Category Archives: DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

Retreat of the Pan-African Network of the Wise

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An article by Mussie Hailu, African Continental Coordinator of United Religions Initiative (URI)

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings of peace and blessing from URI-Africa.

This is to inform you that URI Africa took part at the retreat of the Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise) under the theme of “SILENCING GUNS BY 2020.”

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The retreat was organized by the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (ACCORD). The meeting brought together the AU Panel of the Wise, AU Special Envoys and High-Level Representatives, the Council of Elders of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Mediation Reference Group and the Panel of Elders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and the Committee of Elders of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). The Intergovernmental Authority for Development’s (IGAD) Mediation Contact Group as well as the secretariats of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), the East African Community (EAC), Union of Maghreb States (UMA) and the Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CENSAD) participated in the Retreat.

In line with the mandate and spirit of PanWise, African national mediators, individual mediators and institutions engaged in mediation activities at national and sub-national levels (such as national ombudsmen, local councils of elders, pastoralist mediators, from groups including the African Insider Mediators Platform – AIMP, and women and youth representatives, among others) also participated in the retreat.

The Retreat was organized in accordance with the decision of the Assembly of the Union of 26 May 2013 to establish the Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise), which is a continental network of individuals, mechanisms and institutions committed to conflict prevention and mediation. Such engagements are encouraged to promote the functional inclusion of “bottom-up approaches” to mediation in continental and regional mediation efforts, create opportunity for collaboration on joint activities, cement partnerships, and expand the ownership of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) to the African people.

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Questions for this article:

Can the African Union help bring a culture of peace to Africa?

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The Retreat was aimed at:

1. Examining current challenges and emerging threats to peace in Africa, including reflecting on the opportunities for the promotion of a culture of peace in line with the Charter for the African Renaissance and the African Union’s Agenda 2063;

2. Building a shared understanding of the synergistic potential of peacebuilding and mediation actors at different levels (local, regional and continental) and reflect on the capacities, needs and contributions of actors at these levels. These include ombudsman, but also, where relevant, elders, religious leaders, traditional authorities, insider mediators, local capacities for peace, community based organizations, civil society organizations, the education (academics and researchers) and artistic community, the media, the private sector;

3. Reflecting on practical strategies to maximize the role and potential of education, indigenous knowledge and culture, artistic creation, performing arts’ performance arts and communication as key activities towards a sustainable culture of peace;

4. Discussing the wide variety of customary and contemporary mediation approaches and the implications that differences in approach have for effective mediation practices.

5. Discussing in concrete terms the involvement of national actors in the PanWise, including a Process of Accreditation, Code of Conduct, Reporting Obligations and standardizing Capacities applicable to these national and local actors and the role of PanWise in supporting, nurturing and developing National Infrastructures for Peace;

6. Developing a plan of action for joint initiatives and activities with the Luanda Biennale for a Culture of Peace in Africa/Pan-African Forum for a Culture of Peace in Africa, such as the development of National Programmes for a Culture of Peace.

May Peace Prevail on Earth.

In peace and gratitude,

Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

ASEAN urged to formulate policies on women, children in conflict situations

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An article from InterAksyon

ASEAN should formulate policies on women and children in conflict and post-conflict situations, said participants to the ASEAN institute for Peace and Reconciliation (AIPR) symposium on the topic. Policies should include action plans on women in relation to peace and security in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1325, said participants to last week’s symposium in Tagaytay organized by Philippine Permanent Mission to ASEAN Ambassador Elizabeth Buensuceso.

ASEAN

In her message to the participants, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman emphasized the need to work together to formulate a responsive framework for peace to be eventually supported by policies and programs to which every ASEAN Member State will adhere.

“Women and children are the most vulnerable and most affected when fighting erupts. But they must not be viewed as the weak sectors, because they are not. Children and women are the potential strongest tools of nations in peace-building, peace-making and peace-keeping,” Soliman said.

Ambassador Buensuceso, for her part, echoed Soliman’s call, suggesting that the main recommendations of the conference be forwarded to the various ASEAN mechanisms and fora for possible inclusion in their work programs and plans of action.

Participants also urged ASEAN to support the development of preventive measures to conflict, such as the advancement of a culture of peace and the promotion of moderation in the region. They said that this can be implemented through activities and initiatives in education, culture, human rights, and political-security, among others, under the various ASEAN-led mechanisms.

