“The mission of Nonviolent
Peaceforce is to promote, develop and implement unarmed civilian
peacekeeping as a tool for reducing violence and protecting civilians in
situations of violent conflict.
We envision a world in which
large-scale unarmed civilian peacekeeping using proven nonviolent strategies is
recognized as a viable alternative in preventing, addressing, and mitigating
violent conflicts worldwide. Our primary strategy for achieving this vision is
the creation of space to foster dialogue.
We most often respond to
invitations by credible local organizations committed to nonviolent solutions.
Once invited, we meet key players, including commanders from opposing sides,
local police, religious, business, and civil society leaders. We live and work
in communities within conflict zones alongside local people.
When violence erupts,
civilians under threat often contact us. They know and trust us. We have been
living among them. Visibly nonpartisan and unarmed, we arrive in NP uniforms,
with NP vehicles, letting our presence be known. We build the confidence and
safety of civilians deeply affected by conflict so they can access available
structures and mechanisms for addressing problems and grievances.
Our activities have ranged
from entering active conflict zones to remove civilians in the crossfire to
providing opposing factions a safe space to negotiate. Other activities include
serving as a communication link between warring factions, securing safe
temporary housing for civilians displaced by war, providing violence prevention
measures during elections and negotiating the return of kidnapped family
members.”
Jorge Mario Bergoglio (now Pope Francis), washing feet.
.
I like
your Christ. I do not like your Christians.
Your
Christians are so unlike your Christ. (attributed to Mahatma Gandhi)
..
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on
his clothes and returned to his place.“Do you understand what I have done for you?”he asked them.“You call me ‘Teacher’and ‘Lord,’and rightly so,
for that is what I am.Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed
your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.I have set you an example that you should do as I
have done for you.Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than
his master,nor is a
messenger greater than the one who sent him.Now that you know these things, you will be
blessed if you do them. Jesus Christ, John 13: 14-15, NIV
