Alternatives to War: Civilian Peace Forces

The real courage in this world is never at the end of a gun, it will always be found in love, where those who truly care have the courage to be selfless and assist those who are calling out for help. This is the sign of civilisation, the other consciousness or world is where no-one responds, or worships violence as power is the world that creates devastation and unhappiness. I would like to add I am speaking of the act of violence, not the people involved. Given their consciousness they think what they are doing is appropriate given their model of the world. Had they seen differently, it would be different. People make their choices and go through experiences they come out damaged or wiser. My point is to highlight the selflessness that is never noticed or seen as heroism. I have seen it in people who care for the elderly, or visit lonely people, or single handedly raise kids, or silently make peace to create harmony in the family or community. They are positive and well intentioned. They come in many guises that create peace in our world. The concept of a peaceforce is really about civil society taking responsibility for peace and harmony where they live. They can act as a buffer to group think or violent breakouts.

Imagine civilian peaceforces around the world, not only in war zones but in suburbs, neighbourhoods, villages, towns and cities. Imagine those who decide to be the change, and model what a real civil society looks like, rather than feeling powerless and turning a blind eye.

“I carry a photo of the [Nonviolent Peaceforce] team of brave men and women in my briefcase to remind myself that, however terrible things seem, there is a powerful source for good in a world gone mad…In the end, the indomitable human spirit will prevail.”

Jane Goodall, Ph.D.

United Nations Messenger of Peace
UK/Tanzania

I met David Hartsough many years ago and was impressed by his vision, I am still impressed he is still going and is manifesting his dream. There is indeed hope in this world and it comes from the efforts of individual people with visions. So don’t give up on the dreams. Keep em coming…

http://www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org/about/history

A Nonviolent Force for Peace

Our Mission

The mission of Nonviolent Peaceforce is to promote, develop and implement unarmed civilian peacekeeping as a tool for reducing violence and protecting civilians in situations of violent conflict.

Our Vision

We envision a world in which large-scale unarmed civilian peacekeeping using proven nonviolent strategies is recognized as a viable alternative in preventing, addressing, and mitigating violent conflicts worldwide. Our primary strategy for achieving this vision is the creation of space to foster dialogue.

Our Work

We most often respond to invitations by credible local organizations committed to nonviolent solutions. Once invited, we meet key players, including commanders from opposing sides, local police, religious, business, and civil society leaders. We live and work in communities within conflict zones alongside local people.

When violence erupts, civilians under threat often contact us. They know and trust us. We have been living among them. Visibly nonpartisan and unarmed, we arrive in NP uniforms, with NP vehicles, letting our presence be known.

We build the confidence and safety of civilians deeply affected by conflict so they can access available structures and mechanisms for addressing problems and grievances.

Our activities have ranged from entering active conflict zones to remove civilians in the crossfire to providing opposing factions a safe space to negotiate. Other activities include serving as a communication link between warring factions, securing safe temporary housing for civilians displaced by war, providing violence prevention measures during elections and negotiating the return of kidnapped family members.

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“Violence and death are not the last word, no, it is you who have the last word – you are God’s agents to bring union where there is discord, hope where there is fear, love where there is hate”.
Most Reverend Desmond M. Tutu

Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town, Nobel Peace Laureate
South Africa

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How It All Began

David Hartsough had long been committed to creating a better world through nonviolent means. The Quaker activist protested racial segregation in lunch counter sit-ins in the 1960s, demonstrated against the Vietnam War and nuclear proliferation, and trained civilians in Kosovo in nonviolent strategies during the 1990s.

Mel Duncan’s vision began when he went to Nicaragua with the coffee/cotton brigades during the Contra war in 1984 and saw that villages were not attacked when foreigners were present.

Mel Duncan and David HartsoughDavid and Mel met at the 1999 Hague Appeal for Peace, each seeking support to make his vision an organized entity. After hearing David’s presentation, Mel shared his ideas with him. David and Mel immediately saw the powerful symbiosis. By the end of the event, they, along with others who caught the vision, were organizing to lay the foundation for Nonviolent Peaceforce.

As they and others began organizing NP, they talked to people around the world. Amid the fiercest violence, they met courageous and creative peacemakers who told them time and again that isolation was lethal and international accompaniers extended their lives and amplified their work.

Nonviolent peacekeeping is a common vision that has flowed through Gandhi, Maude Roydon, Badshah Khan and so many others. It has occurred and recurred to enough people for generations that now many focus their lives and resources on making it real.

David, Mel and their fellow founders constituted Nonviolent Peaceforce in the 2002 Convening Event in Surajkund, India with peace advocates from 49 countries in attendance. One year later, in fall 2003, Nonviolent Peaceforce had its first team in Sri Lanka.
Hartsough-Duncan Founders Circle
Become a member of the HARTSOUGH-DUNCAN FOUNDERS CIRCLE and join us in honoring David and Mel
Thank you to all of you who have joined.