26 - 30 SEP 2007

Presentation to the International Assembly of the Nonviolent Peaceforce on Civilian Unarmed Peacekeeping. September 26-30th, 2007 Nairobi, Kenya. (By Mairead Corrigan Maguire, Nobel Peace Laureate).

‘BUILDING THE GLOBAL CAPACITY FOR NONVIOLENCE’.

Dear Friends,

I would like to thank the Organizers for their kind invitation to this Conference. I am very happy to be with you and to share some of my reflections on ‘Building the Global capacity for Nonviolence’.
I am deeply conscious that you are committed to building the global capacity for nonviolence through your involvement with the Nonviolent Peaceforce and I want to thank you and say how much I am inspired by this Organization and its members and their courageous and visionary commitment to building a civilian unarmed peacekeeping service. Your commitment to be unarmed is crucial. Your willingness to go into violent conflict situations, armed with love and the necessary skills to help you to be in solidarity with those suffering conflict, and who are building the nonviolent, democratic peace processes, is I believe the most effective course of action. I believe, too, that your movement of unarmed civilians working in conflicts is one of the important new movements necessary to build nonkilling, nonviolent societies, and is the way forward for the future. I have in many countries been inspired by unarmed peace activists and I would like to pay tribute to all those people, who so courageously work in dangerous, difficult situations around the world. Increasingly we are faced with deep ethnic/political conflicts resulting in violence and counterviolence. From our own situation in Northern Ireland, when the most recent violent conflict broke out and trust broke down between the two communities, fear and panic set in. Homes were burned, and people began to flee their areas. Some Nationalist Politicians called upon the British Government to send in British troops to protect the nationalist community. The Troops arrived and were welcomed but in time, as they could not face and protect both communities, they became partisan and in turn were resented by the Nationalist community. There are many lessons to be learned from this experience in Northern Ireland. When you try to bring a military solution to a political problem, it only exacerbates the problem, and conflict increases. Armies are blunt instruments in conflict situations, and arms increase fear and tension. Armies are not trained in community policing and soon become part of the problem rather than the solution. I feel that had people in Northern Ireland, not panicked in l969 the community would have calmed down and given the Political leaders time to implement much needed political reform. Alternatively had we been able to call upon a Civilian unarmed peacekeeping service, such as your own, it would have calmed the situation and been far more effective.
It is important for us all to try to understand the root causes of violence and also the real threats to human security and begin to address them together.
Some Western Governments, led by USA, have defined (wrongly I believe) Terrorism, as the greatest threat to world security. In their misguided attempts to deal with this they are carrying out a ‘war on terrorism’ taking the form of war, invasions, occupation, and abuse of civil liberties both at home and abroad. The resulting human rights violations being committed, by Governments, under the guise of security issues have increased terrorism, set back the course of international Law and Human rights, and created not a safer but a more dangerous world.
Around the world, many of our Muslim brothers and sisters feel less secure and under threat by their own Governments, as the ‘war on terrorism’ have been against Arab countries with predominately Muslim citizens. Many other world citizens feel afraid and disfranchised, as some Governments continue with their violent aggressive policies, to ignore the peoples demand for Policy changes. In some Western countries, democracy itself is in danger, as Political leaders ignore the ballot box and their peoples’ wish for new Politics and policies which are ethical and fair for everyone and not just an ‘elite’ few.
Current Governments’ analysis of National and International Security and the real threats to it, when based on the ‘old’ thinking of Defense against alleged outside enemies, is only producing ‘cold war’ policies which are counter-productive and do not identify or tackle the real causes of insecurity. Harsh internal counter-terrorism measures and military action against insurgency groups result in increased level of threats from homegrown insurgents in response to State injustice and Western foreign policies in relation to the Middle East. However, terrorism, though horrific and unacceptable is not the main threat to International Security. All World Governments (particularly the USA) need to have a broader and more in-depth analysis of the Real Threats to Security, and implement not quick fixes (or quick media sound bites) but more sustainable approaches to human security.
