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The Movement of Youth Who Create – By Kaviya Shankar Pandit, Actor 750 793 aces

The Movement of Youth Who Create – By Kaviya Shankar Pandit, Actor

The Movement of Youth Who Create

 

By Kavya Shankar Pandit, Actor  

Among all the creatures on the planet, humans are uniquely unpredictable. While other species follow natural patterns that, though they may cause suffering to others, ultimately contribute to the Earth’s balance and flourishing on a larger scale, humanity often disrupts this balance. In some sense, to live is to suffer, but much of this suffering is exacerbated by our tendency to adopt violence instead of embracing the harmony that nature inherently maintains—the nature that we were once deeply a part of.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, which underscores that peace is not merely the absence of violence but the proactive cultivation of peace through sustained efforts and initiatives. Throughout modern history, we have seen one group seeking dominion over another. Now, as we rapidly advance into a digitized world that may soon involve brain chip implants, urgent questions emerge: How exactly is humanity going to evolve? How do we make people care about the world we are creating? How do we prevent peacemaking from being dismissed as a mere pastime? I have come to realize that while there is a great deal of discourse on peacemaking (and I am adding to it with my article too), the real challenge lies in turning these ideas into actionable steps. But even before that, we need people, and we need them in large numbers. We need everyone.

As a 23-year-old artist, student, mountaineer, and activist, I like to believe my mixed experiences have given me a set of sensitive quiddities that urge me to constantly grow. To grow, I must feel, and to feel, I must experience. I want to explore perspectives, emotions, and moralities, and in turn, make art out of all of this. The art in question here doesn’t need to know any bounds. Everything succumbs to it—our world and life itself are forms of art. Yet, as someone in her youth, I understand the challenges we face, and these desires might seem more dreamy than realistic. But I firmly believe that to be an artist and a peace activist in this world, we have to dream.

I want to dissect some topics I feel are necessarily important. Peace and its spectrum can be debated upon in its extremities, but we can all more or less agree on the basic rights we all deserve. Some collective experiences and issues: We are deeply connected through the internet and technology, but we couldn’t be further disconnected from each other. Our constant need for stimuli has pulled us like magnets by multinational corporations that make money by sucking us dry of our social keys. We’ve forgotten we need human touch. This is the first barrier. Then comes the need to know more and better than the other. As the world advances, more information is at our fingertips. Somewhere inherently, we are all competing—pitted against the ones we should care about—engaged in an endless race to be politically and socially correct, to have the last word, to be intellectually superior. But knowledge without compassion is like a song without melody—full of words but lacking soul. I truly believe it is imperative to contribute to the world and not just hoard, even if it is just knowledge.

The media plays a critical role in shaping public perceptions of peace and conflict. There was a time when we depended on journalists and media houses to report conflicts and bring us the truth responsibly. However, in today’s world, where information is abundant and often manipulated, it is crucial to approach media with a critical eye. We must remind ourselves not to trust everything we hear, read, or see. The value of truth has been tainted, and it is increasingly difficult to discern what is true. As consumers, it is our responsibility to seek out truthful, balanced content and to support platforms that prioritize peace over sensationalism.

In our broader context, the role of media, the internet, and the human ego in promoting peace becomes even more important. We have the power to either fuel conflict or promote peace, depending on the crucial choices we make. Only something that touches us or challenges us can make us change our minds in today’s world. Art, I believe, can transcend cultural and linguistic barriers—I would call it the universal language for peace. Peace-themed murals, exhibitions, public art installations, peaceful protest performances, movies, plays, music, paintings, dance, festivals, books, workshops—these are just a few ways we can explore peacemaking. Even if we all just pick up one activity of our choosing and spend 15 minutes fostering its growth and pledge to ourselves to use it for something good, so much change can begin.

Who am I when no one’s in the room? I often ask myself. I am everything I want to be! But this perception is often limited in my head. Peacemaking must begin with action, not just words. Even as I write this down, I realize I need to take these steps. I want to lead with compassion, even if it is as little as doing so in my theatre troupe—conducting with love and creating a story that will incite an emotional response in people. Because in a world where we learn to keep so much tied down by an anchor, we need to become the people that will sail with the wind. It feels liberating imagining a peaceful world, even if it means that for now we are living it in fiction through a piece of a story.

I wonder about the scope of what I have to offer. As much as I have the desire to do an unlimited amount, I get stuck on the hows and whens—the logistics of it all. Some people wait for leaders to come along; others start in their backyards. Both are respectful options, but I wish to build a community so strong in the long run that ‘beginning’ for anybody becomes easy. It’s all about getting involved, meeting people, and then expanding on your own journey with it. Building a community can feel overwhelming due to the sheer scale of the task, but it also brings immense benefits by offering a vast array of people, resources, and stories to draw from.

