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Building a Long-Term Flourishing Movement for a Nonviolent World. Spreading Active Nonviolence to End War, Militarism, Poverty

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Building a Long-Term Flourishing Movement for a Nonviolent World. Spreading Active Nonviolence to End War, Militarism, Poverty Take the Pledge of Nonviolence! Resources: The Campaign Nonviolence (CNV) Pledge - Campaign Nonviolence: commits us to begin or renew our efforts to take campaignnonviolence.org up the way of active nonviolence practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. - Metta Center for Nonviolence: Everyone is invited to take this pledge and join mettacenter.org this movement for peace with justice for humanity and the earth. - Global Nonviolent Action Database: Building a long-term nvdatabase.swarthmore.edu THE PLEDGE: - Waging Nonviolence: flourishing movement I solemnly pledge to take a stand against violence and to help build a culture of active wagingnonviolence.org for a nonviolent world. nonviolence. I will strive to: - The Vernal Project: Practice nonviolence toward myself Practice nonviolence toward all others vernalproject.org Join in the global movement to abolish - Book: John Dear, The Nonviolent Life Spreading active war, end poverty and racism, stop the (2013) destruction of the earth, and foster a just nonviolence to end war, and peaceful world for all. - Other resources for mainstreaming nonviolence can be found at: militarism, poverty, To support this commitment, I will: campaignnonviolence.org Learn more about active nonviolence racism and the climate Take nonviolence training Work to mainstream nonviolence in my crisis. community Organize an action event opposing the culture of violence and promoting a Taking nonviolent action culture of nonviolence Campaign Nonviolence has been initiated by Pace e Bene Nonviolence everywhere! Signature: ___________________________ Service. Endorsers include: Peace Name (print): ________________________ Action, Pax Christi USA, Fellowship of Address: ____________________________ Reconciliation, Veterans for Peace, Hip City, State, Zip: ______________________ Hop Caucus, Maryknoll Office for Join us in the Email: ______________________________ Global Concerns, Meta Peace Team, Phone: ______________________________ nonviolent struggle to Erie Benedictines for Peace, Lutheran † LOREM, IPSUM ¢ Sign and mail to: Peace Fellowship, Franciscan Action build a Ac dolor ac adipiscing amet bibendum nullam, Pace e Bene Nonviolence Service Network, Episcopal Peace Fellowship, massa lacus molestie ut libero nec, diam et, P.O. Box F, Corvallis, OR 97339 Muslim Peace Fellowship and many culture of peace! pharetra sodales eget, feugiat ullamcorper id 510-268-8765, [email protected] more. tempor eget set id vitae. Mauris pretium eget lacus amet arcu et montes, tellus lobortis lacus amet arcu You can also sign the pledge at This event has been organized by: et lorem ipsum set ahmet. Lorem ipsum dolor sit CampaignNonviolence.org or Paceebene.org amet, ligula suspendisse nulla pretium, rhoncus Tax-deductible contributions are welcome at fermentum, enim integer ad vestibulum. Pace e Bene or at any of the endorsing organizations listed on the back of this leaflet. Building the “Beloved Community” “Our goal is to create a beloved include forgiveness rather than punishment, freedom and justice. It requires not only the community. This will require a qualitative simplicity rather than excess, sharing rather courage to stand up against the oppressor, change in our souls, as well as a than hoarding, and trusting others even in the but also the honor to engage in dialogue with quantitative change in our lives.” face of prior wrongs. It also includes a refusal your opponent, refusing to return evil for evil, -- Martin Luther King, Jr. -- to cooperate with violence and injustice, while violence for violence. The commitment is at the same time also refusing to strike back lifelong, but possible for anyone to make, WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? against one's opponent. regardless of age, gender, or intelligence. The problem is the "culture of violence" that all of us are surrounded by: The false belief DOES NONVIOLENCE WORK? Among many other things, active nonviolence that evil can overcome evil, that peace can Yes, nonviolence works on all levels, from the requires choosing a life of simplicity and come out of violence, that by using force and interpersonal level all the way up to generosity, creating space for others to live coercion we can obtain our goal of a just and international and political levels. A recent up to their potential. peaceful society. As the world continues to study done by Stephan & Chenoweth unravel as a consequence of this world-view, compared nonviolent to violent revolutions WHAT CAN I DO? Americans remain entranced and deluded since 1900 and found that nonviolent - Educate yourself on the explicit and implicit into believing that it is the only way. revolutions were more than twice as likely to forms of violence in society. Learn to succeed. Furthermore, in countries and recognize how violent solutions, while they ASPECTS OF A CULTURE OF VIOLENCE: regions where nonviolent revolutions may obtain desired objectives in the short- - American militarism, at home and abroad occurred, the transition to a healthy term, inevitably do more harm than good - Increasing poverty (in the face of increasing democracy was also more likely to occur. over the long run. wealth) - Focus on forms of entertainment that - Environmental destruction These trends were found to be independent promote a culture of peace rather than a - Ongoing threat of nuclear weapons of the level of brutality of the regimes in the culture of violence. - Violence against women countries where revolutions occurred. Even - Get training in active nonviolence. - Racism against Nazi Germany in WWII, movements - Attend rallies and events in support of a - Police brutality and militarization such as in Le Chambon (France) and the culture of peace. - Increasing costs of education country of Denmark would suggest that - Support organizations working to create a - Violence in books, movies, music nonviolence was more effective in preventing culture of peace. - Loss of democracy as the wealthy and elite the loss of life, especially that of the Jews and - Seek employment in jobs that support a gain increasing control over elected officials other primary targets of the Nazis. culture of peace rather than a culture of - Unjust treatment of immigrants & refugees violence. For many examples of successful nonviolent - Don't be afraid to challenge those who WHAT IS THE SOLUTION? revolutions, refer to the Reference section on promote a culture of violence. The solution is for all of us to take immediate the back of this pamphlet. - Strive to foster a culture of peace in your steps in replacing the "culture of violence" own life: Honor, courage, commitment, with a "culture of peace," or what Martin WHAT DOES THE CULTURE OF PEACE nonviolence, simplicity, generosity, etc. Luther King Jr. called the “Beloved REQUIRE? - Sign the pledge of nonviolence (located in Community.” Every major religion, at its core, Promoting a culture of peace requires honor, this pamphlet). recognizes that evil can only be overcome by courage, and commitment. It requires a good, and that peace and justice can only be willingness to set aside one's own interests obtained through active nonviolence (what for the wellbeing of others. Often this means M.K. Gandhi called "satya-graha," or "soul setting aside one's own personal security, force"). Manifestations of this culture of peace even risking one's life, in the struggle for .
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