15 Jun 2008 @ 23:24, by Glistening Deepwater
Due to the accelerated development of communications systems and the growing awareness and participation in the phenomenon of the World Wide Web, individuals are able to form effective group identities as never before in the known history of human civilization. Through these mediums, people are now able to be aware of the potential to exert considerable influence on world affairs and are joining together with the intention to do just that.
The following examples illustrate the immediate efficacy of such group initiatives, and their ability to make themselves known, thereby helping to inform us in ways that have the potential to bring our world into balance, to provide us with some much needed self reflection and help us to heal ourselves by offering us a deeper level of self awareness.
A message of hope and an invitation.
The following are a sample of the largest, longest serving or fastest growing organisations dedicated to finding solutions to the problems being created in the world by the arising of a collective ego which neither understands its own nature nor the nature of the situation in which it finds itself. This immature and vulnerable entity, which represents the current state of our collective consciousness, is experiencing severe trauma and is manifesting a crisis in which we are all involved. Now that we are aware that there is a problem, and have manifested a variety of means to address facets of the problem, we have the opportunity to embrace an overview of the situation that provides a common framework of understanding.
Within a common framework of understanding we are much more able to be effective in developing holistic means by which to address the phenomenon of which all these problems are the manifestations. The arising of the ego (or centralised control system) is a natural aspect of the evolution of complex systems, the causes and effects whereby this natural process gets unbalanced and begins to exhibit dysfunctional behaviour are the subject of much discussion, and it is seeking to heal itself from within.
If we are able to do the necessary inner work to realise ourselves as balanced and integrated personalities, whos egos have been overcome and whose innermost beings are serving the purpose for which they are intended (which is to integrate and centre the physical, emotional and mental aspects of our beings) then we will be in a position to understand what is necessary in order to address the issue of the collective ego, within the collective entity and by what means we can overcome egoic influence and bring it into balance, the personality of humanity as a collective systemic whole. If we apply the understandings gained through giving careful consideration to our part to play in the overall situation that is manifesting around us it will be much easier to comprehend, and thus we become empowered to take effective actions and to develop holistic means by which to nurture the collective entity through its process of individuation. This is a necessary effort of which all people everywhere need to become aware, and to give their immediate attention to in order to alleviate the suffering which our collective being is experiencing.
Groups working towards Global Harmony.
AVAAZ; (ref. Wikipedia)
Groups such as the recently formed Avaaz.org show us how quickly and effectively we can respond to this crisis, and how much of a positive impact our collective wisdom and insight can have. There is a huge movement of groups throughout the world, each focussed on a particular aspect of the situation that we currently find ourselves in, each seeking to address one of the many facets of the process of 'individuation' that our collective identity is undergoing.
Here is an overview of Avaaz, drawn from the wikipedia (itself a good example of co-operative thinking, knowledge sharing and clarification of understanding), and from the Avaaz website
“is an international civic organization that promotes political action on issues such as climate change, human rights, and religious conflicts.
[1] Its stated mission is to "ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making." The organization operates in thirteen languages, and claims more than three million members from every country in the world.
[2] Avaaz, which means "voice" or "song" in Hindi, Dari, Persian, and other languages, is managed by a team of campaigners working from Switzerland, Brazil, the United States, Argentina, and the United Kingdom. They communicate with members via email, and employ campaigning tactics including online public petitions, videos, and email-your-leader tools. At the 2007 G8 conference, Avaaz.org protested against the "U.S. administration (for its) 'wrecking tactics' and failure to agree to specific, binding global goals" when it came to the mitigation of global warming. At the event, Avaaz.org presented a petition signed by 355,000 people from 193 countries that supported its position.
[3][4] Avaaz is also a co-organizer of the Global Day of Action for Burma along with Burma Campaign UK and Amnesty International. It has registered more than 750,000 signatures to a petition to the Chinese President Hu Jintao and the UN Security Council, urging them to "oppose a violent crackdown on the demonstrators" and "support genuine reconciliation and democracy".[5] Avaaz delivered this petition to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown on October 15, 2007.
[6] In March of 2008, Avaaz launched a global petition to Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tibet, calling "restraint and respect for human rights" and the opening of "meaningful dialogue with the Dalai Lama."
[7] This petition passed 1 million signatures in seven days, and has now reached more than 1.4 million signatures, making it among the largest and fastest-growing online petitions in history. The petition was delivered in protests and events at Chinese consulates and embassies around the world on Monday, March 31, 2008.
[8] The Avaaz video Stop the Clash of Civilizations, created with Agit-Pop Communications, won the YouTube 2007 Award in the "Political" category. It was, at one time, the all-time second most discussed video in the YouTube "News and Politics" section.
