peacemaker

1 - A Response to Simon Burall inviting him to 'blog'

Warm Greetings Simon:

Thank you for your recent post, and I am responding in a specific manner - but would like to propose that we continue our dialogue in a different format.

I would like to propose that we communicate through a "blog" process. To that end, aside from what follows, I have opened up a "blog" under the title "Peacemaker" found at www.peacemaker.blog.com

I would like to continue a discussion with you on how we might strategize for peace using the common elements of our organizations and connections and engaging further dialogue.

As to your most recent post, I am unable to fund One World Trust, and site your request for funding as the "proof positive" that we need to engage peace in a different manner than we are doing. By your own words your organization is not sustainable. Through the TOPS program, and utilizing a VPC (Common Vendor Policy code) the One World Trust could well be a funding recipient of our joint activities.

Below is my response to your post last week.:

Mitch, thanks for your email and for pointing me to your site. I have
had a quick look round and am still not clear, beyond our common desire
for a peaceful world, what exactly it is we share in our vision of how
to get there. That we are both educational organisations is true, but
beyond that I am not clear.

my response:
As educators it is our mission to educate for peace. How we do this ought to be incorporated into programs. If we examine the common elements in education programs we will find much of the content that is in our “great mind” program. Perhaps a quick read through will identify some common elements of our “education” constructs.

We believe that a peaceful world requires global organisations which are
accountable, democratically, directly to the people they affect.

my response:
Our organization probably would not be described as a “democratic” organization – and likely yours too would not qualify by the absolute meaning of the definition. So as a beginning construct we both have a “problem associated with language and meaning”. Our intentions are likely to have decisions be “democratic” and yet our organization looks beyond “democratic” and works towards consensus with consensus in our terminology being defined as "all minus one" – leaving the opportunity to have dissension and discussion on contrary positions.


We believe that we need a strong framework of international law to bind
countries together and to give them the security they need which will
reduce their recourse to force.

We have the same belief.

We believe that decisions must be taken at the lowest possible level, but that there are some decisions which can only be taken by the world community as a whole; and, back to the first point, this must be done democratically.

my response
Our process involved in the TOPS program assures this aspect, but requires a level of cooperation and understanding of certain basic values. Cooperation in work and understanding of values requires “common education constructs” which we identify in the “great mind” program in a number of ways. i.e. the Medicine Wheel, The Ten Transformers, the Framework for global Learning – and most important the understanding that comes from PO, and Jump Time. The struggle for democratic insititutions on a global level must include technology in some manner shape or form, and at this point in time technology is not "democratic". nor will it ever be until we engage the Bill Gates's of the world.

We undertake research and education activities to achieve this.

We are aware of some of your activities in this regard, and we see a duplication of efforts in the arena of Corporate Governance and would encourage your organization to develop with us a common Vendor Purchasing Code (VPC)Policy that could be integrated within the UN System and Civil Society in general. We believe that a Common Vendor Purchasing Code that encompasses the values of the UN Global Compact, the MDG’s of the SG and the Earth Charter would go a long way to shifting the energy of the planet towards a more peaceful planet. “Humankind will make peace when peace makes money”. This is where the TOPS program actually works.

Perhaps I am being dense, but I don't pick that up from your website.

my response
What does “dense” mean? PO dense?


Your approach seems similar to Johan Galtung's, at least what I little I
understand of his approach and yours.
my response
I agree, and thank you for the compliment.

I don't deny for an instant that this is important work, it is just that, unless I have completely misunderstood, I don't think it is what our founders had in mind when they set us up.

They full well may not have had this in mind. One can only understand what they choose to, as well as what is available when they made up their mind. Your founders were not involved with an understanding of what we call “Jump Time” nor the i9mpact that the realization of Jump time brings forth in human consciousness.

I am sure you will let me know if I have completely missed the point!

my response
I think you are sharing exactly what we need to share at this moment in time. What we need to do is to go further, faster.

