Toward a United Strategy for Peace and Justice
an article by Robin

"The peace and justice movement is very alive, very well," this is the introduction and conclusion to the article about the National Conference of United for Peace and Justice that was posted on their website June 13. The Conference, June 6-8 in Chicago, brought together over 500 activists from 38 states representing about 350 organizations.

"There were weaknesses and occasional frustrations," according to author Ted Glick. What were they? For one thing, the movement needs, as always, to be broader. Responding to this the newly elected steering committee is 48.5% women, 51.5% people of color, 11.5% youth, and 11.5% lbgt (see list of members on the UFPJ website. Also, "We are still learning how to combine a maximum of inclusive democracy with a decision-making process that is effective and coherent." Finally, the author suggests that the conference failed to come to grips with the need to defeat the Bush agenda in the next election.

A "UFPJ Strategic Framework" was adopted which states in part: "UFPJ's over-arching goal in the coming year to 18 months is to impact and mobilize public opinion in order to force a shift by the US government away from its present policy of permanent war and empire-building, and to address the ramifications of that policy both abroad and at home."

Two action proposals received the greatest support. One was a proposal to develop an on-going campaign against attacks on immigrants and civil liberties, to repeal the Patriot Act, etc. The second was a proposal to actively support developing campaigns for actions around the September 10-15 meeting of the World Trade Organization, the November 17-21 meeting of the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and the November 22-23 protest at the Fort Benning School of the Americas.

Ted Glick is the National Coordinator of the Independent Progressive Politics Network. You may read his article in its entirety on the UFPJ website.

DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:

How can the peace movement become stronger and more effective?


Is the culture of peace take effect to the peace of world?


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:

MAKING AN EFFECTIVE PEACE MOVEMENT

Latest reader comment:

Yenestc, I would like to reply to you on the basis of my experience working in the UN system and UNESCO.  These systems were set up by the victorious states after World War II in order to maintain the power of those states.  At that time the motto was "Peace through strength."  To this day, the Security Council continues to operate under this principle.  

Only UNESCO was established to "build peace in the minds of men."  The UNESCO Constitution states "That a peace based exclusively upon the political and economic arrangements of governments would not be a peace which could secure the unanimous, lasting and sincere support of the peoples of the world, and that the peace must therefore be founded, if it is not to fail, upon the intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind."

The Culture of Peace Programme of UNESCO and its expression in the International Year (and now Decade) for a Culture of Peace, and its important document, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, were attempts to build such an "intellectual and moral solidarity of mankind."  

The attack of 9/11 showed the need to redouble our efforts for a culture of peace, but unfortunately the European Union and the United States continue to oppose it at the United Nations.  Why?  Because it would restrict their power to make war and impose "peace through force."  See my brief history of the culture of peace at http://www.culture-of-peace.info/history/introduction.html

This report was posted on June 29, 2003. The moderator is Helen.

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