CANADIAN CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM (“CCOPP”)
CONCEPTUAL MAPPING OF OUR INITIAL ACTION PLAN
NOVEMBER 23, 2004
(Diagram 1 – A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words)
INDEX:(ref. Diagram 1)
1. WORK TO DATE (FOUNDATION OF OUR CCOPP WORK)
2. UNESCO PILLARS (OUR CULTURE OF PEACE AND NONVIOLENCE VALUES)
3. THE ORGANIZATION (ENTITY)
4. GOVERNANCE STYLE
5. EDUCATION INITIATIVES (FORMAL EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS, NON-FORMAL EDUCATION, ACADEMIC CONSORTIUM)
6. RESEARCH
7. LIAISON WITH LIKE MINDED
8. MINISTRY OF PEACE INITIATIVES
9. ALTERNATIVES AND CRITIQUE OF HUMAN CONDITION AND INSTITUTIONS
10. OTHER INITIATIVES AND ISSUES MANAGEMENT
(Diagram 2 – Everyone Participated in Developing the Initial Action Plan)
INITIAL CANADIAN CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM ACTION PLAN ITEMS:
(ref. Diagram 2)
This Report should be read in conjunction with the “STATEMENT ON THE CANADIAN CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM” dated November 25, 2004.
1. WORK TO DATE (FOUNDATION OF OUR WORK)
- recognize and honour work already done, in progress, and planned, contributing to building a Culture of Peace and Non-violence, in all areas that impact on peace and violence (direct and indirect) at the individual, family, community, national, regional and world levels
2. UNESCO PILLARS (OUR CULTURE OF PEACE AND NON-VIOLENCE VALUES)
- cohere to and advance the values as set out by the U.N./UNESCO Culture of Peace and Non-violence Program (Manifesto 2000 as an organizing frame; reference )
- have a global (gov.) promise to the world’s children to move toward a Culture of Peace and Non-violence (cross-reference “A World Fit For Children” U.N. Program at )
(Diagram 3 – We have a clear Mission, and are still focusing our Vision)
3. THE ORGANIZATION (ENTITY)
“An institution is a gathering of persons who have accepted a common purpose, and a common discipline to guide the pursuit of that purpose, to the end that each involved person reaches higher fulfillment as a person, through serving and being served by the common venture, than would be achieved alone or in a less committed relationship.” Robert Greenleaf
- initiate a continuously evolving Plan of Action (starting with this document), incorporating the following key action components of the U.N. Culture of Peace and Non-violence Program:
- “institutionalize” a Culture of Peace Program in Canada (per above definition)
- education
- sustainable economic and social development
- respect for all human rights
- equality between men and women
- democratic participation
- free flow of information
- understanding, tolerance and community
- international peace and security
- establish time lines (long term perspective and a sense of urgency: time is of the essence; establish milestones to measure progress; have patience)
- a name (Canadian Culture of Peace Program) and identity (including location, mailing address, email address, telephone and fax numbers, contact person(s), web site address) for public relations (photos of our event will help forge our identity)
- Champion? Or Champions (Peace Ambassadors; Peace Ambassadors Bureau, similar to a Speakers’ Bureau (Shall Sinha to follow up); also reference Topic #4 Governance Style)
- Mission Statement approved: “The Mission of the Canadian Culture of Peace Program is to advance a Culture of Peace and Non-violence at home and abroad.” (ref. Diagram 3)
- Vision Statement (put forward by the leadership and peace dialogue group for consideration: “The Vision of the Canadian Culture of Peace Program is to significantly reduce a culture of war, violence and misery in our communities and world.” proposal reference Diagram 3, including continuum at bottom; participants indicated pros and cons, which require more consideration)
- Organization Chart: like a web; an informal Canadian “hub” (ref. Diagram 4)
- develop a Marketing Strategy (i.e. “How to ‘Sell’ Peace”) and marketing toolkit (target market: the main stream vs. elite); Public Relations
- develop Communications Network (i.e. lists, email/listservers, common e-board)
- seek funding
- seek human resources (website inviting others to join; “recruitment”)
- reward (celebrate) those that promote peace, rather than reprimanding those that do not
- explore relationship between CCOPP and the University of Alberta new peace education program
- prepare Canadian Report on Culture of Peace and Non-violence activities for April 2005 for U.N. (i.e. Midterm Decade Report to U.N.)
