Recommitting to the Principles of the Decade

The Peace Hour was created to tell the stories of peace in action and over the last five years has done that. Now we at The Peace Hour are looking beyond the Decade and have decided that our commitment will continue to be to the children of the world and that we will do it in various formats, including making our show available through internet. The last five years have shown us that our work with children is the most exciting work that we have ever done and will ever do. We will continue to bring the stories of peace in action to you with interviews from and about peacemakers. Along with our Peace Hour blog, our website will give you up-to-the-hour information about what is going on in the world. In addition, we are revamping our Sister II Sister blog and have started a wonderful new conversational blog called Wacky Peacemaking. We are bringing innovative ideas and conversations in every format that we can. In the meantime, though, we want you to remember what the principles are that started this Decade initiative and what the future may hold for us as we look BEYOND THE DECADE OF NONVIOLENCE!

Respect for All Life means to respect the life and dignity

of each human being without discrimination or prejudice.

It is funny that respecting life leads the list of principles because when you respect all life, no other principle is needed. In Sunday school I learned Thou shall not kill! and I believed that was a good commandment. Now, I realize that the other commandments are all about what not to do to anyone you might consider unworthy or dispensable. Clearly, you can create tons of commandments that work for the community that is honored and respected, but those same commandments are thrown out the window for the "other." Respect for all human life and dignity for each human being means everybody!

To reject violence is to practice active non-violence in all of its forms.

We think that only physical violence is true violence. Nothing can be further from the truth. While there is physical and sexual violence, there is also psychological, economic and social violence. This violence is usually perpetrated by the powerful against the less powerful, mostly the most deprived and vulnerable communities of the poor, children and adolescents, women and elders. If we think that we are exempt from being perpetrators because we didn't actually commit such atrocities, we fail to realize just how our silence and apathy play a part in colluding with those who do.
     In order to reject violence, each individual must be willing to stand against the tyranny that plagues our planet. We must learn to cease our collusion with the illnesses of society and find ways in which we can stop cycles of abuse that happen all over the world.

Defend freedom of expression and cultural diversity, giving

preference always to dialogue and listening.

Recently I had the opportunity to talk about the importance of words, the impact of what we say and don't say, and how we can better listen. Dialogue and listening should be done without engaging in fanaticism, defamation and the rejection of others. Still, we may not realize how much our words and actions do just that. Again, as discussed above, silence often speaks volumes as does apathy. Our expressions manifest themselves in a variety of ways, so when you're thinking about engaging in dialogue, remember that there is more than one way to say something. Think on it!

Sharing your time and material resources in a spirit of generosity.

Our inability to be inclusive, to understand when our patterns are associated with exclusion, injustice and political and economic depression, has been the bane of our society. Chief Seattle said it best. Earth does not belong to us; we belong to the Earth. Such poignancy from someone who many might have considered conquered should humble us. Instead, we have become people of ownership, taking as much as we can without regard to others. We believe in wealth and therefore, wealth for the few and the privilege. This is not about socialism. This is about community. When we share our resources, the value from that increases significantly and the world is better for it.

Responsible and Developmental practices that respect all forms of life.

No longer a simple admonishment to mankind, preserving the planet is going to take forethought and much work. We have already destroyed much of what is precious about the earth. But it doesn't have to continue. It is clear that we must promote consumer behavior. I learned recently that a woman only generates less than 5 pounds of trash a month. Unheard of. In fact, it may well be true wacky peacemaking at its best. In America we generate tons of trash. Imagine consciously choosing to create less trash. Using cloth napkins. No styrofoam or plastic forks. Time consuming, but ain't our planet worth it?

 

or "Rediscovering Our Solidarity"

What are ways in which we can contribute to the development of our communities? And as I've asked over time, "Where is our community?" A simple question with complex answers. If we think of communities as places where people look and act like us, that's one thing. When we think of the world as a variety of communities where we all can take a part, that's profound. Traveling has afforded me the opportunities of being part of communities around the world--women, people of color, yes, but peacemakers! I am discovering that solidarity with those who believe in building cultures of peace are so wonderfully diverse that we are solving most of our problems with these simple collaborations. But, there's another aspect of contributing to our communities that is essential. There must be full participation of everyone and that includes women and it includes respecting democratic principles so that we can formulate the most positive aspects of solidarity possible.

     So, there you have it!

     Are you ready to rededicate yourself to the principles of the Decade and beyond? Let's get to work.

     Peace!