A glimpse of Hope for World Peace

Daunting as one could imagine it to be, the measuring of peace, its causes, and its economic value (for the economically minded ones) is a very fascinating phenomena of the scientific world we live in today. It is a venture that institutions such as the Institute for Economics and Peace have been solely dedicated to tackle. For example, according to the Institute’s annual Global Peace Index for the year 2015, 81 countries became more peaceful while 78 became less peaceful since 2004. The paper also states that Violence costs the world 13.4% of its GDP.

While all these well-crafted statistics are very promising and depressing at the same time, there are several initiatives being taken by a handful of individuals and organizations to turn the depressing statistics into momentous hope for the future. One such organizations is Rondine.

With a history dating back to the 1970s, Rondine seeks to promote conflict resolution through the experiences of young people who are facilitated and made able to uncover a real person – a friend, within their enemy. Set in the small medieval village in the Italian Tuscan province of Arezzo, the institution currently hosts 26 students from 26 different countries that are either still in conflict or have a rooted history of conflict that still manifests itself in the various societies today.

Strolling through the beautiful countryside premises of Rondine was indeed melancholic. The sight of the waving flags reminded me of what is still the most memorable two years of my humble life in the Norwegian fjords at the United World College Red Cross Nordic. It was peaceful!

During the various discussions we had while at the premise and through the insightful conversations with the students, two things stood out for me. First, I got to once again ponder on the role that religion plays in the various conflicts our world has faced over the last few decades. For example, the Israeli-Palestine conflict and the current ISIS extremism. Is religion really the foundational basis of these conflicts or it is simply used by the perpetuators of such conflicts as a channel to get across their messages of division and to win civic support? Secondly, the dirty economics behind all these conflicts became almost tangible. In this particular case, I immediately began contemplating on the selective nature of military intervention in some of the conflict zones. That conflicts have become completely institutionalized by the so-called giant International Organizations whose aims are to settle such conflicts is not a subject worth debating. It is an absurd reality that needs to be reverted before firm and irrevocable is our doom!

One such organization is the United Nations with its Security Council – the global police. According to the Global Policy Forum, The Security Council is described as the “United Nations’ most powerful body, with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.” I find it poignantly ironic that the body that is supposed to be the number one agent for peace has over the years earned itself a reputation for being domineering over other countries and promoting of its members’ selfish agendas that have led to the collapse of peace in many parts of the world. It is pathetic! Yes, I know you think I’m being very hard on this “Big five” bogus or do you call it “Permanent Five”? Trust me, my Palestinian brothers and sisters are completely sick of this bunch of crooks! I’ve probably gotten myself into enough trouble already for these lines. So, let me leave it at that! Oh, wait! One more thing.

I merely missed the bus as I was caught up in a very deep and nourishing conversation with my new Palestinian friend. I simply could not leave without giving audience to his opinion about the United Nations. It was a simple straight-to-the-point question; what is your view on the United Nations? I curiously asked. With a very uncomfortable smile that almost made it seem like he was like “what a joke”, he composed himself to give me the sincerest response he could.

“The United Nations is supposed to be united, right?” He rhetorically asked. “With only five countries messing up everyone else, I have very little faith in it. It’s completely biased.” He continued with a saddening facial expression. “How could Israel, for example, be granted recognition in just a matter of one year while Palestine’s quest for recognition seems to be an unending one? Such is the so-called United nations.” With this kind of response, one can tell the dogma that the United Nations is to many global citizens in the likes of my friend.

But there is still hope. In fact, a lot of hope! With institutions like Rondine laboring every single second of the clock to orchestrate meaningful conversations, on very crucial issues such as the ways forward to a sustainable peaceful world, and movements such as the United World Colleges, whose aim is to make education a force to unite people, cultures and nations for peace and a sustainable future, there is a well-founded ground for optimism.

This of course comes at cost. With recent conflicts such as the Syrian one that has already caused thousands of deaths and a refugee crisis like no other, there is an urgent need for a lasting political solution to these conflicts. Nations must unite, governments have to cooperate and mobilize the necessary resources and politicians must stop playing the dirty game. More still, the looming generational gap that compromises transfer of valuable knowledge and experiences have to be bridged and more inter-generational dialogues held.

Surely, the civilians from whom the support to sustain these conflicts is obtained must also put their acts together by first understanding their roles and powers in the various conflicts. I believe in all these conflict stricken zones, there are two groups of civilians. Those that understand the roots of the conflicts – the history and those that don’t. There is as such a very key and important role that needs to be played by those who do understand the roots of these conflicts.

The most important of all, and perhaps the hardest, is a drastic and massive sensitization of their people in the communities they hail from. One shortcoming that institutions and movements such as Rondine and the UWC respectively face, is the failure of their graduates to return to their home communities, where their experiences and knowledge are invaluable. For sure, this is sometimes justifiable as the choice to either go back home or stay abroad always seems like that of a Haji having to choose between ham and bacon. Moreover, their own societies sometimes tend to label them traitors and completely resent them. Such are the costs that those like you and me who are optimistic about making a difference towards a more peaceful world will have to pay.

Ceteris paribus the future holds hope for world peace. It might not be in our lifetime but will surely be achieved one day.

#Arezzo #SummerinItaly #Travels #Rondine