SI MONTHLY NEWS June 2007 Peace Direct - Practical Peace
From SI Exco News
THE PRACTICAL PEACE '30 IN 30' CAMPAIGN
Introducing a new concept this month. Over the next thirty days we'd like you to find thirty minutes to take a bit of time out. Just thirty minutes in thirty days. That's 0.069% of your month ahead. And here's how you could fill that precious half hour...
"I will not give up. I would rather die in doing what I believe is the right thing to do".
We've made a short film (www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIPhQMtP0OM) with Asha Hagi Elmi, a Somali parliamentarian and peacebuilder. We think she's an incredible woman and we hope she inspires you.
"This is just a quick email to say..."
Think of someone you know who has done something amazing in the last month. Whether it's a colleague at work, a friend or someone in your family, send them a quick email to say well done. Go on, do it now...
Is Merbau a Ugandan form of conflict resolution or the saliva of a rare Brazilian frog? Or something else entirely?
Spend a few minutes on the Alertnet Challenge (www.alertnet.org/quiz.htm).
Which countries are the world's most peaceful?
Peace Direct is proud to be a key endorser of the new Global Peace Index (www.visionofhumanity.com/); the first study of its kind to rank countries around the world according to their peacefulness.
Finally take two minutes simply to reflect on what you have achieved today. In a world that moves fast we rarely take time to appreciate all we do for ourselves, each other and our work.
Hello...Konnichiwa...Bonjour...Salam wa Alaikum...Ola...Ciao...Namaste...wherever you are in the world, a warm welcome to June's Practical Peace.
Peacedirect.org ([www.peacedirect.org/]) has all our latest news, including a report from Henri in the Congo who's deep in the jungle negotiating with a gang of militia.
INSIGHT ON CONFLICT
SUDAN: WAR AGITATORS TO PEACEMAKER
In every conflict, the part played by women can be essential to the speed and success of any resolution. After decades of hostilities in the western region of Sudan, key players in the peace process are realising that women can help turn the balance in favour of negotiated settlements.
One such initiative is the Hakamat Training and Grassroots Mobilisation project run by the Women's Empowerment for Peace and Development Network. Through this programme WEPD train highly respected women to use their positions to advocate peace. The women raise the issues of honour and courage in the tribes and villages and look to dissuade husbands and sons from choosing the path to war.
More on this and other projects at Insight On Conflict (www.insightonconflict.org/)
As you know these emails were inspired by a film (www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU3V2suLEbU) we made with Gill Hicks, survivor of the London bombings and now our Ambassador here at Peace Direct.
There's a line in Gill's book ( where she says, www.amazon.co.uk/One-Powerful-Survival-Inspirational-Recovery/dp/1405099895)
"What matters is what you do. Someone, somewhere is feeling the effects of something you have done or said. Every second, every minute, every hour, every day - it all matters."
Gill continues to inspire; just ask the children of Borrow Wood Junior School. Their tree is one of the very special things we've been sent this year.
The people that lost their lives on that day will be in our thoughts on July 7th.
Have a good month and we'll be back in July.
Love, The Practical Peace team.
uploaded by Amelia
