Pax Surrexi

College Program Encourages Peaceful Change

In the culmination of more than a decade of dreaming and a year of intense work, Conrad Grebel University College announces the launch of a new master of peace and conflict studies (PACS) program. Combining interdisciplinary scholarship with concrete application, the program will empower students with the knowledge, research and practical skills needed to contribute to nonviolent peacebuilding efforts. Placing a unique focus on the pivotal role that individuals within civil society play as catalysts for peace, it is a course-based, professional graduate program open to both full-time and part-time students beginning in the fall of 2012.

Lowell Ewert, director of Grebel’s PACS program, says, “Civil society is key to peacebuilding because it brings out the best in humanity by inspiring citizens to take responsibility for their communities and develop creative solutions to local issues. Imagine how impoverished our communities would be if there were no effective civil society organizations. By mobilizing our community to get involved in organizations that promote the arts, sports, health, education, religion or social justice, our communities are enriched and made more compassionate.”

“Peace studies is in our DNA,” says Susan Schultz Huxman, Grebel’s president. “The undergraduate program in PACS has been wildly successful by many measures. College stakeholders recognized this 15 years ago when they first began developing the idea for graduate education at Grebel.”

Applications for the master’s level PACS program are currently being accepted by the Graduate Studies Office at the University of Waterloo, although processing of applications and admission of students will not occur until the new program is approved by the Ontario Universities Council on Quality Assurance. The university will acknowledge and store applications, but will be unable to evaluate or act on them in any way until the program has been formally approved. In the unlikely case that the program is not approved, the application fee will be refunded.

Democracy As A Force For Peaceful Change

The modern form of democracy took birth in the limited context of providing representation to people for the purpose of expressing their opinion in respect of the taxes they were duty bound to pay.

The famous principle that there is no taxation without representation formed the background against which the idea of democracy gained ground and evolved. Such notions of democracy certainly brought about social changes and heralded historic transition from feudal age to the more productive age of capitalism driven by new methods of production and market economy.

A peep into history educates us that the idea of democracy as it evolved in the European context did not necessarily create conditions for peace. The long record of conflict and war among the nations of the European continent proves the point beyond doubt that democracy per se could not result in peaceful co-existence among different States of Europe.

However, the democratic ideas originated with the dilution of social rigidities and greater mobility of people cutting across the barriers of social hierarchy determined by birth, economic status and feudal values. This resulted in greater individuality and individual freedom which of course got confined to a few people and were not available for all sections of society.

At that point of history, democracy was exclusive and did not cover in its scope the issues affecting ordinary people and women. As the scope of democracy got expanded guaranteeing franchise rights to all sections of society it contributed to the process of unleashing human potential and creating a vast treasure of human resources. It heralded in what the management guru Peter Draucker described as “the age of social transformation”.

It is painful to note that the democratic ideals which assumed relevance for the people of Europe were not extended to peoples living in the countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. It is pertinent to understand the reasons behind the exclusive character of democracy which was consciously fostered by a world view based on doctrine of differential rights.

Democracy in its true sense of the term means inclusion; it means sharing; it means a universal outlook free from narrowness and prejudices; it means an all embracing attitude which upholds the rights and obligations of all sections of society and at the same time recognizes the rights of other living beings to lead a life of their own.

Democracy as such cannot promote peaceful change if it is not accompanied by an inclusive and all comprehensive world view. Acknowledgement of diversity and recognition of the rights of the marginalized and under privileged is a necessary and indispensable condition for the success of democracy.

Luckily the world is gradually witnessing the expansion of the scope of democratic ideals which now include the rights of dispossessed and disinherited and stress on safeguards to protect the interest of minorities, women and other weaker sections of society. In the United States of America concerted efforts are being made to transmit education particularly the science education among women.

It is part of the democratic exercise to tap hitherto unexplored talent of those sections of society who did not get adequate opportunities to play their role in society. This assumes critical significance in the context of the remark of the then President of Harvard University, Professor Summers that women do not have aptitude for mathematics and science.

Peace and democracy are compatible. Establishment of a peaceful society is contingent as much on a democratic structure as on diffusion of democratic values among all sections of society. Peace here does not only mean absence of war, conflict and bloodshed. Peace here means pursuit of a lifestyle which does not depend on the clash of arms to determine values and priorities of life and to lead a lifestyle which ensures fulfillment of material needs and remain tuned to the larger environment. This can be best guaranteed when democracy forms the bedrock of governance and foundation of our society.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote on 22nd March, 1939 about people’s democracy. It is very fascinating to note that he linked people’s democracy with two fundamental things like air and water which are now getting increasingly polluted. He said that under people’s democracy, a ruler would be protector of citizens and both would enjoy pure air and water. In the present age of global warming and climate change, pure water and air have become luxuries.