[9][10] The video was also the winner of the 1st Annual DoGooderTV Non-Profit Video Awards
[11] and the Popular Winner for Best Awareness-Raising Video in the 2007 Progressive Source Awards
[12] Avaaz.org was co-founded by Res Publica, a global civic advocacy group and non-profit organization, and MoveOn, an online community that has pioneered internet advocacy in the United States. The organization is also supported by Service Employees International Union, a founding partner, and GetUp.org.au. Avaaz's individual co-founders include Executive Director Ricken Patel, Virginia congressional candidate Tom Perriello, Australian progressive entrepreneur David Madden, Jeremy Heimans, Andrea Woodhouse, Tom Pravda, and MoveOn Executive Director Eli Pariser.[13]”
From the avaaz.org homepage:
“Avaaz Campaigns 3 million people, 192 countries, 1 world.
Membership Growth - In just 6 months the Avaaz community has grown to 1.26 million members in every corner of the world. In less than a year, Avaaz has grown like wild fire, moving past the 1 million mark in just a few months. Our 1.26 million subscribers hail from every country on earth, with 30% from the Global South, 40% from Europe, and large contingents in North and South America, and Australia. Avaaz continues to steadily grow at an unprecedented rate of an average of 20,000 new members per week. Avaaz is growing because there is such a thing as a global community, of people around the world who care about global issues, and want to come together to achieve a different and better world. Almost every new member of Avaaz has learned about us from a friend of family member. The surveys we have done, and the level of participation in generating thousands of houseparties, and donating hundreds of thousands of euros, dollars, and yen, suggest that our new community is not just large, it is enthusiastic, committed, and serious about making a difference in the world.”
Other groups working in a variety of ways to understand and inform the global mind:
The Global Consciousness Project.
“The Global Consciousness Project, also called the EGG Project, is an international, multidisciplinary collaboration of scientists, engineers, artists and others. Research conducted by Princeton University.
Global Harmony. One of the most frequent events in our prediction registry is in the category of organized meditations and activities that are designed and publicized to get large numbers of people to focus at one time on a positive future. The Internet is used in most cases, along with whatever other media outreach can be arranged, to cast a broad network of invitation and encouragement to participate. We have taken seriously the idea that is common to these efforts, that the combined wishes and prayers of thousands can have an effect on global consciousness. We value the loving and genuine commitment of the many individuals and groups around the world who are working in this way toward a healthy and peaceful future. The work takes many forms, ranging from direct, hands-on engagement to quiet prayer and meditation. All these efforts contribute to a much needed spiritual enrichment around the globe, and the possibility is good that ever more people can be recruited into this mode of thinking and acting. We can hope the threshold for it to become an operational way-of-being in the world at large can be reached in our near future. It will prevent or ameliorate much unnecessary damage and suffering in the world, and it will bring us closer to our potentials as human beings.”
UNESCO.
“The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, works to create the conditions for dialogue among civilizations, cultures and peoples, based upon respect for commonly shared values. They have an extensive program of initiatives aimed at addressing some of the most pressing issues in the world today and have a history of effective strategies and actions that have been applied successfully to the worlds problems for decades. Visit their website (link above) for an inspiring look into their mission.”(also see section on United Nations, below)
Common Passion.
Common Passion.org “Imagine a massive global collaborative of peace-creating groups whose purpose is social and environmental harmony, with ever-larger numbers of people participating in the most effective peace-making programs ever developed. Peace may well be within our reach, and science can help us get there.”
World Peace Newsletter.
World Peace Newsletter “There are many ways to promote peace in the world but perhaps the best way is to promote it within ourselves. Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy of peace! Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well-being, but this is merely one of the many bonuses that come from sharing our kindness with our fellow human beings. We all know that it is better to give than to receive. (: Peace, like reading, writing, mathematics, drawing, emotional intelligence and enlightenment ("understanding/comprehension/compassion/meditation/intuition"), are learned skills that improve our knowledge, maturity, health, happiness and longevity. Peace is probably the most important lesson we should learn during our lives and the sooner the better. The advent of the world wide web may just provide the boost in knowledge humankind has been waiting for. Improved communication may be the difference between extinction and survival. Through knowledge, Peace will evolve. Knowledge is power. Knowledge combined with enlightenment leads to wisdom. Wisdom is Peace!”
The Foundation for Global Harmony.
The Foundation for Global Harmony “U.S.A. is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization formed to expand world peace and transformation of consciousness through direct action and performing international works of compassion. The foundation operates under the direction of His Holiness Gayuna Cealo. Our mission is threefold:
Facilitate and Sponsor the Spiritual Development of the American People through Private Consultations, Public Talks, and Meditation Retreats with His Holiness Gayuna Cealo for the Promotion of Peace .
