NVCC Students for a Culture of Peace

SCOP Club Meeting Thursday April 16th, 2009

@4:30 PM in the Cafe-West

Chairwoman - Helena Dubose

Agenda:

1. Afghanistan Continued (Monica)

2. SGA meeting report-back (Jamie)

3. Wesleyan Peace Workshops (Brittany)

4. Sculpture Update (Keep an eye on the central walkway to the college!)

5. Other Business-

"We the people of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war… " Charter of the United Nations, 1945

Culture of Peace : what is it ?

(from: http://www3.unesco.org/iycp/default.htm)

As defined by the United Nations, the Culture of Peace is a set of values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations (UN Resolutions A/RES/52/13 : Culture of Peace and A/RES/53/243, Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace). For peace and non-violence to prevail, we need to:
Foster a culture of peace through education
by revising the educational curricula to promote qualitative values, attitudes and behaviours of a culture of peace, including peaceful conflict-resolution, dialogue, consensus-building and active non-violence. Such an educational approach should be geared also to:
promote sustainable economic and social development
by reducing economic and social inequalities, by eradicating poverty and by assuring sustainable food security , social justice, durable solutions to debt problems, empowerment of women, special measures for groups with special needs, environmental sustainability…
Promote respect for all human rights
human rights and a culture of peace are complementary: whenever war and violence dominate, there is no possibility to ensure human rights; at the same time, without human rights, in all their dimensions, there can be no culture of peace...
Ensure equality between women and men
through full participation of women in economic, social and political decision-making, elimination of all forms of discrimination and violence against women, support and assistance to women in need,…
Foster democratic participation
indispensable foundations for the achievement and maintenance of peace and security are democratic principles, practices and participation in all sectors of society, a transparent and accountable governance and administration, the combat against terrorism, organized crime, corruption, illicit drugs and money laundering…
Advance understanding, tolerance and solidarity
to abolish war and violent conflicts we need to transcend and overcome enemy images with understanding, tolerance and solidarity among all peoples and cultures. Learning from our differences, through dialogue and the exchange of information, is an enriching process…
Support participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge
freedom of information and communication and the sharing of information and knowledge are indispensable for a culture of peace. However, measures need to be taken to address the issue of violence in the media, including new information and communication technologies…
Promote International Peace and security:
the gains in human security and disarmament in recent years, including nuclear weapons treaties and the treaty banning land mines, should encourage us to increase our efforts in negotiation of peaceful settlements, elimination of production and traffic of arms and weapons, humanitarian solutions in conflict situations, post-conflict initiatives…

Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men than defences of peace must be constructed "

Constitution of UNESCO, 1945

Community Days of Advocacy For Justice & Human Rights

Community Days of Advocacy for Justice & Human RightsApril 4-19, 2009
NNIRR invites its members, partners and allies to join in our Community Days of Advocacy for Justice & Human Rights. Organize community delegations to meet with members of Congress during the Congressional Spring recess (April 4-19) to deliver a strong message on critical issues facing immigrant families, workers and communities. Register your event or action here.


Raise your voices, tell Congress to end all raids, detentions and
deportations!

Organize an action or activity as part of NNIRR's "Community Days of
Advocacy for Justice & Human Rights" this week!

Keep your eyes on the prize: socially just immigration reforms.

Click below to be part of Community Days of Advocacy and download
materials to prepare for speaking with your members of Congress:

Invitation to join NNIRR for Community Days of Advocacy for Justice & Human Rights
Invitación a participar con NNIRR en los dias de Acción Comunitaria por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos
Click here to register your event / Para matricular tu evento haga clic aqui
Orientation to Community Days of Advocacy
Orientacion a los Dias de Accion Comunitaria
Participant talking points and critical messages
Puntos de discusión y mensajes principales para las y los participantes
Reportback Form (Word doc)
Reportback Form (pdf form)
Formulario para reportar los resultados (Word)
Formulario para reportar los resultados (forma pdf)

Call your Representative and two Senators today and set a meeting so
they can hear from you. Get the contact information for your:
Representative at http://www.house.gov/

Senators at http://www.senate.gov/

Our message is clear:
Ending raids is a good start. But this will not be enough to end the
ICE abuses and rights violations against immigrant and refugee members
of our communities.

Meet with or call your Congressional delegation to demand action to:
End all raids or enforcement operations;
Suspend all detentions and deportations and investigate the abuses;
Protect the labor and civil rights of all workers, regardless of
immigration or citizenship status;

Restore due process rights for all;

End the humanitarian crisis of migrant deaths & rampant rights
violations at the U.S.-Mexico border;
Hold Congressional hearings with our communities to learn directly from
those impacted by raids and other immigration enforcement and services.
ICE, police and local, county, state and other federal government
agencies must be accountable to our communities. And,
Enact fair and just immigration reforms.
Organize a community delegation to meet with your Congress members
today.
You can also call your Representative and Senators at (202) 224-3121.
Ask to be connected to their office and then talk to their staff person
in charge of immigration issues. Tell them why ending raids is not
enough!

Raise your voices, take action for justice and human rights!
National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights
Red Nacional Pro Derechos Inmigrantes y Refugiados


Para leer este mensaje en español, haga clic aqui:
Días de Acción Comunitaria por la Justicia y los Derechos Humanos