Through resolution A/RES/55/47 of
This is a formal Report of the International Association of Educators for World
Peace on the Decade for a Culture of
Peace
Contact Information:
International Association of Educators for World Peace (
Director of Program: Mitch
Gold
Message from the President of IAEWP Charles Mercieca:
Dear Mitchell:
I went through your attachment carefully and I must say you have
produced a very good, well written, convincing document in the good cause of
genuine peace. I advise you send this Culture of Peace Questionnaire to all
those on your mailing list across every continent. It should serve as a source
of inspiration to everyone that comes across it. Congratulations and keep up
the good work. You are 100% on the right track.
Charles
C/o homeplanet alliance
M4W 3E2
Tel: 416-924-4449
WEBSITE: www.homeplanet.org
The activities Launched by our organization:
Please review our website and our Educational Materials
and our Great
Mind Program.
While we have over 100 offices and many chapters in our organization we
have developed many initiatives to achieve a Culture of Peace through
Education. This Report will refer to
the work of the
Canadian Chapter and does not represent the whole organization in the observations
that are contained herein. Many of our
individual Country organizations have instigated educational programs generally
contextualized within the recommended format of the Canadian Branch, and many Peace
Educators themselves have explored in their
own ways a new thinking paradigm necessary for Peace..
I refer you to: files and documents referenced in the Addendum to this
questionnaire and the references are repeated in the Addendum.
Please review the Madrid Signing Documents For a Culture of Peace at:
http://www.homeplanet.org/june2902/MadridDocumentFinal.htm
This document has been signed by many Peace leaders in the
world -
including both Federico Mayor Zaragoza, and Boutros Boutros Ghali.
The program needs funding and support to be fully
implemented $15 million
Summary of work:
http://www.homeplanet.org/hpa_reviews.asp?SpecificDocumentID=22
IPRA Presentation
http://www.homeplanet.org/hpa_conf_papers.asp?SpecificDocumentID=57
TOPS Presentation Havana May 2002
http://www.homeplanet.org/hpa_reviews.asp?SpecificDocumentID=59
The Great Mind Program a Preamble to all education.
http://www.homeplanet.org/torontomind_files/frame.htm
Draft Document of the Indigenous Elders for the Decade of
Indigenous
Peoples 1995 - 2004.
http://www.homeplanet.org/draftcover.html
and our introduction to Council of the Indigenous Elders..
http://www.homeplanet.org/councilgreeting.html
Objectives:
To increase the awareness level of the need for the
individual to take responsibility for a change in his/her life. To promote the awareness that humankind will make peace when peace
makes money. The necessity of both a
global and local mentality need be encouraged globality
as coined by Federico Mayor Zaragoza
Beneficiaries:
Or program was
intended to serve all peacemakers to assist by recognizing, bringing together
and implementing common core curriculum in the traditions of diverse social, and cultural traditions and movements.
Location of Activities over the Internet, speaking
engagements, and presentations at Conferences. Writing, UN News articles,
etc.
Resources - $500 K. Our program team has invested in it over $500
K of development costs to date and resources are fully spent. We have not raised our budget requirements of
$15 million dollars necessary to develop our programs fully.
Results - we
have a credibility gap. While our
programs are seen to be solutions to the mega-crisis everyone is afraid of
jumping in. The reductionist
mindset that pervades society has difficulty grasping holistic thinking
models.
How does one analyze this dilemma.
When Federico Mayor Zarogoza endorses your project in
front of 250 of the worlds leading Peacemakers at the inaugural event of the
Foundation for a Culture of Peace, one expects some financial support to
follow. It has been five years and after
numerous approaches nothing!.
When Boutro Boutros Ghali
as Secretary General of the Organization de la Francophonie
invites you to
When Dr. Young Seek Choue invites you to
The basic results are a failure from the point of view that the
implementation strategy has not been funded.
Frankly this is a criticism of the very organizations that have given
tacit agreement to the idea of a Culture of Peace. How can we achieve a program for a Culture
of peace without Funding an Implementation Strategy?
We are not a failure in our program we are failing in the Implementation
Strategy our program is better developed today, more comprehensive, and with
a higher degree of potential success than any other Culture of Peace program we
have explored or experienced. Ours is a
preamble to peace. During our exploring
of Peace Opportunities around the world we found one word PO. This word itself opens doors to understanding
a new paradigm of thinking as enunciated by its initiator Edward De Bono the
grandfather of lateral thinking processes.