Sponsor Gayuna Cealo's Works of Compassion in Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, and other Third World Countries.
Organize Local Direct Action Activities such as Distributing Prayer Tablets and Peace Candles, Meeting Monthly for Full Moon Meditations, and Participating in Special Heart Expo Events.”
The World Peace Prayer Society.
”The Power of Thought . Thought forms create an energetic field strong enough to empower the course of planetary destiny. The Power of Words. Words carry vibrations strong enough to inspire, heal and transform the human heart as well as the Kingdom of plants, animals and all creation. The Power of May Peace Prevail On Earth . May Peace Prevail On Earth is an all inclusive message and prayer. It is a meeting place of the heart bringing together people of all faiths, backgrounds and culture to embrace the Oneness of our planetary family. Our Mission is Simple . To spread the Universal Peace Message and Prayer, May Peace Prevail On Earth, far and wide to embrace the lands and people of this Earth.”[link]
Coalition for World Peace.
“Participating Organizations CFWP is not an umbrella group, but it seeks unity with established organizations. Participants have included:
ActionLA Alliance for Democracy, AIM Southern California Chapter (American Indian Movement) , Coalition Against Militarism In Our Schools, CodePINK, Center for the Advancement of Nonviolence, CISPES , Committees of Correspondence for Democracy & Socialism, Interfaith Communities, United for Justice and Peace, Labor Against the War – LA , Neighbors for Peace & Justice, Office of the Americas, Out Against the War, Physicians For Peace, Political Poster Collective , Topanga Peace Alliance , Whittier Area Peace & Justice Coalition , Women In Black-LA , Young Koreans United - L.A.”
Global Harmony Foundation.
Global Harmony Foundation “(GHF) was established in Switzerland on 11 January, 1989, under Swiss Civil Code art.80 ff. with a tax deductible status. GHF is a professional humanitarian and development oriented non-profit-making organization. It is small in structure, visionary in mission, personal in relationships and professional in assistance. We work with the underprivileged, mainly children and women, in partnership. We help them through relevant vocational training, education and focused funding to discover and develop their potential in order to improve their lives and environment. Our guiding values are simple. We esteem humanity above all races, ranks and religions.
Programmes
These vary depending on the needs, priorities, potential and culture of the local population in the countries in which we work. But they aim to:
Develop a self-help and community help culture
* Provide pre-schooling, nutritional and health care
* Improve nutrition, health and hygiene practices for all
* Facilitate vocational training and work possibilities for women and men
* Educate women in family and home management
* Nurture environmental care and regeneration
* Provide basic preventative and curative medicine to children, adults and communities
* Facilitate the development of schools, institutions and communities
Projects
Our assisted projects are carefully woven into the local cultural framework of the people. This is done by building upon traditional practices rather than destroying them. Our object is to nurture greater self-reliance, self-efficacy and self-esteem with the participant population, thus changing attitudes and practices in ways which will help them improve their own lives and environment.
Staff
Project staff are always local. Each project may include the following specialists: * Social worker * Psychologist * Educationalist * Medical doctor * Vocational instructor * Ecologist * Home economist ”
A site providing links to many organisations working toward greater peace and harmony in the world:
World Peace - Many Paths www.spiritual-endeavors.org
High level groups focussed on addressing specific issues.
Association for Global New Thought.
The Association for Global New Thought (AGNT) “convened the third Synthesis Dialogues with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, at the Focolare International Center at Castelgandolfo, in the Roman Hills, situated in the property which is the Summer Residence of the Pope.
The Synthesis Dialogues were inaugurated in Dharamsala, India, in September 1999, at the Norbulingka Institute. Synthesis II was held June 27-July 2, 2001, at the Mariopolis Retreat Center of the Focolare community near Trent, in northeastern Italy.
Project Director is Dr. Barbara Fields, Executive Director of AGNT; co-director in 1999 and 2001 was the late Bro. Wayne Teasdale, Benedictine and monastic in the Sannyasa tradition, a close personal friend of His Holiness who formulated with the Dalai Lama the Universal Declaration on Nonviolence.
The 2004 meeting included approximately 30 participants. We invited recognized leaders from among each of the world’s religious traditions, and representatives of nations most immanently involved in questions of governance, religious violence, and sustainable human rights. Facilitation by the convening organization, the Association for Global New Thought, aimed at establishing spiritual ethics and radically evolved personal, national and traditional relationships of faith as the ground of our strategic collaborations in the future. The plan was to meet and work for a couple of days as a group, after which we were joined by His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Performance arts and music deepened and enriched the conversation of this gathering. Intentional time and space was afforded for meditation and reflection.
