Getting through chaotic moments

Everyone experiences the confusion, frustration and chaos which conflict can bring. Everyone can learn how to move through those moments of chaos with calm resolve as well. There are a number of components to chaos that you need to be aware of in order to move through such situations. As you read these you will most likely know them. The difficult part is applying your knowledge. You must apply it as often as you in order to excel at getting through those chaotic moments.

Emotions and communication are the two factors that are often the most poorly managed. Case in point is the situation in Syria. At first the people protested against the government. During these protest emotions of panic set in, non-violent communication was lost and bullets were fired. This same situation continues to this day. That is a very simple breakdown but in reality that is exactly what transpired.

To get through the chaos you need to be able to keep things as simple as possible. The complications will work themselves out. Breaking the situation in small goals is the best plan. For example in Syria the small goal was a ceasefire agreement. Neither side adhered to that which brings the entire situation back to chaos and even further distrust. However the ceasefire agreement is crucial and must be implemented. What we are faced with is how a ceasefire agreement is to be implemented.

The average person in Syria most likely wants an end to the violence. As usual the ones that seek to destabilize a society are in the minority. The question now becomes, how do you reach a peaceful resolution when both sides are locked on destroying each other? This question is a very difficult situation.

The common element in poor conflict resolution rest with the people involved. With the case of Syria there has to be a different set of voices now. The current voices are distrusted and have too much history attached. In order for a peaceful environment to take root there needs to be new leadership. The issue will always be the same but the people need to change.

Whether or not the people can transcend the history is the main obstacle. For example we can look at the Palestine/Israel wars. These people have carried the history, violence, revenge, hatred and distrust for generations. The face of the war has become ambiguous, inhumane and demonized. There have been small breakthroughs with the Israel/Palestine war, 1994 was one. Since then there has been stalemates and regression. The people are in dire need of new visions, leadership and voice.

To transcend conflict, an open mind is crucial. New perspectives and a willingness to focus on the future is vital as well. All too often relationships get mired in what I call “stacking bodies”. This is when people bring up past wrongs as they race to stack up the most injustices incurred. This tactic is very common yet rarely works to resolve a conflict, (I have never experienced this tactic working).

Getting past stacking bodies is a challenge that must be overcome. If history is not let go of, the conflict will only spiral into further frustration.  The emotional attachment to those past injustices will gain more moments to fuel the anger. To get past this tactic takes a certain amount of resolve and hard work. Focusing on the immediate situation will help. The moment you start to talk about the context or situations that began the chaos you have started stacking bodies.  This is where the hard work is most needed.

Emotions and attachments need to be managed so that a peaceful solution can be found. Doing so is made more difficult when the other side will not or is not able to do the same. However someone has to have the intelligence and the willingness to let go of old tactics.

Path to Peace in Syria

Bring peace to Syria will be as difficult as everyone wants it to be. From the very beginning the breakdown of peace was only helped to grow even more chaotic. Here we are today and once again the United Nations is going to take the blame for a peace operations failure.

Right of the top the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council fought each other instead of work together. The western countries (United Kingdom, France, Republic of the United States) are as much to blame for the breakdown as Russia and China. Each country has played politics with more of a domestic attention towards their own countries than they have towards Syria. That is the absolute reality. This entire situation could have been avoided if the will was there, yet it was not.

That lack of will was so clear from the outset that the current situation was as predictable as the sun shining. The immediate call for regime change was and still is the largest mistake made by many of the world leaders.  This mistake brought about many other mistakes. There is no good reason why only thirty Observers on the ground now. There is no good reason for supplying military equipment to opposition forces. There is no good reason for training forces outside of Syria and supporting their efforts to return to Syria.

What needs to be done now?

·         The ceasefire agreement still needs to be a point of focus. With that the Observer force needs to get on the ground as soon as possible in numbers of at least a thousand, more if possible.

·         Foreign journalists are good secondary observes but they can also be used for propagandist purposes. This is where people (like me) have to sift through all the information, find the sources, biases and reality. Truth can be manufactured and that needs to be deeply understood.

·         All border crossings and points of entry need to be locked down as tight as possible.

·         Arms embargo needs to be enforced and the complete disarming of all forces started immediately.

·         The world leaders need to support the legal structure of Syria and its constitution. The current government is the only legitimate leadership structure and that is the only avenue open for discussions.

·         The 26 February referendum results need to be a focal point of peace talks

·         A large peacekeeping force needs to be operational in conjunction with the Observer Force

These points are going to be almost impossible to implement, if it all. We know that the world leaders from outside Syria have only made things worse. Now we have to end that method and start within Syria.

As we look at the body count rising and the cities destroyed, we have to keep in mind that both sides of this must share equal responsibility. As internationals we must adhere to the current laws of Syria. Also we must focus on solutions and a future of peace. The current government of Syria has to be convinced that a peacekeeping force is not a breakdown of sovereignty. A peacekeeping force is there to strengthen the sovereignty of Syria.

Currently we are all embroiled in the chaos of violent conflict. Such a state clouds the mind and cements the cycle of hatred. As you read or watch the news take that frame of understanding and look past the blame and shouting that fills most media reports. We must tell our own governments to take such a view but first we must take that step. As you begin to see past through the cycle of hatred you can look to other wars like Palestine and Israel. Thus begins a new effort and path to peace.

Syrian Mess

Within the past three weeks, Syria has become more complicated. With Observer Forces going in to monitor the ceasefire, the call to protest and the formation of a new opposition group, Syria is running head long into stagnant chaos.

