Why is unity a prerequisite for peace?

Lasting peace cannot be attained unless and until the unity of humankind is firmly established. Why is this so and in what way is unity the pre-requisite of peace?

“See ye no strangers; rather see all men as friends, for love and unity come hard when ye fix your gaze on otherness. And in this new and wondrous age, the Holy Writings say that we must be at one with every people; that we must see neither harshness nor injustice, neither malevolence, nor hostility, nor hate, but rather turn our eyes toward the heaven of ancient glory. For each of the creatures is a sign of God, and it was by the grace of the Lord and His power that each did step into the world; therefore they are not strangers, but in the family; not aliens, but friends, and to be treated as such.” Abdul-Baha

Peace without unity to me is like a fish without water. Unity provides the basis, the common vision and clay for which we can work together to create peace. We have countless examples of superficial ‘peace’ in the world today, just open the newspaper or turn on the 6pm news and we see flashes of momentary and transient ‘peace deals’ between nations or within nations, lasting only until the next uprising or war breaks out. The bottom line in mankind’s present attempts to create peace is that there is no spiritual base to their negotiations, there is an attachment to one’s own identity or difference, there is no recognition of what binds us together - our inherent nobility, the unifying force that connects every member of this planet together. We fix our gaze on ‘otherness’, on prejudices of race, sex, religion, socio-economic background, we separate, divide, even physically build walls to stop ‘difference’ from interfering with our lives, which of course breeds more injustices and the conflict continues. And what is at the root of this vicious cycle? A fractured, dichotomised, dis-unified view of humanity.

By seeing unity as the starting point for the construction of peace in the world, we are focusing on what connects us, what we have in common, like the blood that runs in our veins, not to create homogeneity and uniformity, but to learn and develop from the unique capacities and insights of each other. In consultation for example, we have a variety of opinions and yet when a decision is reached, through the combination of these differing ideas, it is acted out with total unity, that is how effective and lasting action takes place. If one member of the consultation decides not to follow through on the decision taken, or imposes his or her own will during the decision process, nothing will come of their collective efforts. We are as strong as the weakest link in the chain. Unity implies the removal of self, one of greatest obstacles we have in the world today obsessed with the individual, unity implies the ability to truly listen and understand difference, the ability to detach from one’s opinions in order for true progress and justice to be reached. Starting any process with a focus on unity implies there is something at work greater than just ourselves, what we are combined is far far greater than what we could possibly achieve individually.

"True journalism is intentional" - Kapuscinski

Here is a rough translation of an article recently published in El Universo, Guayaquil's major newspaper, on the media project. It's exciting to see the thirst there is for this kind of work here in Guayaquil, and the receptivity of the local media population!

(Translation from Spanish)
"Transformation is the key word. Promoting change in life. Proving that history of hope can be created when we transmit anything in the media.
That concept is getting deep meaning in Guayaquil, one of the three spots around the world that the Baha’i community chose as part of their pilot Media Project.
The Baha’i faith, a religion born in the ancient Persia over 160 years ago and whose philosophy is to advocate for tolerance, diversity of beliefs, and humanity’s spiritual unity, selected Guayaquil, Ecuador, together with Canoas, Brazil and Toronto, Canada, as part of a concept: Media to transform. How can transformation come from the media? Are the mass media the only ones that can do this? Katy Simistierra, a journalist from Guayaquil and head of the program here, believes in the positive potential of the media, in their power to create reaction. The work, at present focused on pre-teens aged 12-14 in the area of Chongon and ready to be carried out with teenagers at Steiner high school, is not on high rating TV shows broadcast nation wide. Three full-time persons and five volunteers produce TV dramas that are shared with adolescents in order for them to reflect.
Entering a community via its adolescents, guiding them to deal with so common issues such as the pressures of fashion, helping family, being responsible and honest, are parts of the contents.
The theme of this Baha’i project must get journalists to reflect, but not only journalists, but also every one who is so wonderfully lucky to be able to communicate in diverse means. Questions and self-criticism pop into my head: What else can we give other than the everyday-issues that torture us in the editing rooms? How can we creatively squeeze ourselves to propel much more the transforming essence that the media has? How can we demand ourselves even more to go beyond the rottenness that we have to make public, too?
Before the theory that journalists ‘only present bad news’, I can only say that aseptic journalism does not help a society, which also has to see its pains because by not making them public, they will not disappear.
Before this doubt, I have to go to the master; the universal Polish man Ryszard Kapuscinski, the journalist who understood and created a school that teaches how to live journalism as a trade with too many responsibilities, that always has to be in other people’s shoes, that has to try and live with extreme sensitivity for others. Two of his quotes to sum and wrap up: ‘when one decides to describe reality, his writing has an influence on that reality.’ ‘The true journalism is intentional, i.e: when it sets an objective, it tries to provoke some kind of change. There’s no other possible journalism.’

