CALLS FOR JUSTICE AND RESTRAINT + ALTERNATIVES
Let's bring our voices “above the web”

The Hague Appeal for Peace has launched an international campaign to collect the statements, articles, letters, and expressions of justice and restraint that call for an alternative approach in our common fight against terrorism.
We believe that when public opinion is really asked it will demonstrate that there is no blank check for unlimited bombing which contributes to the loss
of more innocent lives.

The Hague Appeal for Peace is calling on all civil society organizations, academia, lawyers and other experts, as well as students and youth activists, to raise their voices for legal, social and economic justice in
the fight against terrorism and the networks of terrorists. Terrorists have and continue to commit crimes against humanity. They must be located through
international police actions working with the United Nations and brought before international tribunals.

One way to prevent future heinous acts of terror is to address the root causes of terrorism. Anger and hatred due to severe inequities leads to self sacrificing behaviour. We call on public opinion, in keeping with the Hague
Agenda for Peace and Justice for the 21st Century, a 50 point program for moving from a culture of violence to a culture of peace, to make their views known to their governments, their media, and to each other.

We are looking for what teachers and preachers have been saying and doing. We are eager to see what lawyers have been saying and doing with regards to alternative solutions applying international law.

Staff in the Geneva, Hague and New York offices of the Hague Appeal for Peace will gather these expressions and post them on our website, www.haguepeace.org, develop materials, circulate information, and commit the
next two months to a global outreach campaign that refuses to give a blank check for continued bombing. The expressions will be part of a media effort
to mainstream voices of dissent and to offer other solutions.

Attached is our statement issued on September 13, 2001, two days following the horrendous attack on the World Trade Center. The Hague Appeal for Peace is a global network committed to sowing the seeds for the abolition of war and to peace as a human right. It held the largest
peace conference in history on the centennial of the world's first peace congress, in The Hague, The Netherlands in May, l999. Our programs include
the Global Campaign for Peace Education coordinated by Meg Gardinier in the NY office; a draft effort to introduce an Individual Complaints Procedure in international humanitarian law, coordinated by Cecilia Nilsson in our Hague office and our youth organizing coordinated by Olivia Martin in our Geneva office. The collection of expressions calling for justice and restraint is
organized by students from Columbia University Law School in New York City. They will bring voices of reason, news of actions “above the web” to be reported in mainstream media.

· Please send your thoughts, statements and action ideas to olivia@ipb.org
or fax: +41 22 738 94 19
· Please include your full name along with an email address and/or other contact information
· Please forward this request to others whom you know have something to contribute on the subject.

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JUSTICE NOT WAR
September 11, the UN International Day of Peace, Anniversary of the Camp
David Agreement, mayoral elections in New York City, became instead the worst day of murder and terror the US has ever known. To the families and friends of those killed, missing, wounded or traumatized, we extend our
loving sympathy. We urge that those responsible for these heinous crimes be brought to justice in courts of law or before an international tribunal.

"The Hague Appeal for Peace urges the US administration to use the greatest possible restraint. It should give careful consideration to the response: an eye for an eye only leads to blindness," said Cora Weiss, president. "Numbers have led to names. We call for a
national day of healing. It is dangerous to call terrorism by non state actors, no matter how horrendous, an act of war that triggers a war like reaction," she added.

This past century started with a war and the new century is starting with war talk. In between humanity has learned a great deal about conflict prevention and resolution. We have seen that acts of violence and terror tend to beget further violence. We fear the political and military
consequences of this murderous terrorism.
We must guard our liberty and not allow fear to restrict our hard-won freedoms. We must not allow the atmosphere of hatred to justify acts of war against unidentified enemies. We cherish the force of law, not the law of
force. While we support and work at healing and holding the mourners in our thoughts, we must consider the problems that lead to this madness...issues
of the economic gap between north and south; between the Muslim and the western world ; the gap between people of color and white people; and caused by the misallocation of resources with its resulting inequity between funds
designated for health and education and the $1 trillion allocated world wide for the military. Finally, we must look at the gap between men and women
that leaves only men at the tables of negotiation, and make successful efforts to include women at every table where the fate of humanity is at stake.

We urge Mr. Peres and Mr. Arafat to sit together immediately; we urge people of conscience to make every effort to set tables for those who are in conflict, and to facilitate those meetings; we urge all teachers and school
principals to institute peace education as an integral part of their primary and secondary curricula; we urge the US to support the International Criminal Court in prosecuting crimes against humanity, war crimes and
genocide. We urge the US to respect and work with and through the United Nations, including the anti terrorism conventions which the US has so far refused to join, as it works at solutions to this and other problems of
violence in the world.