The two-day symposium discussed the following: surfacing the plight of women and children in conflict situations; the abuses women and children are exposed to, such as sexual violence, threats to their lives, identity and property, and others; women and children as active participants in conflict resolution and the peace process; and programs and mechanisms to ensure protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of women and children are protected during armed conflict and/or in post-conflict situations.

Speakers included Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs Evan P. Garcia, AIPR Governing Council Chair and Malaysia’s Ambassador to ASEAN Hasnudin Hamzah, Ambassador Buensuceso, Ambassador of Norway to ASEAN Stig Ingemar Traavik, Switzerland Ambassador to ASEAN Yvonne Baumann, Dr. Kuntoro Mangkusubroto of Indonesia, and UN Women (Myanmar) Head Dr. Jean D’ Cunha.

Other speakers from Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines presented actual experiences and case studies.

ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for Socio-Culutural Community Vongthep Arthakaivalvatee also attended the symposium.

Representatives from all ASEAN Member States, including members of the AIPR Governing Council, the ASEAN Inter-governmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR), and the ASEAN Commission on the Promotion and Protection of the Rights of Women and Children (ACWC), participated in the symposium.

The AIPR was established to serve as the ASEAN institution for activities and research projects on peace, conflict management, and conflict resolution. The AIPR Governing Council oversees the overall functions and policy direction of the AIPR. It consists of senior representatives from all 10 ASEAN Member States, the Secretary General of ASEAN, and an Executive Director to be appointed by the members.

Questions for this article:

Regional organizations: do they promote a culture of peace?

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, East Asia

USA: Wilmington Peace Plan

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Excerpt from the website of Pacem in Terris, Wilmington, Deleware

Pacem in Terris and other non-profits in the Wilmington area (Wilmington Peacekeepers, One Village Alliance, DE Coalition Against Gun Violence, etc.) want to develop a strategic vision, plan and resource document that will bring peace to Wilmington. The plan will deal with the actions needed to transform a culture of violence to a culture of peace. The plan would include input from civic groups, city and state governments and agencies, churches, students, the elderly, and general public.


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Video of March for a Culture of Peace

Building on the very successful September 2014 March for a Culture of Peace (and Rally and Call to Action) that we organized (45 co-sponsors, 400+ participants), and subsequent public forum events every month since then, we see the need and opportunity for a Wilmington Peace Plan that presents a clear vision of our desired goal, and the means for achieving it. The strategic plan would include needed actions by city and state legislators, divisions of the city, county and state government, neighborhoods, families, churches, schools, businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals.

The accompanying resource document would be printed as well as available on the web and via smartphone app. It would include organizations throughout our region that are engaged in what we call “building a culture of peace”, and include resources and information on a wide variety of topics– from anti-bullying strategies, civic engagement, domestic violence prevention, school to prison changes, financial literacy, management and violence, gun violence reduction,, gangs and violent street groups, safe havens for youth, juvenile justice system, mental health providers, mentoring, restorative justice, support groups for ex-offenders, service organizations, street level outreach, dating violence, workplace violence prevention and other topics.

Together, the Wilmington Peace strategic plan and Wilmington Peace Resources document will present a clear vision of a possible and attractive peace-filled future; the actions and means for getting there, and the resources needed to achieve the vision and implement the plan.

Click here for Tom Davis’ recap of the December 2014 event and click here for a video of the event. Also, on December 28th, Wilmington Friends Meetinghouse had a Memorial to the Lost. Click here for the video.

Questions for this article:
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, North America

Peace in Wellington, New Zealand

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by Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington, in Wellington Peace Newsletter

When Wellington became a Nuclear Free capital in 1982, I was protesting against nuclear missiles at Greenham Common in the UK. Given my interest in ending nuclear warfare, it’s a real pleasure to write this first annual newsletter as Wellington’s Mayor for Peace

Wellington

Wellington City has been a member of Mayors for Peace since 1988. Mayors for Peace started in Japan, there are now 6,940 cities in 161 countries around the world who are part of Mayors for Peace. The Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign pushes for a nuclear-weapon-free world by the year 2020.

The Mayor of Hiroshima, Matsui Kazumi, invited me to become an Executive Leader of Mayors for Peace. The other thirty New Zealand Mayors for Peace supported me taking up this coordinating role. This newsletter is one outcome.

Wellington City Council endorsed the invitation and recognised that, internationally, Mayors for Peace “strive to raise international public awareness regarding the need to abolish nuclear weapons and contribute to the realisation of genuine and lasting world peace.”

