essay of promoting a culture of non violence

Building a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence

For the children of the world . . ..

That’s the title of an appeal made at the end of the 1990´s from twenty Nobel Peace Prize winners to the schools and churches, communities and nations of the world, inviting us to promote new ways of dealing with the conflicts and violence that surround us. All too many children grow up immersed in violence. While some progress has been made in addressing the violence in our world, a new emphasis could help a lot.

The Decade for a Culture of Peace 2001-2010 was and still is a unique opportunity for us: a decade-long focus on building a culture of peace and nonviolence in every part of our lives, from schools and churches, to neighborhoods and the world.

Keeping the ball rolling

Talk with others in your congregation who have an interest in peacemaking and nonviolence

Make reconciliation part of your prayer life. Pray for those in conflict in your congregation, and elsewhere . . . Express your gratitude for peacemaking in your family, school, community, and among nations.

Improve your skills of conflict transformation and apply them in your family, congregation, workplace . . .

Add a book or magazine on peace with justice to your reading . . . Use the web to explore peace ideas . . .

Find out what peace and justice groups are doing in your community and globally ( Lutheran Peace Fellowship , Bread for the World , Fellowship of Reconciliation . . . )

Bring your values of peace with justice into decisions at work, shopping, investing, and volunteer activity

Exploring shalom

The Decade for a Culture of Peace offered many possibilities for curriculum units, conversations, workshops, and parent/teacher meetings that are still relevant and useful today. Here are several outstanding resources that explore the biblical vision of peacemaking:

Download A Brief Overview of LPF Resources for Leaders (PDF) , LPF’s most popular and effective activities and resources for leaders.

Conflict Transformation, Nonviolence, and Justice: An Annotated Guide to Over 400 Outstanding Books, Manuals, Audiovisuals, and Web Sites

STRIVE for Justice and Peace in All the Earth available from ELCA website

ELCA Social Statement on Peace

The Politics of Jesus , John H. Yoder, insightful exploration of nonviolence in Luke (Eerdmans).

Shalom! Toward a More Effective, More Faithful Approach to Conflict and Violence – Our most popular essay explores a more faithful and effective approach to conflict and violence: it is an eye-opening overview, with annotated resource list.

Download Sources for Further Nonviolence Training (PDF)  – Annotated listing of outstanding groups.

What is Christian Peacemaking?

This popular activity explores the breadth and depth of the biblical vision of Shalom, peace, justice, community, wholeness. One to six session resource with additional questions and activities to build on or expand the impact of “Jesus’ Way of Shalom”.

Download What Is Christian Peacemaking? (2 page PDF) Download Jesus’ Way of Shalom (8 page PDF) ¿Qué significa pacificación cristiana? (PDF)  – el papel de pacificador esta enraizado en nuestra experiencia de un Dios quien es paz, quien nos da paz, y quien nos llama a ser parte de la paz y la justicia .

Videos and films

A Force More Powerful is a film about the power and spirit of nonviolence; shown on public television. Bonhoeffer: Agent of Grace is the story of a Lutheran pastor and hero of the resistance in Nazi Germany. Read some of his famous quotes .

International Day of Non-Violence – Gandhi’s Birthday – October 2nd – includes videos about Gandhi´s life and philosophy of nonviolence.

Nonviolence for the Violent – Video of Walter Wink’s explanation of the “Third Way” of Jesus. Illustrating “turn the other cheek”, “offer your coat as well”, and “go the second mile” with lively demonstrations (in 5 parts).

Other feature films, available in video stores, include Weapons of the Spirit, Gandhi, Romero, and A Long Walk Home .

See also: Using Films to Teach Peace & Justice , Media Violence , Audiovisual Tools for Peacemakers

Digging deeper

The best group discussion and activity program we’ve seen is From Violence to Wholeness , used effectively with 100s of church groups. Assisted by Pace e Bene, which developed the ten-part program, Lutheran Peace Fellowship has worked with congregations and leaders across the U.S. in weekend workshops and weekly discussion series, supported by an Innovations grant from Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent).

The best program for youth groups we’ve seen is called Help Increase the Peace . Like From Violence to Wholeness it has gone through several periods of testing and revision and places the emphasis on participatory activities, not just talk. (American Friends Service Committee, afsc.org )

What Was the Decade for Peace?

Hundreds of Lutheran congregations, school groups, synods, and churchwide organizations endorsed the Nobel Decade for Peace, making a commitment “to teach, practice, and model nonviolence,” in the words of the LPF resolution used by most groups. The Decade was proposed in an Appeal by twenty Nobel Peace Laureates, the largest number ever to support a single initiative. A year after the first Lutheran endorsements, the UN General Assembly designated the years 2001-2010 to be the “International Decade for Culture of Peace and Nonviolence.”

Pledge of Nonviolence

For many people, a commitment or pledge can be a useful tool to help focus their attention on peacemaking in their daily lives. LPF members are finding this discipline helpful.

Family Pledge of Nonviolence Institute for Peace and Justice

Disarming the Heart by John Dear explores the growing practice of professing a vow of nonviolence and how it can lead to new depth in discipleship (Paulist Press, 1993)

International Day of Prayer for Peace Resource , and Peace Litany

Children’s Sabbath observance: worship, education, outreach and advocacy on the needs of children (Children’s Defense Fund).

A Call to Peace by Jim McGinnis: 52 meditations on the Family Pledge of Nonviolence (Liguori).

Our Prayers Rise Like Incense , edited by Cindy Pile: 50 complete liturgies on peace and justice themes (Pax Christi).

There are many dates both in the church year and in the secular calendar that can be used as a focus for peace with justice activity. Here are a few in the fall and winter months:

Sept. 21, UN Day of Peace

Oct. 2, International Day of Non-Violence – Birthday of Gandhi, nonviolence innovator

Oct. 4, feast day of St. Francis of Assisi

Nov. 11, Veterans Day, feast day of St. Martin of Tours (early conscientious objector) and Martin Luther

Dec. 10, UN Human Rights Day

Dec. 28, Holy Innocents

Jan. 1, World Day of Peace

Jan. 15, birth of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Feb. 4, birth of Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Media concerns

While there are beneficial and occasionally even inspiring television shows, movies and video games, researchers and parents alike are disturbed by the impact of the violence in media today. Schools can play an important role.

The Center for Media Literacy offers a wonderful series of video programs for schools, churches, and families that teach skills and encourage group discussion (www.medialit.org)

What to Do After You Turn Off the TV by Frances Moore Lappe is one of many books that offer tips on the question of the title.

Stop Teaching Our Kids to Kill by Dave Grossman and Gloria deGaetano summarizes the links between media violence and violent youth behavior and offers a plan of action.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. Your playing small doesn’t help the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence liberates others. —Nelson Mandela

Reading to grow

Peace Is the Way , edited by Walter Wink, rich and perceptive collection of brief essays on nonviolence. Also check out Nonviolence for the Violent – Walter Wink – video series on our website.

Martin Luther King, Jr.: Spirit-Led Prophet , by Richard Deats is a brief, well-written biography emphasizing the spiritual roots of King’s activity and writing.