From the outset of the ceasefire we knew there were going to be breaches. In all honesty neither side (Syrian government or any opposition group) is trustworthy. Due to that, the claims about who is breaking the ceasefire can not be trusted, nor should it matter.  The only fact that needs to be heralded is that people are still fighting, from all sides.

The Observer Force is slow in being fully implemented. This is caused by the Permanent Five members of the United Nations Security Council dragging its feet. To be blunt, the entire situation in Syria was avoidable had those five worked together instead of playing politics from the outset. Now we are up to our waist in chaos. Nothing we can do about the past so let us focus on solving the situation.

There is a new group titled Transitional National Government seeking legitimacy. As events unfold there will be others as the bickering about who is legitimate and who is not. The reality is there is only one legitimate government and they are in power. It is not only the government in power, every other opposition group is also power hungry.

As it stands now, I do not see a way out of this situation unless a large peacekeeping force is brought in. The Observer Force is being implemented too slowly for what ever reason and with each day the ceasefire becomes less and less meaningful.  Furthermore, I have no idea why outside groups continue to illegally support the opposition forces with military equipment. Such countries should be held to account by the United Nations Security Council.

Another step forward is to grab hold of the 26 Feb referendum results. Those results are a bedrock for rebuilding Syria and yet no one is mentioning them. Those results were voted on by the people of Syria and called for electoral change. Why has no group bothered to press for those changes to be made? Why is it only focused on the ousting of the current government violently?

We have been witnessing how the opposition function and this is through the use of violence as well. With that in mind there is no clear peaceful solution if any of the current groups take power.  The best possible way forward is for a massive peacekeeping force to enter and patrol the entire country. While that is being done the constitutional talks can take place.

This will be a long process and more people will die before it is all over. This entire situation is a mess mostly because the leaders of the world have been fighting each other instead of working on a solution.

Afghanistan, what a mess.

Sadly the future of Afghanistan is looking to be as peaceful as it was in 2001. Already there are those that point to past wrongs that need to be answered. Now of course those wrongs need to be healed but the greater need is for the violence, war and general chaos to stop. To do this there needs to be a great effort from the regional leadership. Such a strategy has never been used to its fullest potential.

For the past ten years the use of weapons to bring peace in Afghanistan has failed. I wish it were not a failure but the reality is very evident that peace is far, far away.  Anyone that says the Afghanistan war has been a success is blind, stupid, ignorant or just lying. The reason for the failure is due to poor leadership.

At the outset of the war, the Taliban made it known that they were willing to fight for decades, not just one, many. The International Security Forces (ISAF), were fractured in both the ideology of military strategy and the ideology for going to war. These fractures lead to serious issues of commitment within the coalition forces. All these combined set the stage for a failed war. Today we are seeing greater attacks from the Taliban within Kabul and throughout Afghanistan.

What can be done now? We need to come to the realization that Afghanistan is back to square one. The regional peace may actually be worse than it was in 2001. Also we have to grasp the fact that Pakistan is itself embroiled in many battles. Next we have to ask where are the other countries that border Afghanistan?  They need to be at the table for peace as well. These are China, Iran, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

These countries all have a vested interest in peace. Some may feel they are less so but that is for each of them to decide. The reality is the region is in chaos. A path forward needs to be mapped out because at present there is no idea or plan for regional peace.

There is one common element and that is no one wants the return of the Taliban. Much like the Nazi party, few of us see little reason for their existence. Most of us see the Taliban as a cancerous organization yet we have no medicine for its cure.  For peace talks to happen there has to be common ground. We know the Taliban has one condition to peace and that is the complete dismissal of the RUSA forces. The Afghanistan government has asked the RUSA to leave. They have stated that their date of exit 2014. That leaves the peace talks with the Taliban stagnant. Sadly a military effort will still be needed for an unknown time, perhaps for ever.

Basically we are left with the fact that the regional powers need to formulate a plan. They all need to engage in a common element of regional co-operation. The most important element is the need for action that is going to bring peace. The rhetoric and lies have to end.

Now we have to ask, Are the people in power now the right people? Who else is there that can be trusted to bring peace? Lastly, how do we fight a ghost which is the Taliban terrorizing an entire region?

Syrian referndum of 26 Feb needs to be the foundation for peace.

For a society to remain peaceful the people have to take responsibility to ensure that environment. With each person, the leaders have to be more diligent in their efforts to remain trustworthy and honest. When issues of difficulty arise the need for peaceful dialogue is at its utmost importance.

During times of difficulty ideology will clash. This is a fact of reality and the root of most violent conflicts. For a society to remain peaceful there needs to be the voice of reason. The voice needs to be someone that will stand up and point out the common elements of understanding, goals, ideology and the reality that each person cares about the future. That person needs to have the trust of the people though. In Syria there are few people that have that trust and even fewer people standing up to voice the commonalities of the conflicting parties.

Who do we have standing up to speak of peace in Syria? The Friends of Syria have acted in a manner which is more an enemy of Syria than a friend. The current leadership in Syria has a tenuous grip on any perceptions of being peaceful. As for a single person, there is only one person that has any form of trust or credibility and that is the United Nations envoy, Kofi Annan.