This year’s Wellington Women’s Walk for Peace theme was, “Peace is everyone’s responsibility.” It was an opportunity for women of all ethnicities and beliefs to send a message to the rest of the world that we care about peace.

Peace is something that everyone here has a part in creating. It is noisy, protest-filled and democratic. It is full of debate and differing opinions. From this active view of peace, we can build collective wisdom, common action and collaboration against nuclear weapons. There are many excellent organisations and individuals acting in the interests of peace in New Zealand. Coordinating communication, events and conferences has been busy in 2015.

I also called on cities around the world to join with me in sending a simple post of a “wave goodbye to nuclear weapons” on social media on 27 April 2015 as part of Global Wave 2015.

Our pledge, as Mayors for Peace, is to engage our constituencies and cooperate in eliminating nuclear weapons. The Council focuses on supporting a number of peace events, especially International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Hiroshima Day, International Peace Day and Gandhi’s birthday, the International Day of Non-Violence.

There is a strong link between peace and resilience and I’m delighted Wellington was chosen to be part of the Rockefeller 100 Resilient Cities. Resilience is about social cohesion, neighbourhood connections and access to resources as well as physical infrastructure and long-term planning.

The Climate Change talks in Paris also highlight how, like nuclear weapons, emissions and effects are not confined by national boundaries.

Resilience, nuclear abolition and greenhouse gas emission reductions are three issues, among many, where cities can take a lead, whatever their country’s national policies. Citizens and Mayors can consider wisely, commit positively to the community’s future and act locally with a global perspective. Enjoy the following snippets about 2015 events here and abroad and I look forward to working with you in 2016!

Questions for this article:
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, East Asia

ICLEI Declaration to the Ministers at COP21, Paris, France

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A Declaration by ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability, a network of over 1,000 cities

In these days, the world anxiously follows your national and global efforts to collectively agree on an ambitious and inclusive global Paris Climate Package as the outcome of COP21.

With the recently adopted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goal 11 on sustainable cities, all countries have a mandate and an obligation to create the necessary conditions for a peaceful and healthy planet. We expect that the Habitat III Conference next year on the new Urban Agenda will further strengthen these.

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However, it will not be possible to transform our world towards a sustainable world without a clear commitment from Parties and a pathway towards low-carbon and high-resilient societies and economies.

A failure in Paris to agree on a global framework will worsen our life scenarios. We do not see the negotiations of this agreement as one among Parties but as one with people at risk.

We worriedly take note of the fact that the Intended Nationally Determined Commitments and Contributions (INDCs), curb the global GHG emission trajectory to only 2.7-5.0 °Celsius until the end of this century, and not below 2°C, as requested by the IPCC to ensure a climate-safe future for all people.

This will gravely impact the most vulnerable citizens and populations who suffer from the impacts of climate change that they have not caused.

In overall terms, we request Parties to provide an ambitious response to address 4 basic realities:

* the legacy of a fossil-dependent era and ineffectiveness of piecemeal solutions;

* the unstoppable transformation into a development model that is based on 100% renewables and a circular economy;

* the need to develop innovative governance models in a multi-polar, multi-stakeholder, multi-level Urban World of the 21st Century;

* the need to develop a global and sufficient framework to mobilize additional financial resources for climate change mitigation, adaptation and loss-and-damage through public as well as private finance, including carbon pricing, phasing out of fossil-fuel subsidies, divestment of carbon intensive infrastructure and other assets, and revenues to be generated from regulations on international finance markets or transactions;

Acknowledging the fact that some 50% of submitted INDCs refer to local and subnational action, we urge our Ministers to be more ambitious and to:

* Emphasize the importance of taking into account human rights, gender equality, rights of indigenous peoples, and the needs of particular vulnerable groups when taking action to address climate change;

* Confirm the recognition of the crucial role of local and subnational governments as governmental stakeholders and non-state actors, as key partners in the global climate efforts;

* Develop innovative processes to enhance engagement of local and subnational governments as governmental stakeholders, building on the experiences of the ADP Workstream-2 Technical Examination Processes, and the efforts through the Lima-Paris Action Agenda (LPAA);

* Adopt long-term mitigation goals with a clear vision and target for2050, and for the end of the century, in particular goals on carbon/climate neutrality, phase-out of fossil fuels, and 100% renewables by the latest by 2050;

* Close the emission gap and accelerate the implementation of the pre-2020 mitigation commitments in particular by developed countries, so that transformation happens faster, based on the principles of differentiated responsibilities, equity, and solidarity;

* Support developing countries to achieve their mitigation INDCs, technically and financially, and adopt a finance plan that includes five year financial commitments and assessment periods to help achieve their pre-2020 and post-2020 goals;

* Agree on a global, periodic revision process, every five years, of the individual and aggregate implementation progress of the mitigation INDCs and their upscaling, with science and equity-based assessments, and with civil society participation;

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Question for this article

Sustainable Development Summits of States, What are the results?