The Threats include (amongst others):
Climate Change/Competition over resources/Marginalization of the majority of the World/Global Militarization (l) Increasing violence and ethnic/political conflicts.
The good news is that we know a great deal about these threats. We also know that, we can deal with many of these threats when our Political Leaders and worlds citizens, make a radical shift towards sustainable approaches to security. We know the solutions and it’s not too late to change policies and the course we are on.
Some sustainable approaches to security would include the following:
Climate Change. Many scientists agree that Global warming leading to climate change is being caused by human activity and the use of fossil fuels, destruction of forests, etc, Governments and people must change policies and lifestyles by replacing carbon based energy sources with local renewable sources of energy generation.
Competition Over Resources We are well aware, of one example regarding competition over resources, that of the invasion and occupation of Iraq by USA/UK which as we all know, was about power and oil. (This occupation should end immediately, the USA/UK apologise to the Iraqi people and put in place funds to rebuild Iraq.) So too the insurgency groups can use the means of nonviolence and put up their arms and come together in dialogue to solve the problems of their country whose people are suffering so much.
Tragically we are seeing the same scenario being played out by the USA Adm., regarding Iran, and it too is about power and resources. We must do all us can to nonviolently resist a USA/Israeli military strike against Iran as this would be yet another catastrophe for the world. But in the meantime it is imperative we, and our governments, embrace lifestyles and policies which will make us less oil dependent by recycling, conservation, and also fund alternatives to oil.
Marginalization of the Majority of the world. We need urgently to put in place a Global Ethical Economic system, as the current system is creating a situation where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Government policies need to be value based and ‘people’ rather than ‘profit’ centered. Governments should meet their GNP commitments, and promises of cancellation of Debt, and setting up of trade system which are fair and inclusive of all sections, and countries. We also need to develop political systems which are all inclusive and powersharing and genuinely reflect the plurality of our increasingly multiethnic, multicultural societies. We cannot progress towards a nonviolent world, if we do not first address the gross injustice of poverty and marginalization of the majority of the worlds’ people.
Terrorism All inclusive dialogue with all parties to the conflict, including insurgency leaders, is the only way in which to genuinely address many of the world’s ongoing conflicts. Governments need to address grievances of groups and work for a win/win solution to the problems. They also need to uphold International Law and Human rights of their citizens. Insurgency groups must be challenged to use only nonviolent methods, and civil society plays an important role in dialogue with armed groups, and helping bring them into political dialogue and ceasefires. We are increasingly learning about nonviolence conflict transformation, and how to put in progress the steps of nonviolence, dialogue, and disarmament, as means for fruitful compromise, negotiations, and trust building.
Violence and Ethnic/political conflicts: One of our greatest challenges as the human family is to transform our violent cultures into a nonkilling, nonviolent culture for the World. This journey from violence to nonviolence will be long and difficult, but human beings mimic each other, and as increasingly more people reject violence, and use the alternatives available, others will follow their example, and change will happen. Already many people are asking, ‘Is it possible to move beyond violence? To build Nonkilling, Nonviolent societies, and World?’ I believe, the answer is YES! However, where violence is endemic, it is easy to be apathetic. Also, particularly in our current world political situation, faced as we are, with an ethical and moral crisis, brought about by many Governments’ abuse of their power, civil society can often feel disempowered and hopeless.