We need to ask why the results of the 26 Feb referendum have so quickly been forgotten about? Why have the Friends of Syria not pressed upon those results? Why have the Friends of Syria continually called for more weapons? Why have the Friends of Syria worked so hard to discredit the current leadership in Syria knowing that such a tactic will only prolong the violence. Why have the Friends of Syria worked so hard to discredit Russia and China, when those two countries have only called for peaceful discussion within the legal framework of Syrian and international law?

The Friends of Syria have equalled the current leadership within Syria in terms of prolonging the violence. If peace is the return quickly, the Friends of Syria must change their tactics to be more aligned with Russia and China. The call for a universal ceasefire, weapons embargo, highly enforced border security to the point of almost lock down with only food and medical aid to be allowed in and strong pressure to get all sides into discussions.

The phrase “all sides” deals with only the people within Syria. The only outsider taking part in the discussions should be the United Nations envoy Kofi Annan, no one else, not one more person from outside. This is a Syrian process and it is theirs to manage. The international community can assist by providing peacekeepers to ensure that law and order are maintained. Journalist and ngo’s can also enter so that the rebuild can start and is monitored.  

The discussions already have a foundation with the 26 Feb referendum. That process indicated the need for a new constitution as well as a new political system. The world needs to support that process. The world needs to look at the reality within the Syrian population two years ago. The country was on a path to peace. As always peace does not arrive quickly enough for some and so they resort to violence. That is the reality which is lost in all of this.

Coup in Mali

A few months ago the world had watched as the armed Touareg moved from Libya and spread into Mali. With the Touareg waging war in Mali for past three months, peace has been torn apart. Having this armed group enter Mali was trouble enough.

The national army of Mali was fighting these intruders only to have sections of its own force turn against the government of Mali.  This treason was due to the fact that the Mali government was blamed for not doing enough to fight the Touareg.  Not sure how that logic works. Never the less we have to deal with a situation of unknown chaos for the time being. This is such a loss because Mali was on its way to a peaceful transition of power and stability.

How can we see this as a positive? First of all we have to understand that this is clearly an outside invading force.  Next we have to understand what the leader of the coup wants. Once we have that we can build the bridges of peace. Peace was known in Mali and it can return very quickly. Another point I see is the strengthening of the African Union.

The situation in Mali is one where the African Union can take a leadership role as peacekeepers, peace brokers, and transitional government oversight. Even as these positives are known, we have to accept that the leader of the coup may not leave peacefully. This situation may take a very long time. How long it takes depends on the current leadership that has forced Mali into this situation.

What are the options for peace? For whatever reason, the leader of the coup saw the need to overthrow the current government rather than fight the invaders.  This reality will be a challenge to most options for regaining peace. No matter what course is taken there has to be discussion on how to regain the peace. Somehow the chaos of violence needs to end and the legitimacy of the government has to be returned as well.

With the reality of the situation the United Nations Security Council needs to sanction all weapons trade with the country. The borders, mostly in the north have to be strengthened. With the assistance of the African Union and the United Nations Security Council

Should the people protest in massive rallies?  I would have to say that such a tactic would be met with force. Although it is a sad reality I do think the people need to protest such an action even though a protest will be violently put down by the current coup leadership.

Let us work to see a return of peace in this country.

Neutrality in revolutions for the member states of United Nations

Dealing with war and violent conflict, as you know is no easy task. One reason for dealing with such situations rests in a personal connection to what is taking place. Perhaps you believe that one side has acted unjustly and should be punished. There is the possibility that you have a financial stake in the matter or some other interest. Whatever the reason, often we take sides in disputes. Taking sides is exactly what the world community is not supposed to do.

The chief concern for the world community is the safety and well being of the people. However we are not perfect and that neutrality is lost on many occasions. The neutrality of the world would be a great force if it were allowed to take hold. There is only one organization that holds neutrality as a top priority and that is the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). They have done so to a point where this neutrality has angered many. However, neutrality is what is needed to get most jobs done.

To be fair, I would have to say that the neutrality ends with acts that go against humanitarian laws. In the cases of Syria, Libya, Israel, Yemen, Afghanistan or any other violent conflict area the need to support the rule of law is starting point of any peacebuilding action. I do not see a Peacekeeping force as a threat to sovereignty but as a system to build up sovereignty. That is just me and what my interpretation of the United Nations Charter states.

Situations such as we have in many countries due to the Jasmine Revolution are perfect examples of where the international community can and should be a positive factor. However, in most cases the international community has rarely been a positive influence. Libya has been left twisting in the wind and everywhere else there is a huge fight about what to do.

Fighting about what to do while people are dying is a horrible situation to be in, even though I understand situations can always be worse. Being neutral is the only option in such situations. We have wasted a great deal of time by not talking with the governments of these countries. These talks need to be had to ensure that peace and order are maintained.

The infighting of the United Nations Security Council is as disgusting as any I have witnessed in the past ten years. I am deeply saddened by the actions of the member states who are abusing the system which ultimately tarnishes the United Nations. The United Nations can only do what the member states allow to be done.

At the moment the member states of the United Nations are too busy taking sides, asking for regime change, arming opposition forces, seeing what their best interests are and making sure not to get deeply involved.  When all they are supposed to do is be nuetral, stay out of the politics and just take care of the security and humanitarian side of things.

peace will return in Syria

Peace is best achieved through daily attention and regular work. When a situation gets to a point of chaos, the effort to get back to where peace was lost is even greater. In Syria the areas that are in chaos need to understand that peace is now on both the government and the peoples shoulders.