Can cities take the lead for sustainable development?

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* Set specific goals and targets for adaptation until 2050, including a financial target to reach at least 35 billion USD via grant-based provisions for developing countries,

* Create a robust framework that addresses loss and damage from the impacts of climate change; and

* Mobilize and ensure direct access to financing authority, legislative capacity, and other tools to maximize our climate change actions based on territorial/place-based approaches and empower each level of government, together with enhanced multilevel governance and vertical integration to make its maximum potential contribution toward climate change progress.

As the world’s leading sustainability network of over 1,000 cities, towns and metropolises, and building on our Seoul Declaration and Strategy 2015-2021 adopted in April 2015, ICLEI commits to:

1. INSPIRE – EXPAND – SCALE UP LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION

Our combined sustainability actions currently reach over 20% of the global urban population.

We commit to lead ICLEI members through our GreenClimateCities Program and other initiatives, and to mobilize more local and subnational governments so as to reach 30% by 2030 and 50% by 2050 of the global urban population, as well as to explore 100% renewables scenarios by 2030 and 2050.

2. INTENSIFY – DEEPEN – INTEGRATE CLIMATE ACTION TO ALL AREAS OF SUSTAINABILITY

Our ICLEI 10 Urban Agendas help our members to make their cities and regions sustainable, low-carbon, resilient, eco-mobile, biodiverse, resource-efficient and productive, healthy and happy, with a green economy and smart infrastructure.

Building on the achievements of our Low Carbon City Agenda, we commit to engage all our members in the 10 Urban Agendas and thus comply with SDG.11 by 2030 as well as mobilize more like-minded local and subnational governments.

3. CONNECT – INCLUDE – ENGAGE WITH GOVERNMENTS AND STAKEHOLDERS

Our climate work since 1990, strengthened by the Local Government Climate Roadmap since 2007, has mobilized an unprecedented scale of political commitment and action towards a climate-friendly human development at our levels of government.

We commit to raise compliance with national, subnational, and global initiatives, including the Compact of Mayors, Compact of States and Regions, Mexico City Pact, Durban Adaptation Charter, Earth Hour City Challenge, Covenant of Mayors, working in partnership with citizens, the business sector, and other stakeholders.

We commit to support vertically integrated climate action and explore collaboration with national governments, in particular those that have included local and subnational climate action in their INDCs.

4. TRANPARENT – ACCOUNTABLE – OPEN MUNICIPAL ACTIONS AND GOVERNANCE

Our carbonn Climate Registry with publicly available commitments, emissions inventories and actions reported by more than 600 local and subnational governments, currently aggregates to 1 billion tons of GHG emission reductions until 2020.

We commit to expand the number of reporting entities to include all ICLEI members reporting in the carbonn Climate Registry, to annually aggregate these commitments and to report to the UNFCCC NAZCA.

5. RESOURCE – EMPOWER – ADVOCATE FOR TRANSFORMATIVE ACTION

Our pilot of the Transformative Actions Program (TAP) 2015 has brought forward 125 applications to demonstrate ambitious, crosscutting, and inclusive local action plans that have the potential to contribute to keeping global warming below 2°C.

We commit to continuing the TAP on an annual basis, and present the applications to the climate finance institutions and programs. In addition, we commit to providing an interactive platform to share best TAP projects from around the world, as well as providing tools and knowledge systems necessary for local and subnational governments to design and implement transformative climate actions.