I believe we (meaning those of us that are in positions that share an intention of peace activity) to look deeper at what we are doing and begin to strategize more effectively to achieve peace.

In short I can think of a number of people (many of the following I have had direct and meaningful yet incomplete communication with) that need to come together in common thought and process. Federico Mayor Zaragozza, Cora Weiss, Colin Archer, Boutros Boutros Ghali, Dr. Young Seek Choue, Lama Gangchen, Alfredo Tsfeir Younis, James Wolfensohn, Maurice Strong, Bill Clinton, Johann Olav Koss, Steven Lewis, Bono, Bob Geldoff and yourself Simon Burall.

Imagine what we might achieve together, developing a “peace strategy” – utilizing a Vendor Policy Code as an integral part of the "Accountability Project you have initiated, have it be well funded, attached to an education and communication program, delivered through Mayors Offices around the world, working with Olympic athletes as educators, teaching common core elements to the police departments, communicating to the corporate community the values and necessity of corporate governance rules and behaviours that reflect on Triple bottom line accounting functions, and reported to their shareholders through a “new accounting designation” (Global Accountant).

Having read your Reports I believe we are on the same page. There may be some space between us, and our understandings and knowledge base. But we both want the same thing, and we have the tools today to actualize our intentions - that will move us out of the "beg" mode" and into a new paradigm of thought and process.

Let's try the "blog" and if you feel you want to "own the blog" that is ok with me. I think that once we begin to share our thoughts, many will see how difficult it is for "peacemakers" to work together, and perhaps solutions to our common problems may emerge.

I say lets try.

Peace

Mitch



All the best





> Dear Mitchell
>
> You can download the One World Trust annual report from our web site:
> One World Trust
> Annual Report
> (http://www.oneworldtrust.org/pages/download.cfm?did=295)
>
> You'll see from the report that the Trust is at the forefront of research and advocacy in its active projects. As I'm sure you know, these include:
>
> * the Global Accountability Project
> , which is making some of the most powerful international organisations
> more accountable to the people their actions affect; and
> * the Parliamentary Oversight Project
> that is investigating how well the
> British Parliament holds the Government to account for external policy and
> will be advocating reforms and changes to make this more rigorous.
>
> Partners, parliamentarians and others who we work with often comment
> positively on the scope and level of our work: the decision-makers we are
> influencing can make changes that will improve the lives of millions of
> people in one stroke. In the last year we have worked constructively with
> parliamentarians, leading figures in business and civil society,
> diplomats,
> and academics.
>
> In all our work we are striving to build a more secure world now and for
> the
> generations who follow.
>
> I hope you agree that the work the Trust is doing with this vision in mind
> is a cause worthy of your support.
>
> The One World Trust relies on donations to fund its crucial work. Although
> we have been successful in recent years in attracting grant funding for
> specific projects from organisations like the Ford Foundation and Joseph
> Rowntree Charitable Trust, these grant funding organisations demand that
> the
> Trust can generate regular giving from its supporters. This is not the
> current situation. We are in fact relying heavily on our reserves which
> will
> be exhausted in the foreseeable future.
>
> To continue our work we need your financial support. You can give
>
> online now, or print a form
> to support the
> Trust with a cheque or regular standing order (UK bank accounts only).
> Your
> support will in particular enable us to revive our programme of public
> lectures, as well as covering other essential costs. Please contact me on
> +44 (0) 20 7219 3825 or owt@parliament.uk if you have any questions.
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Simon Burall
> Executive Director
>
> P.S .The Trust has a number of exciting publications due out this year,
> including pamphlets with new research on a global currency and world
> parliament. We will be uploading these on our web site along with details
> of
> the corresponding Parliamentary events. These and all our other activities
> will be enabled by your vital financial support!
>
> You have been sent this email because of your previous support of the
> Trust
> and its projects. Please let us know if you would not like to receive news
> from us in the future (no more than around one email a month).
>
> **********
> One World Trust
> Houses of Parliament, 2 Abbey Gardens, London SW1A 0AA
> Find out more about the UN
> 60th Birthday Gala Concert at the Royal Albert Hall
> http://www.oneworldtrust.org
> Tel +44 (0)20 7219 3825
>
> Charity No. 210180
>
>
 (Comment this)

2 - Today I have taken a next step.