To sum up, cultivating a culture of peace requires a commitment to both personal and collective action. We often don’t know where to begin, and that is usually the first barrier, but no longer. Peace begins with loving ourselves, fostering good habits, practicing art, spending time in nature, and engaging in selfless acts. It also requires us to build empathy, harness technology for peace, and think globally while acting locally.

As we reflect on the 25th anniversary of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, let us all make a commitment to being agents of peace in our own lives and communities. By doing so, we can carry forward the legacy of those who imagined a peaceful world and ensure that future generations know we stood by everything good in the world.

Reminders for myself:

1. Peace begins with loving myself. This is a lifelong attempt for most of us. But if you can’t love yourself, how are you going to love somebody else?

2. I can propagate peace by fostering one good habit a day—non-negotiable.

3. I must practice any form of art, for it is in my being to feel.

4. I must spend time in nature; I must spend time with animals.

5. I must accept my moral obligation to conserve resources.

6. I must practice karma yoga, seva, or simply any form of selfless act with the intention of giving.

7. I must truly hear others, not just with the intent to respond, but to understand and connect.

8. I must stand up against negative thoughts, behaviors, and influences, both within myself and in my surroundings.

This is an attempt to begin a thought process, a lifestyle—a revolution. We can all have our own mediums and methods. Working together with our individualities and practicing unconditional love is what peace truly is.

Note : Views and opinions express in the article is purely of the author and do not necessarily express that of the India Peace Centre

 

 

“Sustainable Tourism”- a peace education program in Goa Leonie Kuehl

“Sustainable Tourism”- a peace education program in Goa

Goa: blue water, golden beaches and a fresh sea breeze is what most people think about, when India’s most famous state is being mentioned. Some people might also think of beach parties, cheap drinks and good food. All in all: Goa is a place to relax, to let loose from family pressure and give in on one’s desires. 

Sadly, when coming to Goa these days, the harmonious picture has been changed to a frightening one: litter, water shortage and the loss of local culture are threatening the indian paradise. 

As ecology is one of India Peace Centre’s main concerns, is has been decided to organise a peace education program on “responsible tourism” in the capital of Goa, Panjim, that took place from 18th to the 20th of February. With the purpose of gaining a diversified view on the problems Goan’s and the nature are facing, the participants were a group of 5 Indians as well as five Germans: including Leonie Kühl and Leona Moldenhauer, the India Peace Centre volunteers, Paula Haerle and Felicitas Stiegler, two volunteers from the Centre for Sustainable Development Nagpur and Fee Kristin Pottharst.  From the Indian side, Kasta Dip, the director of IPC, Angelious Michael from JELC Orissa, Mona- Lisa Suna, Yugal Rayalu, retired professor of Nagpur university and Samarpita Kar have taken part. 


The aim of the program has been to gain a deep understanding of how the development of tourism effects nature and what the problems are that Goan’s are facing after the tourist boom of the last years. All of this knowledge is going to be retained in a movie in form of a peace curriculum. 

In order to gain an overview, the program started with the presentation of Goa field study by Ranjan Solomon and Anabel da Gama, human rights activists, who have been working on the topic of responsible tourism for a long time. 

Both of them gave an insight on the problems that years of intensifying tourism have transformed Goa from a hippie destination for peace loving people, to a place of 5- star resorts and overcrowded beaches full of rubbish. 

They were also focussing on the problems that one might not see as a direct consequence of mass tourism, such as the falloff of Goans occupied in agriculture, because locals have been shifting to the tourist industry. 


After that, the participants met students of history, anthropology and science at the Parvatibai Chowgule College of Arts and Science in Madgaon. The German students and the Indian students had the possibility to exchange experience and opinions on tourism in Goa. The Indian students told the group, how they see a big problem in the way Goa is being marketed: “It’s boobs and booze. That is what the indian tourist expects from their stay in Goa. Neither the culture nor the relaxed laid back atmosphere is in the centre of attention anymore.”


The second day was well spent in North Goa, as the group had the possibility to meet Dona Sienna Fernandez in Baga, who gave the group an insight on the noise pollution she is facing every day caused by the beach parties. She told the group, that government regulations are not being followed and that loud music is playing the whole night through. She could also describe the change Goa made over the past years, as the tourist cottages were allowed to come closer to the beach every single year, displacing the Goans homes. Dona had been facing threats as well, as she is fighting the misbehaviour of local club owners, who mostly came from out of Goa. 