All participants were significant leaders in their own right who sense that important breakthroughs are possible only by encountering the creative imagination of their counterparts in other fields. And it probably fair to say that everyone shared an interest in the question of consciousness, itself, in the sense that transformation within the individual precedes any hoped-for impact upon the larger community. These were some of the important goals of the meetings:
• To Discuss the primacy of the religious and cultural diplomacy that is brought to point by the challenges facing our current world in crisis. There is urgent need for \a new level of dialogue among progressive and influential thinkers who can explore these critical issues. A true and spiritually grounded collaboration would continue to constructively affect the outcome of religious and cultural discord and violence actively destroying life and threatening security everywhere.
• To Explore, through open exchange of ideas and "best practices" which spring from the core of our own individual work, the breakthrough opportunities (and persistent challenges to positive change) we face. His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, is pleased to be a part of these conversations in which we may well discover specific ways in which we can support each other, and be supported, by articulating the needs and resources associated with our existing projects and commitments.
• To Establish, in the process of cocreating at this level, relations among this community of friends that could meet and be of service in an ongoing capacity-- much the same model as His Holiness proposes in his book, Ethics for a New Millennium. We explored these issues as a community of friends with experience in diverse fields of social endeavor, and from among the religious traditions. The focus of our energies was an integral conversation marked by maturity of spirit and diplomacy of ego in service of human needs.
The meeting consisted largely of a series of conversations about certain questions that the participants identified as pivotal. Our intention was to listen carefully to what was being said and to track the movement of awareness itself as it arose and moved through the discussions. That is, not only were matters of substance addressed, but we hope we did so in such a way as to learn how consciousness itself can be nurtured in human encounters. If we are able to understand this dynamic more clearly, then we may just be able to create a fresh lens for understanding our world and its suffering so that practical solutions can be more easily generated.
The occasion of meeting with His Holiness was not arbitrary. We believe that the Tibetan model (in which the spiritual impulse underlying the exoteric religious expression is intended to suffuse governance, education and all aspects of the culture) is uniquely suited to teach us about synthesis. His Holiness certainly embodies that quality. We believe that by “universalizing," or rendering diverse belief systems into non-codified language, we can soften the perception that the challenges encountered by Eastern and Western models are irreconcilable. We can no longer afford false signals that impede acceptance and understanding, application and appreciation on a global level.
It is time to pursue an earnest and enlightened dialogue that can strengthen public respect for every unique role in the ecology of cultures, and to do so with every available ounce of our good faith and focused energy. The third Synthesis Dialogues were the most successful to date in creating a collective commitment among a community of high global influence to exploring projects such as an international, interreligious pilgrimage in the middle east, as well as initiatives in nonviolent social change (in the Gandhian tradition) where complex instances of conflict have become all but intractable.
Submitted by Dr. Barbara Fields Synthesis Director”
The Professors World Peace Academy.
The Professors World Peace Academy.(PWPA) is a tax-exempt non-profit educational organization founded to support the academic community’s role in the pursuit of world peace. PWPA publishes books, publishes the International Journal on World Peace, organizes conferences, and is forming a world academic network. It was founded in Korea in 1973 and presently has chapters in over 100 countries. PWPA has received major support from the International Cultural Foundation and the Universal Peace Federation. PWPA supports the development of the New World Encyclopedia. History of PWPA International Conferences on World Peace International Congresses , The World University Federation , International Journal on World Peace , PWPA Statements .”
This group are targeting and discussing solutions to specific areas raised as areas of concern in the previous sections of this work. Areas such as Social, Economic and Conflicts that can escalate into wars. Here are some of the recent topics and discussions that this group are working with:
Regarding the problem of constitutional governance:
From Gordon L. Anderson (Editor in chief of 'International Journal on World Peace'); “ Today the lack of clear relationship between political and economic power is one of the most serious problems facing the United States. Economic planning by the government and businesses procuring government favours lead to the establishment of commerce and the prevention of free exercise in the market. Massive government inefficiency, loss of economic competitiveness, overpriced oil and healthcare, and loss of personal freedom are all unwanted results. An amendment to the U.S. Constitution relating to the economy that is similar to the establishment clause related to religion could be a first step in solving this problem.”
“A legitimate constitution is a legal structure that allows those who follow it to achieve their desired ends. It provides no serious impediment to the law-abiding citizen because it provides rules that create a social order and only restricts those who would impose their arbitrary will by force on other citizens. A constitution imposed by a king upon a people might be “legal” in the sense that it is law backed by force, but it would not be considered legitimate by those upon whom it was imposed if it treats them unfairly. Legitimacy implies near universal voluntary recognition of the usefulness and impartiality of the legal structure. History has shown that legitimate governments, like legitimate highway regulations, require little policing. There must be police and a legal system that enforces the regulations, but the enforcement system can be small in comparison to the numbers of people using the system as a whole. However, when a government system is considered illegitimate because it imposes rules considered arbitrary or unfair, people feel no compulsion from their conscience to follow those rules and large numbers of police or military personnel are required to keep order. Such states are called police states, military dictatorships, or totalitarian regimes.”