I have joined forces with a group organized by John Bunzl:
John Bunzl – June 2005.

John Bunzl is the founder and a Trustee of the International Simultaneous Policy Organisation (ISPO).


Adopting the Simultaneous Policy is free! Please go to: http://www.simpol.org/dossiers/dossier-UK/html-UK/how_do_i_adopt_sp-UK.html

Simultaneous Policy: Re-Discovering Our Collective Humanity

Footnotes:

[i] See http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/06_june/10/ross.shtml

[ii] When Corporations Rule the World, David Korten, Kumarian Press & Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 1995.

[iii] Elisabet Sahtouris, adapted from Understanding Globalization as an Evolutionary Leap presented to the Institute of Noetic Sciences http://www.noetic.org/, July 2001. For more by Sahtouris go to: http://www.ratical.org/Lifeweb

[iv] Global website http://www.simpol.org. UK website http://www.simpol.org.uk

-----------
International Simultaneous Policy Organisation (ISPO)
http://www.simpol.org

This organization and its protocols demonstrate a real Democratic possibility for Peace.

Let's explore a strategy for Peace together.

Peace

Mitch GOld


 (Comment this)

3 - Here is a new communication tool for peacemakers allowing them to add their voice. You can hear it here.
The link below is a talking e-mail.
http://www.talkingwebpages.ca?url=1123178610p

For more info go to http://e-snaps.ca
Michael (Comment this)

4 - Attached is the summary presented to the United Nations - a five year report on the Culture of Peace

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 world’s 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 Paris and promises Institutional support, one assumes finances will follow. Not.



When Dr. Young Seek Choue invites you to Korea to present to important Peace Educators your program – one assumes finances will follow. Again nothing.



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 Canada. From a “I do not trust or like the UN and anything associated with it” “What about all the corruption at the UN?” “ Why has the UN itself taken so long to adopt the UN Global Compact and a Vendor Policy Code that supports its own well meaning initiative.? For example, our program could be a standard establishing program eliminating the accusations of Blue washing and greenwashing..

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 U.S. can appropriate an additional $82 billion dollars more than its already exorbitant commitment to war.



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 MDG’s 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 Host City as our Meeting Place. Toronto – which happens to mean “Meeting Place” has been selected.



The Culture of Peace needs a meeting place and Toronto is being proposed. We are well situated on the planet – close enough to NYC and far enough away. We have sacred lands being set aside for us to establish a Meeting Place for the Wise people to come together in a good way to examine the processes of societal progress to achieve a Culture of Peace. Planning for Peace will be one of the oft heard themes as we build a World Youth Center, A World Healing Center, a United Nations Peace University and a Center to house the Spiritual Forum of the United Nations.



I bring to your attention the Peace Event in June 21-28 in Vancouver. While at this point I have no formal role, I am applying for the privilege of working with this Event to implement the Culture of Peace Strategy as endorsed by the world leaders. It is too early to know if I will be acceptable.







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.

 (Comment this)

5 - Today is the 12th of August and it has been ten days since I have begun this blog process.

Frankly I am underwhelmed.

I am also confused as to why people that are involved in exchanges with me are not doing it through the BLOG process.

I introduced the BLOG to Dr. Mercieca of the IAEWP and I expected him to write. Simon Burall of the ONe World Trust is strangely silent, and the Jewish Alternative Network that is reinventing the Tikkun Community in Canada - along with John Bunzl of the SP program. None of these groups or organizations have participated in the discussion.

Well, I guess we continue and see what happens.

I will use this more as a diary in the future and we will see how that works.

I will likely attempt to develop some video content in this blob as well as some sound bites.