The Powers That Be, concise version of Walter Wink’s classic book, Engaging the Powers ; both are remarkably rich in stories and insight.

Transforming Violence: Linking Local and Global Peacemaking , edited by Robert and Judy Zimmerman Herr.

Waging Peace in Our Schools by Linda Lantieri and Janet Patti.

Sharing the stories

For many of us, a good way to grasp the meaning of peacemaking today is through the lives and activities and choices of inspiring peace and justice heroes like Bonhoeffer, Gandhi, King, Rosa Parks, Dorothy Day, Nelson Mandela, and Oscar Romero, to name a few. LPF has assembled over a hundred such stories throughout history into a popular display called the Path of Hope . This exhibit has been experienced by 120 classes, groups, and conferences. Constructing one is a superb class or youth project (a how-to kit is available free from Lutheran Peace Fellowship).

Lutheran Peace Fellowship’s work on the Decade for Peace received support from Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL); the ELCA Division for Church in Society; ELCA Commission for Women; Women of the ELCA; and from congregations, synods, and individuals. We are deeply grateful for their assistance.

Tagged conflict , nonviolence , peace , shalom . Bookmark the permalink .

Culture of non-violence starts with communities and individuals, Ban says

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The work of creating and sustaining a culture of peace and non-violence begins in the hearts of committed men and women, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a message marking the International Day of Non-Violence.

The work of creating and sustaining a culture of peace and non-violence begins in the hearts of committed men and women, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon says in a message marking the International Day of Non-Violence .

“Peace may be achieved around the negotiating table, but it is sustained around community tables,” said Mr. Ban. “Peace starts with people; it flows from the hearts of committed women and men.

“Communities, families, and individuals all have a critical role to play in defeating violence and creating a culture of peace. This work cannot be left to governments or international organizations alone.”

Nevertheless, “we at the United Nations strive to harness the power of non-violence to overcome prejudice, end conflict, and cultivate mutual respect and understanding among peoples and countries,” he went on to say on the occasion of the Day, which is observed on 2 October.

“Indeed, the creed of non-violence echoes through the United Nations Charter,” said Mr. Ban. Specifically, it calls on us “to practise tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbours” and “to ensure… that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest.”

“We work every day to bring these lofty principles to life,” said the Secretary-General. “We do this by promoting human rights, seeking to resolve conflicts through peaceful means, campaigning to eliminate violence against women, working to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, and building bridges across cultures and countering hatred and extremism everywhere.”

The observance also marks the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of India’s independence movement and a pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence, which he described as “the greatest force at the disposal of mankind.”

“On this International Day of Non-Violence,” said Mr. Ban, “let us work together to use the great force of non-violence to build peaceful and just societies for ourselves and for our children.”

The International Day of Non-Violence was established by the General Assembly as an occasion to “disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness.” It has been observed annually since 2007.

WORK  EXPERIENCE

• Jason Manrique
• May 27, 2021
• 13 min read

Introduction to Nonviolence

Updated: Jan 12, 2022

By Jason Manrique (April, 2020)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Nonviolent Movements

International Nonviolent Struggle

Nonviolence in Academia and in the 21st Century

Nonviolence: an introduction.

Nonviolent activism over the course of the 20th century helped influence the world and century in a positive direction. There now is an effective option to fight back against injustice and oppression around the world without having to cause more pain and conflict. These days, nonviolence has an academic catalog full of examples, theory and scholars who help guide those in search of learning more on the subject of nonviolent philosophy. But first, What is Nonviolence?

A simple definition for nonviolence can be that it is the use of peaceful means, not by force, to bring about social change. However, this is a very simple and broad definition of what nonviolence is or can be. There are different aspects of the nonviolent philosophy that require their own meaning:

Nonviolent Communication for example is about expressing and hearing needs nonviolently resulting in mutual understanding and agreements between cooperating groups.

Nonviolent Conflict Resolution and Mediation are where special measures and techniques are employed to resolve conflicts that previously had been found to be irretractable. Mediation is where these techniques are employed by a neutral third party.

Nonviolent Noncooperation can be defined as when one group applies symbolic methods to disrupt daily processes of life in order to bring awareness to society of injustices or inequities.

Nonviolent Resistance is when oppositional measures are taken in different forms of protest to provoke and expose unacceptable actions and thus embarrass and shame the group doing the actions in the eyes of the public and the international community.

Examples of these forms of nonviolence will be provided later in this article.

Notable Nonviolent Movements: Early 20th Century

Nonviolent movements were active throughout the 20th century, helping shape society into what it is today.

Early on, it was the Women's Suffrage movement in the United States during the early 1900’s. One of the most notable events to come from that movement was the Suffrage Parade of 1913. The reason why is because this parade marked the first large march to take place in Washington D.C, where women from all over the country came together and marched for the right to vote. President Woodrow At the time, Wilson was going to have his inaugural address. This event helped ignite the suffragist movement and continue to hold Wilson’s administration accountable culminating in the passage of the 19th Amendment.

Meanwhile, around the same time in another part of the world, a young Mahatma Gandhi was preparing one of his first large-scale acts of civil disobedience against the British Empire. The 1920 Non-Cooperation movement was Gandhi’s example of what nonviolent noncooperation can look like when being implemented in real life. The movement had participants resign from positions en masse (election workers, teachers, courts, other administrative positions) and threaten to not pay taxes as well. While the non-cooperation movement ended in 1922, it marked the first time where civil disobedience came from all parts of Indian society instead of just an educated middle class, signifying that the independence movement was gaining popular support.

Nonviolence During the Civil Rights Era

The success of India's independence movement due in large part to Gandhi’s nonviolent philosophy helped inspire an upcoming generation of activists around the world that it is possible to fight back against oppressors without using violence. This would be seen best in the tactics and philosophies of activists during the American Civil Rights Era of the 1950s-1960s. The most significant example of this would have to be the civil rights work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who directly cited Gandhi as an inspiration and applied Gandhi’s methods of nonviolence to what King was trying to accomplish working toward abolishing the discriminatory Jim Crow laws in the American South. For example, King played a pivotal role in the Montgomery Bus Boycott as President of the Montgomery Improvement Association, preached nonviolence even after threats and attempts on his life were made, met with students of Gandhi, and delivered his iconic “I have a dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington. MLK’s nonviolent philosophy remains one of his most notable characteristics in the eyes of the American public. Another lesser-known activist of the era is James Lawson. Lawson, similar to King, also came from a Christian upbringing revolving around nonviolence. It was his work in India where he directly learned about Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence, Satyagraha, and then even had Dr. King urge him to move to the South and help teach people the nonviolent activism he had learned in India from Gandhi’s students. Lawson's teachings would prove to be very important and impactful during the Civil Rights Era, being a mentor and teacher to notable young activists such as Diane Nash and John Lewis, who themselves would go on to lead the sit-in movement throughout the South.

