Resources
In the early part of the twenty-first century, the peoples of the world are experiencing an intolerable level of insecurity and violence on the parts of states and non-state actors. At the same time, there has been a re-energizing of the peace movement and citizen initiatives in seeking innovative, nonviolent and enduring resolution of conflict through peacebuilding activities of many kinds. One of those initiatives is a growing international movement for the creation of departments of peace in all nations. Canada, as a middle power with a long history of peacekeeping and negotiated outcomes to conflict, stands in a unique position to become the first country to proclaim a Department and Minister of Peace.
For over 2,000 years this plea has been on the books and has been issued millions of times from pulpits the world over to many millions of faithful parishioners, many of whom have become the perpetrators of war, the starters of war, the losers of war, and — dare I say it — the winners of wars for there are those who profess that in war there are no winners.
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Hon. Raila Odinga, Prime Minister, Kenya: Address to International Leadership Conference, Nairobi, Kenya, August 29-31, 2008
Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., Chairman, CDI-Asia Pacific Address to the Global Peace Festival Cagayan De Oro City, Mindanao, Philippines September 21, 2008
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Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
Speech delivered by Hon. Song Yeong Sun, Member, Korean National Assembly at the International Leadership Conference and Global Peace Festival, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, September 9, 2008
Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, Co-Chairman, Universal Peace Federation keynote address at the Global Peace Festival Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, September 9, 2008
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Nairobi, Kenya
Tarrytown, New York
Geneva, Switzerland
India
New York -
During my many years of involvement in political and diplomatic affairs, I was constantly reminded that the economic, social, political problems that we are addressing are the results of much deeper and more internal needs. If those aspects are not understood or dealt with, the solutions that we propose will not reach their desired goal. Conflicts do not end when peace treaties are signed. It is only when each individuals and communities feels safe, appreciated and “at inner peace.”
As H.E. Ambassador Makarim Wibisono has correctly stated: "The Universal Declaration of Human Rights has largely been drafted by experts of religion." Religion has always played a central role in the protection of human rights and especially in the promotion of human dignity.
In the Christian churches, when the theme of peace in the world is addressed, the tendency is to deal only with the question of how to apply the work of Christ to the people’s present lives. Although the Bible shows that God’s work extends to the whole of humanity, peace tends to be limited to a few privileged countries on a few continents.