To get back to how society was a year ago, a ceasefire agreement must be produced. Such a thing can not take place without the two sides talking. Since the current government of Syria has stated they will not hold talks with the opposition forces, an option is Shuttle Diplomacy. This is what the United Nations Envoy is there to do so he best get on with it.

Pick a date to work towards implementing the ceasefire agreement. As that date draws near there must be a communication campaign that will keep the transition period as open as possible. People have to know what to expect when the guns stop. For those that have not experienced a ceasefire transition, the silence is very unnerving yet calming at the same time.

Protests and chaos will take place. However the need for order is an absolute. This has to be planned out and executed with as much perfection as possible. The right people must be used to bring order and it certainly can not be government forces, unless you want the ceasefire agreement to get cancelled. One option is the use of the Observer Forces and this must be a part of the ceasefire agreement.

As the days pass and the ceasefire agreement holds, the international aid organizations can go in do the assessments and write the policy options. The people in the conflict areas need to be tasked with cleaning up the mess, this will keep them occupied while the ceasefire is held. Also it provides a spark that the conflict is improving.

There are elements that must be held in check and these are the desire to finger point, claim victory and fall into the trap of blame. What needs to take root is the peaceful understanding that everyone is to blame, there is no victory in war and the finger can only point back into your own eye.

Government forces need to pull as far back as possible. If any force is needed it must be an unarmed force. Also the weapons that are held by opposition forces must be checked and cleared. There will be less chance of breaking the ceasefire agreement if the weapons are not there.  A ceasefire agreement is a very unstable situation and often they are broken due to carelessness. Someone has to fire a shot first and that person has to be kept in mind concerning how fragile the situation is.

One last item that needs to be understood, peace does not take orders from a clock. We can set timelines but these must be flexible to allow for conditions to be ripe for success.

Syria is in a very difficult spot but with some assistance, peace will return.

how can emotions be controlled?

"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society."  J. Krishnamurti

That quote sums up exactly how I feel most days. There are many areas where life just does not add up. I think of the people I have worked with to rebuild societies and yet they cheat on their partners, thus acting like a hypocrite. I think of the people that will say the most damaging thing only to feel justified because the truth hurts, not because speaking the truth was helpful to the situation but more to get the shot in. I have been hit with such shots many times. Each time I have cursed myself for knowing better than to respond. However in time I always thank myself for being peaceful, just take it and let it go.

It is not an easy thing to do though when you are fighting with a person who you have great emotion for. Emotions can be controlled but it takes great skill and for most of us that skill is dormant. So how can emotions be controlled?

Everyone knows how, but few practice or even try to act in such a manner. The knowledge is good to have but if you do not learn to use it, well, it is useless. I guess I could write down what to do but then again everyone knows. A vicious circle really. But once more can only help, if only one person takes the steps to change their behaviour it is worth it. I do hope at least one person changes. Maybe it will be me?

Someone is arguing or yelling at you. You start to feel the tension rise. You need to be aware of that moment and breathe slowly and deep. You have to tell yourself that you care to be a relaxing force in the face of hostility. Sometimes it takes going for a walk, giving a person a hug, a good thought or anything that will bring you to a state of mind where you can be calm.

Being able to do those things is tough enough and takes time to respond in such a way that it becomes natural. The next step is to realize the only solution you have to focus on is to return the situation to a more relaxed one. The topic of the fight is important but nothing will be solved in such a state so let the idea of solving that topic go. For me this step took months to fully integrate. I would get caught up in problem solving, seeking options and dealing with the issue. 

What really needs to take place is for the peaceful person to listen, learn and understand the other. There is a great deal of non-verbal communication knowledge that can be understood as well. I am still learning about that after seventeen years. There is also a situational element at this point. One wrong word and all your efforts could get you a punch in the face.

What you want to accomplish is to get to a point where the other person can believe that you are there to help not harm. It is not enough to say that either, you have to believe it and get that across. You should not fake this. If you really do not care or are just going through the motions it will work for a time. However, people will notice that you do not care soon enough. Furthermore, you will be a great deal more effective if you honestly do care.  For me I have got to a point where I truly wish everyone could live peacefully and that is what holds my capacity to care. I do feel hurt when I see a racist act, a couple going through difficult times, protesters/police officers being shot or a community destroyed.

Basically you are learning as that person vents or lets out their anger as you explore both yours and their emotional states. You should not attempt to solve the issue just bring the emotions to a level point. When the emotions are level you still do not look to solve. At this point you can talk about the last few moments as you gather more information. Thank the person for being so caring. There are so many situations to describe and sometimes it would be weird to thank anyone for being caring. All you want to do is allow the emotions to level out for a time period where the issue can be let go for now.

For some situations all that needs to be done is to manage the emotions where everyone can and does leave. Breaking up a fight in a public space for example, now I would not suggest anyone do such a thing as a form of practice but I have done this more times than I remember. Did I solve anything, no. The larger issues are rooted in ideology, but at those moments the issue was to keep everyone unharmed.

Now to go further means to engage in a series of conversations. These are called negotiation, mediations, peace talks or some other phrases. The method is the same as I just wrote above. The difference is that the emotions will play out over days or years. In these situations you have to operate as the peaceful person from the moment you wake up to the moment you sleep.

After seventeen years I still slip up from time to time. Each day though I get just that much more information on how not to slip. I keep mentioning to myself that I choose to do this because I really do care about peace. I really do care about the children and what the future has for them. The final part I really want, is to share all of this knowledge with others.