So, things are good.
In the last few months I have come to realize many things. You know when things just come together all of a sudden, and even though you have been striving to get to that point for a long time, you are suprised when you do?
So for quite some time I have been trying to better the world and myself by focusing on the shortcomings and problems and searching for the solutions. But I have realized that the better way is to focus on the strengths that exist and let those work to cure the ills. It is a simple method, but it works so well through a very natural process. I am feeling much freer to move, to live and to be. Its wonderful.
Thanks for reading :)
Oh ya, and last night I got to see an 8 month old tiger!! He was 5 feet long already and the most powerful and majestic creature I have ever seen! The World Wild Life Fund had rescued him from unsuitable owners and now they are working with the local zoo to assure that he has the best life possible for an animal in capitivity.
What an amazing site!

The opportunities are endless!
Here are a few ways you can help keep things running smoothly!

Online
• Jump on the TIG website and start commenting on discussions, updates and articles; challenge people; see if you can make links between members and tell them about it!
• Make sure your profile and updates page reflect what you are doing today!
• Research organizations, events and scholarships available for TIG members and submit them.
• Search for the logos to add to the organizations currently in the database.
• Research grants and funding companies and organizations that may fit with TIG’s mission and vision.
• Write an article about something you love and post it online.
• Research something you are interested in, write a summary and post it online.
• Interview staff or members from around the world and post it online.
• Help with data-entry.
• Plan a workshop!


Offline
• Work on a new piece of art for the Global Gallery.
• Think about ways new members can get involved with TIG, share the ideas with TIG members.
• Design a cool banner for TIG, for promotion or for decoration.
• Think about your work within your community and with TIG, how could your experience help other members working in their communities?
• Ask staff and members if you can help them with anything they are doing.
• Help translate the website and other TIG material.

Check out the Volunteer Program online!!!

A Leading Role for the Security Council

New York Times
October 21, 2001

By MIKHAIL S. GORBACHEV


MOSCOW ‹ In the past month, the world has witnessed something previously unknown: a common stand taken by America, Russia, Europe, India, China, Cuba, most of the Islamic world and numerous other regions and countries. Despite many serious differences between them, they united to save civilization.

It is now the responsibility of the world community to transform the coalition against terrorism into a coalition for a peaceful world order. Let us not, as we did in the 1990's, miss the chance to build such an order.

Concepts like solidarity and helping third world countries to fight poverty and backwardness have disappeared from the political vocabulary. But if these concepts are not revived politically, the worst scenarios of a clash of civilizations could become reality.

I believe the United Nations Security Council should take the lead in fighting terrorism and in dealing with other global problems. All the main issues considered by the United Nations affect mankind's security. It is time to stop reviling the United Nations and get on with the work of adapting the institution to new tasks.

Concrete steps should include accelerated nuclear and chemical disarmament and control over the remaining stocks of dangerous substances, including chemical and biological agents. No amount of money is too much for that. I hope the United States will support the verification protocol of the convention banning biological weapons and ratify the treaty to prohibit all nuclear tests ‹ though both steps would reverse the Bush administration's current positions.

We should also heed those who have pointed out the negative consequences of globalization for hundreds of millions of people. Globalization cannot be stopped, but it can be made more humane and more balanced for those it affects.

If the battle against terrorism is limited to military operations, the world could be the loser. But if it becomes an integral part of common efforts to build a more just world order, everyone will win ‹ including those who now do not support American actions or the antiterrorism coalition. Those people, and they are many, should not all be branded as enemies.

Russia has shown its solidarity with America. President Vladimir Putin immediately sent a telegram to President Bush on Sept. 11 condemning the "inhuman act" of that day. Russia has been sharing information, coordinating positions with the West and with its neighbors, opening its air space, and providing humanitarian assistance to the Afghan people and weapons to the Northern Alliance.

This has been good policy. But we should bear in mind that both in the Russian establishment and among the people, reaction to it has been mixed. Some people are still prone to old ways of understanding the world and Russia's place in it. Others sincerely wonder whether the world's most powerful country should be bombing impoverished Afghanistan. Still others ask: We have supported America in its hour of need, but will it meet us halfway on issues important to us?

I am sure Russia will be a serious partner in fighting international terrorism. But equally, it is important that its voice be heard in building a new international order. If not, Russians could conclude that they have merely been used.

Irritants in American-Russian relations ‹ issues like missile defense and the admission of new members to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization ‹ will be addressed in due course, but they will be easier to solve once we have moved toward a new global agenda and a deeper partnership between our two countries.

Finally, it would be wrong to use the battle against terrorism to establish control over countries or regions. This would discredit the coalition and close off the prospect of transforming it into a powerful mechanism for building a peaceful world.