This week we laid the ground work for the Institute of Global Accountants. this should be interesting. The word of the day is Transparency - in corporate governance.

I also want to reflect on last nights Conversation Cafe which we host every Thursday evening at # 6 St. Joseph. THe theme was teachers / learners. Who are our teachers? and how do we learn from them? What is it that we find in our teacher? are we there to model after our teacher? we had perspectives from a fellow from Beiging China and I for one was amazed to learn that he considered Mao to be a talented Poet. Next week he is going to bring some poetry and translate it for us.

We also have done some exploration into the Diaper business. One of our friends owns a business that has approx 3000 employees. All Canadian production. He is considering moving production to China! one of his product lines is Diapers - I have done some investigation into the industry learnig that 98% of the diaper businsess is disposable diapers.

That is amazing considering that the diapers all end up in land fill - or at least so I thought. apparantly they are put in the green box - this I have found may be dangerous to our health - but aI am still looking into it to learn what is really happening and seeing if there is an opportunity to shift the market and build the recycling diaper business.

So much for this week

Peace

Mitch
 (Comment this)

6 - http://www.talkingwebpages.ca?url=1123178610p

a talking message

 (Comment this)

7 - Today I am writing to the Royal Saudia Arabian Gov't through its offices in London;
ukemb@mofa.gov.sa

I enclose the document:
The Arab Peace Initiative

HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal's keynote speech
to the Next Century Conference
London, June 18th 2005

Which follows my comments:

I have read HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal's speech and have the following comments to HRH which I trust your good offices will report to him:

At the inaugural confrerence of the Foundation for a Culture of Peace Federico Mayor Zaragozza, Wole Solenka, and myself agreed and stated that the Jerusalem issue must be considered differently than it is currently being considered. Not as an either /or situation, but rather as a both / and situation , whereby all interests of all spiritual understandings develop a council for administering Jerusalem - in short - take Jerusalem out of the peace process - and manage Jerusalem by the spiritual elders.

This is not rocket science but it may create peace.

I ask those that are truly embroiled in the processes of thinking about Peace, consider wisely how we might achieve peace through this aspect of process.

Taking opposing views and arguing for ones' position will never achieve peace.

The process that I am describing is a teaching process of the "peacemaker". It is entered into by understanding "PO" - a word that indicates you are moving towards the "Peace Opportunity".

While thye word has not received the accolades it deserves at this point in time, if HRH learned the word and assisted in the propagation of the word and the understanding that goes along with it - we might have a chance for Peace.

I trust HRH will get exposed to the word and look forward to a response.

Peace

Mitch Gold
Peacemaker
UN Special Envoy IAEWP
IAEWP Canada
416-924-4449

We have listened this morning and afternoon to comprehensive analyses and rich discussions on various aspects of the Arab Israeli conflict. I am privileged to have listened to such a group of well informed experts.



I share the view that the ongoing Palestinian Israeli conflict is the most threatening to Middle East peace and stability. And there will be no peace or stability until a just and comprehensive solution is found, within which Palestinians have the right to self determination and have their own viable state, on their own land.



Ladies and gentlemen



Let me remind you here of the words of the Balfour Declaration.



In November 1917 Arthur Balfour, the then British Foreign Secretary said, "nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine".



In 1946 King Abdulaziz wrote to American President Truman urging him to keep moral principles in mind and not to tolerate unjust policies aimed at accommodating Jewish claims at the expense of the rights, dignity and independence of the indigenous people of Palestine. In his reply President Truman told King Abdulaziz that the Palestinian problem was the most difficult problem facing the world.



Here we are six decades later - and it is still the most difficult problem facing the world.



The position of the Kingdom, which was first declared by King Abdulaziz, has continued throughout different phases of the conflict without change. It is firmly founded on principles of justice, international legitimacy and the rejection of aggression.