This ICLEI Declaration was adopted unanimously at the Joint Meeting of ICLEI Council and ICLEI Global Executive Committee at Paris City Hall on 6 December 2015

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, global, United Nations,

New Cities of Peace

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Information from the International Cities of Peace

Nairobi, Kenya

Welcome to Michael Ochieng Nyawino, Project Director of the organization Neema, as well as his colleagues and the citizens of Nairobi, Kenya: City of Peace. The Neema Community Based Organization (CBO) was officially registered on 8th February 2011. The group began operations in January 2014 to offer educational and empowerment services to the community, especially the youth and young mothers aged 18-30 years. Activities include environmental cleanups, guidance and counseling and mentorship programs, and many other peace building projects.
website for Nairobi, Kenya: City of Peace

cities

• Medellín, Colombia

Welcome to VALENCIA MARY SOL ACEVEDO and her colleagues from Medelllín, Colombia: City of Peace. She is the founder of the Sun Foundation, which has been working in Medellín since 1999.
Website for Medellin, Colombia: City of Peace

• Wobulenzi, Uganda

Welcome to Bishop James Lubega Banda and Junior Twongyelrwe who are working to care for children in Wobulenzi, Uganda: City of Peace. The Divine Liberty Centre Ministries proposes to establish facilities and training for disadvantaged young people who have been placed in a dangerous situation by years of war and violence.
Website for Wobulenzi, Uganda: City of Peace

• Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.

Welcome to members of the Rockford Peace Coalition and the Rockford Rotary Club who have joined with other partners to establish Rockford as an International City of Peace. Some of the expressions of peace building in the Rockford area include:
• Ethnic Festival representing over 30 cultures in Rockford
• International Day of Peace held for over 1,000 elementary school children
• Planting peace poles around the Rock River Valley
• The Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza as a park to assist and remind all of peace and tranquility through diversity and heritage.
Website for Rockford, Illinois, U.S.A.: City of Peace

• Verejeni, Moldova

Welcome to Mrs. Tatiana Baltag and her colleagues in Verejeni, Moldova: City of Peace. Mrs. Baltag is director of the library for children and is committed with the citizens of Verejeni to fostering a culture of peace in Moldova.
Website for Verejeni, Moldova: City of Peace

• Eastlands, Nairobi, Kenya

Welcome to Jared Akama Onyari, leader of the city of peace group with networking in Eastlands/Southlands, Nairobi, Kenya: City of Peace. The Eastlands area of Nairobi is to the south-east of Nairobi province. The organization, Peace Society of Kenya, is working to empower Kenyans through education and impementation of a wide range of peace building projects.
Website for Eastlands, Nairobi, Kenya: City of Peace

• Querétaro, Mexico

Welcome to Judith A. Martinez, Director General of the Hummingbird Organization, AC / DPI-NGO-UN Representation “Culture of Peace”, and her colleagues in Querétaro, Mexico: City of Peace. To position the Cd. De Querétaro, Qro. México at the forefront of policy development for its strategic, comprehensive and inclusive from the promotion of cultural diversity management, dialogue and promoting a culture of peace.
Website for Querétaro, Mexico: City of Peace

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Questions for this article:

What is a culture of peace city, and how does one become one?

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• Voinjama, Fofa, Liberia

Welcome to Swaliho M. Fofana and his colleagues from the organization PeaceWin Lofa as they create a city of peace in Voinjama, Liberia. The need for peacebuilding in Liberia, especially for Lofa County, is cardinal toward sustaining genuine peace and security as the UN peacekeeping forces draw down its mission finally in 2016.
Website for Voinjama, Fofa, Liberia: City of Peace

• Nateete, Uganda

Welcome to Ali Tebandeke and his colleagues in Nateete, Uganda: City of Peace. Nateete is located in Lubaga Division, on the southwestern edge of the city of Kampala. It is bordered by Busega to the north, Lungujja to the northeast. Ali is a co-founder of MOVE TO LIGHT YOUTH DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE. He is a youth activist and an advocate for youth in Uganda.
Website for Nateete, Uganda: City of Peace

• Chilliwack, British Colombia, Canada

Welcome to the citizens of Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada: City of Peace. The initiators of the city of peace movement in Chilliwack are Megan Praat and Olivia Jensen, daughters of Laura Taylor Jensen Praat. Megan and Olivia have shown a great commitment to peacebuilding in the Chilliwack community, reached out to other youth as well as civic leaders to endeavor with them to create a culture of peace in this beautiful Canadian town.
Website for Chilliwack, B.C., Canada

• Karachi, Pakistan

Welcome to Mr. Kelash Kumar Sarhadi and his colleagues at the Interfaith Commission for Peace and Harmony as the citizens of Karachi, Pakistan self-define and work toward a culture of peace in their community.
Website for Karachi, Pakistan: City of Peace

• Lilongwe, Malawi

Welcome to Hastings Phiri and his colleagues at Peace Ambassadors Malawi in Lilongwe: City of Peace. The Peace Ambassadors Integration Organization (PAM) is a Malawi non-governmental Organization that specializes in promoting peace and cohesion, community harmony and mutual coexistence, and respect for one another.
Website for Lilongwe, Malawi: City of Peace

• Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A
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Celeste Lauren Filbert and her colleagues have been fostering peace and compassion as community values. They have built a strong collaboration between all sectors of our community — Academic, Law Enforcement, Commerce, Wellness, Arts, Faith-Based, Environmental, Civic Sectors, etc — to promote a Culture of Peace and compassion.
Website for Asheville, North Carolina, U.S.A.: City of Peace

• Elgin, Illinois, U.S.A.