In other words, if we do not have access to pure air and water, we do not have people’s democracy. In our struggle against global warming and climate change, we need to change our lifestyle so that everybody would have equitable entitlement to pure air and water. Therefore, we need to understand that access of everybody to pure air and water is an important dimension of peace and non-violence.

It is rather educative to know that British society which trampled upon the rights of other races is now coming out with a document which advocates measures for protection and respect for culture of people who inhabit our forests and always are supportive of conservation of environment. We need to have such an all comprehensive approach which recognizes the rights of all people and which is based on a world view of planetary dimension.

Democracy which constantly refines itself and is in tune with the ideas, knowledge and consciousness associated with the entire cosmos can certainly promote peaceful change.

Working to Create a Culture of Nonviolence

A world-renowned speaker, author and social change leader, Arun Gandhi shares the lessons of nonviolence instilled by his grandfather all around the world. In this conversation, Mr. Gandhi offers unique insight into the global peace movement — providing peace activists of all levels hope and guidance in how to affect nonviolent social change.

Q: Looking back on your own legacy, are there some major social change accomplishments that stand out in your mind? How do these accomplishments relate to the global movement?

A: I have always done what I do with the intention of planting seeds and make people think of alternatives. I am content to that where ever I go. I believe in all these years I have planted many seeds. I am sure many must be blossoming now. But results are not my concern. Grandfather used to tell us that when you become overly concerned about the results then you will not do what you have to do because half of your mind is occupied by what with the result be. So I don't bother about that at all. I just go about doing what I can in the best way I can and hope it eventually makes a difference in someone's life.

Q: Are these challenges unique or do they carry similar elements to what your grandfather faced, and what you face?

A: I think they are similar. Grandfather was concerned first with the freedom of India and then with the idea of replacing the culture of violence in India with the culture of nonviolence. However after the success of the first part of this mission his friends and colleagues decided that a living Gandhi would make life miserable for them but a martyred Gandhi could be exploited. So he was assassinated and India resorted to the culture of violence. What grandfather expected from India in terms of showing a nonviolent path to the rest of the world was abandoned and they adopted the culture of violence and became the most violent nation in the world. I do not have the charisma that he had so my reach is limited so within those limitations I do what I can to influence as many as I can.

Q: What does NVC offer individuals and leaders who wish to affect peaceful change?

A: Nonviolent Communication offers one tool from the set that is required to repair a community. We need to look at nonviolence as a set of tools which will be effective if we are able to use all of them for the various needs in repairing the damage done.

Q: The Center for Nonviolent Communication is affiliated with activist, decision-makers and global leaders in some of the most violent and impoverished regions of the world. What hope can you grant these individuals as they work to affect peaceful change over time?

A: I believe it is very good for them to learn the art of Nonviolent Communication but then they must learn also about the rest of the philosophy and implement it wholly. Someone once said that you can kill people with kindness too and that is not what we want. We want to stop the killings so along with the language we need to change our attitudes and our behavior to reflect more compassion and understanding and look at everything from the point of view of how is what I am about to do good for everyone concerned and not just how is it good for me and my company. We need to create a society where everyone works for the good of all and not just the good of a few.

Q: January 30th marks the beginning of the 2005 Season for Nonviolence. Why is it important for individuals and organizations to get involved in the Season?

A: I think it is important because the Season is designed to help people understand the philosophy and implement the culture of nonviolence so that we can transform the world before it destroys itself.

Cultivate Justice If You Aim For Peace

In awarding the Nobel Peace Prize to the International Labour Organization (ILO) in 1969, the Nobel Committee referred to the motto enshrined in the foundations of the ILO's original building in Geneva, "Si vis pacem, cole justitiam" - "If you desire peace, cultivate justice." As we mark the centenary of the Nobel Peace Prize, it is worth recalling what inspired these words and why they remain relevant.