- initiate Culture of Peace News Network, Canada (“CPNN-Canada”) on Internet
(Diagram 4 – Organization Chart: Thinking Outside the Box and Traditional Hierarchy)
4. GOVERNANCE STYLE
- this report should be read in conjunction with the Leadership & Peace November 2004 Workshop Report at
- Council-type governance, with definable/pro-active leadership:
- inclusive;collective, collaborative, cooperative;
- non-hierarchical, as much as possible; non-imposing (reference servant leadership model at - trustees, guides, collegial style, ‘primus inter pares’; to come – the report of the Leadership and Peace Workshop Nov 15-17, for further consideration);
- transparency;
- optimistic – life can get better, but only if we fundamentally alter the way we think and do things; whole system change/transformation promulgated by the U.N. Culture of Peace Program
- inspirational (ignite a passion in “champions in waiting”; look for them & support)
- with a conflict transformation mechanism (so we do not ‘fight’)
- a steering committee
- significant discussion around a small core group/steering committee, a larger core group, a larger group of stakeholders, and the constituency at large (public/citizens)
- not a single leader but many leaders; structure (working group?)
- strategic (eg.management by objectives) and “earthworms” (reference )
- clear-cut, business-like and accountable
- SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats)
- keep outside of government (independent) to maintain “purity” (i.e. ability to do what needs to be done, without undue/negative influence)
- encourage activism (“actionism”), not only discussion; move people from spectators to active participants; work in the system, and outside or around the system
- push for more peace education (ref. Item 5 below) and public policies that advance a Culture of Peace and Non-violence, and the Human Right to Peace; encourage (prod) the Canadian Government to support with resolution (ref. Item 8 below)
- outreach through museums, art organizations; fill the gaps
- convene a Governance and Canadian Culture Of Peace Program Workshop soon; to develop a workable (and continuously improving) leadership model for the CCOPP; consider the Canadian Peace Initiative Charter of Principles (ref. at bottom); conceptualize it as “Culture of Peace” frame; encourage a University to develop a course on Leadership and a Culture of Peace
- “We cannot escape controversial issues. How we face them is one measure of our mettle. ...there must be an atmosphere -- friendly, familiar fellowship -- which bears us under strong difference of opinion ...divergence of view is the very pith of peacebuilding ... because inpeacebuilding wedisagree without being disagreeable, many differences are resolved ...”; mature, respectful and open-minded
- What it is not: it is not a technical solution to every world problem; it is not an umbrella organization; it is not a threat to other NGOs; it is not a turf war
- What it is: it is a catalyst; it is a moral foundation; it is a vision, to obtain human security; it is a challenge to the culture of war and violence; it is new thinking
- “no one in this room knows what a Culture of Peace and Non-violence looks like” D.Adams
- peace is our passion; CCOPP is our baby (parenting metaphor)
- peace is hard work; it is time to get down to work
- have FUN!
- report back to larger group of stakeholders in one year, and refine as necessary
5. EDUCATION INITIATIVES (FORMAL EDUCATION AT ALL LEVELS, NON-FORMAL EDUCATION, ACADEMIC CONSORTIUM)
- build on the work that we have done during the past three Annual Peace Education Conferences in Canada (reference )
- educate the masses in the Culture of Peace and Non-violence Program
- professionalize the ‘peace industry’; “peace professionals”
- Education: a “tool” for peace; direct help (eg. Material, conferences, etc.)
- joining hands, resources and knowledge with academia and non-academia
- academic linkages/consortium
- educational training; develop critical thinking, appreciation for diversity, concern for justice, tolerance of uncertainty, capacity for creativity, media literacy, world awareness
- model of the Culture of Peace and Non-violence in the Classroom (reference )
- public school arm
- non-formal/community education arm
- family peace education/awareness
- Peace Education Annual Index (method of measuring peace education growth); regular (annual?) reports to Ministers of Education and Boards of Education
- involvement of youth (reference Youth Day Report of Proceedings at )
- Youth Days: Open Space to Open Minds to Peace; every school do two days of Open Space Technology conferencing: beginning of the year to activate youth, and end of year to debrief
- explore a better Youth Day, for next year’s Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada (Marika Ince and Hillfield Strathallan Collegiate to follow up)
- summer peace education camps (peace camp?)