Danielle Henson the citizens of Elgin as well as the Mayor and City Council have proclaimed their community a City of Peace. As one example, the City’s twenty-five gardens have been renamed “Peace Gardens”. An extensive network of organizations is continuing to build a culture of peace that will benefit all citizens.
Website for Elgin, Illinois, U.S.A.: City of Peace

• Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A.

The members of the Savannah Peace Committee just last week succeeded in working with the Mayor and City Council to proclaim their community as dedicated to creating a culture of peace, statewide and around the world. In a meeting with Mayor Edna Jackson, peace team leaders Danielle Henson, Kennedy Braden, Lynda Beam, Jan Durham expressed their mission to cultivate a culture of peace through dialogue,attitudes, principles, creative expression and equanimity. Welcome this group to International Cities of Peace!
Website for Savannah, Georgia, U.S.A.: City of Peace

• Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

Welcome to Dr. Jawahar Surisetti and the citizens of Raipur in the State of Chhattisgarh, India. Goals of this new city of peace initiative include establishing a Rungta Peace Garden and an Indian Institute of Peace.
Website for Raipur, India: City of Peace

• Pirwadhai, Rawalpindii, Pakistan

See story on Youth Peace Ambassador Kainat Khan
Websie for Pirwadhai, Pakistan: City of Peace

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, global

USA: Restorative Practices in Schools

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Excerpts from September and August News Roundups by Restorativeworks.net

Detroit Public Schools says crime reports down 29% due to restorative practices. The article notes: “This year, restorative practices training will cover two new areas: trauma and grief counseling to help students dealing with death and other hardships, and ‘conferencing training’ to assist students’ transition back into school after a suspension or expulsion.”

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“NAACP (Chattanooga) seeks alternative discipline methods for schools.” This TV news video includes footage from a recent professional development event and a brief interview with IIRP Instructor Steve Korr. . .

During a discussion circle in a Chicago school, students learn empathy when they discover they each have had first-hand exposure to gun violence and one classmate had a gun pointed at her head.

The International Bullying Prevention Association will hold its annual conference Reaching New Heights in Bullying Prevention through Empathy and Kindness in Denver, CO, November 8-10 and will feature a pre-conference workshop on restorative practices with IIRP Lecturer Elizabeth Smull.

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Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

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The American Federation of Teachers — one of the nation’s largest unions — takes on the issue of racial justice using restorative practices. . .

A new report by The Advancement Project, the Alliance for Quality Education, Citizen Action of New York and the Public Policy and Education Fund reveals that “Buffalo, NY, Schools’ new code of conduct results in more days in school, fewer suspensions.” . .

Restorative practices are being used in more and more schools throughout the U.S. Here are a few examples that came to our attention this month:
San Diego, CA (cuts suspensions by 60%)
Hamilton, OH
Waco, TX
Rochester, NY
Beloit, WI (PBIS program to incorporate restorative practices)
Santa Ana, CA
Jefferson Parish, LA (prompted by employees and complaints by the Southern Poverty Law Center)
Springdale, AK
The State of Illinois (Governor signs sweeping school discipline bill championed by students)

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, North America

Nobel Peace Prize 2015: Lesson in Hope from Tunisia . . .

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An article by Mounira El Bouti, Liberte Algerie

I take a step back and with a sweep of the left hand, I push aside my hair and start to write this article. With every gesture, every thought, every breath I am inspired to think of the Tunisian blood flowing in my veins, mixed with Algerian blood, but I’ve told you that before …

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Video of Nobel Prize award

This blood makes me proud to belong to two countries whose great history and peoples can only make you proud.

It was just an hour ago that I heard the big news: the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to the quartet sponsoring the national dialogue in Tunisia. And, like a cherry on the cake, there was a woman among them, the President of the Tunisian patronnât, Mrs Ouided Bouchemaoui. You don’t have to be a feminist to focus on this; it is enough just to be a woman . .

