| Posted: April 30 2010,16:37 |
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in order to make changes in the report. 
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Postal address of organization/institution
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Te Rangi, 4 Allison St.
Wanganui 4500
NEW ZEALAND
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E-mail address of organization/institution
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optubrookiana@xtra.co.nz
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Website address of organization/institution
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www.peacethroughunity.info
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Telephone of organization/institution
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+64- 6-345-5714
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PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RIGHTS
WOMEN'S EQUALITY
DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION
UNDERSTANDING, TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
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TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity |
EDUCATION FOR PEACE
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PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What
partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus
strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace? |
*UNITED NATIONS ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND
*COMMITTEE ON SPIRITUALITY, VALUES AND GLOBAL CONCERNS—NEW YORK (CSVGC—NY)
*
CULTURE OF PEACE WORKING GROUP of the Committee on Spirituality, Values
and Global Concerns—New York (two of OPTU’s representatives to the UN
are it’s co-chairs)
*AQUARIAN AGE COMMUNITY
* INTUITION IN SERVICE
*WORLD GOODWILL
*GLOBAL ALLIANCE FOR MINISTRIES AND DEPARTMENTS OF PEACE
*U.S. DEPARTMENT OF PEACE CAMPAIGN
*SPIRITUAL CAUCUS
*VALUES CAUCUS
*LEGION OF GOODWILL
*LIFEBRIDGE
*also
many other groups and organisations, such as Soka Gakkai, World Peace
Prayer Society, United Religions Initiative UN, NCW, ZONTA, the Quakers
national/international, Ockenden Venture (UK), local Art centres, Maori
Women’s Welfare League, Rotary, PPSEAWA, the media, Whanganui School of
Design, Women’s Network, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Otago
University, local District Council, and others.
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ACTIONS: What activities have
been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a
report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010
report.
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•
February 2008 Brunch Meeting with speaker Diane Winder at OPTU’s
residence (Article and photo in Wanganui Chronicle) Reporting on 60th
Annual DPI/NGO Conference on Climate Change and attended by Maori
Women’s Welfare League, NCW, Probus, Whanganui River Institute,
Sustainable Wanganui, Quakers, the press and more.
• 31 May – 1 June 2008 Workshop & PowerPoint, UNANZ Annual Conference, “Peace, Security and Disarmament”
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21 September 2008 Wanganui Int’l Day of Peace, speaker Human Rights
Commissioner Jeremy Pope in Wanganui Sarjeant Gallery, Pope
interviewed by Wanganui Chronicle. Report can be found at the following
address: http://www.peacethroughunity.info/peaceDay2008.htIml\
Several schools attended and spoke about what HR meant for them.
•
21 October, 2008 Seminar 2nd Annual Week of Spirituality, Values &
Global Concerns, a formal panel presentation discussed “Is Peace a
Human Right?” at the United Nations. Featured were: Philippines
Ambassador, culture of peace specialist, UNESCO culture specialist and
Global Alliance representative.
• 19-21 September 2009 UN
International Day of Peace Festival, a 3-day Wanganui Int’l Day of
Peace celebration with panel discussion “Reconciliation, Truth and
Bridge-building”, several separate events and multi-faith,
multi-cultural Peace Vigil at 12 Noon and blessing of walkers for World
Peace March,
• 21 September 2009 UN International Day of Peace
Festival, Contributory Peace Walk for the International launch of the
World March for Peace & Nonviolence, Wellington, 2 October 2009,
“Walk for Peace and Reconciliation: Whanganui to Wellington” Local
Peace Vigil at Peace sculpture Handspan at 12 Noon and blessings on the
Wanganui Walkers by local Kaumatua and leaders of different faiths.
This event was on the front page of main local paper and other events
also written up with photos. A 30-minute video is being prepared to
cover all events plus the Wellington launch of World March for Peace
and Nonviolence. Also, new hands attached to sculpture Handspan
and dedicated to a culture of peace and non-violence for the children
of the world as part of 2009 Peace Day.
Throughout the years “Te
Rangi” has been serving as a meeting place for different groups and
also hosted international and out-of-town guest speakers/lecturers for
Wanganui conferences, seminars and other meetings.
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PROGRESS: Has your organization
seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain
of action and in your constituency during the second half of the
Decade? |
ABSOLUTELY!
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OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?
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We
often encounter extensive bureaucracy within the United Nations and its
organizations. This requires the utmost patience and
perseverance, and is very time-consuming. Nonetheless, it is in
the “doing” that the culture of peace is implemented.
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to
promote a culture of peace and nonviolence? |
--A new pamphlet entitled “Unity of People and Nations”.
--Planning
and participation in a national conference 7-9 May 2010 in cooperation
with The United Nations Association of New Zealand entitled, “Peace
with Justice” –A world without weapons of mass destruction and with
climate change solutions that put people at its centre.
Ongoing:
--Planning events for the International Day of Peace 2010
--Participation
in the CULTURE OF PEACE WORKING GROUP of the Committee on Spirituality,
Values and Global Concerns—New York (please refer to its report)
--Advancing
the Draft UN Resolution for building governmental “Infrastructures of
Peace” (also referred to as Ministries & Departments of Peace)
--Finding ways to new ways implement the UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace
--Finding new ways to support and bring attention to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
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GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??
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The
culture of peace and nonviolence for the children of the world decade
opened the way for the implementation of the Declaration and Programme
of Action for a Culture of Peace, and it is only proper that we try to
assess what was achieved within this decade. But for such an assessment
to help the future work, perhaps we need to look much further into the
world and much deeper into ourselves?
We are working together toward
the culture of peace which is anchored in Heart; a universal
transformation of an old mindset so that this new culture can emerge
and be expressed in all relationships and all we do. - But is this new
culture not emerging, potentially at least, through each human being,
through all communities and neighbourhoods? Do those of us, who
recognize each other as workers within this field, need to learn and
develop new sensitivities and new skills (alongside those we already
have and use) to encourage and 'love forth' this new culture wherever
and whenever opportunities arise? – A new mindset is such a
wonderful concept and provides a most welcome challenge to each and
everyone within today's community.
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