is a strength when people are joined with others, as Rabbi Lerner said a prayer at a Washington DC march January 23, 2007, to approximately 80,000 people, “Thank you universe. But we can all say together: Wow, what an amazing universe and what a gift to be alive , even with our limited consciousness, to be here with other human beings who share our commitment to building a world of love and generosity. So lets say it together— about the universe and about the goodness of it all—Wow, Louder please a loud Wow. Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom was formed during the first World War. A play was written to commemorate it’s formation called Conceived in war, born for peace. Here is a profound statement from the play: “The interests of humanity will transcend the interests of country.” There are many organizations with superior initiatives to bring people together such as, ONE for Aids, (see Utne letter), Tikkun and the Network of Spiritual Progressives, See Links "We are not enemies!" What do you think? Is this true? Are people enemies? I first heard it from a professor at a Nuclear Safety convention sponsored by Dr. Helen Caldicott. Dr. Blair said, “We are not enemies.” In a book about the political status in Egypt from the 1950's to the 1990's, by Dr. Carrie Wickham, entitled, “Mobilizing Islam.” and the people there were shown to be the same as the people here. They were politically struggling to secure a safe home to bring up their children. The Islamic radicals and extremists made it difficult, let alone the system in which they operate is authoritarian. The book illustrates people around the world, in diverse cultures, want the same thing. The book affirms people are not enemies with the majority of people in the world. The political struggle is with the powerful and governments themselves. The moderate voice that must be heard Is there a sleeping majority that prefers peace? The rich are a small percentage of the population. The leaders are a small percentage of the population. The extremists are a small percentage of the population. The people that lead corporations are a small percentage of the population. Yet the rich and powerful make the decisions. It is time for the people to make the decisions. The first and most important issue is peace. Without peace, none of the other issues make a difference. The people must speak out for peace. People must be empowered to speak out for peace. People that do not ordinarily speak out, must now, speak out for peace. What is the objective, peace? Then the opposite is war? Who wants war? Probably not very many people want war. That means that the majority probably want peace. Who wants peace, everyone? Can the world find unity working for peace? The Moderates must affect the people confronting extremists in their own society We need MILLIONS - There is strength in numbers. There are thousands of political, philosophical, and religious grass root organizations throughout the US and throughout the world, working for peace. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the groups were united? What will unite them? There are thousands of organizations with wonderful messages and slogans. Here is an example, from Earth Repair Foundation in Australia: “World Peace and Unity is not an Option, it is a Necessity!” Another is “World Unity and Peace, Believe it. Accept it.” Gila Svirsky, the leader of Coalition of Women for Peace (CWP), wrote after an initiative, “The international campaign "GAZA: Stop the Siege! End the War!" was amazing, and embraced the entire globe. While individual actions may have been small, the cumulative impact of 107 cities holding protest and educational activities together is formidable. Some of the media reports were particularly effective and won access to broad international audiences.”
words of Lama Hourani from Gaza, following her painful descriptions of the sights in Beit Hanoun, "I don't know what to do, desperate and depressed. Maybe one of the things that cheers me up sometimes and gives me hope is hearing about the solidarity activities that take place in different places in the world." There are many - Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals - who have their flickering hope kept alive by the work that all of us do throughout the world. Thank you for your partnership.” Lao Tsu said, “Struggling to achieve unity is not as natural as the spontaneous experience and participation in the unity.” |
PEACE and LOVE
How beautiful the world is when we live and work together in peace.
Global Strategy of Nonviolence
Mother Theresa said, “Peace begins with a smile.”
Welcome! A Global Strategy of Nonviolence
FOR the CHILDREN A World-Wide Unity Campaign
A Strategy to Bring Peace For the Children and Stop War
FOR the CHILDREN A World-Wide Unity Campaign
A Strategy to Bring Peace For the Children and Stop War
| (GS of NV) |
| GUIDELINES In 3 years, we the people, can change the world. PLAN ALL 3 PHASES PHASE ONE: Mobilize, in every village, town, and city,in every country! Select Demands and Deadlines One year awareness campaign Starting Event Septermber 11, 2021 +23 scheduled events |
PEOPLE POWER The People must be HEARD, the Moderate Voice We want the children to see an overt exhibit of nonviolence. |
| PHASE TWO: Conflict Resolution and Disarmament PHASE THREE: Programs For the Children |
Current Status Support Information Links |
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| February 11, 2008 |