In the West, there was another similar struggle going on in the western part of the country during this time. Racism, corruption, and poor working conditions were common amongst farm workers in the western United States (workers who were often Mexican or Filipino immigrants). The man who would directly challenge the oppressive system rose from those ranks was Cesar Chavez. Chavez, very much like Martin Luther King was inspired by his religious upbringing (MLK with the Baptist church and Chavez with the Catholic church) and the work of Gandhi. A notable difference in Chavez’s experience is that he was also inspired by the Civil Rights movement that had been going on in the South at almost the exact same time he was fighting for labor rights in the west. A very crucial moment came in 1965 when the union he created joined a grape strike that was soon elevated to national notoriety due to the nonviolent tactics Chavez helped lead. Things such as asking for strike members to commit to nonviolence, long marches, and even a hunger strike by Chavez to protest the talks of committing acts of violence within the striking worker's ranks. Cesar’s work was recognized by notable Civil Rights figures such as Robert F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King, receiving a letter of praise and solidarity from King at one point. Chavez and the grape workers won in 1970 when their union was officially recognized.

International Nonviolent Struggles

While the work of nonviolent activists such as Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, and James Lawson and so many others during the American Civil Rights Era brought groundbreaking change, there were (and are) still ongoing struggles in other parts of the world.

Halfway across the world from America, the indigenous Africans of South Africa were in the midst of an ongoing struggle that would last much longer than the Civil Rights Era in America. The Apartheid regime in South Africa was a brutal system set in place by the white minority-controlled government beginning in the late 1940s. The country where Gandhi had first learned and implemented his early nonviolent philosophy was now the setting for another struggle. There were different forms of opposition used against the apartheid regime, from nonviolent ones to armed resistance. 1952 was when anti-apartheid activists implemented their first wide-scale act of nonviolent resistance. Disobeying the laws of apartheid by meeting in massive groups at locations such as train stations, post offices bus stops, schools, this would be known as the National Defiance Campaign. Thousands of people were arrested and membership for the African National Congress (ANC) political party skyrocketed.

Unfortunately, the campaign was met by harsh retaliation by the apartheid government and no concessions were made. However, nonviolence was still the main tool used by the South Africans throughout that period. Others actions were taken such as bus boycotts, demonstrations, and even burning passes. International pressure from the United Nations also dealt significant blows to the apartheid regime with arms embargoes on South Africa (Security Council Resolution 181, 182) , condemnation from the Commission on Human Rights and the General Assembly to name some examples.

It was during the 1970s and 1980s where different methods of civil disobedience were taken as a result of the oppression by the South African government. By that point, many activist leaders who were imprisoned were being released and at the same time, labor strikes were rising which helped show anti-apartheid activists that they can sabotage the inner workings of the Apartheid system using labor power. Mass work strikes, school boycotts, funerals for murdered activists were the new actions being used. These tactics served as a leverage system in that government officials and employers were worried about having a shortage of skilled workers in the near future and/or not having labor leaders/activists to negotiate with during labor disputes.

Economic boycotts had also become popular where practically the entire community does not go to work or shop at local businesses, hurting the white-owned businesses and other employers. As a result of the constant boycotts and other actions by the anti-apartheid activists, mixed with the international condemnation and sanctions brought by the UK and USA, the South African government slowly began making concessions by the mid to late 1980s and in 1994 a new constitution along with a non-white majority in government marked an end to Apartheid in South Africa.

Similar to South Africa, the struggle for the Palestineans in the Middle East has been a long one full of oppression from the Israeli side no matter what form of resistance is used against the Israeli government. Nonviolence has been prevalent in Palestinian resistance even before the issue of Israeli occupation. During the late 1930s, resistance to the British empire by Palestinians consisted of protests, strikes, and diplomatic petitions. Several decades after the formation of Israel (1948) a movement began where large portions of the Palestinian population acted in civil disobedience against the Israeli government. This event would come to be known as the First Intifada (1987).

During the Intifada, the people took nonviolent actions in large groups. Examples of these actions include: staging sit-ins, blocking roads, burning tires, having large demonstrations. The IDF (Israeli Defense Force) even classified over 95% of the activities as nonviolent. It was during the First Intifada when a champion for nonviolence would emerge within the Palestinian community. Mubarak Awad, a Palestinian Christian who had studied notable figures in the field of nonviolence (MLK, Gandhi, Gene Sharp) became a major organizer during the Intifada. Awad translated into Arabic the work of those thinkers and wrote and distributed pamphlets in Arabic on the subject of nonviolent non-cooperation and nonviolent theory all over the West Bank. Mubarak’s actions got him put on notice by the Israeli authorities and eventually resulted in his deportation. He helped promote nonviolent actions that would be in direct opposition to Israeli control of Palestinians. Planting olive trees in potential sites for new Israeli settlements, flying the Palestinian flag, directly opposing curfews, not presenting IDs, were just some of the actions Mubarak Awad helped promote. Unfortunately, unlike Apartheid in South Africa, the Palestinian struggle has lasted for much longer. To this day, the Palestineans continue to be subject to the oppressive, illegal policies of the Israeli government. The Intifada was able to make some progress in terms of having all sides of this conflict come together and attempt to really negotiate a deal for the first time.

Even though Israel has forbidden his return to Palestine, Mubarak Awad continues to advocate for nonviolence in Palestine and wherever in the world there is a similar struggle for civil and human rights through his organization that he has started in the U.S.A. in Washington, D.C., called Nonviolence International. It is interesting to note that his nephew, Sami Awad has continued his efforts in Palestine through the Holy Land Trust based in Bethlehem.

Today, there exists a vast academic field in nonviolence based on theory and the experiences/ analysis of notable events that occurred during the 20th Century. Researchers and scholars during the 20th century helped create the academic field of nonviolence to compliment the direct work being performed in real life settings. One of the best known and influential scholars on nonviolence is Gene Sharp. Sharp was an American political scientist who protested the Korean War by not participating in the draft and spending time in prison.

It was afterwards, when he went to go and study in Oslo, that Sharp got very involved in studying nonviolence (specifically how teachers in Norway resisted against fascist education). Sharp went on to receive a Doctorate from Oxford University and in 1973, published a three volume work called “ The Politics of Nonviolent Action ”. It was in one of these volumes where he wrote 198 Methods of Nonviolent Actions, a groundbreaking work that is still referenced to this day and only recently has been updated for modern times. (Nonviolence International will be publishing a book on over 300 methods in 2021). Gene listed and wrote in detail 198 different ways people can perform nonviolent acts. Sharp is also credited for moving the work of Gandhi outside of religion and ethics courses and into political science and sociology departments. Institutes and other organizations are now active in promoting the theory of nonviolent philosophy. His writings are still used as training for nonviolent activists around the world even after his passing in 2018 and were cited in movements around the world over several decades.

Here is a short list of the organizations working to promote nonviolence worldwide.

Following Sharp’s inspiring example, other activists have gone on to create other institutes to promote the nonviolent philosophy for the younger generations. One example is the James Lawson Institute . This institute was created by Civil Rights activist James Lawson in collaboration with the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (ICNC) as a way for American activists and organizers to learn nonviolent disobedience. James Lawson personally was a major force in the American Civil Rights movement who worked personally with Dr. King.

