1. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking begins with taking responsibility for our own state of mind, feelings, and actions.
In most conflicts, we have two different ways of responding. The first is to react defensively. Often we do this by instantaneously acting out deeply ingrained conflict scripts. The second way is to allow our true self to take action. This is the way of transformative nonviolent peacemaking.
Nonviolent peacemaking is not primarily a way to armor ourselves against others. This can produce feelings of victimization and this, in turn, can justify our using violence in return. Instead, it is a means of creating a situation that stops the immediate violence, clarifies the real issues, and produces a resolution. Ultimately, this means taking responsibility for our own behavior, no matter what others do.
2. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking does not assume that the world is nonviolent.
Sometimes we think that for nonviolent peacemaking to be effective, the whole world has to somehow become nonviolent. Active nonviolent peacemaking does not hold to this illusion. In fact, it assumes that the world is often violent and unjust. Real nonviolent peacemaking does not attempt to create a world where there is no conflict. It recognizes that we face conflict all through our lives. This program explores the ways in which nonviolent peacemaking is a more effective means of addressing and resolving conflict than violence.
3. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking takes the reality of evil very seriously. But it takes the reality of good even more seriously.
Nonviolent peacemaking does not pretend that evil does not exist. Nevertheless, it does not subscribe to the belief that evil is the bottom line, that it is the ultimate reality. Active nonviolent peacemaking maintains that the picture we receive every day from the media is not the entire truth. Active nonviolent peacemaking challenges this incomplete and false picture of life and maintains that, while violence is a fact, the world also rings with love, courage and grace which are ultimately greater than violence and are capable of transforming it.
4. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking can respond to many levels of violence.
We are challenged to experiment with active nonviolent peacemaking in the face of many manifestations of violence. These include interpersonal violence, violence in the work place, violence between differing communities, violence against the Earth. These also include the overarching structures of violence that consciously and unconsciously shape and inform our personal and social lives in profoundly disturbing ways, including economic violence, racism, and sexism. The nonviolent peacemaking practitioner seeks creative and relentlessly persistent ways to use nonviolent methods to transform these conditions and their underlying assumptions and attitudes.
5. We need support to put transformative nonviolent peacemaking into practice.
Nonviolent peacemaking is a process of seeing and challenging patterns of violence and injustice. To do this well, we need each other. We need communities of people who are seeking to transform their own violence and the violence around them. We need safe space to reflect on this process with others. We need allies with whom we can practice these methods, and people with whom we can debrief. We need companions when we take nonviolent action. In general, nonviolent peacemaking is not a solitary activity.
In most conflicts, we have two different ways of responding. The first is to react defensively. Often we do this by instantaneously acting out deeply ingrained conflict scripts. The second way is to allow our true self to take action. This is the way of transformative nonviolent peacemaking.
Nonviolent peacemaking is not primarily a way to armor ourselves against others. This can produce feelings of victimization and this, in turn, can justify our using violence in return. Instead, it is a means of creating a situation that stops the immediate violence, clarifies the real issues, and produces a resolution. Ultimately, this means taking responsibility for our own behavior, no matter what others do.
2. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking does not assume that the world is nonviolent.
Sometimes we think that for nonviolent peacemaking to be effective, the whole world has to somehow become nonviolent. Active nonviolent peacemaking does not hold to this illusion. In fact, it assumes that the world is often violent and unjust. Real nonviolent peacemaking does not attempt to create a world where there is no conflict. It recognizes that we face conflict all through our lives. This program explores the ways in which nonviolent peacemaking is a more effective means of addressing and resolving conflict than violence.
3. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking takes the reality of evil very seriously. But it takes the reality of good even more seriously.
Nonviolent peacemaking does not pretend that evil does not exist. Nevertheless, it does not subscribe to the belief that evil is the bottom line, that it is the ultimate reality. Active nonviolent peacemaking maintains that the picture we receive every day from the media is not the entire truth. Active nonviolent peacemaking challenges this incomplete and false picture of life and maintains that, while violence is a fact, the world also rings with love, courage and grace which are ultimately greater than violence and are capable of transforming it.
4. Transformative nonviolent peacemaking can respond to many levels of violence.
We are challenged to experiment with active nonviolent peacemaking in the face of many manifestations of violence. These include interpersonal violence, violence in the work place, violence between differing communities, violence against the Earth. These also include the overarching structures of violence that consciously and unconsciously shape and inform our personal and social lives in profoundly disturbing ways, including economic violence, racism, and sexism. The nonviolent peacemaking practitioner seeks creative and relentlessly persistent ways to use nonviolent methods to transform these conditions and their underlying assumptions and attitudes.
5. We need support to put transformative nonviolent peacemaking into practice.
Nonviolent peacemaking is a process of seeing and challenging patterns of violence and injustice. To do this well, we need each other. We need communities of people who are seeking to transform their own violence and the violence around them. We need safe space to reflect on this process with others. We need allies with whom we can practice these methods, and people with whom we can debrief. We need companions when we take nonviolent action. In general, nonviolent peacemaking is not a solitary activity.
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