A way Out

Life is fraught with challenges and chaos. During such times it can be difficult to see purpose or as most people ask “a way out”. Now for all the peace and knowledge I have, it is a reality that there is a different route for each person to find that way out. However, we are all human and there are some commonalities that occur.

For me, the way out is to find what my heart and mind understand as good. Doing this allows me to laugh easier, smile more and take the many hits that life will throw at any time. Sometimes the good is not easy to see and I have questioned if it is there. Just because I do not understand does not mean good is absent. All it means is, I need to look further or the search has no meaning to me.

Knowing when to stop searching is a vital component to life. In life there is death and death is not as ugly as we make it out to be. How death arrives can be very ugly. A marriage going through a divorce is one of the ugliest deaths two people can go through. A country separating, governments falling and banking systems collapsing are all deaths that we go through.

In each case peace will be put to the test. In a marriage there can be the moments of infidelity. In the other cases there are moments of oppression and constraint. With each case there is a loss of trust between or amongst people involved. We often ask ourselves, “What is the purpose of this relationship?” “Why does this have to be so difficult?”

The purpose and the difficulty are entangled together in the same answer. The answer is we are alive and it is our choice. Now the answer goes a great deal deeper because we have limits within ourselves but at the very first step we must deal with reality.

We are alive and it is our choice to care. What you care about will always bring difficulties. These difficulties are steps and with each step you will encounter more difficulties. In the run of life you will misjudge a number of times, perhaps fight challenges where you should not have, let go of things that you should have kept, but these are all part of life. In life you will make mistakes, you just hope your friends really know who you are and can see that in their heart.

Sometimes that is not possible and life just got more difficult as you deal with the pain of mistrust. In these times it is often when a person needs new information. If no new information is obtained, that person will use the same knowledge to get through the difficulties as they have in the past. Doing the same things is getting back on the hamster wheel with no real progress. For example, a broken marriage may lead a person to have an affair, protests lead a government to shoot its own people, ailing banks to close on loans, corporations to cut jobs and a host of other typical acts.  None of these acts are all the helpful as they often do more damage and make matters worse. However they are popular methods of dealing with difficulties as we seek a way out.

As we seek a way out, the source of the challenge holds many answers.

Decline in Syria

The world has no idea how to deal with the situation in Syria.  The Security Council is dead locked on what to do as there are two differing approaches being debated. The Security Council is so useless that they can not even convince themselves that monitors should be sent in. With each passing day more and more weapons are building up in both the military and the civilian rebel groups.

All of this was preventable with a small force of one thousand peacekeepers to be sent in last November to enforce the rule of law as stated under the current Syrian system. A complete lock down and use of small arms and light weapons needs to be enforced as the Peacekeepers patrolled with the current Syrian army. Batons, shields, water cannons, pepper spray and riot gear would be allowed only.

At each protest both the current Syrian army and the UN peacekeepers would work to control crowds and enforce the rule of law. At the same time the ruling party must obey the wishes of the people and if the people choose to hold massive strikes, rallies or protests, they must be allowed to do so.

Also foreign media should be allowed in as well to report. No embedding reporters, that is just a strong move for covering up lies.

The world has no idea how to deal with this.  That is only because the world is full of shit.

Hypocrisy

Of late, I have been reading about the causes and indicators related to why people/countries engage in war and/or peace.  There are theories that point to economics, governance, population age, gender balance, resources and religion/ideology as root causes. We do know that a mix of all these play a part. There are other elements that rarely get discussed which are; stupidity, insanity, intolerance and to put it very simple – some people are assholes. Human trafficking is one such example of such behaviour. It takes an evil piece of work to enslave another to a lifetime of hell for monetary gain. However, human trafficking is a thriving business.

In my holistic understanding of the world I know that I contribute to the continuation of such practices.  I am alive therefore everything that transpires in this world I am a part of. Moreover, I understand that I am in a relationship with everyone else that is also alive, whether I know that person or not.  We are all here at this moment and that is reality.

In that context I often think of the hell a 14 year old girl has lived in the past five years locked in a cell only to be used as a prostitute? What causes us to act so horribly to a nine year old? This is the very base of individual impact that war/hell has on the world.  Going one step up we have the gang/organized crime element.

In this network we see elements of ethics beginning. The transactions of money and “goods” takes place because of the trust each side has.  People have to work together for the operation to run, this takes a strong need for common benefit.  All the while the operation is destroying the greater peace, which in turn destroys the common benefit of the entire world. Do you see the hypocrisy?  When you live in such a world you must rule with fear because logic, justice, compassion and humanity are dead.

Going one more step higher we get to world organizations and governments.  In this step we can add religions/ideological groups.  Violence that is brought about in the name of god, country, or whatever can be a murky area.  Sometimes these groups must defend against attacks.  However, there are some wars that have raged on for centuries and no one knows exactly why, other than it began due to a fear of the other. Fear only works on the weak and even then the weak can grow tired, then realize they out-number the rulers. This scenario has been going on between Christians and Islam for two thousand years and still going.  It is taking place in Mexico with the drug wars. It is taking place now in Syria and other areas.

Every country has signed onto the Declaration of Human Rights that belong the United Nations. Still we have member nations killing another because they believe/think differently.   While they kill each other on battle fields they turn around and defend their actions in terms of self- preservation. I am sure the person that locked up the nine year girl would use the same argument.

Preventive Diplomacy

Wisdom is a resource that is often given to us in riddles and clichés.  Clichés such as “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” or “a stitch in time will save nine” have been offered as solid points to ensure that a situation is kept in check.  The result is much worse and more costly if proper care is not taken.  The same wisdom and knowledge is important to understand when managing peaceful conflict.