The Center for Nonviolent Communications was created by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg and specializes specifically in nonviolent communications as a way to improve communications resulting in improved relationships, project planning and problem-solving. According to Rosenberg, nonviolent communications emphasizes a very positive view of human nature, and that an authentic human connection can overcome almost all problems, conflicts and obstacles. Thus, in essence, human behavior is based on common needs, and thus only optimized nonviolent communications are needed to make the most of the best that humanity has to give and thus overcome conflict and obstacles, and establish true human relations and intimacy. Thus Rosenberg’s organization teaches techniques and philosophy for optimizing communications that he pioneered for realizing the full potential of human relationship and life.

Another organization created by a nonviolent activist is Nonviolence International (or NVI). This international non-profit organization was founded by Mubarak Awad in the late 1980’s as a way to promote nonviolence around the world and to continue spreading the nonviolent philosophy he taught protesters in Palestine and to others willing to learn about nonviolence. Granted special consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council (Eco-Soc), NVI works with other Nonprofits and Nongovernmental Organizations (NGO) within UN Civil Society in such events as NGO-CSW and the HLPF. The NVI website contains many resources such as webinar series, training manuals, position papers, videos and backgrounders on UN-related events. One notable project from Nonviolence is an updated version of Gene Sharps 198 Methods of Nonviolent Actions by CEO Michael Beer. An academic in the field of nonviolence himself, Beer has trained many activists around the world (Tibet, USA, Thailand, etc.) on the practice of nonviolence. This book and online database exceeds the original 198 to over 300 nonviolent tactics as a result of Michael Beer’s extensive research which adds modern tactics better suited for this day and age.

The Martin Luther King jr. Research and Education Institute at Stanford University is where Martin Luther King’s nonviolent philosophy is provided open and free to the public for research and education. With the blessings of King’s wife, Coretta King, the institute holds the King Papers, being digitized into an online database years in the making (still not complete) this collection is a project with the goal of collecting all of MLKs writings (published and unpublished) in one database, and making it freely available to all to inspire and guide future social improvement and human rights work. Thus, many primary sources on MLK speeches, sermons and other writings are now freely available to the public.

Started by the Gandhi-King Foundation located in Hyderabad, India, and now based at the MLK Research and Education Institute in Stanford University, is the Gandhi-King Global Initiative . Beginning in October 2019 (the 150th anniversary of Gandhi's birthday), a large international conference was held to commemorate the event and served as the first big event of the global initiative. The purpose of the Gandhi-King Global Initiative is to create an international network of activists who aspire to continue advocating for nonviolence and international collaboration. Currently including almost 100 members in the global network, including family members of Gandhi, King, Chavez, Mandela, and staff of Awad’s organization, GKGI strives to utilize the latest in online and communications technology to encourage communications, cooperation and collaboration amongst it’s members and others to create online and in the world events (before and after the COVID-19 pandemic of course) promoting peace, justice, equality and nonviolence and celebrate diversity.

The Albert Einstein Institution was founded by nonviolent scholar Gene Sharp in 1983. The institution operated out of Gene’s home in East Boston, as a way to focus on “pragmatic nonviolent struggle”. Much of Gene Sharps publications, which includes 20 books, are available at the Einstein Institutes website. Sharp picked Einstein as the name given that he had come into contact with Einstein himself early in his life and in his career as an advocate of nonviolence. Sharp was arrested when he protested the Korean War draft and wrote a letter to Einstein - and the physicist agreed and responded back to Sharp in support of his antiwar stance. The institution holds workshops, consultations, conferences and more.

The International Center on Nonviolent Conflict (or ICNC) is a non-profit, educational foundation that provides resources on civil resistance for people around the world and from different backgrounds. Since its formation in 2002, scholars, activists, NGOs, policy analysts are among the groups welcomed to use the ICNC for learning more on nonviolence since 2002. Grants for researchers are also provided by the center as well. As mentioned earlier, the James Lawson Institute was formed in part thanks to the ICNC. From a resource library full of articles, to films and translated writings, the ICNC serves as an international library of nonviolence.

The nonviolence movements that went on during the 20th century laid the groundwork for the modern academic and organized field seen today. People who participated in different movements like Mubarak Awad in Palestine and James Lawson in the United States went on to set up institutes and organizations to continue promoting the nonviolence they learned. Thus their organizations publish works based on nonviolence and teach activists the same nonviolent tactics they learned during their time as activists in the streets of Palestine and America. Gandhi’s work in South Africa and successful campaign for Indian independence inspired Martin Luther King, Lawson and Cesar Chavez to implement that nonviolent philosophy in America. Thanks to Gene Sharp, the writings and actions of Gandhi were exposed to a much larger academic audience in America. That led to countless American students (to this day) learning about one of the best nonviolent campaigns and practitioners, ensuring Gandhi’s philosophy lives on in the minds of generations to come. Sharp's own work has been cited in countries around the world as a tool for combatting oppressive regimes. The Suffrage Parade, the first large, peaceful organized protest in D.C was planned by women challenging the incoming president to give them equal rights.Since then, countless other groups have taken action to march nonviolently across the capital as an open symbol of nonviolent civil disobedience. Today, younger generations can look back at these historic movements and continue the fundamental mission of using nonviolence to tackle injustice. In some cases being taught by the same activists from that period or the students/colleagues of those activists. All the institutes, resource websites and nonprofits aligned with nonviolence have ensured that the work of all those activists in the 20th century can also serve as a knowledge hub for those seeking a way of learning more on the nonviolent philosophy.

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Nonviolence means avoiding not only external physical violence but also internal violence of spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him. -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Nonviolence is both a principle and a practice. The principle of nonviolence affirms the active use of non-coercive and non-aggressive means to create a more peaceful context. It is based on the assumption that justice will eventually prevail, that choices should be made from a place of love rather than hate, that the hurtful action, not the person, should be subdued and that voluntary suffering has value as an important facet of life.

In practice, nonviolence involves ACTIVELY peaceful behavior in the midst of conflict, becoming an example of consideration to those around us and breaking the destructive cycle of retaliation when we believe we have been wronged. It also means awareness of our own inner violence, and eliminating its negative effects upon our own intentions. Applying these principles of non-violence can reduce conflict, anger and violence on personal, local, national and global levels.

Nonviolence has come to be recognized as a powerful strategy for students, communities, disenfranchised groups and whole societies in addressing and transforming conditions. During the 20th century, the successful social movements of Gandhi in India and Martin Luther King, Jr. in the United States led to the public’s realization of completely new dimensions of nonviolent conflict resolution.

For more about the influence of Gandhi on Reverend King’s philosophy of nonviolence,  CLICK HERE

WHAT CAN YOU DO: NONVIOLENCE

–  Engage students in one of Stanford U’s Lesson Plans about Dr.King

– Check out the National Education Association Site with lessons for K-12 related to nonviolence, civil rights, etc.  CLICK HERE

– Review and discuss one or more of the Mainstreaming Nonviolence tools of Pace de Bene: CLICK HERE   

– Learn about Martin Luther King Jr.’s Principles of nonviolence and steps to social change : CLICK HERE . (For more info, go to the King Center Website ).

