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Ten bases for a culture of peace

1. Satisfaction of basic human necessities - including not only material needs, but also those which are political, social, juridical, cultural, etc.

2. Education for change - promoting values which guide people's actions in daily practice.

3. Freedom from myths - especially the myths and symbols which prevent people from taking personal responsibility for the future.

4. Demilitarization of defense - recognizing that the solution of conflicts does not necessarily require military force.

5. Demystification of threats - recognizing that others are not necessarily our enemies.

6. Feminization of culture - replacing the war system which is characterized by male dominated social hierarchy and authority.

7. Disobedience as a virtue - not in the form of irresponsibility but a critical consciousness engaged in the resolution of conflicts.

8. Respect for cultural identity - reversing the effects of imperialist and colonial policies and avoiding any tendency to impose a universal culture.

9. Overcoming the logic of blocs such as the East West conflict accepting a world of pluralism, diversity and tolerance.

10. Empowerment of the small - the people in the face of the state, human rights in the fact of 'state security' - making possible the encounter of the human being with his surroundings in equilibrium and freedom from oppression.

From: Defense Alternatives and Culture of Peace, by Vicenc Fisas of the UNESCO Centre of Catalunya.



The Canadian Association of UNESCO Clubs presented to the Congress a list of Club activities contributing to peace. These include:

* poetry, music and the exchange of educational toys for war toys;

* youth meetings from various cultures and between nations;

* friendship between sports teams to promote peace;

* days of reflection for youth;

* peace education including mobile peace schools;

* international youth festivals - 'Dialogue of cultures for peace';

* national reconciliation forums.

The French Federation of UNESCO Clubs dedicated their annual study conference in 1994 to the theme 'UNESCO for a Culture of Peace' and received a representative of the Culture of Peace Programme. In 1995 the French Clubs, largely composed of students, have initiated a number of actions contributing to the International Year for Tolerance.
There are UNESCO Centres in many European countries. While all of them are engaged in actions contributing to a culture of peace through such initiatives as the International Year for Tolerance, the UNESCO Centre of Catalunya in Barcelona, Spain, has been especially active. Vicen� Fisas, a specialist at the Centre, has recently published a book, Defense Alternatives and Culture of Peace, an excerpt of which is reprinted here.

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