The best bet to reunify the Korean Peninsula would be to adopt a peaceful approach, according to a recent study released by a leading think tank as the two Koreas undergo a historic warming of ties. The RAND Corporation, a U.S. government-funded research center based in California, published on Wednesday a rundown of “Alternative Paths to Reunification”.
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Four young women from the Global Peace Women Leadership Academy attended the 2018 International Young Leaders Assembly (IYLA) in Washington D.C. and New York City recently. Flying in from South Korea, Tanzania, Nepal, and Washington state, the women were selected by the women’s division of Global Peace Foundation for their unique grassroots projects that addressed local challenges with outstanding creativity and leadership.
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Can peace have a ripple effect?
Abiy Ahmed, the new prime minister of Ethiopia with a PhD in conflict resolution, certainly believes so.
In the six months since he took office as Africa’s youngest leader, Dr. Abiy has not only transformed the often-violent ethnic tensions of his own country with an approach he calls “love can win hearts,” he has also become a whirlwind diplomat in East Africa with an olive-branch touch.
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Assaad Chaftari is best-known in Lebanon for an open letter in 2000, in which he apologized for what he’d done with the Lebanese Forces, a prominent Christian militia responsible for its share of atrocities.
This has been followed by nearly twenty years of philanthropic work. Much of it has been in partnership with other former combatants, through the organisation Fighters for Peace. He has also been involved with a range of initiatives seeking to unblock social dialogue more broadly.
In this interview, Ian Quick from Rethink Fragility looks back at his experience and asks:
Rethink Fragility is an oral history of conflicts, crises, and the aid business. It is hosted by Ian D. Quick, an independent consultant and writer.
Photp: Rethink Fragility
The conflict that the Philippines has experienced for decades has intensified religious, ethnic, and political differences.
However, in the Upi municipality – where the population is 60 percent Teduray (an indigenous group), 25 percent Christian and 15 percent Muslim – each group is represented in the region’s government and they resolve disputes in a local council.
“The council created is composed of the tri-people,” said Mario Debolgado, Upi Civil Society Council President.
“Two are from the IP [Indigenous Peoples] elders, two from the Christian elders, and another two Muslim elders.” Religious and ethnic tolerance is key in peacebuilding here, and public programs begin with a prayer from each group.
Mona Inog, a Muslim resident, said her family lived has lived in the region for 20 years and that her neighbors look out for each other regardless of their differences.
“Our neighborhood consists of different religions, that household is Christian, while the house right here is a Teduray, and at the back are Muslim households,” Ms Inog said.
“Here in our community we help one another in times of problems and more importantly, we respect each other. Whenever we have “kanduli” or parties, we invite our neighbors and eat together.”
Teduray resident Mary Jane Timuay agrees.
“It is impossible to make bad things against my neighbors because I have seen how good they have been to me, that is why there are no conflicts here,” Ms Timuay said.
Tolerance has also ensured income for families in the region, with local market vendors supporting each other.
“We are from different tribes here in this market, there are Ilongos, Ilocanos, Muslims, Tedurays,” said Christian market vendor Aurelio Tagaygayatan.
“Whenever we run out of products like rice, soft drinks and coffee we get them from their stores. They also get products from us if they run out of them,” said Mr Tagaygayatan.
Teduray market vendor Alvin Kulafu is new to the region and opened at the market seven months ago. He admitted he was nervous about divisions between communities.
“It was hard for me at first because I do not know the other vendors here and I worried about how to get along with them,” Mr Kulafu said.
“I think as long as we do not disturb each other’s business and we maintain a good relationship and camaraderie with each other, it will be alright.”
Residents hope they can be an example for their country, and the world.
Peace News Network aims to present stories from conflict zones we often don’t hear. Our stories are about people taking risks for peace. We highlight the opinions of ordinary people who want non-violent solutions to their political differences. Our stories aren't always about shootings and explosions, but they do tell you stories from war zones that hopefully go some way towards building trust and reconciliation.
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