But we should never give up hope. If we continue in a negative frame of mind, to accept violence, it will seriously threaten our quality of life, and our security. The bad news is that all violence, be it mental, bullying, torture, homicide, violent crime, terrorism, violent revolution, armed struggles, suicide bombings, hunger strikes to the death, nuclear weapons, militarism, and war, tragically often take human life, and add to the culture of violence. And all violence, State and Non-state, is a form of injustice, which demeans us all. Citizens everywhere must have the courage to delegitimize violence wherever it comes from.

Killings by Governments, and nongovernmental armed groups, and threats to kill, underlie all other threats to the survival of humanity, damaging peoples’ physical, psychological, economic, social, cultural, and environmental, well-being. If we are to reverse this downward spiral of violence, we need to uphold the Principal that, everyone has a right not to be tortured, or killed, and a responsibility not to torture, kill, or support the killing of others. These are basic human rights enshrined in national and international laws and we all must stand firm on the upholding of these Rights by our Governments and by ‘armed revolutionaries’ or ‘armed insurgency groups’.

The good news is that we are not born violent, most humans never kill, and the World Health Organization says Human Violence is a ‘preventable disease’. So happily we can be cured! Prevention starts in our own minds, with us choosing to reject negativity, changing to a positive, disarmed mindset, cultivating love of ourselves and others, and choosing not to kill. Prevention also starts in our own conscience where we know what is right and refuse to be morally blinded in our mind and heart by nationalism, tribalism, and militarism. To move beyond tribalism and nationalism to a larger identity linked to the wider human family and the environment is indeed a great journey.

Nowadays we hear a lot of talk about security, the greatest power on earth, the United States, decided that the way to achieve security was through shock and awe, destruction of countries, and the multiple deaths of people including her own young men and women transformed into soldiers. Many hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths, and over 3,500 USA soldiers killed during the Iraqi war. Such violent reactions endorse a culture of violence, rather than a culture of dialogue with its citizens and perceived enemies. In Northern Ireland, we have been through all of that. And we know that it doesn’t work. Violence does not prevent violence. The failure of militarism, paramilitarism, in Northern Ireland is mirrored in Iraq. Should it not be obvious that we are now at a point of human history where we must abolish the culture of violence and embrace a culture of nonviolence for the sake of our children and the children of the world? But is such a quantum leap of thinking possible? Nothing is possible unless we can imagine it. So what is meant by such a society?

Prof. Paige in his book ‘Nonkilling Global Political Science’ (l) says:
“A nonkilling society can be defined as a human community from the smallest to the largest in which (2) there is no killing of humans and no threats to kill, (2) there are no weapons for killing humans and no ideological justifications for killing – in computer terms no ‘hardware’ and no ‘software’ for killing and (3) there are no social conditions that depend, for maintenance or change, upon the threat or use of killing force”. I would add that it is not enough to decide not to kill but we need to learn to live nonviolently in our lives and families. Nonviolence is a decision to protect and celebrate life, to love oneself, others, and ones enemies, and to bring wisdom, compassion, forgiveness, and reconciliation into our relationships. Nonviolence recognizes principled dissent against injustice and the misuse of power and upholds the right to civil disobedience as an integral part of a democratic society. Nonviolence is based on unconditional love, truth, equality, justice, and respect for life, and all of creation.

To build such a nonviolent culture we need first to move away from dependence upon threat and use of killing force for security, and by that I mean armies and all imitations of armies. Second we must stop using our economic resources for the unholy alliance of arms dealers and warmongers. Currently there are over 20 million people under arms, and an annual military budget of one trillion dollars a year. According to one United Nations report, an investment of less than a fourth of the world’s collective annual expenditure on arms would be enough to solve the major economic and environmental problems facing humanity. If this is true, and I believe that it is, isn’t it a crime against humanity that those who exercise power in our world continue to pour billions of dollars into so-called security enriching the arms dealers in the process, while neglecting the children who are dying every day of poverty and disease. Ending the military/industrial corporations stranglehold on many Governments’ policies, and introducing policies which meet the basic needs of the people would help remove many of the root causes of violence. We know what to do, but what is lacking is the will of economic and political leaders, who continue their policies to feed the death culture of war, nuclear weapons and arms. This then is just not a political, economic, and socio-cultural crisis but a deeply spiritual and moral one.