2 Key Difficulties
Mainly around money and funding one requires funding to develop
infrastructure..
SELL THROUGH to
Peace Movement itself and the Sell through to the Corporate
Community suffer from the same conditioning.
Fear Ignorance and Greed. FIG principle at work.
How does one sell through a holistic thinking model to those trained in
reductionist thinking?. The obvious is not so obvious. Our sell
through is complicated by a fear mongering on the planet that invades the
roots of consciousness of even the most well meaning corporate executive.
Association with the UN itself has very mixed perceptions and
especially so in
Another difficulty is getting the information to the people that
understand the social economic dilemma that we are talking about. This may be our own difficulty in utilizing
language to convey ideas. Especially
when our paradigm is outside of the readers scope of
instructions. This happens at the
corporate level, and likely will continue to happen at UNESCO level as we shall
find out by the manner in which our document and work to date gets listened to.
3. Eight action areas of focus.
Horns of a dilemma. I have always disagreed with the specific
words in the 8 areas of action for a Culture of Peace..
I believe in one action area
of focus and all the others will fall in Peace Language. Developed with Holistic Education as the Focus. If we do this within the context of generally
accepted thinking models such as the Medicine Wheel
(Wheel of Life), the Ten Transformers, or the Systemic approach of the great
scientists like Heisenberg. We need to
move off the duality approach. PO and Jump Time are
considerations that need awareness in the community.
Please read the Great Mind
Program based upon the Peacemaker philosophy.
http://www.homeplanet.org/torontomind_files/frame.htm
So the pedagogy of holistic education is not confrontational as the
dinosaurs in education would have you believe.
Publish or perish is the by word of the intellectual community. Fear of not understanding PO or Jump Time scares
educators. Understanding the effect of
the breath scares educators.
.
How do you fund the Culture of Peace?
- through begging? Or through the TOPS program.
For example I have disagreed with the wording in the first notion of
promotion by the Culture of Peace. I
expressed this when the COP was in its formative stages. . Fostering
a Culture of Peace through Education.
This is true but limit the necessary shift we
have to do to achieve a Culture of Peace.
This does not mean that we do not teach people how to shoot guns. It means we teach a responsible use and
understanding of the gun and how much energy it requires to make a gun. When we account totally for the energy
required for guns and bombs we might stop making them. We need that energy and resources to meet the
Millennium Development Goals.. It is not just education that is necessary,
but holistic education. Some in the
education field have interpreted this to mean Peace Education. Unfortunately Peace Education is being
introduced as a new subject. Peace
Education is not a subject it is a holistic framework for healthy
thinking. Why I say unfortunate is that
it becomes a course that people either take or do not take. I believe the information to achieve a
Culture of Peace ought to be included in a Preamble of All education our Great Mind Program
is part of that program. The Thanksgiving Address
also is an integral part of any program.
Of course others may say that it is delinquent in some way. Well let us add to where it is delinquent. I propose that this is a multi level,
consolidation of basic common core ideas and common beliefs that are open ended
and accepting.
By stating this many of the
other seven issues are covered. Sustaining Economic and Social Development this fundamental in the
frame of holistic thinking modeling.
So do we need to have 8 principles?
I think we need only one if I am wrong please so demonstrate where
the holistic thinking models that we present are delinquent.
We include the Medicine Wheel, the Ten Transformers, the
Framework for Global Thinking which are all programs within the Great Mind
teaching program.
We have expressed to the Secretary General in his Panel Threats Challenge and Change
that this kind of thinking be pre-ambled into all programs . This has not been done yet.
There is a great fear at the UN
for the concept of a Global Brand in the area of Business within the UN
structure and outside of its structure.
And I believe the fear is greater within its structure.
In my humble opinion,
the Culture of Peace has to be broken down to its most simplified
common core concepts that are holistic in nature.. This is how we broach the concept - not of what to learn, but processes
of how to learn.. Teaching how to learn
is what we ought to be doing by encouraging servant leadership,
valuing the experience of doing things, creativity, and building together that
which we know needs to be built.
In the Cree Nation they have a word for this. Inpean Are you awake.?