“Today, one of the most serious challenges to the survival of the United States rests in laws that undermine freedom in the economic sphere. The Constitution and Bill of Rights did not provide individuals economic protection, or elaborate the role of government in the economic sphere. Over the last two centuries economic power in the United States has consolidated, often with the collusion of the government, in ways that impede productivity and individual freedoms. There is no constitutional check on the growth of this Leviathan that increasingly attempts to plan the economic future of American citizens, while it undercuts the very mechanism of economic independence that allows for democracy to exist in the first place. ”
Regarding the potential solution:
“In this article, I propose to address this problem with an amendment stated as follows: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of commerce, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."”
“Without guidelines as to the use of economic power, decisions have been made by lobbyists persuading politicians, or politicians trying to control corporations. However, neither of these processes had led to a truly fair playing field, and in the end national productivity has been the causality. This is an end nobody wanted.”
“Many argue that either type of state planning (oligarchy or socialism) is incompatible with democracy and limits freedom. Others believe a certain amount of government planning is possible or necessary.”
“...an amendment that prevents both the establishment of commerce and the free exercise of commerce would guard against both forms of totalitarianism without undermining economic freedom and productivity.”
“If the government assumed the role of referee, rather than acting as a player by either supporting the plans of the monopolists or the socialists, it can provide an attractive field upon which the most competitive economic games can be played. Such a free competitive market will bring jobs back to the United States, lead to higher quality products, and economic growth can be tapped at the consumer level, not at the production stage.”
“I deliberately chose the words “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of commerce, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,” because these words parallel the clause in the first amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Religion and the economy may provide different functions in society, but in totalitarian regimes both are controlled by government force; people are told what to think and how to act. ”
“The absolute "wall of separation" so often discussed in the United States was never intended to be absolute by the Founders. Removing religion (or culture) from society is like kicking out one of the legs of a three-legged stool. The founders knew that morality was an essential part of citizenship and that religion played an important role in nurturing it. The founders were not opposed to the open promotion of religion in the public sphere, anymore than they were opposed to advertising commercial products to the public. What they opposed was government establishment of religion, and any impediment to the free exercise of religion.
The separation of church and state was neither intended to undermine religion, nor was it intended that religion could be used as a shield behind which one could hide the commission of crimes -- which an absolute wall can do. The government has a valid role as a referee to make sure that harm is not committed by one citizen against another in the name of religion. Therefore objective crimes like murder, theft, rape, and fraud, would be subject to government intervention, but the government could not define morality, truth, or cultural practices. Without the government acting as such a referee, we might still be conducting witch trials.”
“Like the three legs of a stool, culture (religion), government, and the economy form three main supports of a stable society. At the founding, an objective problem did not exist in the commercial sector because foreign corporations had been banned and wealth was distributed among many families. There was no personal ownership of large tracts of land or shares of national corporations by virtue of government office, such as in England and other European countries.”
“An individual, through free choice, is the prime mover in any society, because individuals naturally want to pursue their own happiness and well-being. To the extent this pursuit is restrained and individuals are forced into ends that others create for them, they are less motivated and less happy, and they will produce less. The Founders of the United States designed the Constitution so that individuals could freely pursue their own life. Today the Constitution could better serve that purpose with an amendment that says: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of commerce, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof."”
“No country was prepared for the social impacts of modern industry. In a legal vacuum, people have been selfishly trying to eliminate competition for their own personal gain by manipulating government power for their own ends. This is true of both monopolists and socialists -- two ends of the non-competitive spectrum. ”
“If we would adopt a constitutional amendment saying "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of commerce, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof," it would be like erecting a traffic light at an unregulated intersection jammed with gridlock. It will take a while to clear out the congestion -- to get our Congress and Courts to think in terms of refereeing competition rather than penalizing it -- but in the end the free flow of the economy will bring jobs and opportunities that penalizing competition prevents. It will help to once again make the United States a very exciting and optimistic place to live.”
The full document can be read at worldandi.com and illustrates the calibre of thinking being employed to address major systemic problems manifesting in the collective ego via the agency of the US government. In another article the same writer addresses the issue of ;
Regarding “What constitutes acceptable use of force?”
Some excerpts from this document; Gordon L. Anderson poses the questions; “Do some types of governments, by virtue of their structure, have a greater right to use force than others? How much force against individuals should be allowed to secure some greater good?”
