PEACE MESSENGERS HANDBOOK “Information is shock resistance, arm yourselves” Naomi Klein This is a handbook for internal use. It is not commercial, non profit and destined for training SCI volunteers who will implement peace education workshops in SCI projects. The resources for printing where donated by SCI International, and you cannot buy or sell the book, you can only receive it from your branch, or by following a relevant training course. If you want to contribute to the book, or have any kind of feedback, questions or suggestions you can write to: [email protected] We want to thank, from the heart, all the people and organisations that contributed in compiling this handbook… “Hear, O Humankind, the prayer of my heart For are we not one, have we not one desire, to heal our Mother Earth and bind her wounds to hear again from dark forests and flashing rivers the varied ever-changing Song of Creation? O humankind, are we not all brothers and sisters, are we not the grandchildren of the Great Mystery? Do we not all want to love and be loved, to work and play, to sing and dance together? But we live with fear. Fear that is hate, fear that is mistrust, envy, greed, vanity, fear that is ambition, competition, aggression, fear that is loneliness, anger, bitterness, cruelty….and yet, fear is only twisted love, love turned back on itself, love that was denied, love that was rejected… and love... Love is life---creation, seed and leaf and blossom and fruit and seed, love is growth and search and reach and touch and dance, Love is nurture and succor and feed and pleasure, love is pleasuring ourselves pleasuring each other, love is life believing in itself. And life… Life is the Sacred Mystery singing to itself, dancing to its drum, telling tales, improvising, playing and we are all that Spirit, our stories all but one cosmic story that we are love indeed, that perfect love in me seeks the love in you, and if our eyes could ever meet without fear we would recognize each other and rejoice, for love is life believing in itself.” 2 Welcome word Dear volunteers, dear peace messengers, dear friends, I am extremely happy to have a chance to warmly greet and welcome you to the interesting adventure of reading the “Peace Messengers Handbook”. This handbook is a great outcome of the work and belief in SCI values of the dear group of volunteers in SCI – Peace Messengers Project. During my several years of involvement in SCI, I have heard many times about peace messengers, eco messengers or human rights messengers. It was at the same time clear for me what it is, but also brought different questions about how to organise such projects in SCI and how long should they last. In 2007 within the Volunteers’ centre of Vojvodina (SCI recognised group member at the time) and the active members’ meeting we discussed the opportunity to try to host a training course dealing only with the topic of peace messengers. Finally, we applied for it at the Youth in Action Programme of the European Commission and got it approved. The training course was implemented in February 2008 with some 20 very enthusiastic SCI volunteers interested in developing the concepts of peace messengers in SCI further. The training course was structured around following themes: Peace and interculturality, Intercultural learning, Conflict resolution, Human Rights, Discrimination / Exclusion, Racism and Xenophobia, Inclusion, Intercultural Dialogue and Peace Messengers as a whole. The training course was enriching for us both, participants and trainers. One of the most important outcomes of the training course was the dedication of volunteers to the opportunity and plans of implementing activities of peace messengers in SCI on a more systematic way than it was before. The group of Peace messengers – Peace Messengers Project – was gathered at the above mentioned training course in Novi Sad, Serbia. From that moment on, they were greatly coordinated as a group of active volunteers that enjoy what they do and achieve great results in SCI with their pro-active approach to the promotion and further raising of the quantity and quality of the peace messengers’ activities and projects within SCI. This handbook, as one of the results of Peace Messengers Project, is developed as a very useful tool for all current and future peace messengers in SCI. In it one can find different approaches to peace and relevant topics connected to peace, SCI positions on peace issues, a bit about different people that were active as some kind of peace messengers in the world, plus other information, explanations and advices useful for preparing yourself as peace messengers. Within SCI, this handbook is a unique also by the quality of compiling different