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Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on April 2, 2012 at 21:33

BIRTHING JUSTICE: Women in Peace-Building: Peace amidst War for Resource Control by Beverly Bell and Other Worlds

 

Welcome to Birthing Justice: Women Creating Economic and Social Alternatives. The series features twelve alternative social and economic models which expand the possibilities for justice, equity, and strong community. They are based in the US, Asia, Africa, Europe, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Some are national-level, some global-level. Some are propelled by people’s movements, some forced or adopted into government policy. In first-hand narratives, women describe their role in having created the models and show us their unique perspectives and challenges in the movements.

Below is the first narrative of Birthing Justice.

Women in Peace-Building: Peace amidst War for Resource Control

Accelerating commodification of water, oil, land, and nature over the past few decades has resulted in a global power play, wresting precious resources away from communities that have lived sustainably with them for centuries. Oil is one example where the domination of multinational companies has led to mass displacement, seeded social conflict, and fundamentally disrupted the relationship between indigenous communities and their environment.

Groups the world over are striving to defend an alternate understanding of the earth and how we should treat it, however. They view entities such as oil as part of the global commons – the set of natural resources, basic services, public spaces, and cultural traditions that should be part of a public trust to be enjoyed by all – rather than as commodities to be bought and sold. Another way to conceive of these assets is through the Spanish term for them: el bien común, the common good. Behind the commons is the fundamental idea that life, information, human relationships, popular culture, and the earth’s riches are sacrosanct and not for sale.

Everywhere, indigenous peoples are claiming their autonomy over their territories, which includes the right to self-government and control of everything over, on, and in their lands. At this moment, some 30,000 indigenous peoples from the Ecuadorian Amazon are embroiled in legal battles with Chevron for contaminating their water and destroying the health of entire villages. This past January, a broad-based coalition of US and Canadian groups stalled the Keystone X-L pipeline project and are working to uphold this decision. And for decades, indigenous people everywhere have been defending their lands and the earth’s resources in epic battles.

On top of this, communities are working to repair the divisions that corporate and governmental repression has wrought. Women have been central to these efforts. Throughout the world, women are working to make peace in areas torn by war and resource conflicts. Sometimes this means creating a peace zone, a space of safety in the midst of violence. In other places, women are at the forefront of efforts to end national or regional conflicts.

Emem Okon is part of one such endeavor in the Niger Delta, where oil companies and government have created a climate of violence and fear. We’re excited to kick off the Birthing Justice series with Emem’s story, and we hope it will inspire you to be a part of the movement to honor, share, and celebrate the earth’s resources.  

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on March 21, 2012 at 16:53

David Cooperrider

It was so exciting using the Ai Summit method to help design this important organization, and alliance of peace academies around the world. Beyond our military academies, the peace research field is growing and is asserting that the study of peace is much more than simply the absence of war. What's interesting to me is the new data looking at business as a force for peace, and the economic logic of peace. Its a good time to support organizations such as this one.  Click here

http://nationalpeaceacademy.us/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/contextessence.pdf

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on September 25, 2011 at 15:20

Dear All,

 

Jennifer Lentfer has uploaded a thought-provoking video 'The Search for Symmetry on the International Day of Peace' You can watch it at:

http://aidscompetence.ning.com/video/the-search-for-symmetry-on-the...

Comment by irit hakim-keller on September 16, 2011 at 22:26

congratulations! 
Although not all the pages are full - it looks very nice and interesting.

thanks. 

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on September 16, 2011 at 21:28

Dear Friends,

 

We are writing to announce that the new Global Reconciliation website is now live. The website can be found at www.globalreconciliation.org This website is intended to be useful for you, and all who are part of the Global Reconciliation network.

If you have any comments or suggestions regarding the website, we would love to hear from you. In particular, we would like the website to be a platform where we can include information about the work you are doing. If you would like to include any such information about your work, or if you would like your organisation to be listed on the website as a supporting organisation, please contact us so that we can arrange this.

We have also started uploading onto the website information about the projects we have been involved with over the past year. Thank you for your patience during this period while the website was being designed. Now that the website is live, it will be easier for us to stay in contact and keep you updated on our activities, and vice versa.

 

Warm Regards,

The Global Reconciliation Executive Group.
*Please direct replies or enquiries to Elizabeth Kath -elizabeth.kath[at]rmit.edu.au

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on September 4, 2011 at 5:22

Joy Ferriols-Pavico, Philippines has shared that her team is celebrating Community action day (CAD) on issue of peace.

Plans for CAD in one of the youth groups under PinoyCompetence is firming up. In a village where Moslems and Christians live in Mindanao, the IDS youth will lead the village youth in clearing up their drainage system so there will be less or no flooding when the rains come again. The village leaders are preparing to give packs of rice to the youth in appreciation for their hard work. There will be snacks and community games also. This will be held on sept 8, we will post video clips, hopefully in time for CAD Sept 12. Passing you some SALT

Comment by irit hakim-keller on August 26, 2011 at 21:44

Thanks for sharing, Rittu. It is a very inspiring article, which makes me very happy with the way I am going in.

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on August 25, 2011 at 19:10

I came across an interesting write up which deliberates upon non violence resistance as a response to dictatorial rule. " The reason for this is that nonviolent campaigns typically appeal to a much broader and diverse constituency than violent insurgencies."

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/08/24/think_again_nonvio...

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on July 25, 2011 at 21:31

I am sorry. the link to Aicha's sharing does not work. Here is it

http://aidscompetence.ning.com/forum/topics/faced-with-inhumanity-w...

Comment by Rituu B. Nanda on July 25, 2011 at 7:50

Dear All,

 

Aicha has posted on experience of a person during the recent bombing in Norway. I quote " In the face of inhumanity, we have to be more human."

http://aidscompetence.ning.com/forum/topics/faced-with-inhumanity-w...

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