Why Not A Department of Peace & Democracy?

A Department of Peace & Democracy would be a new ministry where the focus is peace building rather than preparing for conflict.   

Remember:  What we focus on expands. 

DEPARTMENT OF PEACE AND DEMOCRACY

Lao Tzu was an ancient Chinese Philosopher (700BC) who believed in action, stated that a virtuous person should not sit back whilst the world is in bloodshed.  He (she) should expose the truth and show the way for the evolution of humanity.  He taught that undeveloped humanity can destroy itself through ignorance and that it is the responsibility of one who can see, to tell a blind horseman on a blind horse that he is riding toward an abyss.[i]  

The world is reaching the most critical point in its history.    Many people are aware that the direction we are heading in is leading the world to self destruction, that is evident.   Many are searching for new ways to re-create the world we live in.   It is estimated that there requires a critical mass of approximately 4-6% of the world’s population to create a shift in the way we think and feel in order to change direction.  

It is clear that violence is based on fear and hatred.   It is imperative that we investigate and change societal attitudes which glorify violence and indoctrinate children with violent video games as entertainment.   We are living in a consumer society which values profit maximization over community utility and realization.  Clearly the economic system is structured to influence these choices with its roots in a survival of the fittest ethos.   However, the future will be determined by a shift in thinking along the following critical lines:

• A governmental and community focus on peace and positive possible futures;
• The facilitation of conflict resolution as a basis for resolving problems at all levels;
• The support of values based education which educates adults and children in life skills, positive self awareness, nonviolence and peaceful behaviours;
• Direct democratic participation of the public to empower the community to be involved in creating new directions and quality decision making.

Some words of wisdom to consider:

“The science of war leads one to dictatorship pure and simple. Science of nonviolence can alone lead one to pure democracy.”  – – Gandhi

 “World peace through nonviolent means is neither absurd nor unattainable. All other methods have failed. Thus we must begin anew. Nonviolence is a good starting point. Those of us who believe in this method can be voices of reason, sanity, and understanding amid the voices of violence, hatred, and emotion. We can very well set a mood of peace out of which a system of peace can be built.” – – Martin Luther King, Jr., December 1964

 “Democracy, disciplined and enlightened, is the finest thing in the world” – – Gandhi

 “Make truth and nonviolence not matters for mere individual practice but for practice by groups and communities and nations. That at any rate is my dream. I shall live and die in trying to realise it…” – – Gandhi

 “The way of peace is the way of truth. Truthfulness is even more important than peacefulness. Indeed, lying is the mother of violence. A truthful man (person) cannot long remain violent. He (she) will perceive in the course of his search that he has no need to be violent and he will further discover that so long as there is the slightest trace of violence in him, he will fail to find the truth he is searching for” – –  Gandhi (my brackets for inclusivity of language)

Overview of Peace

There is a range of definitions of peace, the focus of this project is on positive peace, which centres on the goal of an absence of structural violence.   This includes proactive strategies such as conflict resolution, non-violent action, community building and democratisation of authority. [1] 

Peace is considered a state of well-being embodied in trust, compassion and justice.  Peacemakers work to promote a world in which nonviolent interaction and social equality are the norm by starting at the grassroots level.  More broadly, peace comes from awareness that all humans have the right to a full and satisfying life.[2] 

There requires a reconstruction of interpersonal and international relations based on social justice and world law.    The quest for peace requires a deeper appraisal of the depths of human and institutional psyches that lead to force and to find and build peace. [3] 

The Department of Peace in Australia

The concept of a Department of Peace was first proposed in Australia with the release of a book entitled ‘An Australian Campaign for a Ministry for Peace A Worldpeace Initiative’ (1984).  This publication was written by Dr. Keith Suter and inspired by Stella Cornelius from the Conflict Resolution Network in Sydney.  The proposal arose through the work of the United Nations Association of Australia, Peace Program.

During the 1980’s the Department of Foreign Affairs expanded its capacity to deal with peace and disarmament issues.  Richard Butler became the first Ambassador for Disarmament and the Department provided a grant for Australian peace research.    However, to-date there has not been a Department of Peace in parallel to a Department of Defence.

The traditional focus of governments on military threats to security ensures that military budgets rise, management and scientific talent is redirected and scarce public resources are absorbed on the basis of a fear mentality of suspicion and mistrust in the realm of international relations.

