Resources for Outer Peace
"Through our scientific and technological genius, we have made of this world a neighborhood and yet we have not had the ethical commitment to make of it a brotherhood. But somehow, and in some way, we have got to do this. We must all learn to live together as brothers or we will all perish together as fools"
-- Martin Luther King, Jr.
Does it help to announce that we are for peace, period. Then put on blinders, pat ourselves on the back, and never think about the subject again? Well, probably not.
So, what do we do?
Working for outer peace is similar to working for inner peace except that there are a few more steps and also more people involved. We still have to start with ourselves, start where we are. If we say we are for peace, period, and still fight with our mates, do in our co-workers, rage at how the last anti-war rally was organized, then are we really for peace, period?
If we don't find and foster that place of inner peace that is within, there is a danger that we simply create more aggression and confusion in the world, this time in the name of peace. So we begin (but not end) with ourselves.
Then what?
Paying attention seems a good place to start. Being intelligent about the world, using common sense as well as our analytical powers, really trying to see not just what is happening in the world but the causes and effects of it, learning to sort through information and misinformation and disinformation--all this takes time and patience and will. Wendell Berry writes:
We can no longer afford to confuse peaceability with passivity. Authentic peace is no more passive than war. Like war, it calls for discipline and intelligence and strength of character, though it calls also for higher principles and aims. If we are serious about peace, then we must work for it as ardently, seriously, continuously, carefully, and bravely as we now prepare for war.
Peace Studies forms an emerging academic discipline, trying to understand conflict resolution, mediation, justice. Just as Women's Studies grew out of a rejection of the idea that patriarchy is inherent and necessary, Peace Studies questions violence and aggression as a way to settle disputes. It also studies peace movements and the leaders who started or maintained them.
On an individual level, there is a tradition of Peacekeepers who work for harmony as well as those who have chosen the path of peace as their spiritual practice. Aikido or The Art of Peace trains body and mind to be in harmony with itself and the world.
In addition to the writings of M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., a growing body of writings about peace reflect changing attitudes and an awareness that weapons of mass destruction (whoever they belong to) make it necessary to rethink ingrained habits concerning conflict and its resolution. The legitimacy of war (WAR =We Are Right) itself is being questioned, especially in connection with the war with Iraq.
The web has an over abundance of material on peace and nonviolence. There are a number of e-mail lists: Information on Joining Peace Oriented User Groups
Finally, there are any number of local, national and international organizations which work for peace or are anti-war. Most of them have a presence online. Here are links to a few of the more peaceful ones.
Peace Links
Canadian Centres Teaching Peace Comprehensive resources.
Code Pink Women's Pre-Emptive Strike for Peace
Contemplative Environmental Design
Creators of Peace "Rather than pointing the finger of blame, COP reverses the process to suggest that change and peacemaking start with oneself and one's own people."
Grandmothers For Peace International “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” — Margaret Mead
Imagine Peace Network: "The mission of the Imagine Peace Network is to recognize, facilitate, and network the activities of individuals and peace-building organizations around the world. Our goal is to create a worldwide culture of peace and non-violence based on absolute respect for human life and the environment."
FCNL: Friends Committee on National Legislation. Quaker lobby in the public interest.
M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence:"We must be the change we want to see." M. K. Gandhi
"The only
way on earth to have no conflict with other people is to have no conflict within
one's self."
M. K. Gandhi
Nonviolent Peace Force The mission of the Nonviolent Peaceforce is to build a trained, international civilian peaceforce committed to third-party nonviolent intervention.
Pax Christi USA National Catholic Peace Site.
Peace Action: Practical, positive alternative for peace.
Peace and Conflict: U of Colorado's Peace Studies Program
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute
Peace Matters: "The pursuit of peace in the modern world is too complex an activity to be comprised within the old pacifist slogan, 'wars will cease when men refuse to fight'."
Peace
Pilgrim Website: "We who work for peace must not falter. We must
continue to pray for peace and to act for peace in whatever way we can, we must
continue to speak for peace and to live the way of peace; to inspire others,
we must continue to think of peace and to know that peace is possible."
Peace Pilgrim
Poets4Peace "This site is dedicated to peace... peace on earth... peace in the country... peace in the city...peace at home...peace in life...this site has no other purpose but to foster peace...let's work together to counterbalance the amount of hate and destruction in this world with our poetry... we can make a difference."
Seeds of Peace: Empowering Children of War to Break the Cycle of Violence.
United for Peace & Justice Many links to other resources.
United States Institute of Peace
Waging Peace.Org. Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Walk for Peace: "We walk as a prayer for peace; a prayer centered in our desire for inner as well as world peace. We walk for self- understanding, out of which comes conscientious action. We walk to cultivate community. This walk is a moving meditation centered in each of our own quests for inner peace, as well as our collective desire to actively participate in creating a world where we can live together equitably and harmoniously."
Women
Building Peace : "To
many people war is seen as something masculine and peace as feminine. In fact
both men and women need to work together to build genuine peace... I wish your
efforts every success."
Dalai Lama
Women's History Research Guide: Peace Movements
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Women's Peace Walk: Creating peace step by step. "Take my hand. We will walk. We will only walk. We will enjoy our walk without thinking of arriving anywhere. Walk peacefully. Walk happily. Our walk is a peace walk. Our walk is a happiness walk." Thich Nhat Hanh