– Learn about Gandhian Principles of Nonviolence: CLICK HERE

– Use one or more of the SEASON OF NONVIOLENCE ideas

– Take the CAMPAIGN NONVIOLENCE Pledge: CLICK HERE

– Review the Principles of conflict transformation offered by the Global Coalition of conflict Transformation:  CLICK HERE  For more info,  CLICK HERE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5HIN0TVoWA Segment of the “I Have A Dream” Speech Focusing on Nonviolence

MLK: A Call to Conscience – PBS 1-hour episode examining Martin Luther King, Jr.’s stand against the Vietnam War and the influence of his legacy today – CLICK HERE .

Engage in the FREE online Nonviolence class:  CLICK HERE Gandhi & King: The Power of Non-Violent Action 

Arun Gandhi on the Meaning of Peace & Nonviolence

A Force More Powerful

Living Nonviolence Blog

Mahatma Gandhi–The Courage of Nonviolence

Seasons for NonViolence

Waging NonViolence

US ORGANIZATIONS:

The Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

The King Center

Pace e Bene (Peace and All Good)  – Campaign Nonviolence

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• UN Observances

  Let us remember Gandhi’s wise counsel: “Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” Let us heed his words today and re-commit ourselves to this essential purpose. UN Secretary-General António Guterres  

Say No to Violence

The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness". The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence".

Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mahatma Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late leader’s own words, he said: "Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man".

Gandhi and the struggle for non-violence

The name of Mahatma Gandhi transcends the bounds of race, religion and nation-states, and has emerged as the prophetic voice of the twenty-first century. The world remembers Gandhi not just for his passionate adherence to the practice of non-violence and supreme humanism, but as the benchmark against which we test men and women in public life, political ideas and government policies, and the hopes and wishes of our shared planet.

The life and leadership of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhi, who helped lead India to independence, has been the inspiration for non-violent movements for civil rights and social change across the world. Throughout his life, Gandhi remained committed to his belief in non-violence even under oppressive conditions and in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges.

The theory behind his actions, which included encouraging massive civil disobedience to British law as with the historic Salt March of 1930, was that "just means lead to just ends"; that is, it is irrational to try to use violence to achieve a peaceful society. He believed that Indians must not use violence or hatred in their fight for freedom from colonialism.

Definition of Non-Violence

The principle of non-violence — also known as non-violent resistance — rejects the use of physical violence in order to achieve social or political change. Often described as "the politics of ordinary people", this form of social struggle has been adopted by mass populations all over the world in campaigns for social justice.

Professor Gene Sharp , a leading scholar on non-violent resistance, uses the following definition in his publication, The Politics of Nonviolent Action :

"Nonviolent action is a technique by which people who reject passivity and submission, and who see struggle as essential, can wage their conflict without violence. Nonviolent action is not an attempt to avoid or ignore conflict. It is one response to the problem of how to act effectively in politics, especially how to wield powers effectively."

While non-violence is frequently used as a synonym for pacifism, since the mid-twentieth century the term non-violence has been adopted by many movements for social change which do not focus on opposition to war.

One key tenet of the theory of non-violence is that the power of rulers depends on the consent of the population, and non-violence therefore seeks to undermine such power through withdrawal of the consent and cooperation of the populace.

There are three main categories of non-violence action:

• protest and persuasion, including marches and vigils;
• non-cooperation; and
• non-violent intervention, such as blockades and occupations.

Mahatma Gandhi Quotes

• Poverty is the worst form of violence.
• Non-violence is a weapon of the strong.
• Non-violence and truth are inseparable and presuppose one another.
• We may never be strong enough to be entirely nonviolent in thought, word and deed. But we must keep nonviolence as our goal and make strong progress towards it.

Relevance of Mahatma Gandhi in the Contemporary World

Key Documents

• General Assembly Resolution on International Day of Non-Violence  (A/RES/61/271)
• International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World (2001–2010)
• Declaration on the Right of People to Peace
• Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace
• General Assembly resolutions on non-violence

Related Websites

• United Nations Peacekeeping
• United Nations and the Nobel Peace Prize
• UN Messengers of Peace

Culture of Peace and Non-violence

• Sustainable Development Goals
• GANDHI SMRITI AND DARSHAN SAMITI

Related Observances

• International Day of Sport for Development and Peace （6 April）
• International Day of Living Together in Peace （16 May）
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development （21 May）
• International Day of Peace （21 September）
• International Day for Tolerance （16 November）
• International Human Solidarity Day （20 December）
• World Interfaith Harmony Week （1-7 February）
• International Decade for the Rapprochement of Cultures (2013-2022)

Establishing a culture of peace and sustainable development are at the heart of UNESCO’s mandate. Training and research in sustainable development are among the priorities, as well as human rights education, skills for peaceful relations, good governance, Holocaust remembrance, the prevention of conflict and peace building.

#KindnessMatters

The # KindnessMatters campaign was launched on the International Day of Non-Violence in 2018 and so far more than 5 million acts of kindness have been performed across the world! #KindnessMatters Campaign aims to mobilize young people to carry out transformative acts of kindness to tackle the SDGs and create a positive culture of kindness.

Why do we mark International Days?

International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool. We also mark other UN observances .

Non-Violence Approach to Conflicts Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Necessities of non-violent approach to conflicts

Non-violence is a form of protest, philosophy and a way of life. The term non-violence refers to the negation of violence. Non-violence is a way of resisting and relates to conflicts and not peace. Many countries have embraced the non-violence approach to conflicts (King 1958, p.24).

Countries accept non-violence as an international means of protest applicable in most conflicts. There had been several non-violence protests in the world. Some of them were successful, while others failed.

However, the most successful and long-term non-violence protests against oppression were the Indian Independent struggle led by Mahatma Gandhi against British colonial government.

The other renowned non-violent protest was the African-America civil rights movement in the United States of America. The movements involved non-violent protests method. Their approach included non-violence philosophies and ideologies.

In contrary, very many non-violent revolutions lasted for a short duration. This shows that non-violence approach by social movements and campaigns are not simply a way of solving any societal conflicts. Non-violence approach to conflict has mechanisms and dynamics aspects as its necessities (Curry 2002, p.34).

Non-violence approach to conflict depends largely on the nature of the conflict referred to and the cultural behaviours of the protesters (King 1986, p.12). The rarity of success of non-violence approach to conflicts is a clear indicator that there is the need for further analysis of both the failure and success of non-violent movements.

The analysis of non-violent movements and campaigns can occur from different perspectives such as the philosophical, religious, ethical, moral and pragmatic points of views. Martin Luther king and Mahatma Gandhi are the two leaders in the world history who successfully led long-term non-violent approach to conflicts.

It is therefore important that we analyze the approach that the two leaders used in relation to non-violence as a means of solving conflicts.

However, other prominent personalities led long-term non-violent movements against oppression such as Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Doris Day, Cesar Chavez, Abdel G. Khan among others (Franzen2010, p.245).

The application of non-violence as a tool by protestors towards their stronger opponents normally upsets the opponent’s tactics of violence. This allows the protesters, who are weaker compared to the opponents, to set the pace of the conflict.