This is the message of the Unity Ride of Chief Arvol
Looking Horse -
the Elder Statesman who led the team of 40
indigenous Elders at the Hague Appeal for Peace? Have the educators that came together at the
HAP that endorse the Peace Education Initiative endorsed the notion of holistic
education? I think you have to ask these people these
hard questions and quite pointedly as I am not allowed to invoke their name in
this context.
This may be
how we make peace a culture of peace if we do not have
something nice to say about somebody then best not said. Invoking a teachers name without permission
is not respectful of your teacher.
But those that are leading the Peace Education Movement for the Culture
of Peace are challenged to name drop to establish credibility. What papers have I published this week?
Teaching old thoughts is not a welcomed process. Teaching new thoughts is less welcome.
These great teachers need be supported overtly. There are those teaching Jump Time
concepts at the UNDP but have to go unnamed.
Why is this? My very core is
challenged by not being allowed to say what I know for fear of hurting one of
my teachers.
Why is this? Is a question that The Culture of non Peace must ask itself. This leads me to a lesson of one of my
Elders who has asked me to carry the message that it is necessary to melt the
ice in the hearts of men.
This may be considered to be a Major Obstacle.
4. Progress in the First Five Years:
The First Five Years was used in a very unproductive manner. More on development of new
attentions. I should not say
wasted, because where we are now is clearly much better than where we were at
the end of our personal 1000 days exploratory voyage. Our lessons learned were put into development
strategies and built to shine light on some of the distractions from our
objective of achieving a Culture of Peace.
We attended a number of conferences, presenting papers, developing
relationships attempting to raise funds at the same time being distracted by
having to survive financially and not having the state of the art resources
that this work requires.
The substance of this document identifies Progress. Not progress in numbers of people but
rather quality of the content.
5. Major
Obstacles for the Promotion of a Culture of peace.
Here again I have difficulty with the language of the
questionnaire. The problem is not with
the promotion of, the problem is achieving a Culture of Peace.. You be it to promote it.
Is this a teaching? Is it not obvious to everyone.
We have to live a Culture of Peace ourselves First.
This is very difficult when our own program for a Culture of Peace
which was endorsed at the Inaugural event of the Foundation for a Culture of
Peace by the whole conference and in
particular Federico Mayor Zaragoza and by Boutros Boutros Ghali - I plead
guilty of name dropping!
So what is the Obstacle Funding Peace. How to do it?
TOPS? When? Now!!!
6. Measuring Progress.
I believe we have moved backwards.
The war mentality of the world as expressed in 1977 by Jonathan Schell
in his treatise Fate of the Earth has not moved our language towards peace language
rather we have moved away from it. Fear
is developed in the consciousness of people on a daily basis.
Concepts like PO
which might be considered a measuring tool as to how far has
PO gone in
educational literature? How many
teachers understand PO?
Myself I am only learning it, but it makes so much sense for a Culture
of Peace to have an entry word. We can
thank the great lateral thinker Edward de Bono for coming up with it. And we can thank peacemakers for taking the
word to the rest of the world.
How can this be when the word is still hidden? You maybe do not like the word? Then use another word. Or letter, or sign but let it be understood
that the word letter, symbol, sound, smell be an entry word for peace. We almost have it in the two finger peace
sign but the sign itself does not promote conversation rather it is a
statement certainly a peace statement but not encouraging further dialogue.
These concepts should be discussed even argued if you like silent
approval does not stimulate a culture of peace. I have challenged al members of our own
organization declaring that we have not been good teachers. How could it be so when the world is in such
a state. The
teachers must take responsibility. If we
are to have Peace, we must teach for peace, plan for peace, strategize for
Peace, fund for peace.
How is it that I cannot raise $15 million dollars to research a peace
construct when the
I ask you the reader to ask your supervisor the same question.
7 Developing partnerships and cooperation
Over the Years we have developed many relationships and networks. Unfortunately the networks are over lapping,
duplicating energies for survival, and self importance. I can point out some specific examples.
Another Peace Education organization is in its formative stages. The International
Association of Educators for Peace.
They have virtually no status but are a growing body of educators with
an agenda to support a Culture of Peace.
When I suggested that we work together the offer was not taken up. So rather than build a Culture of Peace
Constituency, we have the beginning of confusion between people that see our
organization the IAEWP and the new IAEP.
Whose interest does this serve?
