|
|
Book Review for "Bridging the Gap to Peace: From a New Way of Thinking into Action"
an article by The Late Robert Muller, Former United Nations Assistant Secretary General
This is a very important book. Despite all the knowledge and
intelligence the human species has acquired, we still are saddled with
about 70 active conflicts in the world; a record of 80 million war
casualties in the 20th century; and yearly “defense” expenditures of 800
trillion dollars; one half of all governmental expenditures, from
education and health to all governmental services. This must urgently
end because now we are destroying the Earth and her nature and must give
utmost priority to restoring them. An increase in peace will therefore
release resources from military and defense expenditures. Think also
of the saving of resources which can be obtained from the reduction or
elimination of violence. 
click on photo to enlarge
How
to do it, how to become a peacemaker, whatever your condition is,
whatever your walk of life you live in, you must decide first of all to
become a peacemaker, and then all the rest will fall into place. This
is what happened to Deri Joy Ronis, and how she narrates in her book how
she became a peacemaker and how you can become one too. This is also
what happened to me after World War II when I decided to become a
peacemaker, so that my children and grandchildren would not live the
horrors I saw during that war.
I tell my story in a scattered
way in several books, but hers is much better because it is entirely
devoted to that subject. It will also be a great contribution to the
Culture for Peace and Non-Violence launched in the year 2000 by the
Secretary General of the United Nations and the Director General of the
UNESCO for the decade to come.
Dear Reader, as you read this
book, open a file entitled "How I Became a Peacemaker," jot down any
ideas which come to you during the day or the night and you will soon
see your life become a beautiful work of art, blessed by untold
happiness. Please try it. You will thank for it Deri Joy Ronis, and
your humble servant, Robert Muller. “
|
|
DISCUSSION
Question(s) related to this article:
How can we get to a sustainable, peaceful economy?
Thematic forum(s) in which this article is being discussed:
ECONOMICS OF PEACE - L'ECONOMIE ET LA PAIX
LATEST READER COMMENT:
CPNN received the following comments from Dr. Deri Joy Ronis, the author of "Bridging the Gap to Peace":
Here
we are in the year 2011, the 21st century, the age of enlightenment,
and yet we are still experiencing a world where divisiveness and surreal
events with the world economy are escalating. Does any of this
signal a time to wake up?
The old questions, if not now,
when, if not you, who symbolize a time to make significant changes?
These changes are personal and political; spiritual and material.
If life is temporary, and we are here for a short span, how do we
want to be remembered?
Some people never think of these
questions until they are forced to. With all of the uncertainty in
the world, we would be wise to ask ourselves, what is really going on?
Just as many rebelled in other times of chaos, we are now
coming face to face with challenges particular to our era. Where
we once feared the Cold War, a nuclear holocaust or biological
terrorism, we now wonder if the economy will ever stabilize.. . ...more.
|
|
|
This report was posted on August 1, 2011.
If you wish to start a new discussion topic on this article, please copy the title of this article which is Book Review for "Bridging the Gap to Peace: From a New Way of Thinking into Action" and its number which is 509 and enter this information along with your discussion question and an introductory response to the question here.
A few stories are retained on the main listings if they are considered
by readers to be a priority. If you have not already done so, please
take the time to check a box below: should this article be considered as
a priority?
|
by program area