The Human family is moving away from the violent mindset, and increasingly violence, war, armed struggles, violent revolutions, are no longer romanticed, glorified, or culturally accepted as ways of solving our problems. As a pacifist I believe that violence is never justified, and there are always alternatives to force and threat of force. We should challenge the society that tells us there is no alternative to violence. In all areas of our life we can adopt nonviolence, in our lifestyles, our education, our commence, our defense, our governance. Also the Political scientists and academics could help this cultural change by teaching nonviolence as a serious political science, and help too in the further development of effective nonviolence to bring about social and political change. Also by implementing the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and nonviolence for the Children of the World, (2001-2010) and teaching it in educational establishments, can help evolve this new culture. You will also be interested to know that the Nobel Peace Laureates have launched a Charter for a World without Violence, and I would like to propose that this be adopted by the Nonviolence Peace force. (www.nobelforpeace.com)

Nonviolence is an ideal that has seldom been explored. But it is not an impossible ideal. History is littered with examples of nonviolent resistance, many of them successful. Gandhi and King successfully used nonviolence for human rights issues; St. Francis, a Mystic/Ecologist/Environmentalist, is a model to us of how to apply a holistic approach to living nonviolently, especially in a world where climate change is one of the greatest challenges to humanity’s future. The Jewish Prophet of Peace, Rabbi Abraham Heshel, and Abdul Khaffer Khan, a great Muslim leader, demonstrated the power of courageous Islamic nonviolence through the unarmed Servants of God army and parallel government to liberate the Pathan people from British colonial rule in India’s North-West Frontier Province (now in Pakistan). Their example deserves to be known widely throughout the world (3).

All Faith traditions can play a role in building this new culture, as each has their own prophets of nonviolence. They can teach the Golden Rule of ‘Do unto others as you would have them do to you’ and also to ‘love your enemies’, which, I believe, is necessary for humanity’s survival in this age of military madness. I speak from my own faith tradition which is Christian. I myself came into pacifism and nonviolence in the early l97O’s. Facing State Violence I asked myself ‘As a Christian can I ever use violence”? I studied and rejected the ‘Just War’ theory and went to the cross where Jesus’ message of love your enemies, do not kill, is most clearly shown. I also agree with the American theologian, the late Fr McKenzie, who said ‘You cannot read the gospels and not know Jesus was totally nonviolent.’ He also described the Just War theory as a phony piece of morality. How tragic, in light of Jesus’ example, to know that the American Catholic Hierarchy, with a couple of honorable exceptions, have blessed yet again Catholics going to participate in an unjust, immoral and illegal war, in Iraq, thus ignoring their own Pope’s guidance on this matter. But, I believe, until the Christian Churches resurrect from their longstanding moral malaise of blessing, ambiguity, or consent-bestowing silence, on violence, militarism, and war, and gives Spiritual guidance by abolishing the Just War theory, and developing a theology more in keeping with the nonviolence of Jesus, it behooves those of us who are Christian, and those who follow other spiritual paths, or none, to follow our own conscience in such matters.

Training:
For those who undertake this courageous work of nonviolence peacekeeping they will require a great deal of training, particularly to deepen their own peace. Their greatest enemy will be their own fear, lack of confidence, anger, etc., Though others can help, essentially it will be a journey into the soul, to know oneself, and this can only be done through fasting, prayer, meditation, or whatever path each person feels comfortable with as there are many paths to inner peace. I once asked Mother Theresa for advise and she said ‘Oh pray, pray never cease to pray’. Building friendships and community will help in the hard, lonely and frustrating days and keeping a sense of balance and fun, will help also make the journey ‘pure joy’ and ‘great fun’ which is surely should be. The new culture which we are building together must be one of a celebration of life, beauty, truth and diversity.

Media.
We need the co-operation of the Media to help us build a Global Capacity for Nonviolence. Currently some corporate media is supporting war (as happened in Iraqi invasion) and beginning to demonize the Iranian Government and incite the flames of fear and anger which in turn encourages support for War. We in the Peace Movement need to challenge our media to tell the truth and give balanced and fair reporting and not to be used by Governments as harbingers of fear and violence. We need also to build our own media groups and train nonviolent activists in the art of communication. We can also support individual journalists who work under very dangerous circumstances, some of whom have given their lives to truth telling, and are a credit to their high calling as Professional news reporters and journalists.

