Peace Stories

The end will come

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We went outside to see the last days of the Earth.

To wait for the fire, the explosions, the floods.

A great chill fell upon the land, blanketing the forest with rimfrost.

It was beautiful. As the darkness descended, the sky became ablaze with light.

It was beautiful.

We realised it had always been beautiful. Everything we were given.

Even our breath.

We felt a deep sadness that we were witnessing the end. But gratitude we had been given the grace to feel it, if only just once.

The darkness fell upon us. We expected the end. Instead we saw the end of the year.

And we had been given the opportunity to be at the start of a new one. We vowed to take the beauty and the understanding with us. Into the new year.

The town that found a cure

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Writing in the Guardian, George Monbiot describes how the Somerset town of Frome saw a dramatic fall in emergency hospital admissions since it began a collective project to combat isolation. The case offers lessons for us all how we can contribute to creating a culture of peace.

Read the article here.

 

The case has attracted the attention of the health services, as explained in this report. (pdf)

Acceptance

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We  get into conflict. It is natural. When we create conflict or end up in conflict, it is because we, humanity, have the capability for conflict. On the other hand, we also have the capability to resolve the conflict. Conflict is the end result of a process. It must be possible to reverse that process  – and go from conflict back to peace. For everything begins with peace. It’s from peace we come and it’s towards peace we want to go. It is in our nature. Our natural state is peace. Continue reading →

Peace Story: an annual conference to connect peace and land restoration

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Conferences that bring together different people from widely different backgrounds to “join the dots” on central issues like foods security, peace and land restoration can inspire, educate and create strong networks with a strengthened ability to drive change for the positive.


While many people are aware of the rapid speed of desertification (1% of agricultural land lost each year), few understand that deserts are often man made. Where land degradation is occurring and restoration is not happening, the primary reasons are often not technical or financial, but are connected to lack of trust or actual conflict. Change in human attitudes, behaviour and relationships, the principle focus of Initiatives of Change (IofC), are seen as key to achieving both peace and land restoration.
In 2011 and 2012, Luc Gnacadja, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, requested that dialogues on these issues be arranged at the Caux conference center.
The annual Caux Dialogues on Land and Security starting in July , 2013  have explored the potential of sustainable land management as a driver of peace, development and climate change mitigation by bringing together individuals, governments, international organizations, NGOs and business in a unique environment.

Peace Story: Going local can build a foundation for peace

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This video points to the essence of what’s wrong with the global economy and the multiple benefits of localisation.  Localisation can ensure more have food on their table a roof over their head and are included in the local economy. Together with a personal understanding of peace this can build the foundation for a world in peace.

Local Futures & Economics of Happiness project works for the wellbeing of people & planet through a systemic shift to economic localization. Read more by following this link or their Peace Bank Entry.