Dear, Nepal Peoples We, the students of the Masters of Peace and Development Studies at University Jaume I in Castellón, Spain, from Kirgizstan, the Philippines, Peru, Ghana, Estonia, Nigeria, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, the United States of America, Austria, Ethiopia, Canada, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Germany, Sierra Leone, Bulgaria, Hungary, Ukraine, Norway, Romania, Honduras, Palestine, Chile, Rwanda, Kenya, Nepal, Argentina, Trinidad & Tobago, Western Sahara, Barbados, Armenia, Albania, Italy, and Finland, demand a peaceful resolution of the current conflict in Kindom Of Nepal.
We reflect the diversity of peoples, cultures, and languages coexisting on earth. We form a group representative of the anti-war sentiments expressed by citizens everywhere, more so than some of our democratically elected leaders. We demand that the United States of America Great Britain, Spain and their allies, listen to and respond to the wishes of the people who elected them. These governments, as well as the media that support them, continue to misinform the public about the need for a violent intervention in Iraq. An extreme example of the public support for nonviolent action to end the dispute was displayed worldwide on February 15th, 2003. In Spain alone, more than 3 million people protested against the advanced plans for a war in Iraq. National polls reveal that 84% of Spanish people oppose a war in Iraq.
United by our commitment to peace studies and to nonviolent alternatives to conflict resolution, we are strong in the realization and acceptance that all truths are contestable. Here, different realities are seen through the eyes of students from 36 nations. Despite, and maybe because of our differences, humans have the capacity to practice peaceful coexistence. We need to develop and apply these practices to the current situation in Kingdom of Nepal also.
Just as we work towards peace and non-violent means of conflict transformation through our studies, many other people, universities, and organizations around the world share the same pursuit. However, knowledge of this movement's existence and strength is not mainstream in our societies. This misinformation is used to justify war in cultures of violence.
If war is not what people want, how do we ensure our voices are heard by the democratic process? We charge you to exercise your democratic right to educate yourselves about alternative methods that have been effective in our history in preventing, halting, and transforming conflicts by peaceful means. We are able to build peace by using the tools and resources currently available. We can seek alternative media sources, exchange opinions with people from different backgrounds and cultures, celebrate peace through art, music, literature, drama, and other cultural forums, and identify with the "enemy" and realize that they are fighting with the same conviction, as they equally claim to speak their truth.
We represent over 30 different histories, over 30 versions of the truth. We do not presume that we have the answer to ending war, but we do declare that alternatives to war are possible, as are the human capacities, through dialogue, solidarity, and respect, to achieve them.Thank you.
Sappan (HUM) k.c.
Paris/France
E-mail-sappankumarkc@http://hotmail.com
Hi Shallow Hal,Since the world has not known peace, for any extended period of time, for more than a century, it seems we are condemned to pursue our warlike ways to prove we are alive. War has also become a matter of economics, the military-industrial complex that has been running our country during my lifetime, have found wars to be financially lucrative. When the U.S. economy needs stimulation, a war is an economic lift.
We will always have enemies and those that simply disagree with us and our political philosophy. But until we all find a way to learn to live together in peace, there will always be the dictators who which to benefit at the expense of their people and nations like ours who will stop them.
It would be nice to know what a century of world peace would be like, wouldn't it?