He posits: “Religions, schools, and other institutions are in the position to teach about the use of force to members and students. Too often such institutions adopt positions that are not in the interest of peace and justice, for example by teaching doctrines of absolute pacifism as one extreme or by advocating holy war on the other. In the case of pacifism one ends up with morally justifying standing by while human beings are slaughtered. In the case of holy war, people are killed in the name of God by those who claim a favoured status with God, yet are violent in the eyes of the world. Yet if the taking of human life is wrong, as most people believe and most religions teach, then both of these positions are unjustifiable. ”
“The force to maintain legitimate sovereignty. Legitimate sovereignty refers to sovereignty that is recognized, not imposed. Most imposed regimes claim sovereignty based on their control by force. However, such regimes are inherently unstable. A stable regime is rather one in which those under its rule view it as legitimate. Inasmuch as most people have an innate desire to live their own lives and pursue their own dreams, they see legitimate sovereignty in the social institutions that enable people to live out those dreams.”
“...a strong state is a decentralized state, a state built upon the smaller building blocks of family, community, and lower level institutions that can personally assist individuals and communities in their employment and welfare. Attempts to create states from the top-down, through plans developed from outside, like most international or regional plans for development, are doomed to fail. Despite the fact that many people desire states to care for them, centralized states are inherently weaker and less able to do so.”
“Structural violence is a term developed by Johan Galtung to explain indirect violence to people that results from social structures that prevent people from living harmoniously. This type of violence is often related to the imposition of unjust social structures by those in power, or by laws that favor some groups of people over others. In the 1980s it was common for socialists to point at the structural injustice inherent in the international order in which the West constituted a “center” and the rest was on the “periphery.” Regime leaders in many Third World countries were considered as representatives of the center placed in the periphery, rather than genuine representatives of the people living in the nations they ruled. While many peace activists recognized the power of Galtung’s analysis, they advocated various forms of revolution designed to impose other centralized structures of governance that they would lead. They devised plans in which they claimed to know what was better for those on the periphery. Such forms of regime change inevitably contained hubris, blindness, and structural violence themselves. They were also guilty of imposing foreign ideals and illegitimate sovereignty on local peoples. As Ben-Meir’s article argues, the freedom of individuals and local community groups that comes with decentralization is a more legitimate basis for state sovereignty.”
“Lisa Reber’s article, “Building Cultures of Peace in The World: One Peace Center at a Time,” argues that we must transcend the attacks on structural violence and develop structural peace. She argues that some of the older peace rhetoric, like “fight for peace,” contains conceptual violence. Any fight means winners and losers and does not lead to a way for opponents to live together with one another. Citing the “Seville Declaration” of 1986 (International Journal on World Peace, vol. 3, no. 4, pp. 90-92), she argues that “peace begins in the minds of men” and that it is important to develop peaceableness as a quality of thought and culture. She advocates the creation of local peace centers as places where peaceableness can be developed from the bottom up by creating centers for education and dialogue.”
The complete article can be accessed at The Professors World Peace Academy Blog Archive. It becomes apparent from these and other discussions under way at the site that the collective intelligence of the world is working hard to inform itself of the problems manifesting as a result of the rise of the collective ego and that they are actively engaged in seeking solutions that will help bring it back into balance.
International Journal on World Peace.
“No issue is on the human mind more than the search for peace. Numerous factors, such as justice, power, national interest, ethnic rivalry, hunger, the environment, values, human nature, and economics, have an impact on world peace. International Journal on World Peace is concerned with all of these. A scholarly publication, International Journal on World Peace cuts across all disciplines, all cultures, all politics, all philosophies. Each issue contains diverse articles from authors around the world. International Journal on World Peace also contains reviews of recent books related to world peace, and is indexed each year. It is abstracted, indexed, or made available on CD-ROM by several agencies.”
Amnesty International.
The Amnesty International Organisation is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
“We believe human rights abuses anywhere are the concern of people everywhere. So, outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world, we work to improve people’s lives through campaigning and international solidarity. Our mission is to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated. Our members and supporters exert influence on governments, political bodies, companies and intergovernmental groups. Activists take up human rights issues by mobilizing public pressure through mass demonstrations, vigils and direct lobbying as well as online and offline campaigning. ”
“Working with and for individuals the world over, we campaign so that every person may enjoy all of the human rights enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We undertake research and take action aimed at preventing and ending grave abuses of these rights, demanding that all governments and other powerful entities respect the rule of law. It means we campaign globally and locally where ever we can make a difference. For example, we take action to: Stop violence against women. Defend the rights and dignity of those trapped in poverty. Abolish the death penalty. Oppose torture and combat terror with justice . Free prisoners of conscience . Protect the rights of refugees and migrants . Regulate the global arms trade . Thousands of Amnesty International members respond to Urgent Action appeals on behalf of individuals at immediate risk. Publicity through the news media and the internet takes our message in many languages to millions of people.”