Turning the coalition against terror into an alliance that works to achieve a just international order would be a lasting memorial to the thousands of victims of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

Traveling to Slovakia to set up TakingITGlobal’s first International office was an amazing experience for all those involved. During the trip we were able to solidify the relationship between Canadian and Slovak youth, set up new partnerships and foster hope for a new generation of young people.

During the week of September 29th to October 6th, we were able to give 5 workshops to professors of architecture and technology, university, high-school and elementary school students, adults and other interested persons. The excitement and turn out for these workshops was overwhelming. The young people were especially excited to have the chance to listen to youth from Canada, speak to them about ways that they could get involved in positive community development. All the participants were eager to learn about TakingITGlobal and learn new technological skills.

As workshop facilitators we learned many new lessons about presenting workshops to new groups. We learned a lot of useful lessons that we will be able to apply to future workshops. For example, the language barrier was at first a major challenge to the delivery. But working with our translators, we were able to work with them to fully engage the participants. As a team, we learned to work together and pull from the expertise of the group. Presenting numerous workshops on TakingITGlobal, we were able to recognize the different points that resonated with certain groups of people.

Traveling to Slovakia solidified our relationship with SCEI and with the TakingITGlobal Slovakia team. It was an invaluable experience that none of us will ever forget. Many of the young people involved with the initiative are very eager to travel to Canada to work with the TakingITGlobal team here. Numerous youth from Slovakia have spoken with each of us individually to express their deepest thanks for our efforts. We definitely achieved our goal of inspiring, informing and involving Slovakian youth and the participants of From a Global Village to a Global Net!

i just got 2 small plants for my desk, they are so cute and they make me happy.
with everything that has been happening in the world lately i have been more concerned with our earth. it has been speaking to us for so long, quietly demanding that we take notice of the damage we are doing. Instead, we focus on invented problems between groups of humans. These problems are so meaningless and cause so much suffering for the earth and for humans. The true meaning of our existance seems so simple and apparent, yet we blindly ignore our purpose. I am almost excited for the day that mother earth overthrows these human parasites. That may sound harsh, but it is so very true. We destory everthing in our path, leaving nothing pure. When will we open our eyes and see the truth about our existance? There are so many people who are working so hard for positve change and at times it feels like we are getting somewhere and at times it feels like we are getting no where. How much time do we really have though?
Please take the time, EVERY DAY to do somehting kind for the earth. Take the time, put out the positive energey, make an effort. Thanks :)

Derek and I gave a mini-workshop to youth representatives from the YMCA last night. They are holding a forum called Peace by Peice on November 15th from 6:30 to 9:30 at the North York YMCA. They will be using Open Space Technology to explore the issues surrounding Prejudice that work to destroy our sense of peace and community. It sounds great and it is a perfect way to get involved in the peace movement. It is open to all young people.
Anyway the workshop went well, they seemed really open to new ideas and we had some really great discussions about open space and about youth and advisors in the Y.

so i am missing my travels through that beautiful little country. but its ok. derek and i are setting up to do a miny workshop tonight and it will be a lot easier because we have had so much practice lately. we will be working with the YMCA on their Peice by Peace project which is actually focused on Prejudice, go figure.
Otherwise I have been learning the Volunteer Program and trying to figure out some better ways to manage it. so if anyone out there has any brillaint suggestions let me know.
I have eaten way too many wine gums, blah. Thats what happens when you have a candy store around the corner.
gotta go
bye

This is Maya and I in Slovakia.
Maya, I miss you already!

I just returned from an amazing week in Slovakia. We were welcomed by the staff and students of the University of Architecture, the staff of SCEI and our new TIG Slovakia team! Each one of them gave generously of their time and knowledge to make sure that we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Not only did we have the chance to see the beautiful mountains and countryside in Slovakia, but we got the chance to meet hundreds of truly incredible people.
The TakingITGlobal team gave 5 workshops to children, students, adults, professors and the media. We worked closely with all of these people and were able to learn so much about ourselves and the benefits of a strong international community. It was so great! We had beautiful translators who translated these workshops from Slovak to English and from English to Slovak to Sign Language. It was such an incredible process and challenging to!
The TIG space in Kremnica is amazing, I wish you all could see it. It is the perfect space to encourage community and creativity. It showcases the rich history and culture of the town and highlights the amazing artwork of the local people.
I am so excited to begin to work with all these young people in Slovakia. It is a great opportunity to promote community at a time when examples peaceful, mutually beneficial partnerships are so needed in the world!
Thanks so much to everyone who helped make the trip so succesful!