After the establishment of the Israeli State and the occupation of Palestinian land in 1948, the Kingdom supported the rights of the Palestinian people for self determination, their rights to their own state on their own land, and their right to return to their homes, properties, and farms in Palestine.



After the 1967 war and the occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, alongside other Arab lands in Egypt, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, the Kingdom with other Arab countries stood against the Israeli aggression and the occupation. As it has been seen, the Israeli occupation, and its consequences, have resulted in widespread instability in the region.



Realizing the need for a comprehensive and just solution to the Arab Israeli conflict, King Fahd in 1982 presented his vision for a peaceful settlement for the Arab Israeli conflict mainly based on the following principles:



1.The withdrawal of Israel from all the Arab territories which were occupied in 1967, including Arab Jerusalem.



2. The guaranteeing of the freedom of worship and the performance of religious rites for all religions in the Holy Places.



3. The reaffirmation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the exercise of their inalienable and imprescriptible national rights, and the indemnification of those who do not desire to return.



4. The establishment of an independent Palestinian State with Jerusalem as its capital.



Although Arab countries unanimously agreed for the first time on a plan for a peaceful settlement for the conflict including the recognition of Israel, the crisis has continued.



Hopes were renewed at the Madrid conference in 1991 in the aftermath of the war to liberate Kuwait in an attempt by the international community to start a peace process through negotiations involving Israel and Arab countries including Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians.



Ladies and gentlemen,

The United Nations has passed many resolutions, but the crisis continues. The continuation of this tragedy, the ever deteriorating situation in the Palestinian territories and the lack of action by the international community have led many in the Middle East to criticize the double standards in pursuing UN resolutions. Despite showing indifference to Israeli aggression and inhuman treatment towards the Palestinians, swift action has been taken when UN resolutions have been violated in other areas.



The suffering of the Palestinian people has been highlighted by many independent observers including members of the British Parliament, the United Nations, and various NGOS.



Lately, the wall has raised fears that its real objective is to create new de facto borders between Israel and an eventual Palestinian state.



On 9 July 2004 , the International Court of Justice condemned the Israeli wall and pointed out the damage that the construction of the wall would inevitably do to any prospect for peace.



Israel’s response has been to remain obdurate. This stubborn intransigence is a political minefield that will cause irreparable damage to that much troubled road to peace. It could indeed be fatally damaging to any chance of reaching a just solution to the Palestinian issue and the Arab Israeli conflict.



Barriers and walls will not bring peace and stability.



Despite this we must continue to hope and continue to work towards the possibility of a peaceful settlement. We hope that the International Quartet Committee revives the peace process and urges Israel to live up to its commitments towards the Road Map and to its obligations in compliance with the resolutions of international legitimacy, UN Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, and in accordance with the principle of land for peace as endorsed at the Madrid conference.



The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, alongside other Arab countries, has clearly expressed its interest in reaching a peaceful solution for the Palestinian tragedy based on international legitimacy and on the principle of peace for land. This desire for peace was clearly stated in Crown Prince Abdullah's Plan of 2002, which called for total Israeli withdrawal from Arab lands according to UN resolutions in return for total Arab recognition of Israel.



In 2003 the Security Council adopted resolution 1397. This includes the vision of two states - Israel and Palestine - living side by side within secure and recognized borders. And yet the road towards achieving that vision remains uncertain.



Ladies and gentlemen



This is the most difficult problem facing the world.



The British Prime Minister described the Palestinian problem at the conclusion of the London meeting in March 2005 on supporting the Palestinian Authority as ’’the single most pressing political challenge” .. “this is the issue that causes as much misunderstanding, division, concern, worry as virtually any other in the whole of international community” ‘’much of the poison that we want to take out of the international relations has swirled around as a result of the failure to make progress on this issue.’’