- put together a “How to Get Started Guide” (Diagram 5; Carmen Everall to follow up)
- develop “Teacher Candidate Workshop”; some peace educators do not know what the Culture of Peace Program is (professional development in-service; need collaboration of faculty; a Classroom Connection-type material/video and book; Jennifer ?, Anne Goodman and Sue McGregor to follow up)
- Peace through Health in Afghanistan could be a useful model in Canadian schools (Joanna Santa Barbara to follow up)
- approach and share information with Service Clubs such as Rotary, Lions, etc.; ask if they will support (money would be nice); ask to speak at schools (Pramila Sinha to follow up)
- peace education is in the process
- “Imagination is more important than knowledge.” Albert Einstein
(Diagram 5 – Personal Pledges of Action)
6. RESEARCH
- don’t reinvent the wheel: research initiatives, successes, failures, etc.
- knowledge based: “knowledges”; expanding what knowledge is; also, wisdom
- Copyleft software on (ala Wikipedia; reference ; Sue McGregor to follow up)
7. LIAISON WITH LIKE MINDED
- identify potential stakeholders in the Canadian Culture of Peace Program, and convene conference of stakeholders at a suitable time (CCOPP should affiliate with all other non-violent peace organizations; we have active allies, such as Hague Appeal for Peace, etc.)
- we have to overcome why people are not here today (eg. Busy/no time; not their agenda/no need; lack of awareness/no knowledge; no rush/urgency; etc.)
- liaise with Civil Society; new demands for a humane world
- liaise with Religions; a reconciliation of peoples
- identify the decision makers (power brokers) and visit (when we ‘have our act together’; Janis Alton to follow up)
- what is being done already? Collate information; foster links with other NGOs doing various elements of the 8 facets of UNESCO’s Culture of Peace and Non-violence Program
- intercommunication (so groups do not duplicate work, or step on one another)
- international partnerships; part of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World; 2005 midway report (April 2005 deadline); global link with David Adams and Federico Mayor
-we have an opportunity to link with others at the upcoming World Peace Forum in Vancouver in 2006 (reference )
- links with religious communities
- have a growing base of Culture of Peace “doers” (eg. Teachers, activists, resource developers)
- consultative mechanism with civil society
- regional peace conferences (Board of Education regions)
- “Open Space to Open Minds to Peace” (i.e. more conferencing across the country)
- pool the existing resources
- learn from each other’s success stories: LISTEN!
8. MINISTRY OF PEACE INITIATIVES
- support proposal for a Federal Minister (Ministry) of Peace (reference Victoria Working Group); push for the Canadian Government to take a leadership role
- support proposal for a Commission on Peace
- support proposal for Provincial/Territorial Ministries of Peace
- support proposal for Municipal Peace Committees or Departments (eg. Vancouver)
- push for public policies that advance a Culture of Peace and Non-violence, and the Human Right to Peace; encourage (prod) the Canadian Government to support with resolution
- note that “the function of any state is to make laws and implement them, otherwise it is useless; the only way to implement laws is with some violence (coercion); therefore, the state nature is build around violence; military to control own people; size of military a function of freedom in the country; state only has power because of the willing obedience of its people; government uses divide and rule to ‘conquer’” Gandhi
- the government would say that they are not operating in a culture of violence = we need to talk in different languages to communicate with different audiences
9. ALTERNATIVES AND CRITIQUE OF HUMAN CONDITION AND INSTITUTIONS
- visions of alternatives – “grounded hope”
- critiques of existing institutions; ways of doing things; out of complacency
- identify key awareness issues for the general public (eg. Consumerism, bullying, etc.)
- culture of consumption unmasking; mindful market model
- duality (eg. Good and evil; macro and micro; top down and bottom up; long term and urgency; process and results; means and ends; conjoining of spirituality and pragmatics; etc.)
10. OTHER INITIATIVES AND ISSUES MANAGEMENT
- Sharpen Canadian focus on:
- Human Security agenda (make it more difficult to start a war)
- Nuclear disarmament
- Sustainable development
- Human Rights
- Deepen Canadian Involvement by Civil Society and Government in Multilateral/United Nations efforts (support UNESCO and U.N., particularly Culture of Peace Program; sponsor a resolution for the Decade)
- Build a better relationship with the United States; influence
- Earth Charter (reference )
- Culture of Peace without walls
[NOTE – THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS]
(Diagram 6 – The Culture of Peace Program: It’s In Our Hands)
(Diagram 7 – Developing the Initial CCOPP Action Plan: Everyone Got Into The Action)
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