the curse of the dreaded internet

well its been nearly two weeks with no net checking,blogging or facebook stalking (that, i can live without!)
yikes. feels like an eternity .
i moved back to my home in Chongon, where there is no lovely easy wireless connection, which i was bathing in for many weeks back in my friends home were I first stayed, and its hilarious, everytime i venture down to 'cyber market' the local store in Chongon which has internet, the system is always down or the power is cut!
maybe is a sign that i gotta do some detaching. but im realising how attached i am to the net, in terms of feeling 'connected' to people back home or around the world and even to get this blog off the ground. so right now im going through post internet withdrawl symptoms, with the actual fix, like right now using my friends connection....trying to replace that thought of being totally out of touch with everyone, and as if my life is shrinking to the size of Chongon....and why should that scare me? why does the net suddenly have a big impact on my social life? facebook i can live without, although i have to admit its pretty great to see what your friends are up to, but there does come a point where its a waste of time, and you realise its been two hours of checking other peoples lives...bit wierd that form of cyber socialising, if we can call it socialising!!
right now i want to get this blog working more, set up a rhythm of reflecting more on the process and my experience here in Chongon with the Media Project....there is a lot to write about in the last few weeks, its all jumbled up in my mind and im finding it hard to articulate in this moment.....anyways just to have the net, even for ten minutes, somehow i feel better...
wierd
for most people in chongon, having a computer, having internet doesnt really cross their mind anywhere much as it does mine!

simple pleasures

we held the cine-forum tonight
in the open air
centre of chongon
a small crowd of 20 
and others watching from around the basketball court
or through the fence
we are starting to create a rhythm
a space 
where people come together
watch as a community
watch 
with a purpose
discuss
baby-steps 
but the potential is palpable




finding myself in deep moments of joy
a child laughing

a warm hug

a greeting from a stranger passing by

a smile

a twinkle of an eye

"Joy gives us wings! 

In times of joy our strength is more vital, our intellect keener, and our understanding less clouded. 

We seem better able to cope with the world and to find our sphere of usefulness."

Abdul-Baha, Paris Talks

short

night and day
momentary power cuts
on and off
conversations stop
midsentence
fumble in the dark
where is my fork?
lights on
there it is

 
i never knew lizards chirped
it lasts only a few beats
a high pitched squeal
the friendly one greets me on my window mesh each day
or just before i lay my head on my pillow
a goodnight screech


in the middle of the night
they attack
mosquito season on my legs
red itchy itches
scratching up a storm
'oh my, look at your legs'  they exclaim
daily reminders

itch
scratch
gringa flesh


an iguana parks himself under an almond tree
prehistoric skin in downtown guayaquil
a man sitting under a tree with an iguana on his lap
feeding it the occassional banana chip from his small plastic bag
he eats one himself and gives it a pat
so casual
so relaxed
at the city center park where suits meet iguanas
with no blink of an eye


transactions through bars
not stepping one foot inside the corner store
we stare at each other through the steel between us
i cant quite make out the face
bars everywhere
doors
windows
obscuring the vision

