Creating a just and peaceful society in a just and peaceful world

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The Magic of Merlin
A lesson in dealing with the cycle of attack and revenge

Initially, as with so many conflicts, fear, greed and misjudgement spirals into a cycle of attack and revenge.
The remarkable ending to this movie, an adaptation of the story of King Arthur's wizard Merlin,  gives us a remarkable way to end  this terrible cycle of violence.

After virtually all the people in Merlins life who have been dear to him (including his mother and the woman he loves) have either been killed or lost to him as a direct result of his sworn enemy Mab, Merlin finally deals with her 'evil' by simply walking away from her and forgetting her

"Mourning the death of her "sweet" Mordred, Mab swears to make the whole world pay for her loss and the last great battle -- Mab vs. Merlin -- .

 Mab throws swirling bursts of fire at him but each is expertly parried by Merlin. He refuses to retaliate. He just lets Mab expend her waning powers. 

 Merlin's ultimate strategy? To have all simply "forget" Mab. And with that, Merlin, Frik, Gawain -- and the whole army - - simply turn their backs on the now-powerless sorceress. "You can't fight us or frighten us," Merlin tells her. "You're just not important enough anymore. We forget you, Queen Mab. Go join your sister in the lake and be forgotten." 

In the distance, Galahad appears, riding through the winter landscape, carrying the Holy Grail -- a silver cup shining with a magnificent light. As Old Merlin recounts the story decades later: "And he brought with him the Holy Grail ... and Spring, and the land became fertile again and the cycle of darkness and death ended."
Click here for the full synopsis

 

 Lessons from this story:

  1. It helps to be wise. This includes living a life based on high values, know what doesn't work and being willing to try something new.

  2. Don't retaliate. Defend yourself but don't fight back.

  3. Turn your back on negativity and violence. Don't give it the importance its demanding.
    Parents who've had to deal with a two year old having a tantrum understands this.

  4. Look towards and focus on building a future of peace,  harmony and prosperity.

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5 Big and Bold Plans to Transform the World into a More Peaceful Place

 

"The bigger the vision,
the greater the rewards
the more powerful the motivation" 

The initial task is to shape each of these into well developed, realistic business and political proposals to attract the considerable resources required to bring these world changing programs into being.

  1. Ministry of Peace

    While all nations have a Ministry of Defense (war) no nation has a Ministry of Defense.
    While the Department of Foreign affairs does some peace work, a separate Ministry in every nation would attract great ideas and resources to focus more on what we all want rather than don't want.
    Click here for more
     

  2. Consensus Democracy vs Adversarial Democracy by majority

    Current democratic systems are generally based on a two party system in opposition. Its characterized by division, exclusiveness and good guy/bad guy mentality with large proportions of the population unrepresented.

    Consensus Democracy works on proportional representation in a government which is inclusive, cooperative and collaborative.  The aim is to accommodate a broad cross-section of views and values using skills of mediation, negotiation, listening and conflict resolution to find consensus.

    The skills politicians will use in consensus government are the same as those required to promote peace.  Adversarial government uses the skills of conflict and division.

    Will require a Ministry of Governance, constitutional working parties, professional facilitators and educators for politicians for this to work.
    Click here for more
     

  3. Consumers for peace and justice

    This project targets consumers to use their buying power to only support products which are socially and environmental responsible.

    Criteria will be developed which will identify what it means to be "doing good" in the corporate world. 
    Business will pay an accreditation company to audit them in an effort to be rewarded with ESE branding (Ethically, Socially & Environmentally responsible).

    Strong social marketing methods will be used to promote:

    a. What it means for a company to be Ethically Socially & Environmentally responsible

    b. World impacts if all companies embrace ESE modeling

    c. The power of individual consumers in shaping the world if all consumers pull together

     

  4. Values centered individuals, businesses, governments and education which shifts from an individual to a community focus.

    This program aims to further develop individual, community, business, educational, spiritual and political values. In doing so, it aims to promote becoming more other vs self-focused and to develop life purpose which reflects this.

    Some specific areas to be targeted:
    a. The business community - values led businesses do better (eg see Building a Values Driven Organization )

    b. Review the development and teaching of values in schools, colleges and universities

    c. Target both new age philosophies and traditional religions to embrace community based values.  Subsequently, task orientated groups to be formed to progress values-based living.

    d. Develop educational and marketing tools to promote values and a sense of purpose.
     

  5. Tools for 'Pollification'

    More that ever, we are living in a pluralistic, multi-cultural, diverse world of difference. Its not enough to "tolerate" difference.  We need to better learn how to embrace and celebrate difference of all types.  Rather than UNIfication (bring together as one) we need to learn How to do 'POLLIfication' (bringing together as many).

    To do this, we can learn from situations where different cultures and people with different values have leaned to peacefully co-exist. We need to review the HOW of long-term peace between former nations and communities in conflict.

    For example, we hear a lot about the conflict between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. Yet we hear so little about how Israel and Egypt and Jordan have maintained a lasting peace over the past 25 years.

    The "Tools for Pollification" project will identify features of a variety of situations with core similar elements and identify those processes which appeared to be most influential in bringing about lasting peace and harmonious resolutions.

    A system for coding conflict situations and then matching with various tools and key success factors from similar situations should be developed.  This system could then be used by organizations such as The International Crisis Group, the United Nations, governments and the new Ministry of Peace departments in various countries.
     

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