Non-violence acts as a means of dislocating opponents’ psychological and physical balance and strength (Merton & Mattingly1965, p.44). This has proved to be a vital tool to a successful attempt to overthrow the enemy from power. Supporters of non-violence argue that it is more superior to violent approach to conflict.

Non-violence is a perfect tool to eliminate social evils such as racial discrimination in the African-American civil conflict during Martin Luther’s time, oppression by the British colonies in India during Gandhi’s time. Martin Luther king described non-violence as the best world’s alternative to war and destruction of lives and property.

Non-violence approach tends to seek a peaceful resolution to conflict and avoids destruction at all cost. Non-violence contributes to positive change and economic development in a society.

Luther King argued that non-violence was the most potent asset and force that were available to cub oppression of the blacks by white Americans in their struggle to obtain freedom. Mahatma Gandhi referred to the non-violence approach to conflicts as the best philosophical approach to human needs including freedom.

Mahatma Gandhi believed that violent approach to conflict automatically fails to address sensitive issues at stake. The main aim of non-violence is not to destroy, defeat, or humiliate the opponent.

The main aim of non-violence is to embrace the diplomatic approach so that issues at stake are addressed in a sober manner. The major aim of most non-violent activists is to reconcile and create a beloved society and peaceful coexistence of people with different ideologies (Attenborough 1982, p. 85).

The non-violent movement by the civil rights society in the United States was one of the most successful reform movements, not only in the United States of America but also in the world at large.

One of the major necessities of non-violence is its dynamics. Dynamic is the ability of a non-violent protest action or movement to spread to other regions (Forsythe 2000, p.443). Dynamic aspect of non-violence approach to conflict aims at attracting the attention of media and public opinion.

Because of its positive publicity, non-violent movement may draw financial support from donors into the movement or campaigns. If the non-violent protesters do not achieve their aim of mobilizing more people to gain a strong political and financial ground, then the protesters may turn to violence as a desperate attempt to solve the conflict.

For example, political success by civil rights movement in the African-American conflict helped the movement to enjoy a greater legitimacy in 1965.

The success of their non-violent campaigns and protests actions was the decisive factor that enabled the protester in the African-American conflict to negotiate with the federal government of the United States. Another necessity of non-violence is the mechanism of its success.

It is important to note that the survival of a non-violent protest or movement relies on their ability to demonstrate success. Mechanisms of success have a huge psychological influence on the non-violent protesters, media and public opinions, and the longevity of the movement.

For the public and other interested parties to believe in the non-violent movement, the protestors must believe and show the society that it is possible and realistic to succeed in attaining the freedom.

Non-violence would be unnecessary and irresponsible if there was no strong belief that there could be success at the end of the conflict (Carson 2003, p.78).

For any non-violent movement to succeed, the protestors must focus on three major aspects. These include believing in the outcome at the end of the conflict, being able to convince the public to join the movement, and being able to gain both political and financial grounds within the society.

A non-violent movement must advocate and portray to the society that its success is eminent in order to convince more people to join the movement to gain political ground. Once the movement gains the political power, the opponents will have no otherwise but to accept to negotiate terms with the protesters.

Non-violence is the best way of solving conflicts because its aim is not destructive. The property and lives of the protesters are not at risk, as opposed to war and violent way of solving conflicts. Non-violence only affects the psychological mindset of the enemy.

By influencing the public to engage in the movement, the opponents reasoning and power weakens. Non-violent movements have impacts that are more positive to the society compared to violent ways of solving conflicts.

There is assurance concerning the security of community’s resources. There is no reconstruction of infrastructures at the end of the conflict as in the case of violence and civil wars.

Attenborough, R. (1982). The words of Gandhi., Newmarket Press: New York

Carson, C. (2003). Reporting civil rights. Literary Classics of the United States: New York.

Curry, D., Mercer, H., & Mattingly, S. (2002). Prisoners of hope: the story of our captivity and freedom in Afghanistan. Doubleday: New York.

Forsythe, D. P. (2000). The United States and human rights: looking inward and outward. University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln.

Franzen, J. (2010). Freedom. Farrar, Straus and Giroux: New York.

King, M. L. (1958). Stride toward freedom: the Montgomery story. Harper: New York.

King, M. L., & Washington, J. M. (1986). A testament of hope: the essential writings of Martin Luther King, Jr.. Harper & Row: San Francisco.

Merton, T. (1965). Gandhi on non-violence. New Directions Pub. Corp: New York.

• John Rawl’s Philosophy of Liberalism
• Victorian Desalination Project
• Gandhism and Its Significance in India and World
• Martin Luther King and Malcolm X
• P. Ackerman on Nonviolence in “A Force More Powerful”
• Social Welfare in Australia
• Nation Development Theory
• Theory of Andre Gunder Frank
• How Is Today’s Capitalism Society Changed by the “New Left?”
• The Conceptions of Power and Domination Found in the Works of Karl Marx, Max Weber and Michel Foucault
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, April 11). Non-Violence Approach to Conflicts. https://ivypanda.com/essays/non-violence-approach-to-conflicts/

"Non-Violence Approach to Conflicts." IvyPanda , 11 Apr. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/non-violence-approach-to-conflicts/.

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IvyPanda . 2019. "Non-Violence Approach to Conflicts." April 11, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/non-violence-approach-to-conflicts/.

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Bibliography

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Essay on Importance of Non Violence

Students are often asked to write an essay on Importance of Non Violence in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Importance of Non Violence

Understanding non-violence.

Non-violence is a principle that promotes peace and love, rejecting harm and aggression. It encourages resolving conflicts through dialogue and understanding.

Importance of Non-Violence

Non-violence in daily life.

Practicing non-violence in daily life means avoiding harm to others, both physically and emotionally. It promotes harmony and understanding.

Non-violence is a powerful tool for peace. It promotes mutual respect and understanding, creating a harmonious society.

250 Words Essay on Importance of Non Violence

Introduction.

Non-violence, a philosophy championed by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., is a powerful tool for social and political change. It is not merely the absence of violence, but a proactive stance towards peace and justice.

Non-Violence: A Catalyst for Change

Non-violence acts as a catalyst for change, promoting dialogue and understanding over conflict. It encourages the resolution of disagreements through peaceful means, fostering a culture of respect and tolerance. This approach has proven effective in many historical movements, such as the Indian independence struggle and the American Civil Rights Movement.

The Moral Power of Non-Violence

Non-violence carries a moral power that violence lacks. It appeals to the conscience of the oppressor, making it harder for them to justify their actions. By refusing to resort to violence, the oppressed assert their moral superiority, often winning public sympathy and support.

Non-Violence in the Contemporary World

In today’s interconnected world, the importance of non-violence is more pronounced. With global issues like climate change and social inequality, there is a need for collective action that transcends borders. Non-violence fosters this spirit of global citizenship, encouraging cooperation over conflict.

In conclusion, non-violence is not just a strategy, but a way of life. It promotes understanding, respect, and mutual cooperation, making it a crucial component of a peaceful society. As we navigate an increasingly complex world, the philosophy of non-violence offers a path towards a more harmonious and just future.