Increasingly national security must be considered within the context of the world’ economies and political systems.   The stability of these systems depends on energy availability and most importantly, the stability of the earth’s biological systems.   The purpose of national security considerations should not be on the maximization of military strength (arms race, insecurity) but to maximize national security with an emphasis on sustainability.    The world eco-system is based on principles of functionality, adaptability and sustainability.   If the functionality of the system is affected the natural system will adapt to ensure it is sustainable.   As we are experienced with climate change, temperatures are changing, natural resources are depleting, glacial ice is melting and concerns over water quality and food yields are increasing.   This will definitely worsen unless governments and citizens re-examine the economic growth lifestyle we have created based on unrealistic paradigms.

Department of Peace and Democracy – Intention

Disagreement is a healthy sign of individuality. However, violent resolution of disagreements, is a sign of extraordinary immaturity. There is no reason in the world why violent resolution cannot be avoided, given the willingness to avoid it and seek alternative approaches. Therefore, the Department of Peace would promote conflict resolution as an organising principle of society.   Thus, solving problems rather than dehumanizing people become the focus at the personal, family, community, national and international levels.    

A recent petition has been formulated and is currently being circulated with the goal of obtaining thousands of signatures to encourage balanced consideration of this vital area.

“We the People, assert our democratic rights to the Liberal and Labour  Parties of Australia to create a Cabinet-level Department of Peace and Democracy which embodies a broad-based approach to peaceful, non-violent conflict resolution at both domestic and international levels. The Department of Peace and democracy would serve to promote non-violence as an organising principle in our society, and help to create the conditions for a more peaceful world.

Domestically, the Department would be responsible for developing policies which address issues such as: the causes of violence e.g. domestic violence, child abuse, and mistreatment of the elderly. In addition, it would promote peace through education, community activities, cross-cultural exchanges, community harmony projects, grassroots mediation services and participatory democracy.

Internationally, the Department would analyse foreign policy and make recommendations to the Government on matters pertaining to national security, the global environment, the protection of human rights, peacemaking and peacekeeping operations, international understanding and cooperation, the prevention and de-escalation of unarmed and armed international conflict and adherence to international law.”

See related material at http://www.house.gov/kucinich/action/peace.htm

Department of Peace – Services

• Information Network:   The Department would provide an information and link peace service providers to the community.
• Peace Education and Research: The quest for world peace requires that educators teach for peace not just about peace.   Peace education means the drawing out in people their desires for peace and providing nonviolent alternatives to manage conflict and skills for critical analysis of injustice.  Therefore, building attitudes for peace.  Peace Research would be funded to expand knowledge and understanding of the complexities of peace.  
• Values based Education:  The Department would provide grants to encourage values based education.   It would organise education summits to investigate how values based education can be effectively utilised in the public school system.
• Societal Violence Education and Research Centre:   A research centre could be funded to research violence in society and how it affects the quality of life.   Issues under investigation would include:  the nature of violence, media violence, violent video’s and DVD’s, domestic violence, child abuse, parenting, anti-bullying, power issues and international violence (war).
• Conflict Resolution:  The Department would disseminate information about conflict resolution in relation to the domestic and international levels.   High profiled figures would be utilised to role play common conflicts.
  • Community Mediation Centres.   These centres would enable the community to access free or subsidised mediation services.    For example final year Conflict Resolution students could undertake practical training in conjunction with Neighbourhood Centres (venue), Councils (funding) and The Dispute Resolution Centre (supervision).
  • Peaceful Behaviours:    Peace activities and philosophies across a range of disciplines would be encouraged through media campaigns.
  • Democracy:  Educating the public about democracy, political institutions, rights and responsibilities, non-violent action and public participation in the democratic process.   The Department would undertake ½ yearly polls to monitor public opinion across a range of peace and democracy issues.
  • Public Forums:   Public forums would be sponsored to encourage community participation and discuss issues of importance to the community.
  • Speakers Corners:   Speakers corners would be funded to encourage the public to engage in public debate.  
  • Arts and Community Linkages:    The Department would encourage and fund artistic initiatives that encourage peace, harmony and cultural exchange.  
  • Peace Policy:   The Department would develop peace policies as an alternative approach to dealing with international disputes.   In addition, the policy would focus on expanding understanding between nations and identifying opportunities to deepen relationships and international cooperation.    Australia would position itself as a country that mediates disputes and adheres to international law.