As world citizens working together in solidarity we can abolish nuclear weapons and war, demilitarize the World, build neutral and nonaligned countries, develop unarmed policing and nonmilitary forms of self-defense. We can establish or strengthen nonviolent institutions, such as: Global Nonkilling Spiritual Council: Global Nonkilling Security Council: Global Nonkilling Nonmilitary self-defense Security, including your own excellent Nonviolent Peaceforce: Global Nonkilling Leadership Academies: Global Nonkilling Trusteeship Fund: Ministries of Peace by National Governments: (2) (All of these proposed nonviolent institutions are described at as addendum to this paper).

To build a nonviolent culture will also mean changing Patriarchal and Hierarchical systems which are unjust and under which women, suffer from oppressive structures and institutions. It will mean in particular challenging violence and injustice in our own societies and extending our support to all humans who suffer injustice everywhere. To people who are suffering torture, the inmates in Guantanamo (which should be closed) and other such Guantanamos in whatever country, and supporting whistleblowers like Mordechai Vanunu who continues to suffer for telling the truth. It will not be easy but it is necessary, and it is possible together, in our interconnected, interdependent human family, to build a new world civilization with a nonviolent heart.

Peace and happiness to you all,

Mairead Corrigan Maguire (www.peacepeople.com)
Note l: ‘Beyond Terror’ by Chris Abbott, Paul Rogers and John Slobodan.

Note 2: “Nonkilling Global Political Science” (Xlibris 2002) by Prof. Glenn D. Paige
(Freely posted on web at www.globalnonviolence.org). It is being translated into 24 languages. Former Indian Prime Minister I.K. Gujral has advised, “This book should be read in every political science department and by the public”. In his introduction to the Russian edition, Prof. William Smirnov, Vice-President of the Russian Political Science Association and the International Political Science Association has written: “The basic idea in this unique book can and should become the basis of common values for humanity in the 2lst century as well as a programme for their realization”.

Note 3. The Pathan Unarmed (Oxford University Press 2000) by Dr. Mukulika, Banerjee.

Details of nonviolent institutions:

Global Nonkilling Spiritual Council: Composed of men and women elected to represent faiths and philosophies committed to principled nonkilling. Serves as a continuing body to counsel the United Nations, governments, other institutions, and world citizens.

Global Nonkilling Security Council. Composed of persons elected among distinguished contributors to the theory, strategy, tactics, and practice of nonkilling domestic and transnational defense. Serves as a continuing source of nonviolent security alternatives for consideration by all parties in potential or actual deadly conflicts that threaten physical, economic and ecological well-being.

Global Nonkilling Service: Composed of locally rooted professional and volunteer workers in every country, trained in nonmilitary skills of security, conflict transformation, constructive service, and humanitarian and disaster relief. Builds upon nonviolent military and nongovernmental experience such as the Gandhi and Shanti Sena and the Nonviolent Peaceforce.

Global Nonkilling Leadership Academies: Prepares local and transnational leaders, partly by biographical studies, to take nonkilling initiatives in response to the interdependent human needs for security, economic well-being, dignity, ecological sustainability and problem solving co-operation. Seeks to build mutually strengthening relationships based upon the nonkilling principles in co operation with the United Nations University Japan, the UNU International Leadership Academy in Jordan, the University of Peace in Costa Rica, and other peace-seeking educational and training institutions.

Global Nonkilling Trusteeship Fund: Established in the Gandhian tradition of mutual trusteeship for the well-being of all, honors pioneers of nonkilling service to humanity,
throughout the world. Collects voluntary and service contributions to support implementing institutions. Management board to be composed equally between representatives of the most and least wealthy global citizens.