I have long written that women’s leadership is strong because of its value of consensus and its leadership by thoughtful dialogue which allows organizations to overcome the most difficult crises. Now here is the proof: evidence from Tunisia that confirms my research and responds to my detractors

So back to the events marking this day, not a week, not the century …

It’s an historic first: the 2015 Nobel Prize for Peace is awarded to Tunisia! What an amazing year! We’ve seen everything: promulgation of the first qualified democratic constitution in the Arab-Muslim world, election of a president by democratic and transparent means, the terrorist attacks on the Bardo museum aimed against Tunisia’s culture and history, and the bombing of the tourist center at Sousse aimed at the main sources of revenue of the country. Despite the attacks, neither history nor culture nor tourism have been affected.

Tunisia in crisis, shows us the way forward ..

In Chinese calligraphy, the word “crisis” has two ideograms. The first character means “danger,” and the second “opportunity.” This is right, because a crisis brings with it not only risks but also opportunities. When an organization is in crisis, the way it overcomes it, or even seizes opportunities, depends on the intelligence and competence of its management.

The crisis weighs heavily on Tunisia, but at the same time they show the world that their resistance is still there. They still have hope and creativity. Even in times of crisis, they can be awarded prizes. It all depends on our level of consciousness and our way of seeing things. If we believe in change, it will come ..

So.it’s a good example, praised by François Hollande, the French president, David Cameron, the British Prime Minister and hailed by millions of participants in social media.

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(Click here for the original article in French.)

Latest Discussion

The Arab Spring, Can Tunisia continue the momentum they started?

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But what does this prize really mean?

For me, this award is a strong and profound message of hope and a reminder of the poem by Abu Al Kasseem Echebi: ‘When the people one day want life, the force of fate is in their favor …”

Sometimes the force of fate responds very strongly, like today. After an attempted assassination of a known personality in Tunisia namely Charfeddine Ridha, chairman of the Etoile Sportive du Sahel, as well as the deputy from the ruling party, Nidaa Tounes, who narrowly escape from his car riddled with 30 bullets 30, is this not the force of fate?

This is a fate that protects, promises and reassures. I do not know what star it is that watches over Tunisia, but it is a good star. We have avoided the worst and we are all as excited as children on the eve of the school year to watch the news, the reactions of celebrities and the updates our news from FB and Twitter ..

Let me tell you the story of the dialogue that led to the prize. .

The Tunisian National Dialogue is a quartet which includes four groups: the Tunisian General Labor Union; the Tunisian Confederation of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts; the Tunisian Order of Lawyers; and the Tunisian Human Rights League.

Formed in the summer of 2013, at a time when the democratization process was in danger because of political killings and widespread social unrest, the quartet organized a long and difficult national dialogue between the Islamists and their opponents, getting them to agree to escape from an institutional paralysis.

This dialogue managed to avoid the worst in Tunisia which bordered on civil war, especially after the assassination of Chokri Belaid, Mohamed Brahmi, and the ambush of young soldiers at Mount Chaambi.

Here is one more reason to continue believing and dreaming and never lose hope. To love a person is to believe in her or him, even in the most difficult times and it’s the same thing to love a country. As I wrote you in my last note, the joy of life bursts forth, the desire for love is always there, as long as we believe ..

For me, this is not the Nobel Prize of peace but of hope and of love, lots of love in the heart and in the hands, the hands that have constructed liberty and that continue to work for change in the face of the opposing winds and tides …

I thank all of you who have come to support us, who have kept your promise to visit Tunisia. Thank you from my heart. Today I ask you to congratulate us, to be happy for us, to share our enthusiasm and to cultivate our growing hope.

Someday the prize should be awarded to all the peoples who aspire to freedom, to Palestine divided and bruised, to Syria agonizing, to Algeria lost between two shores, to the Gulf countries, anesthetized by money and the making of war, to Libya stolen, to Egypt sold out. These peoples also, despite appearances and despite oppression, should also have the right to feel joy, to be honored and to be thanked.