Peaceful conflict may seem like an oxymoron or just moronic.  However, as I have stated in past writings conflict is only the meeting and joining of two or more whatevers.  For example typing this article, my fingers come into conflict with each key, thought is conflict, child birth is a conflict as is the act that began the child, and meeting a person for the very first time is a conflict.  It just so happens that most of us are brainwashed to see conflict as a negative element. The negative focus only warns us that we must take notice of the wisdom we have to prevent situations from getting worse.

When dealing with international peace often we do focus on violence, death, struggle, injustice and rights abuses.  As we think about those situations the world had invented Peacekeepers to prevent the worsening impact of war.  Today we have come to the point where preventive diplomacy is a common element in political circles. Below are five priority areas that the current Secretary-General of the United Nations listed for strengthening the use of preventive diplomacy:

(1)early and decisive action to address emerging threats;

(2) investing in and better equipping “preventive diplomats” and their staff;

(3) predictable and timely financial support to maximize efforts on the ground and to deliver results;

(4) stronger strategic partnerships with regional and subregional organizations;

(5) greater support for national institutions and mechanisms for mediation, including civil society and, in particular, women’s and youth organizations.

For me and my work I feel that the most important element of the five is number five.  Engaging in this area will accomplish all the rest. 

Taking the holistic mindset we go from international politics to the personal relationship. On a personal front and in the lives of individuals, preventive diplomacy is a difficult ideology to explain and even harder to implement.  I have been engaged in peace for at least twenty years, I still get caught up in emotions and do stupid things that have caused a number of my own relationships to crumble.

In our personal lives preventive diplomacy is all about caring for yourself and others equally. The policy of “do no harm” is often relevant as is the Golden Rule, “treat others as you wish to be treated”. The difficult part is that we are all different in some manner.  Some of us truly believe in Machiavelli where the ends justify the means and business is conducted at all cost to win. 

What is vital though is the foundation of understanding.  We gain understanding through learning and communication.  Sometimes you know what to do but just do not have the energy or desire.  You feel that you have given enough.  Frustration sets in and then you throw all the work out and let loose.  If the other side is well trained they will realize this and just let you go off.  To be honest, I can count the number of times when I have been able to vent without fear of repercussion.  Someday I hope that balances out even.

How do you help?

Over the past five months I have been helping with a very ugly conflict.  One where truth has been killed so many times that it is difficult for the larger population to even know what to believe.  When sitting at the table I can look both sides in the heart.  I know where the lies began and where the truth stopped, yet the conflict is no longer about what is true or who is wrong.  The conflict now is how to rebuild on a foundation destroyed.

Trust is no longer alive due to fact that there have been too many lies and atrocities.  For one side of this conflict, they are in a situation where even the lives of those in harms way are not thought of.  It is a continual fight to ensure that their story is the story everyone will trust.  How do you go about that when that story is false? How do you help when the foundation of knowledge is flawed?

As in all conflict, it begins and ends in the mind.  We fight each other because we believe.  How do you help in a situation where there is a broken psyche, paranoia, and the only way out is to ensure the people that are closest feel equal or more pain?

The society is torn apart, the current leader is bent on revenge at all cost.  Removing the leader may seem simple.  However there is enough support that doing so will cause a great amount of harm.  “Do no harm”, is a popular phrase in the world of peace and conflict.  Yet when cancer spreads the short term harm may indeed save the entire person. 

There are many options. One option is to allow the situation to continue and we do what we can to help the people as the current leader plays out their time.  At the moment it seems that is what is going to happen in Syria, Bahrain, Yemen – the list goes on.

There is no greater sorrow in my heart or in my mind than the moments where trust in others has been destroyed.  To be harmed by a person you had trusted is a moment of such great pain that death can be welcome thought.   Each time I encounter such an experience it is never easier.  The only positive is that I know I have gotten through it before, I hope I will again.

The people that are lost and will be lost are thought of daily.  I wish them a peaceful after life.  For those that are saved I hope they carry with them the knowledge that peace is better than war.  There is no peace when the use of fear, violence, destruction, torture and deceit are used to gain. 

Strength to resolve matters peacefully

Having lived in many areas of chaos, I am positive that most people are peaceful. In turn, the larger part of society, is peaceful as well.  It is quite an odd situation while being a guest in a stranger’s home in a war zone.  The subject of the war is obviously discussed.  The reality soon hits you that most people have a strong understanding of peace.  However, you can hear the war rage on outside.  Then the question comes; how did this all get so ugly?

From that question alone the war will begin as the people recall the injustices set upon them.  This is called “stacking bodies”, the part where people begin to list all the injuries they have incurred.  Engaging in this activity is the method to prove how one side is the enemy.  Such tactics are rarely helpful in resolving a conflict.  Continually pointing out the injustices keeps you rooted in the mindset of revenge and being treated unfairly.  To get to the point of resolving any conflict you have to be able to do two things.

First you have to truly understand your part through accepting the others view point. You do not have to agree with their view point but there is no way you can change that view point.  Second you have to see past the committed injustices.  Again, you do not have to forget about the injustices but you do have to be able to accept that nothing can change those events.  Both of these items are simple yet they are difficult to enact.

