What is Peacemaking & Why Gene?
Why a book about Gene's peacemaking?
The past century was the most violent in our common history however a sub theme was the emerging rediscovery of nonviolent peacemaking by Gandhi, King and the rest of us around the globe. From India to Eastern Europe, from democratic movements in China to freedom walks in the United States, from little known villages in Afghanistan to farmers and fisherfolks in Colombia, people have discovered the power of nonviolent action.
Gene both imagined and worked everyday for peace in the world's hotspots for more than 40 years. His work as a conscientious objector in Vietnam during the war, in Philippines during martial law and in urban Chicago's gang areas in the 1980's convinced him that a long term organized team approach was crucial to reduce violence. He went on to become the founding director of Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT) from 1988 to 2004. Now in its 25th year, CPT trains and deploys violence-reduction teams around the world in militarized or crisis areas like Iraq, Palestine and parts of Columbia.
Gene's peacemaking work and vision cut to the core, not the symptoms, of four global systemic threats: militarism, the environment, the economy, and the food crisis. His approach possessed an authentic voice that won him the trust and respect of numerous communities worldwide that he partnered with to co-create space for peace.
While in former times it might have been laughed off or marginalized, the emerging culture of nonviolence -- or at the least curiosity about its content and effectiveness -- create conditions where learning, action, organizing and active peacemaking has a chance.
If twenty percent of our congregations, mosques, and synagogues would determine as a highest priority to form and support action teams, in five years our communities would be on the road to recovery. In ten years we would see larger solutions beginning to form out of a collage of our efforts. By the end of this century, we would have a revival of health for the people and the planet.
This window of opportunity deserves our critical attention, able reflection and competent preparation. At root all of us in this world have the potential to share the power of love and nonviolence, forces that reach far beyond mere sentimentality.
See also a review of Create Space with examples of Gene's peacemaking. More about peacemaking and worldwide violence-reduction projects here.
Comments 0 Comments