N kultuur van vrede

'N CUDieTURE DieF PE'NCE

A Culture of Peace or a Culture of Violence?

Do we pull together or pull apart?

We live on a unique and exquisite planet that has a complex system of interconnections and interdependencies that work in harmony to maintain balance or homeostasis so that all species survive. The essence of this system is cooperation for the optimal function of the whole. Nature has been perfected over 3.5 te 4 billion years and we are part of nature. So if peace is viewed as balance, harmony and cooperation, it has always existed. In moments each of us have known the experience. Otherwise we end up in a tug-o-war of win/lose.

Human civilisation is on a journey of self discovery. Humans are faced with challenges of economic crisis, ecological collapse and violent conflicts. We find ourselves at the precipice of old paradigms that have emerged out of fears and self interest. We are at the beginning of a new paradigm where we will be making decisions about the future of our world. Are we able to learn to resolve our conflicts peacefully and create a future based on mutual respect and shared stewardship of our planet? In reality we are naturally peaceful, the Seville Statement on Violence asserts this clearly.

The United Nations Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) was implemented to protect children from violence. The aim of the decade is to:

“transformation from a culture of war and violence to a culture of peace and non-violence”

Children from all walks of life across the world will inherit complex and difficult challenges in the future such as:

  • environmental depletion and destruction, world governance power and control issues, nuclear weapons, war and terrorism, disease, AIDS and HIV, social displacement, family breakdown, psychological disorders, violent resolution of disputes, unfulfilment and a sense of meaninglessness in their lives.

The UN Culture of Peace consists of:

“values, houdings en gedrag wat weerspieël en inspireer sosiale interaksie en deel gebaseer op die beginsels van vryheid, geregtigheid en demokrasie, alle menseregte, verdraagsaamheid en solidariteit, that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation that guarantee the full exercise of all rights and the means to participate fully in the development process of their society.”

Resolution (A/53/243) adopted by the General Assembly in 1999 advocates Action for a Culture of Peace:

8 programs:

  • Education
  • Equality
  • Democracy
  • Sustainability
  • Human rights
  • Understanding/tolerance/solidarity
  • Free flow of information and knowledge
  • International peace and security

Die visie is edel, maar daar is bewyse wat na vore kom dat die Verenigde Nasies betrokke was by misdade teen die mensdom. Hulle word gekoöpteer deur die industrie en magtige belange wat toegelaat is om hierdie instelling te finansier wat die oorspronklike korrupteer “peace” doel soos deur die stigters uiteengesit. Totdat kriminele aantygings opgelos is, skort Worldpeacefull sy steun aan die Verenigde Nasies op.

A Culture of Peace reflects the global vision, the realisation of such a vision will occur locally and indeed, personally. The issue of inner peace refers to peace within the thought processes of each person. Hierdie idee is gekoppel aan die vraag 'is die wêreld 'n weerspieëling van die self? or 'is wat ons in die wêreld sien 'n weerspieëling van wat ons glo en dan sien (saam te skep)?’.

As ons glo die wêreld is 'n gewelddadige plek wat bevestig word deur wat ons kies om te sien, die media versterk die 'negatiewe’ as voorbeeld. If we believe the world is a peaceful place, dan soek ons ​​die goeie en speel die 'positiewe' uit. Waaroor ons dink bring ons teweeg?

To live in reality both points of view require the question, ‘how do we know it is true?’. The Work by Byron Katie is a process of inquiry for those suffering in conflict or confusion. Die eenvoudige viervraebenadering en omdraaivrae stel mense in staat om hul oortuigings en projeksies op die wêreld te bevraagteken. Sy beweer dit vrede is ons natuurlike toestand en wanneer ons ons negatiewe oortuigings eerlik bevraagteken, vind ons konflik verdwyn en vrede is die gevolg.

There is a wise saying ‘what you resist persists, what you look at disappears‘. This is the true meaning of conflict resolution. The result is no conflict.

Ek het The Work ontdek toe ek Peace and Conflict Studies in Bangkok saam met Rotary bestudeer het. Ek was op soek na 'n figuur wat vrede verander. Ek besef dat vrede nie hoef deur te kom nie eksterne stryd maar is effektief wanneer elke persoon verantwoordelikheid neem om die aan te pak “innerlike oorloë” ons skep almal deur negatiwiteit, cynicism and judgement. When we become clear and open minded, ons sal die werklikheid begin sien soos dit is sonder ons geprojekteerde storie.

As Gandhi says “to be the change we wish to see in the world”.

As a clown I genuinely see beauty in every person. My world view is summed up by my poem ‘The Gift’. Dit is die geskenk wat Ek aan jou gee.

THE GIFT

My highest wish is happiness,
It is the gift I give to all,
To see the smiling faces,
To catch them before they fall.

'N nar te wees,
Is soos surround sound,
Dit versprei 'n straal van die son,
Aan almal sonder diskriminasie,
Sonder ongeduld,
Die wêreld te sien as een,
Inspireer en het 'n paar pret.

I have no enemies,
I have no-one to hate,
To me there is no nation state,
I see the world as my family,
I just want to bring them home,
Into the warmth of love and kindness,
So no-one feels alone.

I see every story,
In its real glory,
I know the potential of what can be,
I long to set them free,
Into a world of their own making,
Into a world that is no longer breaking into fragments of glass,
Shards of misunderstanding,
Where we see only a fraction of what is true,
We assume that it is not safe,
That is the myth,
That is the spin,
That disempowers and tries to win.

One truth is that life begins,
When we step out of the comfort zone,
The boundaries of insecurity build walls,
We are not alone,
And when we step out of illusion,
Of misconceptions,
We realize that there is no fear,
That there are many tears,
That are flowing down the rivers of separation,
But they will reach the headwater,
They will unite in the end,
The journey is the experience,
That life sends.

I believe in peace,
I believe in goodness,
I believe in action,
I know that for every cause there is an equal and opposite reaction.

My life is dedicated to principle,
I know the answers are simple,
When you throw away judgment,
When you throw away hurt,
When you throw away hate,
And think about what you’ve learned.

Under the canopy of respect,
You will never reject,
The will of others,
They must travel their own path,
We need to learn to laugh,
Life is the comedy,
Perhaps I am the fool,
But just maybe,
That’s the school for world peace.

 

Peace is a joyful experience and each of us can contribute to a happier and peaceful world. When we focus on peace, we see it then live it by example.