500 Words Essay on Importance of Non Violence

Non-violence, a philosophy deeply rooted in many cultures and religions worldwide, has been a significant guiding principle for social and political change. From Mahatma Gandhi’s peaceful resistance against British rule to Martin Luther King Jr.’s civil rights movement, non-violence has shown its power and relevance repeatedly. This essay will explore the importance of non-violence as a tool for conflict resolution, social transformation, and personal development.

Non-violence as a Tool for Conflict Resolution

Non-violence promotes dialogue, understanding, and respect, making it an effective tool for conflict resolution. It encourages parties to engage in open discussions to understand each other’s perspectives, fostering empathy and mutual respect. This approach often leads to more sustainable solutions because it addresses the root causes of conflict rather than merely suppressing the symptoms. Non-violence also prevents the escalation of conflict into physical violence, which often leads to more harm than good.

Non-violence and Social Transformation

Non-violence is not just the absence of physical violence; it is also a proactive force for social transformation. It empowers marginalized communities to assert their rights and challenge oppressive systems without resorting to violence. Non-violent protests and civil disobedience movements have been instrumental in bringing about significant social changes, such as ending racial segregation in the United States and dismantling apartheid in South Africa. These movements demonstrate the power of non-violence to effect change on a large scale.

Non-violence and Personal Development

On a personal level, non-violence encourages self-awareness, self-control, and a deep respect for all life. It helps individuals develop a sense of responsibility for their actions and their impact on others. Practicing non-violence can lead to personal growth and spiritual development, as it requires individuals to cultivate empathy, patience, and tolerance. It can also reduce stress and improve mental health by promoting peaceful interactions and relationships.

Challenges and Critiques

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

Happy studying!

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• Corpus ID: 170314688

Buddhism and Non-Violent World: Examining a Buddhist Contribution to Promoting the Principle of Non-Violence and a Culture of Peace

• Juichiro Tanabe
• Published 2014

One Citation

An investigation into peace teaching practices in secondary schools of the punjab, pakistan, 55 references, the way to peace: a buddhist perspective, language and truth in hua-yen buddhism, knowledge and liberation: philosophical ruminations on a buddhist conundrum, the buddhist teaching of totality: the philosophy of hwa yen buddhism, buddhism in the public sphere: reorienting global interdependence.

• Highly Influential

In A Mindful Moral Voice: Mindful Compassion, The Ethic of Care and Education

Towards an integrative theory of peace education, the rationalist tendency in modern buddhist scholarship: a reevaluation, engaging bodhisattva compassion in pedagogical aporias, reason as employed by the buddha: its originality and mystical foundations, related papers.

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Campaign Nonviolence

These six global struggles show the power of nonviolence in action.

In today’s media world — especially if you live inside the U.S. media bubble — if you hear news about foreign countries, it tends to be about business, political leaders, wars or disasters. Overall, it presents a dismal view of our fellow citizens — not to mention a disempowering one. But here are six of the many stories of ongoing nonviolent campaigns for change in countries across the world. They show the agency and power of ordinary people working for justice, rights, peace and dignity. They show that people don’t have to hold wealth, weapons or traditional power to be powerful. Instead, they need community, connection and some tools of nonviolent action.

1. India’s women farmers reassert their place and presence in farmer protests : India’s farmer protests have captured headlines around the world — as well they should. They are the largest protests in human history. On Jan. 18, Mahila Kisan Diwas (Women Farmers’ Day), women farmers across India demonstrated to reassert their place in the ongoing farmers’ struggle against Modi’s neoliberal agricultural laws. This action was organized in part to redress gender imbalances, particularly around media coverage that cut women out of the struggle’s story.

Due to the impacts of global patriarchy, women in movements have often needed to correct the record, rebalance who’s in the room and invited to the table, and (re)assert their pivotal roles in creating change. Studies show that women play powerful roles in nonviolent movements. They were at the heart of Sudan’s 2019 nonviolent revolution against a 30-year dictatorship. They propelled Chile’s recent constitutional revision campaign so decisively that the slogan for the re-write is “never again without women.” And, in India, women and women farmers have been organizing mass demonstrations, general strikes and protest encampments in such large numbers that they’ve consistently broken world records over and over in the past two years. It’s important to get the story straight!

Due to the impacts of global patriarchy, women in movements have often needed to correct the record.

2. Striking Palestinian workers triumph : Much of the news about Palestine is heart wrenching and tragic. We hear of bombings, orchards being razed, houses bulldozed and more abuses of Israeli occupation. Yet, here is a nonviolent campaign that is significant because the Palestinian workers not only won human and labor rights, they also won an apology for the racist comments their Israeli employer made. During the 19 days of an open-ended strike, the workers lost all wages and were threatened with being fired and replaced with other workers. But they persevered, and they won. (A word of caution: the strike’s agreement must still be upheld by an Israeli court.)

Palestinian organizers are heartened by the news. The secretary of the trade unions in Palestine said, “We hope that this small victory is the beginning of other victories for our workers and our people that have been subjugated by Israel’s inhumane apartheid and settler colonial oppression.” They also credited international solidarity and words of encouragement from global workers with helping them persevere and succeed.

3. In Sri Lanka, hundreds of tea plantation workers strike to defend jobs and social rights : In Sri Lanka, workers on tea plantations are unionized, but due to lack of action by union leadership, Gartemore Estate workers have been on a wildcat strike (a strike without union approval) since the end of December. After the Gartemore Estate sold off a portion of its lands, the workers feared the erosion of their rights and the loss of their jobs under the new management. They are worried that the current owner plans to develop tourist facilities on the estate instead of tea, which would drastically reduce the workforce. Some workers also fear that important personal documents, including birth and death certificates, health and other family papers, currently in the estate office would not be protected under the new management. The strike organizers are demanding a written agreement — not a verbal promise — that outlines a set of demands to protect workers around these issues. 

4. Doctors in Peru launch hunger strike over lack of protections and equipment: Since the start of the pandemic, Peru’s healthcare workers have been using nonviolent action to push for improved protections and equipment. Now, at least four doctors began a hunger strike as a protest against the substandard working conditions. Medical personnel have been protesting for a week just as a second wave of coronavirus cases is hitting the country. They’re not alone. Medical worker strikes have been erupting around the world. Just two weeks ago, medical students in Ecuador won similar demands after walking off the job and withstanding police repression. Will the Peruvian doctors succeed? Time will tell.

These workers are up against the “fire and rehire” policies that the pandemic’s economic impacts have aggravated.

5. Oil workers strike in Kazakhstan : More than 60 oil workers have gone on strike in Kazakhstan’s northwestern region, seeking a salary increase. The workers walked out on Jan. 29 saying that their monthly salaries of about $160 should be doubled, as they currently fail to allow them to provide for their families. They could find solidarity with the office employees of a British gas company , who have held numerous strike actions over substandard wages. These workers — and those in many other industries — are up against the “fire and rehire” policies that the pandemic’s economic impacts have aggravated.