“We have a number of safeguards in place to protect our autonomy. We are: Independent of any government, political ideology, economic interest or religion . Democratic and self-governing . Financially self-sufficient, thanks to the generous support of donations provided by individual members and supporters . We do not support or oppose any government or political system and neither do we necessarily support or oppose the views of the victims/survivors or human rights defenders whose rights we seek to protect.”
Last year alone this organisation achieved;
“2007 Amnesty International launched a global petition calling on Sudan’s government to protect civilians in Darfur and launched a CD featuring 30 world-class musicians to mobilize support, called Make Some Noise: The Campaign to Save Darfur. The United Nations General Assembly (GA) adopted the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Following intense campaigning by Amnesty International and its partners in the World Coalition Against the Death Penalty, the UN General Assembly (UNGA) Third Committee's 62nd session adopted resolution L29 calling for a global moratorium on executions. Amnesty International has more than 2.2 million members, supporters and subscribers in over 150 countries and territories in every region of the world.”
Amnesty International works tirelessly to expose injustice and mobilise support for victims worldwide, they keep abreast of all current developments in the situations they monitor and report to the world at large the truth behind many of the crisies that do not make it through the mainstream media channels.
Lucis Trust.
“The worldwide activities of the Lucis Trust, founded by Alice and Foster Bailey, are dedicated to establishing right human relations. The activities of the Lucis Trust promote the education of the human mind towards recognition and practice of the spiritual principles and values upon which a stable and interdependent world society may be based. The Lucis Trust is non-political and non-sectarian. It sponsors no special creed or dogma.”
Of all the groups and organisations covered in this section, Lucis Trust seems to have the most to say about the human ego, its role and functions and the fact that a collective entity is forming. In their literature they present a systemic overview of the human condition and discuss humanity in the light of larger systems still. They have an esoteric approach to solving the “Problems of Humanity” and of the nations and their philosophy underpins much of the process that is under way in the current groups that are addressing these issues. Much like Amma, discussed below, they lay emphasis on service as a way of life.
Amma.
Amma.org. ”Humanitarian Activities "As a child, I always wanted to know the cause of misery of mankind and thought that if sorrow is a truth, then there must be a cause and a way out." Amma explains. " I realize my purpose is to console - to personally wipe away tears through selfless love, compassion, and service." - Amma ”
“Amma has inspired innumerable humanitarian activities all over the world. Some of them are free food and clothing programs, charitable hospitals, hospices, disaster relief programs, free homes for the poor and the needy, medical camps, orphanage, schools, educational institutions, widows' pension scheme, free legal advice, preservation of nature and so on. The list is long and growing everyday. Amma says, " Compassion to the poor and the needy is our duty to God." Through the example of her own life Amma has inspired people from all over the world to walk in the path of selfless-service and compassion towards all beings.
Amma's life is her message. In other words, Amma does not teach anything that she herself does not practice. Living from moment to moment in a constant state of supreme happiness, Amma warmly embraces thousands of people day after day, wiping their tears, giving them her divine guidance and offering solace to all who come to her. Amma recommends the path of selfless-service through the example of her own life. Amma says, "The beauty and charm of selfless love and service should not die away from the face of the earth. The world should know that a life of dedication is possible, that a life inspired by love and service to humanity is possible. Meditation and studying the scriptures are like two sides of a coin. The engraving on that coin is selfless service, and that is what gives it its real value. Our compassion and acts of selflessness take us to the deeper truths. Through selfless action we can eradicate the ego that conceals the Self. Detached, selfless action leads to liberation. Such action is not just work; it is karma yoga." Amma always points out that the purpose of one's life is to realize who we really are. She says, "By realizing our own Self we become full, with nothing more to gain in life. Life becomes perfect." To attain this goal, Amma says that no particular path or spiritual practice can be recommended for all. "Just as a doctor gives different dosages or even different medications to patients with the same ailment according to their constitution, so does a Spiritual Master prescribe different methods to different people to reach the same goal. Spirituality is the practical science of life. Apart from taking us to the ultimate goal of Self-realization it also teaches us the nature of the world, and how to understand life and live fully in the best way possible." However, Amma says that the path of devotion and selfless-service is the safest and most conducive path for many people. ”
The United Nations
“Most of us have heard about United Nations peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance. But the many other ways the UN affects all our lives are not always so well known. This booklet takes a look at the United Nations — how it is set up and what it does — to illustrate how it works to make the world a better place for all people. The United Nations is central to global efforts to solve problems that challenge humanity. Cooperating in this effort are more than 30 affiliated organizations, known together as the UN system. Day in and day out, the UN and its family of organizations work to promote respect for human rights, protect the environment, fight disease and reduce poverty. UN agencies define the standards for safe and efficient air travel and help improve telecommunications and enhance consumer protection. The United Nations leads the international campaigns against drug trafficking and terrorism. Throughout the world, the UN and its agencies assist refugees, set up programmes to clear landmines, help expand food production and lead the fight against AIDS. ”