And in trying to learn about the IAEP, I find nothing. Yet they are developing a presence through
the Culture of Peace Initiative and I have to wonder. Certainly the Culture of Peace reporters have
to wonder as well.
I also want to talk about the formation of the Culture of Peace (COP),
the Hague Appeal for Peace (HAP), the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the
Peace Education Initiative. As the
Culture of peace develops certain guides could be utilized. For example the Hague Appeal for Peace came
up with a list of 50 concepts needing attention. One such point, and
I might ad a highly important point was point 40. To utilize media to support
a Culture of Peace. We have
suggested to the IPB to develop a media data base that all Peacemakers might
access. I believe that having a media
data base will assist in bringing the Peace Movement together. The director of the IPB explained he did not
have the resources to build such a database.
This demonstrates a systemic problem within the Peace Movement. The organization that brought together and
hosted the event Hague Appeal for Peace did not develop the resources to
implement in any way shape or form any of the initiatives enunciated at the
Hague Appeal for Peace. I remember the
event well and marveled at the multiple voices saying the same thing in 100
different ways. This is not a bad
thing. But if the HAP was an attempt to
organize, it ought to have also been responsible for developing the Funding base
for implementing the recommendations.
This is not to say that we are the only organization with the only idea
for funding our activities. Certainly
many organizations have developed interesting funding approaches beyond begging
that have given their organization resources to move forward. I do believe our program is a higher ordered
process for achieving a Culture of Peace, and the World Futures Study
Federation agreed by
giving our TOPS
program the distinction of an Award for Creating Futures Conscious
Organizations.
I could also refer to the Peace Education organ of the Culture of Peace
as an organization not fully dealing with holistic thinking modeling. And if I am wrong in this observation I
welcome those in charge to explain how they are utilizing the library of
materials that our organization sent them.
Where are they? How are they
accessed? What is the pedagogy of the
Culture of Peace Education organization?
Divide and conquer? Or working
together supporting Educators For World Peace. If there is support there for our
organization I have not felt it in any way shape or form. Perhaps this observation should be under Obstacles! But I am certain it comes from a Funding problem
at the Organizational level. I.e. those
who have the jobs do not want to do anything too provocative. Maintain the old. Change yes, but slowly..
8 Website has it been
helpful
at first it felt good to identify a central
point but have found no co-operation through the COP head organization.
9. New Projects to promote a
culture of Peace over the next 5 years.
We are developing the First Nations Indigenous Trust as the recipient
organization of the TOPS
program. As part of this initiative we
are developing a Mass Media Campaign on the issues involved to achieve a
Culture of Peace. We see the bringing
together of the MDGs the Earth Charter, the UN Global Compact, the TOPS Program through a
common Vendor Policy code as a major step.
This is going to be accomplished through a series of documentaries on
the issues utilizing a
The Culture of Peace needs a meeting place and
I bring to your attention the Peace Event in June 21-28 in
10: Priority domains amongst the
8 domains:
Education in holistic values. PO. Thanksgiving address as
a daily ritual.
11. Approaches over the next
five years.
Building the First Nations Indigenous Trust through developing
documentaries on the relevant issues
Beginning a Mass Communications Project and have now incorporated into
the Culture of Peace Language support for the Millennium Development Goals , the UN
Global Compact, the Earth
Charter, the TOPS
program, and the Great
Mind of the Peacemaker.
This knowledge and information built together will be a great step forward
to achieve a Culture of Peace.
What we need is FUNDING for the Mass Media Campaign and Funding to
establish the Infrastructure of the ENDORSED Strategy to achieve a Culture of
Peace.
ADDENDUM:
I
attach my job application form that I am sending to an Event taking place in Vancouver in 2006. I send this so that the Culture of Peace
Organization might understand that even after spending $500K of our own funds
I am still out begging for a job. Is
this the kind of Peacemaker that the Culture of Peace wants representing
it? A beggar for pay for a job I am
already doing? It is difficult to both
do the work and beg it clouds the mind and compromises values.
The
resulting observation ought to be made by the review committee. How to most effectively utilize my mind? Should I be co-ordinating
and leading an event in Vancouver
or should I be strategizing the Culture of Peace for the Planet? This could be your decision not the City
Council in
The
answer is conceptually
BOTH. Get me $15 million
and I will integrate my budgets to support the Vancouver Event! And
watch what is accomplished. Come with
me to