In my opinion and after listening to this morning's and afternoon's discussions, the basic ingredients for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace simply can be and should be based on the following principles:



- Legality and international legitimacy

- International responsibility

- Justice and even-handedness



Crown Prince Abdullah foresaw the need to break the stalemate in the Arab Israeli conflict and through his initiative all Arab countries are united in agreeing that peace is their strategic option. The Arab Peace Initiative is still on the table and provides for a comprehensive solution to this troubling conflict. While it has been rejected by Israeli, it was described in the joint statement by President Bush and Crown Prince Abdullah in April 2005, as a bold initiative - adopted unanimously by the Arab Summit in 2002- that seeks to encourage an Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab peace.



And finally, I have heard from my distinguished colleagues and from others that the Arabs have not served this initiative enough. That we must do more to make it come to fruition. This begs me to put the following question to my colleagues: what have the powers that be done to bring to fruition the Rogers plan, the Kissinger step by step plan, the Reagan plans, the Madrid, Oslo initiatives, the Taba effort, and finally the Bush Roadmap?
 (Comment this)

8 -
TO CNN AND THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
This Katrina Hurricane has been a major distraction. I am a peacemaker and spend my time working on Peace modalities. How do we use Katrina to assist Peace efforts.
The first thought is that Mr. Bush has taken a "business as Usual attitude" to this huge event.

wHAT IF WE USED OUR PEACE PROGRAM - PO TO LOOK AT KATRINA

www.peacemaker.blog.com
what might we find?
will Canada send more lumber to help out? of course we will.
Will we think twice given that the US has stiffed us on $5 billion dollars in the lumber sector? NO we will come to the aid of our brothers and sisters because that is what Canadians do.
We are peacemakers.

What an opportunity has been lost here with Katrina. Bush finally had his opportunity to bring the troops home.
Yes would no that be a godd outcome?

a perfect exit strategy - rebuild the US rather than continue the bombing in IRAQ.

Please do NOT let Mr Bush NOT have the alternative choice put before him.

Then he cannot plead ignorant of the concept.

Imagine that we brought 1/2 of the troups home and had them begin to rebuild the south - not in the way it was built before, but using sustainable concepts - using solar / building the communities in a sustainable way. Using the great skills and technology of the American people.
Let's do this with JUMPing In with both feet -

to do business as usual is an insult that the American People and the People of the world do not need at this time in our history.

Let Katrina be a Blessing rather than a curse.

Peace

Mitch Gold
www.homeplanet.org (Comment this)

9 - Greetings Clare:

Thank you for your immediate response. I have presented to the SG our organizations 5 year review which I found little mention of in the UNESCO summary. It speaks to funding, and to the inability of the UN community to work together.

I am currently writing a review of Mark Malloch Browns UNDP year-end summary which also demonstrates the inability of the UN to function promoting its own programs internally and externally.

I, on behalf of our organization that supports the UN and the UN network express deep frustration with the process of distilling information at the UN. In particular I spent 12 years to have one word added to the UN dialogue - Responsibilities - the attachment of that word to Rights - We do not have another twelve years to have the UN understand PO - as an introductory word for peace, and I ask you to look into your own processes and look at how this might be done.

It is on behalf of all Educators for World Peace that I write, to instigate a common word that crosses over between Science, Culture, Education and Communication.
Our work has been to look for common core attributes to information and knowledge and encompass them into a program (unbiased as possible) and one of the words that signifies the unbiased nature of our common core curriculum is the understanding of PO.

I trust that you will cogitate on the meaning and significance of what I write.

Peace

Mitch GOLD
www.peacemaker.blog.com
> www.homeplanet.org
> IAEWP VP North American Affairs
> 2 Bloor St West Suite 100-209
> Toronto Ontario
> M4W 3E2





--


On Tue Sep 06 00:58:47 PDT 2005, "Stark, Clare" wrote:

> Dear Mitch,
>
> We are currently implementing the Culture of Peace through our four areas of expertise: Science, Culture, Communication and Education and through our coordination efforts. I will be posting the mid-term global review of the progress made in the past five years of the Decade on the Culture of Peace website next week as soon as the report is finalized. This report states details how we should work to promote a global framework.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Clare Stark
>
> -----Message d'origine-----
> De : Mitch Gold [mailto:mgold@homeplanet.org]
> Envoyé : lundi 5 septembre 2005 17:06
> À : Stark, Clare
> Objet : [Fwd: PO = introduction to Peace Language]
>
>
>
> PO for Culture of Peace
>
> Clare / FYI / When is the Culture of Peace organization going to adapt to
> the implementation strategy for a Culture of Peace?
>
> Please advise.
>
> M Gold
>
> here is a connection you ought to be aware of:
>
> For Mariann Williamson and all speakers:
>
> Have each speaker identify a PO understanding = from their perspective.
> the Peace Opportunity as identified by their perspective.
> Azim Khamisa has a program that needs our support. as does, Marshall
> Rosenberg (Compassion) , Johann Galtung (Conflict Resolution), Jean
> Houston (Peacemaker message, and Jump Time Metaphor), and Mitchell Golds'
> Great Mind (summarizing) Program. PO represents the common intention in
> their programs. Azims research program is a practical methodology of
> proceeding and we need to fund it.
>
> Having a Unifying entry point to peace language may be as important as
> Schell points out in Fate of the Earth.
>
> So let us stop begging for funds, and ignite the TOPS program NOW. If not
> now, when?
>
> Peace
>
> Mitch Gold
> Peacemaker
>
>
> Warm Greetings Jonathan Schell:
>
> I am with the International Association of Educators for World Peace an
> ngo with consultative status at the UN ENESCO, ECOSOC etc.
>
> I am writing to you as I see you are on the platform with Marianne
> Williamson, and Barbara Marx Hubbard at the upcoming Peace Event.
>
> Why I am writing you, is because it was your writing of the Fate of the
> Earth that inspired me as an educator to understand the grand implications
> of language and languaging perspectives.
>
> To this end, I have used the last ten years of my life developing common
> core understandings that might facilitate the movement towards a more
> peace full planet.
>
> I have found quite a number of methodologies that could well be part of
> the answer for our movement towards Peace. The 1% solution of Denis
> Kucinich was built in to our program (even though our own (TOPS) the one
> Per Cent Solution goes much further /faster than the Department of Peace
> construct. Yet that is not why I write to compare one methodology to
> another.
>
> Rather I want to introduce you to one Peace word. PO. This was not
> coined by myself. It was a construct of Edward de Bono. I have suggested
> that this word can be used as an entry word to Peace Language. Neither
> yes or no, we say PO. A Peace Opportunity.
>
> PO can be applied in many different ways, but it is always intended to
> develop dialogue and understanding.
>
> I ask you to bring this word into your own usage at this upcoming
> conference. Perhaps coming from you, rather than myself - it will have a
> greater impact.
>
> for details on additional usage of the words I invite you to review our
> Program. http://www.homeplanet.org/torontomind_files/frame.htm
>
> Thanking you in advance for your understanding and participation.
>
> Peace
>
> Mitch Gold
>
>
> www.peacemaker.blog.com
> www.homeplanet.org
> IAEWP VP North American Affairs
> 2 Bloor St West Suite 100-209
> Toronto Ontario
> M4W 3E2
>
> 416-924-4449
>
>
>
> Mitch Gold
> >
>
>
 (Comment this)

10 - Bristol Healing Drop-in Group
Free spiritual healing, weekly drop-in, notice board, advertising, articles & many links to free healing, meditation & yoga training, holistic & self-help sites.

You emailed me with your link. Thank you. I visited your site. You have one of those infuriating floating menus that bob up and down, and it is impossible to see the whole of it. You can play a game with your mouse trying to catch the bottom menu items, but you never win and end up with a headache. I think those things should be banned. And war.

We are looking for link partners. If you would like a link on our Link Parners page, please send me a description for your site (not more than 200 characters, sorry can't paste images - free software won't allow).

Best Wishes,
Martha. (Comment this)