fotos

Thanks to Danny Jensen who took the photo's

taller de teatro

Just finised the first week of the theatre workshop with the youth of Chongon, and San Geronimo.
it was an incredible experience, and actually my first time holding a workshop like this, so there is a lot of learning that im processing as i write this.
we had around 25 regular participants in the workshop, most of which were 14years and older, we even had an older couple in their forties show up and take part towards the end of the week! The workshop was aimed for youth, the posters clearly stated 14 years and over, but of course the reality of this rural community and the location we used in the town center, children and junior youth show up as they do, and well, the first day I was a bit too relaxed about it and they joined in for most of the warm-up games, so when it came to the second day it was hard to say no kids...but it all ended up working out in the end, with the kids watching the activities or doing their own thing in seperate groups.
For basically every participant there, this was their first experience of theatre, they had never seen a play before but they were interested in drama. I was amazed at their hunger to learn, they enthusiasm and warm-heartedness. Most of the workshop (which was 3hours long each day) focused on confidence building games, games that were collaborative in nature, with no main ‘leader’ or ‘winner’ but rather the team has to co-operate as a unit in order to achieve the goal. We would then reflect after each game about what qualities we were developing, the relationship to drama, and most importantly how the game related to our own lives. For example, after playing an exercise called ‘Flocking’, where a small group changes leader and movement often, one participant in the reflection circle said, ‘This exercise represented to me the different stages of life. There are times when you have to follow others, like your parents and do as they say, and other times when you have to lead and make decisions for yourself, but you have to work together and stay united.’
The participants thrived on the daily improvement they witnessed in the games as it built their self-confidence and the dynamic of the group. The jump- rope sequence for example, requiring the group to run under the rope in pairs without missing a beat, was an activity the group struggled with on the first day, but after a discussion on what it means to have courage and believe in yourself, why it is important and how it applies to our lives, the group suddenly stepped up and ran through the rope one after the other in time, bringing a tremendous sense of joy and confirmation to the participants. One participant responded, ‘This game showed me that first you have to believe you can do it, then everything is possible.’

There was also specific times were the group would devise and perform their own performances based on social issues they are facing. This was strengthen by a good deal of time reflecting in small groups on the following questions,

* ‘What would you want the world to know about your community?’
Their responses include:
‘We’d like them to know the values that we practise – like friendship, respect, solidarity.’

Another group commented, ‘We’d like them to know that we are collaborators and are kind. People from Chongon are hard-workers and have talents too.’

* ‘What would you want to change about your community?’
One group answered, ‘We want to change the macho-ism that exists in our community. There are too many gangs, and fights that lead to nothing.

* and the final question ‘What themes or issues would you want to be included in a video or play about your community?’

‘There is a part of the community that is dedicated to consuming drugs and alcohol. We want to make a drama that shows the effects of their actions on the community.’

All of the groups brought up again and again that drugs, alcohol and gang related violence were the key issues they wanted to express in a play or video based on their community. After this reflection, in the same groups, they created short plays on the above issues. The reflection time allowed them to go deeper into the stories at the heart of the issues, and the improvement in their performance style was apparent compared to the other days.

We ended the workshop with a performance of these scenes, and then a cine-forum showing the lastest videos produced by the Media Project, which was received warmly by the participants. By the end of the workshop the group dynamic was so strong and unified that most did not want to leave and asked when the workshop would happen again. The second phase of the workshop was explained to them, which focuses on working with specific actors and rehearsing for the next series of videos.

By the end of the workshop our goals were achieved, as we now have a sizeable group of actors from the Chongon area who are ready to work with us on the next series of videos. It's going to be great to have people from the community as actors, rather than those from Guayaquil, which we had been using previously. I think its really going to help bring more people to the cine-forums and hopefully allow the forum portion at the end of the screening to be deeper and more reflective with the audience...
Areas to work on...perhaps more reflection time after each game, I tended to do too many games for the time frame we had. I’m also learning about my speed of communicating and its relationship to this culture, or the fact that the youth are totally new to theatre and have no reference point, so often i would find myself speeding ahead, asking them questions they had no connection to, and both the translators and the participants could not follow...even basic games that I use as warm-ups, a lot of hand and ball co-ordination games, are totally foreign here, all the games are using your legs not your hands, and the girls generally dont take part it them, so that was an interesting area for me and to build up the girls confidence. I'm learning how to work slowly and more deeply, and thinking of concrete examples from their world to reiterate a point...that’s one of the new findings for me...more to come...