HOW THE UN WORKS
“The United Nations was established on 24 October 1945 by 51 countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security. Today, nearly every nation in the world belongs to the UN: membership totals 191 countries. When States become Members of the United Nations, they agree to accept the obligations of the UN Charter, an international treaty that sets out basic principles of international relations. According to the Charter, the UN has four purposes: to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international problems and in promoting respect for human rights; and to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations. The United Nations is not a world government and it does not make laws. It does, however, provide the means to help resolve international conflicts and formulate policies on matters affecting all of us. At the UN, all the Member States — large and small, rich and poor, with differing political views and social systems — have a voice and a vote in this process. The United Nations has six main organs. Five of them — the General Assembly, the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council, the Trusteeship Council and the Secretariat — are based at UN Headquarters in New York. The sixth, the International Court of Justice, is located at The Hague in the Netherlands. ”
“All UN Member States are represented in the General Assembly — a "parliament of nations" which meets regularly and in special sessions to consider the world's most pressing problems. Each Member State has one vote. Decisions on such key issues as international peace and security, admitting new members and the UN budget are decided by two-thirds majority. Other matters are decided by simple majority. In recent years, a special effort has been made to reach decisions through consensus, rather than by taking a formal vote. The Assembly cannot force action by any State, but its recommendations are an important indication of world opinion and represent the moral authority of the community of nations.”
“The UN Charter gives the Security Council primary responsibility for maintaining international peace and security. The Council may convene at any time, whenever peace is threatened. Under the Charter, all Member States are obligated to carry out the Council's decisions. There are 15 Council members. Five of these — China, France, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States — are permanent members. The other 10 are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms. Member States continue to discuss changes in Council membership and working methods to reflect today's political and economic realities. Decisions of the Council require nine yes votes. Except in votes on procedural questions, a decision cannot be taken if there is a no vote, or veto, by a permanent member. When the Council considers a threat to international peace, it first explores ways to settle the dispute peacefully. It may suggest principles for a settlement or undertake mediation. In the event of fighting, the Council tries to secure a ceasefire. It may send a peacekeeping mission to help the parties maintain the truce and to keep opposing forces apart. The Council can take measures to enforce its decisions. It can impose economic sanctions or order an arms embargo. On rare occasions, the Council has authorized Member States to use "all necessary means," including collective military action, to see that its decisions are carried out. The Council also makes recommendations to the General Assembly on the appointment of a new Secretary-General and on the admission of new Members to the UN. ”
“The International Monetary Fund, the World Bank and 13 other independent organizations known as "specialized agencies" are linked to the UN through cooperative agreements. These agencies, among them the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization, are autonomous bodies created by intergovernmental agreement. They have wide-ranging international responsibilities in the economic, social, cultural, educational, health and related fields. Some of them, like the International Labour Organization and the Universal Postal Union, are older than the UN itself. In addition, a number of UN offices, programmes and funds — such as the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) — work to improve the economic and social condition of people around the world. They report to the General Assembly or the Economic and Social Council. ”
“Preserving world peace is a central purpose of the United Nations. Under the Charter, Member States agree to settle disputes by peaceful means and refrain from threatening or using force against other States.”
“Halting the spread of arms and reducing and eventually eliminating all weapons of mass destruction are major goals of the United Nations. The UN has been an ongoing forum for disarmament negotiations, making recommendations and initiating studies. It supports multilateral negotiations in the Conference on Disarmament and in other international bodies. These negotiations have produced such agreements as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (1968), the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (1996) and treaties establishing nuclear-free zones.”
“UN peacemaking brings hostile parties to agreement through diplomatic means. The Security Council, in its efforts to maintain international peace and security, may recommend ways to avoid conflict or restore or secure peace — through negotiation, for example, or recourse to the International Court of Justice. The Secretary-General plays an important role in peacemaking. The Secretary-General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter that appears to threaten international peace and security, use good offices to carry out mediation or exercise quiet diplomacy behind the scenes — either personally or through special envoys. The Secretary-General also undertakes preventive diplomacy aimed at resolving disputes before they escalate.”
The efforts of the UN are obviously well intentioned and effective where agreement can be reached, however there are instances, as we have previously discussed where the rise of the collective ego is getting in the way of progress.
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