After that, the group split and interviewed several people on Baga Beach, Morjim and Ashvem after having recorded the portrait of Dona for the peace curriculum. 

In Morjim and Ashvem, the group was able to observe a lot of Russian tourists all over the place: signs were not written in Hindi or English, but in Kyrill, the Russian script. There was less crowd and there were a lot less indian tourists. 

In the evening, the group went to Calangute beach and was confronted with a massively overcrowded beach. There were mostly Indian tourists. One was barely able to walk on the beachside, because of the massive amount of people. Relaxation- as it would normally be part of a beach holiday- was hardly possible, as there was loud music playing all over the place. 

The next day, the group went to South Goa, as it is popular for the less crowded, pristine beaches of goa. In Cavelossim, the participamns got to meet Serafino Cota, who owns an eco friendly hotel. The group gained a lot of really helpful insight on water recycling, waste- management and a sustainable lifestyle. The whole place had been transformed into a  little ecosystem, as the hotel staff are growing their own food, recycling their own water and reusing all kind of waste, that is being produced by the guests as well as produced by the hotel and it’s staff members. Serafino shared his story and explained to the group, that sustainable tourism is more likely to not be practiced, because it does not get any subventions from the government. Hotels engaged in eco- friendly methods are even more likely to pay more. 


After that, the last stop was Palolem- beach, where the group was supposed to gain knowledge about less crowded beaches. But as soon as they arrived, they had to realize, that the overcrowd already began to start on that particular beach as well. Speedboats, a lot of stalls and of course- a lot of tourists. 

Having analysed the case study of Goa, the participants are now occupied with the peace curriculum. The movie will be shared on India Peace Centre’s social media channels. 

All in all the program was a huge success and gave India Peace Centre the opportunity to gain knowledge on a topic, that had not been addressed before. Therefore there will be the possibility to host such programs at India Peace Centre in the near future. 

Call upon the International Community 150 150 admin-ncci

Call upon the International Community

With shock and consternation India Peace Centre is following the new outrage in the Syrian war taking place in East Ghouta. Without any doubt, the happenings can only be described as brutal and reckless murders of civilians living in the region close to Damascus.

Within only one week more than 500 civilians, including 150 children, lost their lives, 2500 people have been injured by bombs randomly falling from the sky. Despite the lack or rather absence of necessary items as water, food and medicine, hospitals as well as schools and residential houses have been targeted. The happenings in East Ghouta can be seen as a new climax of violence in a war that is outstanding in its human rights violations as well as war crimes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights that is a monitoring group based in the UK, called the first two days of the offensive (20.-21.02.2018) the most deadliest 48 hours since the chemical attack that took place in Ghouta at the 21st September 2013.

India Peace Centre is highly concerned about the new developments in the Syrian conflict. As Unicef stated earlier before, there are no words left to explain the suffering of the children. The least appropriate explanation is military operation. Current reports about the use of chemical weapons in the region just add to the list of multiple violations of human rights and war crimes.

From the perspective of India Peace Centre, these atrocities give proof to the fact, that a solution based on military intervention of any side will in no case bring a sustainable solution for the country in the way of ensuring peace and stability. Therefore, India Peace Centre calls upon all international leaders of external forces being involved in this conflict to withdraw from the war ground. This will be the only way to find a solution in Syria. The Geneva talks facilitated by the UN Special Envoy for Syria, Mr de Mistura have to be carried on and enlarged. Only in that way the confronting parties of the civil war can come to an agreement and first steps to a new Syrian Government can be realized. Based on consent and the principles of non-violence, the United Nations Peacekeeping Forces can be the only external party to ensure the safety of civilians.

Furthermore, until that is being achieved, the international community must work together to end the war and stop the unnecessary suffering and dying of civilians. Ceasefires and humanitarian corridors need to be implemented and finally followed by everybody, to ensure a minimum of safety for people living in the areas of war ground. Military targeting of schools, hospitals and residential complexes has to stop immediately. Medication, food, water and further daily needs supplies have to be available at any time and independent, international observers must be granted access without restriction. The atrocities happening in Syria are an affront to all the principles of the United Nations. Instead of dividing and wasting time with useless accusations, we must evoke the spirit of freedom and unity in everybody.

The inter-religious India Peace Centre has always been a place of weaving peace under the principles of promoting dialogue and mutuality with a spirit of ever widening understanding. Therefore, we want to remind the international leaders of their responsibility towards their own people, and also for all people living on this one planet. We as a people should focus on what unites us and work together to ensure freedom, peace and equality for each and every one of us.

India Peace Centre expresses its solidarity with every peace activist active in the fight to stop the unnecessary killing and want to express its deepest respect for every attempt that has been done.