The ILO has lived through one of the most turbulent centuries in human history. Delivering the Novel Lecture in Oslo on 11 December 1969, the Director-General of the ILO, David Morse said "there are still dangerous explosives in the hidden depths of the community ... the defusing of these explosives, and the building of a truly peaceful world order based on social justice, is the task of the ILO." Established in 1919 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, the ILO's Constitution begins with the affirmation "that universal and lasting peace can be established only if it is based upon social justice". The ILO was founded to promote the fundamental rights of workers, to promote remunerative employment, to provide social protection and to improve conditions of work through social dialogue. It is the only public international organization, and the only one in the United Nations system, which is tripartite, where workers and employers enjoy equal rights with governments in representation and decision-making.

With the end of the cold war and the acceleration of globalization, the Organization is once again displaying its capacity for adaptation and renewal by crafting a response to address the widespread anxiety over the effects of globalization.

Many aspects of the world at the beginning of the 21st century resemble those at the beginning of the 20th century. In terms of development, opportunity and technology, the relative gaps between the haves and have-nots still exist: 1.2 billion people live in poverty and 1 billion are unemployed or underemployed. Half the world's population lives on less than 2 dollars a day.

The goal of decent work connects with people's hopes to obtain productive work in conditions of freedom, equity, security and human dignity. It is about jobs and future prospects; about working conditions; about balancing work and family life, putting children through school or getting them out of child labour. It is about gender equality, equal recognition, and enabling women to make choices and take control of their lives. It is about your personal abilities to compete in the market place, keep up with new technological skills and remain healthy. It is about not being discriminated against; it is about having a voice in your workplace and your community. In the most extreme situations it is about moving from subsistence to existence. For many, it is the primary route out of poverty. For many others, it is about realizing personal aspirations in their daily existence and about solidarity with others. And everywhere, and for everybody, decent work is about securing human dignity.

The Decent Work Agenda is also an integrated vision of development. The ILO has consistently maintained that economic and social development are two aspects of the same process which sustain and reinforce each other. Decent work promotes employment, participation and social equity - the foundations of the development process. At the ILO, we seek to mainstream development into all our activities with a specific focus on the problems of the working poor, for it is among the workers in the informal economy that the problems of poverty and social exclusion are greatest.

The ILO Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work marked a reaffirmation by member States to "respect, to promote and to realize in good faith" the right to freedom of association and the effective recognition of the right to collective bargaining, and to the elimination of all form of forced or compulsory labour, the effective abolition of child labour and the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. These rights are valid in all countries - at whatever stage of development - whether the sweatshops and "inner cities" of the North, or the shanty towns and export processing zones of the South. They are universal enabling rights. The most fundamental of these rights is the right to voice - to organize and be heard, to be able to defend your interests and to collective bargaining. It is the foundation on which other rights can be fully exercised.

The Declaration places an obligation on all member countries of the ILO to respect the fundamental principles involved, whether or not they have ratified the relevant ILO Conventions. The Declaration stresses that labour standards should not be used for protectionist trade purposes. It is promotional in nature and provides information about economic and social development needs relating to these rights and principles, thereby assisting in the design of technical cooperation programmes.

Access to an adequate level of social protection is recognized in the ILO's Declaration of Philadelphia and a number of international labour standards as a basic right of all individuals. Yet in many countries reality falls short of the ideals of the Declaration. About 80% of the world's population is excluded from any type of formal social security protection. The ILO recognizes that while excessive security can induce passivity, adequate economic and social security is essential for productive work and human dignity.

Work-related accidents and diseases are a serious problem in both developed and developing countries. The ILO estimates that workers suffer 250 million accidents a year. ILO action in the field of occupational safety and health pursues a two-pronged approach. It creates alliances and partnerships with governments, social partners, NGO's and human rights groups in advocacy campaigns. The ILO also supports action at the national level through direct technical assistance, with particular focus on hazardous occupations.

Cultivating justice and achieving peace in a globalizing world will need a greater sense of common purpose to shared goals at the international and national levels. It requires integrated thinking to address the integrated problems of society and the economy. It means guiding policy-making with a moral compass, ensuring that decisions are based on universally shared principles of equity and equality, without losing sight of the need for sustained economic growth. It is about linking justice and economic progress in practical ways.

While many international instruments and institutions already exist, no single institution can generate social progress in the global economy on its own. The ILO's Decent Work Agenda is a realistic means to combine social progress and economic efficiency. It is a blueprint without borders, leading us in the direction of greater equity, security and stability. The ILO intends to make it an important contribution in the worldwide movement to globalize social justice and secure peace.