Peace initiatives and conflict resolution
"Peace
is a process which never ends; it is the result of innumerable
decisions made by many persons in many lands. It is an attitude, a way
of life, a way of solving problems and of resolving conflicts. It
cannot be forced on the smallest nation, nor can it be imposed by the
largest. It can neither ignore our differences nor overlook our common
interests. It requires us to work and live together."
Oscar Arias Sanchez, Nobel Peace Prize winner and former President of
Costa Rica*.
Peace is not
merely the absence of
war. It is a
way of living and relating to one another that requires understanding,
open-mindedness and a willingness to negotiate – qualities
that
are all too often neglected in the pursuit of narrow economic
interests.
At a time when key resources such as oil and water are
becoming increasingly scarce, when environmental disasters are becoming
commonplace and when weapons of mass destruction are widely available,
the achievement of global peace must be seen not as a luxury or
fantastical ideal, but as a prerequisite for human survival.
Ultimately, this must involve breaking down the national, economic and
ideological divisions that perpetuate non-cooperation and conflict.