SI MONTHLY NEWS August 2006 Peace
From SI Exco News
SERVAS BELGIUM & LUXEMBURG
About the activity of the “Peace Group”
and the ‘Day of Peace” 18th of June 2006
Two years ago I joined the national team of Servas Belgium and Luxemburg, composed of the national secretary and the coordinators, as Peace Secretary. For one year, Servas members have answered to the announcement of creating a peace group.
Their concerns are the following:
- What do members feel about Servas and its connection to peace?
- How could we create dynamics within Servas?
- How could we define the general core of Servas?
The answer and the result were: let's make a group and let’s get to know each other better.
The specific actions were:
- Inquire from members as to what Servas, as an organisation, means to them.
- The general answer is: Servas is an organisation to approach others and by this create a peaceful mind without a fear of being different.
- Inquire if Servas members were ready to give hospitality to people active in peace organisations but non-Servas members.
- We already have 15 families willing to invite in their home non Servas members active for peace. The inquiry is still going on!
- Organize a mega picnic with the aim: I would like to know you better!”
The purpose is to stimulate visits between our own members, the national group Belgian & Luxemburg. More than 30 members presented themselves to participate in this exchange.
The picnic itself and the Breughel walk have been a great success, more than 80 participants came to meet each other to express their wish to be more active within Servas to create more dynamics within the organisation.
The peace group is getting bigger, we have 3 more members to organize the 2007 Peace Day. This will take place in the region Ronquières/Ecaussines (S. Belgium)
My conclusion is: When people get to know each other better they feel part of something in common and positive energy is emerging. Start small, within your own country and develop the positive mind of a peace network within an international peace organisation.
We send our special regards to Bob Lutweiler, the founder of Servas. Thanks and great appreciation for the work of our Nat Sec Rita Dessauvage. Special thanks to the Belgian & Luxembourg Peace Group.
Peaceful regards to all Servas members.
Julie Pesesse Peace Secretary Servas Belgium & Luxemburg
belgium[at]servas.org
Tools for Peace
Part 1
Let us see how the people tend to lose peace and happiness in their day to day life, and from an individual to the effectiveness of the entire society. To begin with let us see into the tools we should seek to gain Peace.
We all must understand that life is dear to all. Nobody wishes to gain any harm to his mind and body, neither a part nor as a whole. As one loves his own self he should treat other the same. As such do not harm others, what will you gain through another one’s grief. Speak not harsh to anyone as you too do not like and retort the painful species in exchange which may bruise you.
Part 2
Today we will discuss hatred and selfishness. In the past when we go through the ancient history King Asoka of India conquered the Kingdoms up to Mongolia in Central Asia and he whole of India, Millions of people were killed in war. King Alexander the Great did the same.
In the recent past people faced World War I and World War II. What was the root cause for these intolerable happenings?
Again it was supremacy for power and hatred. What was the outcome? It was bloodshed and thousands of innocents made refugees.
Hatred! Remember the Atomic Bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. People suffer even to this date with the effects of that bombing.
Why not we replace hatred with love. If everybody loves the other and develops kindness and affection what a beautiful world we could achieve.
- “Hatreds never cease through hatred in this world; through love alone they cease. This is an eternal law.”-
-* non – anger (Avera)
In Peace, -Nandee- Exco Peace Secretary
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