Often we see these two items as a large part of being weak or giving in.  These views are a hindrance for most peace workers as it takes more strength, effort, intelligence and will power to engage in such a manner than it does to kill.  However there are times when killing is the only option, unless you want to die yourself.  World War Two, stopping Hitler stands as one example when killing was the only option.

Getting back to the methods needed for resolving conflict, the best tools we have is the ability to learn, educate and adapt.  We must have the capacity to understand that each and every one of us has a desire to improve upon themselves.  As we go about our lives we see others and we notice how others live.  In turn we see the parts of our own selves in these people that we wish we had.  We see in others the qualities that we know and want to improve upon.  If that person is in your daily life, the change that you wish to improve upon will become an irritant and you will develop a dislike for that person.  This is a popular theory of Carl Jung and it holds a great amount of truth.  This is on an individual level, not so sure it holds true on a societal level.  However the methods of dealing with conflict are transferable from individual to society and into international relations.

With the case of Syria, the government has given a great deal of attention to killing and very little to discussion.  We can be assured that the methods of killing will continue.  The Arab Council tried to force the discussion method by sending in Observers, that failed.  The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is again looking at intervention.  Economic Sanctions, strongly worded resolutions and a litany of press releases will most likely be the result if the UNSC takes action.  All the while the government will continue to crush its own people, at a slower pace perhaps. The killing will continue until morale improves in Syria.  It will continue at a pace slow enough for the appearance of peace and discussion.  Which brings in the world of optics, spin and bullshit.

All because some people do not have the strength to resolve matters peacefully.

Conflict resolution information

Conflict often starts from within us internally then it becomes external and its growth more complex when we do not manage it immediately and appropriately. We should always first concentrate on internal resolution of conflict then external management; we should therefore change our PERCEPTION, ATITUDES and BEHAVIOUR, first before we seek to change others.

Most times we choose reactive methods for solving problems (force, arbitration, adjudication, and negotiation) but they only provide short term solutions.  The most effective method for conflict resolution is to use proactive methods (mediation, resolution and transformation) because they are outward looking and address the root causes of conflict.

Many times we say we want peace but we rarely act to work towards peace or we do not know how to achieve it.  To attain peace we should practice active peace.  Active peace is the process of understanding, co-operation, transforming and solving. 

Conflict Management and Resolution Styles  

1) Force: Force is a violent way of conflict management where the view of the other party is accepted by the other one by force (parents and children, teachers and students, boss and an employee etc.)

2) Adjudication: This is where the conflicting parties go to the third party to resolve their problem and abide by the decision of the third party due to his judicial or legal powers.  He can force the two parties to comply with his decision (LCs, police, and court of law).

3) Arbitration: This is whereby the two conflicting parties choose the third party to solve their problems.  They will abide by the decision of the third party because of his social status (religion leaders, community leaders, elders, etc)

4) Negotiation:  This is where no third party is involved; the two parties in conflict tend to work out their differences by themselves. This depends on perceived power or status of the parties; these can work well if the parties have equal power and status.

5) Mediation:  This is a method of conflict resolution where the two parties in conflict are assisted by the third party who is neutral to reach an agreement.  The third party does not judge or censor on behalf of any of the two parties, he only helps them to reach a solution.

6) Resolution:  This is when the two conflicting parties attempt to solve their problems; in such a way that new constructive relationships are built after the problem is resolved.

7) Transformation: This is the highest level of conflict resolution where the two parties involved in conflict choose to build a new and permanent relationship; the decision is taken from the bottom of their hearts and minds. 

Why we need governments.

Many times have I said that the people do in fact rule the world.  I have also stated many times that half the world is insane and at least, a quarter of the world is filled by uncaring, selfish, paranoid, power hungry individuals. With this combination we need to provide a system that can offer some sort of organizing factor.  Basically we need government to deal with all the assholes in society.  These people will do everything they can to be at the top of whatever ladder they feel a need to be atop.  In order to help control the assholes, society must build some sort of system. 

If you wanted a simple explanation of why governments are needed that is it.  Then the reality of that explanation comes into play.  The asshole that will do anything to get to the top will seek the top and give government a bad image.  As we sit here today that image is well polished as many a self - serving asshole has killed, robbed and spread fear to gain power, then retained it.

No matter what situation we look at the above statement can be applied – Syria, Egypt, DRC, Italy, Columbia, Canada, Russia, RUSA etc.  You may wonder why Canada is there; well the current government has shut down parliament twice in the past five years.  Not all that crazy compared to Egypt, Libya, DRC or Columbia but Canada is a slippery slope example.  However, other situations are more violent and the need for a more peaceful government is far greater than what Canada’s needs are.

From one atrocity to another, that has been the way life moves along in the Democratic Republic of Congo and we may see it rise again during the next elections.

At the beginning of November, opposition party rallies were violently broken up.  Vote buying is rampant, as the election draws near, 28 Nov 2011.  In the Eastern provinces of Kivu where much of the current violence take place, a known war criminal stands for election.   

Elections are a perfect time for cover ups due to the frenzy of excitement.  Even though communication around the world increases every day, the media is easily distracted and can be played like chess pieces.  Even more important is that the population of the world is tired of such reports, especially when Syria is on the verge of all out civil war.

The DRC is an important link to peace on the African continent.  The people can only dream of a day where peace was the normal way of life.  Even though most of us are not citizens of the DRC, the people there have endured a hellish world and we need to help them regain their country through peace.  Someday a child in the DRC will live without the chaos of violence.

