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

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Ministry for Peace

Click here for the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace
Click here for the Australian Campaign for a Ministry of Peace

Create peace with 1% of the 'Defence' budget

  1. War or Peace
    What's more important - war or peace? Even if we acknowledge that war is important in the context of wanting less of it, where is our overt emphasis on peace?

  2. Foreign affairs and aid
    Today we have the United Nations which is largely under funded and within each government is a Department of Foreign Affairs. 

    Foreign aid is a key aid to world peace, but the UN General Assembly Resolution 2626 (XXV), 1970 of 0.7% of  GNP of the richest nations for foreign aid has been met by contributions of between 0.2% and 0.4% with the quality of contributions poor. 
    (Click here for further examination of foreign aid.)

  3. Peace gap
    Yet, there is continues to be a major gap between foreign affairs, foreign aid and defence. This is Peace.

  4. Simple mathematics
    How influential is 1% of our current nation's (worlds) 'defence' budget in giving us the safety, security and a just world we all desire??
    Its unlikely average people would notice a 1% swing either way.

    Yet if this 1% were devoted entirely to a Ministry of Peace, its likely the benefits would far outweigh the costs. In fact, its very likely there would be much less need for the huge current expenditure on war with improved policy and practice from governmental peace ministries. 

                     Ministry for Peace Budgets
Rank

Nation

          2005
Defence Budget

1% for Peace for
Ministry of Peace

1

USA

US$465 billion

US$4,650.million

2

UK

US$51.1 billion

US$511 million

3

Japan

US$44.7 billion

US$447 million

4

France

US$41.6 billion

US$416 million

5

Germany

US$30.2 billion

US$302 million


While not a lot in contrast to defence budgets, it is a lot of dollars per year to enhance peace creation. 
In the same year, the US alone spent around $200,000 million or war restoration in Iraq alone!

Role of Ministry for Peace

The role of the Ministry for Peace would evolve over time. Essentially they would develop new relational systems which have the following goals:
a) Improved natural justice and  human rights
b) Improved monitoring systems to identify facilitators of peace and triggers for conflict
c) Improved identification of factors which reduce the length, severity and impact of war
d) Improved identification of factors which contribute to rapid stabilisation following war
e) Improved mediation, negotiation and conflict resolution procedures
f) Improved peace studies courses and integration of peace studies in schools
g) Develop social marketing strategies to promote peace
h) Other goals

Partnerships with the United Nations and others

These peace ministries would operate in partnership with other ministries, the United Nations, Department of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Aid and Peace and social justice  organisations.

However, they would each retain their independence. Thus an inter-dependent system would develop where different approaches and ideas would generate a rich climate for innovation and cooperation.

What you can do

Click on the web sites at the top of this page to learn more about this movement and how you can contribute.

Talk to others about this idea and ask the people you talk to, to talk with other..

 

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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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