6. Canadians block weapons trucks going to the Yemen War : Serious about halting the Yemen War, Canadians blocked a caravan of trucks hauling armored vehicles and other weapons to shipping locations headed for Saudi Arabia. Sitting down in front of the wheels, stretching banners across the roads, and risking arrest were a few of the tactics used. The direct action in Hamilton, Ontario coincides with hundreds of events to pressure the Biden administration, and other governments, to stop arming Saudi Arabia. Their action is reminiscent of the ways Italian dock workers have repeatedly refused to load weapons onto ships headed to Saudi Arabia in opposition of the Yemen War. 

These six nonviolent campaigns are just a fraction of the stories Nonviolence News collects and circulates week after week, both in the United States and abroad. (You can read more in this week’s round-up here and sign-up to the newsletter to receive it in your inbox.) These stories reveal that nonviolent action is a global phenomenon — and that it’s being used for everything from peace to increased wages to human rights and health protections and more. Each struggle has unique lessons to offer all of us in our organizing work. At the same time, these stories also remind us of our common humanity — and that ordinary people everywhere are striving for justice, peace and fairness. 

Rivera Sun is the editor of Nonviolence News , the author of "The Dandelion Insurrection" and other novels, and a nationwide trainer in strategy for nonviolent movements. www.riverasun.com

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More than 4,373 actions and events for a culture of peace and nonviolence, life under the bomb means a life of resistance, creativity is our superpower — 13 stories of inventive nonviolence.

Campaign Nonviolence, a project of Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service, is working for a new culture of nonviolence by connecting the issues to end war, poverty, racism and environmental destruction. We organize The Nonviolent Cities Project and the annual Campaign Nonviolence Week of Actions.

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Saturday, 17 August 2024

Agenda - The Sunday magazine

• Cover Story

Give peace a chance: The ultimate imperative

As wars escalate, the peace becomes ever more elusive. The memory of numerous wars in the past urge us to reject the cycle of violence and hatred

Hiroshima and Nagasaki, both bombed in August 1945, should have been the ultimate wake-up call for the global community. Between 150,000 and 246,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed in these two attacks. This dark chapter of history should have taught us the importance of peace, the consequences of war, and the need to abandon violence. However, as we look around the world today, it is clear that the lessons from Hiroshima have not been internalized by everyone. Ongoing conflicts, genocides, and the development of deadlier weapons point to a world that still grapples with the same issues of violence, cruelty, and disregard for human life.

In recent years, the world has witnessed violence in regions such as Gaza, Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda, Congo, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and Bangladesh. The recurring bloodshed underscores a disturbing pattern: political, ethnic, and religious tensions continue to ignite conflicts that tear societies apart. The situation in Gaza is a prime example, with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seemingly unending, causing immense suffering to civilians. In Cambodia, the haunting memories of the Khmer Rouge regime, which resulted in the deaths of nearly a quarter of the population, still resonate, revealing the extreme brutality that ideological fanaticism can unleash.

Bosnia’s genocide during the Yugoslav Wars and Rwanda’s massacre of nearly a million people highlight what happens when ethnic hatred spirals out of control. In the Congo, conflict over natural resources fuels ongoing violence, displacing and killing countless individuals. The Middle East remains another flashpoint, where wars in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen have led to enormous loss of life and the displacement of millions, creating a refugee crisis that stretches across the globe. These wars are not only killing people but are also tearing apart communities and families, leaving generations scarred by the horrors of war.

One can hardly overlook the harrowing effects these conflicts have on innocent civilians, particularly women and children. Women are frequently subjected to rape, torture, and trafficking in conflict zones. Children grow up surrounded by violence, with limited access to education, food, clean water, and healthcare. Infrastructure, when destroyed, further hampers humanitarian aid efforts, worsening the already dire situations in these regions.

In 1946, shortly after the bombing of Hiroshima, Mahatma Gandhi expressed his condemnation of the use of atomic weapons. Writing in *Harijan*, he called the bomb “the most diabolical use of science” and reaffirmed his belief in nonviolence. To Gandhi, the atomic bomb symbolized not just the destruction of a city, but a moral failure of humankind. His words continue to hold relevance today, as he pointed out that violence cannot be countered with more violence. Nonviolence, he argued, was the only viable path to peace, the only thing that the bomb could not destroy. Without adopting nonviolence, he warned, humanity would be on a path to suicide.

This warning feels more relevant than ever in today’s world. As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict persists, the ongoing violence in Gaza illustrates the dangerous cycle of hatred that seems unbreakable. Yet, despite the escalating nature of conflicts worldwide, the pursuit of peace remains essential. Achieving peace may seem like a distant goal, but it is one that is necessary for the survival of humanity. The horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki must serve as constant reminders of the devastating potential of human conflict and the urgency of finding peaceful solutions to disputes.

But what does it mean to pursue peace in today’s world? For one, it requires a commitment to diplomatic efforts that address the underlying causes of conflict. Governments and international organizations must work together to create spaces for dialogue and negotiation. International institutions, like the United Nations, have a crucial role to play, but they must go beyond making declarations in air-conditioned conference rooms. Real change comes from action, from a genuine investment in conflict resolution, and from efforts on the ground to build peace.

Education and awareness are key components in fostering a culture of peace. Civil society organizations and grassroots movements must be at the forefront, advocating for nonviolence and holding governments accountable. The power of collective action has been proven time and time again, and nonviolent movements have the potential to bring about meaningful change in ways that violence never can.

As we reflect on the 79th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, we must renew our collective commitment to peace. The world cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past. And yet, with conflicts continuing to rise, it is clear that humanity has not fully grasped the lessons of history.

We must strive tirelessly to address the root causes of violence, promote dialogue, and work for the betterment of all people.

The pursuit of peace is not an easy journey, but it is a necessary one. It requires the efforts of individuals, communities, and nations alike. As Mahatma Gandhi warned, “Unless now the world adopts nonviolence, it will spell certain suicide for mankind.” The time to act is now, before we find ourselves repeating the tragedies of the past once more.

(The writer is programme executive, Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti; views expressed are personal)

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Morne Morkel appointed India's bowling coach

SC takes note of fresh detention of TN YouTuber 'Savukku' Shankar for possessing ganja

Kamala Harris more incompetent than Biden, Trump tells Elon Musk

SoftBank-backed Unicommerce Esolutions' stock jumps over 117 pc in debut trade

All Adani group stocks tumble; Adani Energy slumps 17 pc

Extraordinary Paris Olympics draws to a close with spectacular show

India committed to ensure conducive habitat for elephants: PM Modi

Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership vow to protect rights and religious freedoms of minorities

Plane crashes in Brazil's Sao Paulo state, killing all 61 aboard, airline says

State editions, city government deliberately sitting on 11 cag reports: lg, kejriwal waging toughest fight against dictatorship: sisodia, bansuri, jnu vc join march against atrocities on minorities in bangladesh, du releases first allocation list for ug admissions 2024-25, ncrtc inviting bids for co-branding rights for five rrts stations, city faces power outages due to chinese manjha tripping power lines, sunday edition, delhi-dehradun expressway development along with damage, charming coonoor promises a tranquil retreat, exploring paradise a journey through the pristine beauty of the andaman and nicobar islands, a dance of dreams | exploring the beauty of kuchipudi, discovering absence through visual expression, a canvas of wonders, e-mail this link to a friend..