approaches, theories and concepts related to peace, in one. Many people have contributed to it and I wish to thank them all here! As they wish that this handbook stays as “ours”, they have chosen not to be named. I believe that their good work will be recognized within our Movement and our volunteers! With the kindest and warmest greetings, I wish you welcome to the Peace Messengers Handbook once again! Amities, Danijela Juric International Executive Committee member (2008/2009) 3 Introduction In your hands you have the first edition of the Peace Messenger Project Handbook. This book was made to serve and inspire you on your adventures as Peace Messenger, or let you as interested reader learn more about the project. You will find important facts in this book, as well as enough material to use for discussions and workshops you want to organise. Let this book be your fellow, your guide and your teacher at times of War, and let it be an important memory on your bookshelf in times of Peace. Messengers are subjects carrying and spreading a message. Human beings have always used messengers for different reasons. Throughout history we can see different networks of messengers coming and going. In the Roman Empire the Emperors used a courier network that grew to cover all of Western Europe by the middle of the 16th century. Messenger networks used to have horse riders in different times, formerly to exclusive use of the government or military and carrying no civil correspondence as a rule. What differentiates post riders from these earlier efforts was that they were open to the public and created for the public convenience. Peace Messengers, in that sense, are just as well Messengers, not more and not less. The message to carry is a message of Peace, the post route Peace Messengers operate is that of work camps and other volunteer projects… initially anyway, we hope and support each one of you to continue your work as peace messenger on your path. More ...to become famous Peace Messengers for humankind in your time. Enjoy reading this handbook … You will find in PART 5 of this book a Glossary of terms, the terms that are formatted Italic troughout the book are explained there. In PART 5 you will also find an Abbreviation List for your comfort. 4 Table Of Contents PART 1 : SCI-Workcamps-Peace 1. What is Service Civil International page: 2. Vision and Mission of SCI 3. The Values of SCI 4. Structures - Some important concepts used in SCI 5. History of Service Civil International 6. Peace Education in Service Civil International a. Peace Education; a working defenition b. Peace education in SCI c. Why work on level of peace education in SCI? d. Workcamps as a form of Peace Education e. Preparing volunteers going to conflict areas f. Developping our strength g. Coordination and continuity PART 2 : Peace Messengers Project (PMP) 1. History 2. The concept of PMP 3. SCI and the PMP - What is a Workcamp - PVP Workcamps 4. Profile of a Peace Messenger (PM) - Roles and expectations - National PM - Travelling “nomad” PM 5. Suggestions for Methodology a. Facilitation b. Non Formal Education c. Use the tools creatively d. Self Fulfilling Prophecy e. Be true to your own style f. Bottom up approach g. Importance of Peer education and sharing of best practice h. Creative Behaviour -Trainer Method on stimulating creative behaviour i. Use of Symbols 5 PART 3 : Peace and War 1. What is Peace - Definitions 2. Peace in 2 levels A. Macro level - Peace with Nature - Peace between people -Active listening - Peace between Nations B. Micro level 3. What is preventing peace on each level A. Macro level a. War b. Colonialism c. Imperialism d. Nationalism e. Racism f. Cultural Relativism g. Xenophobia h. Free Trade i. Private Military Contractors j. Disrespect for Nature k. Technology l. Arms trade and the military industrial complex m. Terrorism n. Ignorance B. Micro Level a. Anger b. Greed c. Lust d. Being caught up in illusions/not seeing the truth e. Ego f. Fear 4. What is contributing to Peace on each level A. Macro Level a. Solidarity b. Human Rights c. Dharma d. Justice e. Land and Freedom f. Democracy 6 g. Direct Democracy h. Education -Jose Marti -Freinet -Steiner -Iederwijs i. Global non violent Social Order B. Micro Level a. Yama b. Niyama c. Healty Body d. Healty breathing e. Truth f. Simplicity g. Love h. Vegetarianism/Veganism i. Religion 5. Conflict Resolution a. Conflict b. Conflict Resolution c. Attitudes towards Conflict d. Language and Conflict e. An Approach to Conflict Resolution f. Direct Action f.i. A definition of Direct Action f.ii. Affinity groups f.iii. Action g. Basic Blockading h. Guide to public order situations i. Activist trauma support j. Legal support and other resources k.