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Hello,

iPeace is deleted from David Califa the end of June. Here you can find a new home.

http://peaceformeandtheworld.ning.com/

You are cordially invited.

Warm regards, Eva

Kuan Yin : She who harkens to the cries of the world
Rene Wadlow*

Wise in using skilful means
In every corner of the world
She manifests her countless forms

Conference on Human Unity


On 20 April starts in Geneva a United Nations conference to review progress on the Programme of Action of the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance. The original conference was held 31 August to 8 September 2001 in Durban, South Africa, and so the review conference has, as a short title “Durban II”.

Durban I had just folded its tents when the 11 September attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in Washington highlighted the hates and many divisions in the world. The years since 2001 have been filled with examples of xenophobia – fear of the foreign – and related fears of all that is different, all that challenges the way the dominant forces in a country structure a society and its values.

Fortunately, there have been individuals and organized groups which have worked to break down walls and to overcome divisions among peoples. The Durban Programme of Action had recognized such efforts and called “upon States to explore means to expand the role of non-governmental organizations in society through, in particular, deepening the ties of solidarity amongst citizens and promoting greater trust across racial and social class divides by promoting wider citizen involvement and more voluntary cooperation.”

With the current world-wide economic difficulties, there is a real danger that xenophobic sentiments will be directed against foreign workers. There is a large, world-wide migration of people, on the move to increase their economic prospects, to escape conflict and violence, to break out of the chains of racial, gender, and ethnic discrimination.

We need to develop compassionate and welcoming societies so that all may find a place in which to develop their full potential. The Durban Programme of Action calls “to work to reduce violence, including violence motivated by racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance by addressing bias before it manifests itself in violent criminal activity.”

Thus Durban II is a time for all of us to stress human unity and to recall that we are all citizens of the world.

*Rene Wadlow, Representative to the UN, Geneva, Association of World Citizens.

US and Russian Presidents Meet :

A Challenge to Cut the Number of Nuclear Weapons



Rene Wadlow*



The meeting in London on 2 April of Presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev is placed under the sign of needed cooperation to deal with the world-wide financial and economic crisis. There is also a need to deal with a number of on-going tension areas such as the Russia-Georgia-Abkhazia-South Ossetia conflict where negotiations in Geneva are making slow progress. However, it is in the nuclear-weapon field where quick bilateral agreements can be reached. An agreement to reduce nuclear arsenals on both sides and to take weapons off hair-trigger alert would signify to the world that major agreements can be reached to provide common security.



There have always been at least two major aspects of nuclear issues — one is to prevent the proliferation to new states such as Iran or North Korea, the other is to reduce the number of warheads among existing nuclear-weapon states. The reduction of the number of warheads seems to be on the table for new USA-Russia negotiations. The number of 1000 each seems to be a common goal. Speedy negotiations can be encouraged by the Obama-Medvedev discussions.



The USA and Russia have reduced strategic nuclear weapons by more than two-thirds since the 1991 end of the Cold War, but neither country has begun planning for the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons. Much strategic thinking in both countries remains bound to the Cold War past and is at best vague on what use nuclear weapons have in the new world society. While strategic frameworks have historical, cultural and economic roots, they must also evolve to meet new realities.



A new willingness to strengthen cooperative political relationships between the USA and Russia is an essential requirement for creating an atmosphere of political confidence that will draw other nuclear-weapon states into the process of weapon reduction. There is a world-wide danger of continued reliance on nuclear weapons with outdated strategic thinking. The USA and Russia can show the way to eliminate those sources of instability that are driving other states to develop nuclear weapons. A common US-Russian commitment to work for a Nuclear-weapon Free Zone in the Middle East would be a sign of a renewed willingness to deal seriously with the security issues of the Middle East.



An easily-achieved mutual confidence-building measure would be to lower the operational status of nuclear arsenals, basically to take nuclear weapons off ‘hair trigger’ alert. Such a measure would enhance confidence and transparency. The lowering of operational readiness of nuclear-weapon systems has been urged by United Nations General Assembly resolutions starting in 2007. Such a change of status by the USA and Russia would be an important mark of respect for world opinion in the lead up to the 2010 review conference on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.



The last few years have been years of drift in US-Russian relations. A quick agreement on nuclear issues would be a sure sign of a willingness to put relations back on track.

* Rene Wadlow, Representative to the UN, Geneva, Association of World Citizens

Hi
I'm Aaditya from India
I am a film student

I have made a video on world peace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ly4bDl0ulf4

Plz watch it and comment and rate it!!!

please add this video to your blog/website/myspace/facebook account


.

Plz join my group on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=54261082633 and http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=64551173328

Thank you for your kinds words and thoughts on response to my blog entitled: "The passing of a loved one." The long 16 hour trip to your father's must have been one to give you time to reflect and come to terms. Life is just a short journey, we still got eternity...If only we believe.
Patty
PS. I also have a son named Joshua :D)

Gracias estoy pasando al ingles algunos de mis escritos.
Un abrazo Fuerte
Paz Y Armonia

Thank you dear Andy for your lovely words. Let me pray for endless days magical living the beauty way....that we are. I honor divine inh you.
I love you another me.

Dear Andy,
Thank you for inviting me to join you on "IAmSharing." I will give you whatever assistance and support I can. I enjoy collaborating to bring about a change that is beneficial and adventurous. Just let me know.

I love the music of Bob Marley, but he was taken from us too soon. Still, there is much love, truth and beauty in his words. Your oldest son sounds as if he has an open heart and spirit, and we need more of that in the world, especially from the younger set. I look forward to going to Jamaica, and will make it one of my first stops.

My oldest son, Tracy, wrote the music I am going to use as the theme song for my project. He passed away four years ago, but left a legacy of two grandchildren, three great-grandchildren ( and a fourth expected), music, drawings, writing and other expressions of his genius for me to remember him by. You sound as if you are just as proud of your son. Isn't life wonderful?

Take care and stay in touch. Paris