Before taking the last sip of my coffee that burns my mouth but has no effect, as I bubble with joy and pride, I ask you to congratulate us, praise us, envy us! This is not the world cup of football. This is not a scientific discovery. This is not winning the lottery, It’s even better: it’s the Nobel Prize …

One last thing, as always in times of crisis, we must prepare for a rain of criticism and comments from the kill-joys and the envious. The consequences will be heavy because this prize is indeed a great slap in the face to all the dictators in the Arab world.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Mideast

Angola: Executive defends culture of peace

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article by Jaquelino Figueiredo and Fernando Neto, Jornal de Angola (translation by CPNN)

“The culture of peace is an urgent need for the harmonious coexistence among the people of Africa”, according to the remarks of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Saturday in Soyo,.

angola
Photography: Jaquelino Figueiredo

Manuel Augusto, who was speaking at the closing ceremony of the International Conference on the Culture of Peace, organized by the Eduardo dos Santos Foundation (FESA), said the participants analyzed the causes of conflicts and their tragic consequences.

The Secretary of State emphasized the need for actions aimed not only to establish, but also to contribute to the collective understanding of the importance of a culture of peace. He said, “It is in this context of pragmatism and collective awareness of the culture of peace that fall under the six dimensional levels set out by His Excellency the President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos and Patron of FESA, at the International Conference on Culture Peace, held in Luanda in March 2013, a joint initiative between the Angolan Government, UNESCO and the African Union.”

Manuel Augusto said that the culture of peace just one specific action, but rather an ongoing and dynamic process. For this, the Angolan Government has taken the responsibility to carry out next year the Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa, with the support of UNESCO and the African Union. “This proposal was accepted and endorsed by African Heads of States in their Summit of July 2014. Angola and its leader will share with the rest of the world their own experience and thus contribute concretely to the dissemination, awareness and adoption of a culture of peace “, he said.

The Executive considered that the participation of lecturers and experts from different parts of the world and international institutions of recognized competence will add not only prestige and visibility to the initiative of FESA, but also the assurance that the compilation of the papers presented will become a matter of study and research for leaders, academics, students and civil society in general. The participants of the International Conference on Culture of Peace recommended to academic research institutions a reflection on citizenship in Africa, its historical, sociological and cultural perspective. The enhancement and strengthening of oral tradition as a vehicle of transmission of cultural values ​​is also a recommendation of the conference.

The participants to the International Conference on Culture of Peace, held Friday and Saturday in Soyo, northern Zaire province, acknowledged the active role of Angola in resolving conflicts in the African continent, according to the chairman of FESA. Ismael Diogo da Silva, considering the meeting which brought together about 500 participants, including 90 foreigners from various countries in Africa, said all participants were unanimous that Angola is an example in conflict resolution, taking into consideration the efforts of the leadership of President José Eduardo dos Santos to keep the peace. For Angolans, he said, it should be cause for pride and to encourage the ongoing dialogue.

The chairman of FESA noted that the final declaration recommends the continuation of the theme of the discussion of the culture of peace, to persuade leaders not to take the path of conflict, but rather identify the major reasons for the promotion of dialogue and understanding.

The conference allowed interaction with African lecturers and FESA and managed to bring politicians, researchers and professors to the discussion of the culture of peace.

“We have heard politicians, researchers and professors, many of them members of international academies of culture of peace, of democracy, citizenship and UNESCO. They have left us with a clear message of encouragement that Angola is on track,” he said.

(click here for the original Portuguese version of this article)

(Question for this article:)
Africa, DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION

UK: Power to the Peaceful – Support Jeremy Corbyn – Join Stop the War

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article from Stop the War

Jeremy Corbyn’s fantastic victory in the Labour party leadership election is a huge tribute to him as a campaigner and Member of Parliament. It is also the result of the years of campaigning by the movements against war and austerity.

stopwar

Jeremy has always supported Stop the War, which has played an important part in building anti-war and peace sentiment in Britain, and he is currently our national chair.

Labour members and supporters have delivered a fitting riposte to the terrible legacy of Tony Blair, who helped to launch the ‘war on terror’ and took us into catastrophic war in Iraq.

But we know that the Tory government and its media supporters continue to press for wars and military solutions, despite the obvious failure of such strategies.

Jeremy’s victory sends a strong message against war, injustice and inequality. It raises the possibility of a real break with current foreign policy. But he will need the widest and most active possible support.

Stop the War is committed to campaigning with everyone who agrees with his ideas, to bolster anti-war opinion and strengthen the mass movement.

As David Cameron prepares for a vote in parliament to bomb Syria, the Stop the War Coalition is needed more than ever.

Please do everything possible to help and especially, join us if you can.

– Join Stop the War – help spread our message and strengthen our campaign

– Donate – unlike the merchants of war, we rely on our members and supporters for all our funding

Help the campaign to stop the bombing in Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, to oppose the replacement of Trident nuclear missiles, and to prevent future wars.

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DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Europe