Australian Commission for Peace and Non Violence
and Global Citizens for Peace
To reflect our nation's true priorities we need form a Commission for Peace and Non Violence - and appoint a Commissioner for Peace - so that the voice of the peace makers be heard at the professional and institutional level, and so provide equal opportunity with those who speak for the environment, agriculture, education, finance and armed defence.
On Sunday fourth of February a Round Table for Peace, organized by Dr Michael Ellis was held in in Melbourne. The meeting was hosted by Senator Lynn Allison, Federal Parliamentary leader of the Australian Democrats.
The objective of this Round Table is to initiate the formation of an Australian Commission for Peace and Non Violence and also to form the Organization of Global Citizens for Peace in order to support this process, and consult on practical, nonviolent solutions to the problems of domestic and international conflict.
We came together as concerned Global citizens realizing that with increasing Global population requiring more and more resources with tremendous inequality of distribution our planet is reaching breaking point in terms of economic and ecological crises. This is having profound social and cultural effects. We require urgent ecological, social, economic and political solutions to problems which affect billions of people if we are to survive sustainably.
Global Citizens For Peace is a global alliance of individuals and organizations dedicated to building a world of peace in which we live in freedom, harmony, cooperation and co-prosperity for all.
We need a new peace consciousness in the world and this is at all levels of society including the Commission for Peace and Non Violence which will hold peace as an organizing principle, coordinating service to every level of Australian society. It will also endeavor to promote justice and democratic principles, to expand human rights and strengthen non-military means of peacemaking.
During the 20th Century, over 100 million people lost their lives to war - most of whom were non-combatants. Now, as we are well into the 21st century, the extent and current speed of nuclear proliferation makes the achievement of non-violent alternatives to war the most urgent need of the human race. From the growing rate of domestic violence to increasing problems of international violence, we have no more serious problem in our midst than the problem of violence itself. From child abuse to genocide, from the murder of one to the slaughter of thousands, it is increasingly senseless to merely wait until violence has erupted before addressing the deeper well from which it springs. The problem of violence is a many layered one, and its solution will be, as well.
This campaign represents an important collective effort, as Global citizens, to do everything we possibly can to save the world for our children's children.
Throughout Australia, there are many peace-builders and peace-building projects. Those skilled in ameliorating the effects of violence - from conflict resolution experts to nonviolent communicators - have proven their effectiveness at treating root causes of violence. Peace is more than the absence of war; it is a positive state of being predicated on the presence of a peaceful heart.
The mission of the Organization of Global citizens for peace is to move this realization from the margins of our political dialogue to its rightful, central place within our national understanding. The humanitarian impulse to foster brotherhood and justice is not just a utopian ideal; it is an issue critical to Australian security and Well being.
Domestically, the Commission for Peace and Non Violence will develop policies and allocate resources to effectively reduce the levels of domestic and gang violence, child abuse, and various other forms of societal discord. Internationally, the Department will advise Parliament on the most sophisticated ideas and techniques regarding peace-creation among nations.
Our aim is to educate and inspire thousands throughout the country with the knowledge, skill and enthusiasm to become powerful Global citizen activists on behalf of the Department of Peace legislation.
All governments devote attention to, for example, debating their "defence capacities" - but there is very little attention (let alone equal attention) to debating "peace capacities". The idea for peace cadets or a peace force for Australia was suggested by Dr Stella Cornelius and Dr Keith Suter over 20 years ago in their Peace Book.
Australia first called for a Ministry for Peace in 1937 through the voice of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom. This call was sounded again in 1982 when Dr. Stella Cornelius, for the United Nations Association of Australia (UNAA), launched a vigorous campaign for a Ministry for Peace at an Australian Federal Government level. In 1983 our Department of Foreign Affairs appointed Mr. Richard Butler as the first Ambassador for Disarmament. The Department of Foreign Affairs made an initial grant toward the establishment of Australian peace research, and together with the Department of Education it made a commitment to Peace Education. In 1984, the Department of Foreign Affairs established a Peace & Disarmament section.
Biannca Pace took the role of Chairperson for the Department of Peace Australia http://www.ministryforpeace.org.au/ (this term having a more universal application than Ministry for Peace) in December 2004.
In November 2004 Biannca, then State President of the Australian Democrats, (Aug 2004-Dec 2005) initiated and chaired two meetings of the Dept of Peace- Australia. Dr Stella Cornelius accepted the invitation to co-chair the initial meeting.
In May, 2005 Biannca was invited to attend the First People's Summit for Departments of Peace , held in London UK. Forty delegates from 12 countries attended. Australia was represented by two delegates. Since 2005 the MFP has hosted Peace Concerts, Peace Forums at Parliament House and 24 Hour Peace Vigils to celebrate the UN International Day of Peace, In 2006 this consisted of a 24 hr continuous prayer vigil, a peace concert at Victoria Park and a Peace Forum held at Parliament House, Sydney.
On 6th - 26th September 2008 the Department of Peace Australia will be hosting the Fourth International Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace with over 80 delegates from 40 countries expected to attend. The City of Sydney has agreed to establish a Peace Garden at Victoria Park and a Peace showcase.
A promotional video is available on DVD and can be viewed at
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3403002087923913362&hl=en/
There is a real need for people to be able to express an integral approach to humanity and to be trained in this approach which can be called the Art of Peace craft as they deliver goods and services to the needy and impoverished in the developing world.
We need to get back to the concept of true education and true healing if we wish to see a society which will flourish in every way including economically.
YouTube: YES WE CAN SAVE THE PLANET