ESR Professor of Peace and Justice Studies Lonnie Valentine brings us this report from the 6th International Conference on Conflict Resolution Education, held June 12 – 17, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio:
(Picture from an
intensive 2 day working group meeting of colleges and universities
developing peace and conflict studies programs from 4 year and 2 year
institutions as well as many organizations that work in education.)
As we watch our country turn against own citizens as it has
turned on millions around the world, it is easy to get discouraged. The Trayvon Martin murder by a troubled
stalker with state sanction to murder is an apt metaphor for our descent. Zimmerman holds up a mirror to what we have
become. We are encouraged to be each others deadly enemies with the support of
our own government and its corporate sponsors.
However, though these events can lead to despair and
frustrated anger, I had the opportunity to spend six days immersed in a
conference with peace educators from around the world. At the Sixth Annual Conference on Conflict
Resolution Education, there were over 200 participants from some 21 countries
there, sharing both the struggles and successes of their work. Also, there were representatives from
colleges, governments, intergovernmental organizations, and multinational
non-governmental organizations. Yes, to
hear of what others face in dealing with the violence in their countries was
hard, but hearing these stories struck me as a way to of qualifying my sense of
American “exceptionalism” That is, my
despair that the United States Empire is the greatest purveyor of
sickening violence around the world was strangely relieved is seeing that we
are not alone.
However, most encouraging was seeing the fortitude and
commitment of individuals and their organizations hanging in there to offer
another way of addressing violence. These
people and their stories were inspiring.
Here are but a few examples:
- a young
woman from El Salvador working with street gangs
- a former
staff of the US Institute of Peace presenting research on how many US
community colleges are developing peace
studies programs
- a teacher
working with students at his school tin Appalachia develop a “Peace Club” which
to his surprise was meeting a great
need he did not know was there
- community
college students leading a program called Sustained Dialogues to address the
great racial, class and ethnic diversity
at their campus
- two young
people from the Balkans working to heal conflicts there and teach alternative
dispute resolution
to other young people form the region
- social
science research supporting the view that successful nonviolent resistance
makes for stronger democracies that are less
likely then to descend into civil war
- seeing what
the US Institute of Peace is providing for middle and high school teachers on
peace education
- how the Organizationof American States is working to promote more student exchanges in the Americas
The highlight of the conference for me was working with ESR
graduate Silas Wanjala for our workshop presentation on the Alternatives toViolence programs in Kenya. It was great
to see Silas again and see him connect with other peacemakers from Africa. To see what he is doing--as with other ESR
grads in their ministries--is the most encouraging aspect of my teaching. You can read more about Silas's work here.
I have collected many resources from this conference, and
would be happy to send you electronic resources and links to
organizations. For a fine overview of
what went on and resources you might find of use, check out the Facebook page
for this conference:
www.facebook.com/international.cre.conference13