NO MORE WEAPONS

"Violence breeds violence. Now, unfortunately, Syria has come to a point of no return," as stated by Turkish President Abdullah Gul.  Certainly Syria is in a mess due to poor conflict management skills of both the government and the people.  The way forward will not go without many more deaths and for how long is unknown as well. 

In such circumstances the main goal is to end the chaos as soon as possible.  Shooting people and shouting threats will solve nothing here.  One side will have to do the unthinkable - be wise.  On another front of the Syrian situation we have the global response to deal with.

There is no shortage of leaders uttering statements about how to end the violence in Syria.  In an effort to help, governments discuss sanctions being levelled against Syria.  Putting sanctions on a country has a debateable impact and is often seen as being harmful to the average citizen more so than the governing party.  In theory sanctions are there to harm a country and they do yet why would a leader that is shooting civilians care if they starve?  That is the debate on sanctions.

Going further into the unrest in Syria, there is a regional concern.  This area where Syria lives has been a volatile environment for decades.  There are so many unknowns, such as Palestine, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Israel and Egypt.  Then of course just to add a nice flair of turmoil the two Mediterranean countries of Italy and Greece are not to stable as they sit on an edge as well. 

Out of all this chaos there needs to be a voice of unity, peace, hope and common understanding.  Right now there is no one and that is disturbing, in fact there has been no such person for decades.  The people of this region have lived through enough chaos but the leaders have not.  Of course the leaders do not have to live in the chaos of poverty, bullets, tear gas, starvation and to be voiceless. 

As I write this I know what it will take to solve these issues but I also know that the leaders of the world do not have the courage, nor the stamina to ensure peace for the people of this region.  The leaders themselves are stuck in rhetoric, revenge, pride and violence.  These are dangerous elements in which civilians pay heavily for. 

We need a mantra to go around the world “NO MORE WEAPONS"

Impact of corruption on USSR

We are living the impact of what corruption brings.  The European Union is at the verge of collapse, China owns the Republic of the United States of America (RUSA), people are in the process of governmental purging – all due to corruption, waste, mismanagement and poor leadership in Syria, Yemen, Libya, Tunisia and Egypt.  The Occupy movement is making a stand but needs to regroup.  Perhaps the Occupy movement should pool their entire resources and purchase a multinational corporation.  Aside from that the complete picture of corruption around the world is showing its face.

The current situation makes me think of the USSR during the 1980’s.  The level of corruption and mismanagement was so bad that the politicians at the time felt it necessary to close the doors on the USSR and open up as Russia, thus came Glasnost and Perestroika. 

During the 1990’s I paid a great deal of time and focus in Russian history.  Mostly because I felt that the people of Russia and Canada formed a bold and daring relationship, starting in 1972.  Also the friendship was enriched through diplomatic avenues.  Furthermore, I was impressed with the courage that the Russian people exuded to embrace realities they saw during the 1980’s.

Now the issue of the cold war will always be linked to glasnost as it should because the Russian leaders knew that the world was dead if things continued without change.  Knowing that there was going to be no honest co-operation from the RUSA, acting unilaterally, Russia set out to build a more peaceful world.  They began by telling the world that the cold war pursuits were insane.  Then they looked internally to the realities within their country. 

Politicians were blinded by realities of infighting and personal goals within the USSR.  These two components ripped the fabric of any cause for unity within the governing system of the USSR.  A whole sale change was needed to end the corruption and so it began.  A courageous step into the unknown, which is still being worked out.  A greater act of peace is difficult to find.

Africa? What next?

It is always a desire that we learn from the past.  As we move along there will be situations that arise in which circumstances remind us of past mistakes.  I have recently come across some futurist writing about politics on the African continent.  I find these futurist writings to be a bit of conspiracy theory but there is always a piece of truth to be had.  What I was reading made me think of what Africa was like during 1920's and continuing into the 1990's, is that going to return?  This is my futurist/conspiracy thought now:

The permanent five (Russia, Britian, France, China and USA* I think we should start using the moniker RUSA because it is really the Republic of the United States of America thus RUSA) are heading down a path for more proxy wars on the African continent.  Not that either country is fully aware of doing so but I think it will be a situation that will morph into such a situation - if we do not stop history from repeating itself. 

Of the five, Britain and RUSA have been fighting really tough wars since 2002.  France and Russia have been engaged in wars with Russia more so and are good for more.  China has not really been all that active outside it own borders but may step into a proxy war.  Also, China and India have been increasing their economic impact on the African continent for the past decade.  Why would such proxy wars take place?

The world economy is not good and may get worse.  War has been a staple of economic improvement theory since 1945 with the industrial complex.  Furthermore there has been no clear winner in Iraq or Afghanistan and the steam from that ego hit must be released somehow.  Chechnya along with the tense situation with Georgia that Russia is dealing with is far from over. China has a growing middle class and at some point they are going to seek higher pay.  That will drive costs up and there will need to be cheap labour.  Cheap labour, oil, resources, arms trade, market share and power struggles are all part of this intricate dance being played out.

Of course these are just crazy thoughts of possible realities.  I pray that none of this is even remotely accurate.

Dark days are ahead. More and more African societies are deeply divided internally. Africans need to reflect on the fall of Gaddafi and, before him, that of Gbagbo in Cote d'Ivoire. Will these events usher in an era of external interventions, each welcomed internally as a mechanism to ensure a change of political leadership in one country after another?

One thing should be clear: those interested in keeping external intervention at bay need to concentrate their attention and energies on internal reform.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/08/201182812377546414.html