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A Florida Experiment in Peace Diversity
an article by Roger Otterson
On May 31, 2003, a whole day teach in and conference
aimed at evaluating current state of "Peace & Justice" struggle and
drafting a way forward was presented by Florida Alliance for Peace and
Social Justice (FAPSJ) and Community Coalition Against War and
Terrorism (CCAWT). The conference was an experiment of the highest
importance for the antiwar movement, as well as the world, due to the
extreme diversity of cultures and views represented: Black, White, Red,
Brown with diverse views, Revolutionary, Militant, Pacifist, Liberal.
The
conference, titled "The World We Want and How To get There," was held
in the beautiful settings of Wilhelmina Johnson Center in Gainesville.
It started in the morning with refreshments and a get-to-know-you
mingling of about 50-70 representatives of various groups and
individuals from around the state of Florida. Guest speakers were
invited from as far as South California. The teach-in part consisted of
presentations by:
Mohammad Chehab, an Arab activist
Dan Berger, Critical Resistance, Onward, Colors of Resistance
Sheridan Murphy, American Indian Movement
Benjamin Prado,Union del Barrio
Penny Hess, African People's Solidarity Committee
Sateesh Rogers, African People's Socialist Party
The
attendees listened to the panelists' experiences of oppression and how
to deal with it, resist it, and overcome it. A drumming interlude in
the courtyard enhanced the experience of focus on people's business.
Following
the panels, Omali Yeshitela, Chairmain of the African People's
Socialist Party, gave a rousing keynote address. The overwhelming
sentiment of the teach-in was that it is not possible to have peace
without social justice and that we had better learn and come to terms
with the truth about how we got to where we are today (through
continuing exploitation and oppression of the peoples around the
world). Only by knowing this may we have a chance to stop our
self-destructive, unsustainable ways and create a better world for and
in collaboration with the rest of the world.
Following Mr.
Yeshitela's powerful presentation, the attendees went about the
business of building the Alliance. Many groups and individuals in
attendance agreed to join in the Alliance. We decided to meet again on
June 14th at 1:00pm at 1245 S.18th St in St. Petersburg, FL (the Uhuru
House) to consider adoption of the Mission Statement and five
resolutions as well as working out details on committee structure. The
resolutions will spell out our principles on Iraq, Palestine, Dr.
Al-Arian, indigenous rights, and corporate/governmental
neo-colonialism. For more information and details of the resolutions
send an email to NoWarFlorida@aol.com.
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DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
How do we know if a culture of peace is advancing?
As a reader, you are invited to join in the discussion of
this article based on any of the above question(s): just click on the
question, read the previous comments and add a new reply. You may also
enter a new discussion topic on this article - see bottom of this page.
Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed:
GLOBAL MOVEMENT FOR A CULTURE OF PEACE
LATEST READER COMMENT:
In
regard to your question, the answer is: YES, the Culture of Peace is
advancing. I manage to overlook the indifference and absolute silence
demonstrated by the commercial mass media regarding the Culture of
Peace, because what I focus my attention on, here in my microcosm, is:
*
the great number of Professors (more than 100) from all the Schools of
the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and other Greek Universities
(University of Thessaly, University of Thrace, etc.), who constantly
teach and support the Courses of the UNESCO Chair for the Culture of
Peace, since 1993, on a purely voluntary basis, without recompense of
any kind
* the students from all the Schools of the A.U.Th., who
eagerly choose and attend this demanding Course every academic semester
and who claim that this Course Programme is the most valuable learning
experience they have had during their studies
* the innumerable
teachers of primary and secondary education, from all specialties
throughout Greece, who constitute the Greek National Network of
Schoolteachers for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence of the UNESCO
Chair/A.U.Th. These teachers are our invaluable partners in the
promotion of the Culture of Peace in the school classrooms. It is with
great imagination, originality and commitment to the Culture of Peace
that they organize many commendable activities with their students in
the classroom. Every time that I am honored to receive Reports of their
work, apart from my satisfaction and admiration, I feel certain that
the Culture of Peace is in the rights hands.
And these are only
some of my sources of strength and optimism. So, what do we really need
the mass media for? Let them go on with their significant work.. . ...more.
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