Peace and
development are interdependent and indivisible. Throughout the
world, intellectual and spiritual energies are spent to end conflicts,
sufferings and ruins of war which no nation is any longer immune. The first
decade of the 21
st century was the bloodiest in Africa in which many
lives were ...
Read more Peace and
development are interdependent and indivisible. Throughout the
world, intellectual and spiritual energies are spent to end conflicts,
sufferings and ruins of war which no nation is any longer immune. The first
decade of the 21st century was the bloodiest in Africa in which many
lives were lost in violent conflicts whether internal or external. In terms of
value, the goods destroyed and resources consumed in wars and preparations for
war far exceed any other area of activity in modern history.
At this point in
time therefore, conflicts, wars and their consequences constitute the
fundamental challenge to Africa and its people, as well as the world at large.
To neglect to seek for new and effective approaches and answers to the
pervasive problems of wars and conflicts is to condemn African peoples to
perpetual life in wars that can only be endured and not be solved.
Peace is not
merely the absence of war and hatred (negative
peace / cold war) but also the presence of cooperation, compassion and
worldwide justice (positive peace / hot
peace). Although 'peace' is the
usual translation, however, it is an incomplete one, because 'shalom,' in Hebrew, which is also
cognate with the Arabic 'salaam',
has multiple other meanings in addition to peace, including justice, good health,
safety, well-being, prosperity, equity, security, good fortune, and
friendliness. At a personal level, peaceful behaviors are kind, considerate,
respectful, just, and tolerant of others' beliefs and behaviors — tending to
manifest goodwill.
Peace is a vastly
greater concept than the lack of war, violence, poverty and inner turmoil.
Peace is the combination of bodily peace, family peace, local peace, national
peace, inner peace and world peace. Accordingly, true peace must begin with
food, water, nutrition and health care for both rich and poor alike. Next,
peace training starts with the family and in our education systems. Peace needs
to surround us in the form of local safety and security which is best achieved
through communication and negotiation with neighbors to attain mutual trust and
respect for one another. Governments and state leaders can assist in the peace
process by creating and encouraging/enforcing moral and ethical standards, thus
promoting justice, liberty, freedom, ethnic and religious tolerance, and
constructive relations with all nations. (World
Peace Newsletter, “Peace Education,” World Peace Enterprise, 2018).