Non-violence, find peace - World Peace Society of Australia

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen - Winston Churchill

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Non-violence, find peace - World Peace Society of Australia

Former President Nelson Mandela called President Bush arrogant and shortsighted and implied that he was racist for ignoring the United Nations in his zeal to attack Iraq.

In a speech on Thursday (30/1/03), Mandela urged the people of the United States to join massive protests against Bush. Mandela called on world leaders, especially those with vetoes in the U.N. Security Council, to oppose him.

"One power with a president who has no foresight and cannot think properly, is now wanting to plunge the world into a holocaust," Mandela told the International Women's Forum.

"Why is the United States behaving so arrogantly?" he asked. "All that (Bush) wants is Iraqi oil," he said.

Mandela said the United Nations was the main reason there has been no World War III and it should make the decisions on how to deal with Iraq.

He said that the United States, which callously dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has no moral authority to police the world.

He said Bush was "trying to bring about carnage" and appealed to the American people to vote him out of office and demonstrate against his policies.

He also condemned Blair for his strong support of the United States. "He is the foreign minister of the United States. He is no longer prime minister of Britain," he said.

Salon.com

Founder Director M.K.Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence

“When in despair I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won; there have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall.” M.K. Gandhi Understandably, after the tragedy in New York and Washington DC on September 11 many have written or called the office to find out what would be an appropriate nonviolent response to such an unbelievably inhuman act of violence. First, we must understand that nonviolence is not a strategy that we can use in times of peace and discard in a moment of crisis. Nonviolence is about personal attitudes, about becoming the change we wish to see in the world. Because, a nation’s collective attitude is based on the attitude of the individual. Nonviolence is about building positive relationships with all human beings – relationships that are based on love, compassion, respect, understanding and appreciation.

read the full statement from the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence...

Non-violence, find peace - World Peace Society of Australia

The Pope expressed confidence that "in this time of trial all Americans will find their religious faith a source of renewed hope and the impetus for an ever more determined resolve to reject the ways of hatred and violence." He urged them to remember "the Gospel injunction . . . to conquer evil with good."

Washington Post

Non-violence, find peace - World Peace Society of Australia

"While expressing my sympathy, I said to the president that using violence may not be appropriate," the Dalai Lama wrote in a letter to US President George W Bush.

"Any problem within humanity should be solved in a humanitarian way and ahimsa (non-violence) is the human way of approaching a target," he told reporters in Calcutta.

While stressing that the essence of all major religions was forgiveness and brotherhood, he said, "There are people who use religion, but blaming a particular religion will not be appropriate."

"It is wrong to describe it as an act by Muslim terrorists. Because, I think all religions have the same potential to strengthen human values and to develop general harmony," he said.

"In this case the enemy is invisible and picking just one individual is difficult," the Dalai Lama said while emphasising the need to take 'a more wider perspective'.

"These things are a concern for humanity and not just one country," he said adding non-violence as a long-term measure should be explored to control terrorism of any kind.

On the causes that might be behind the terrorist strikes, he said "It could have a basis in 18th or 19th century decisions or colonial rules in the past or even economic factors like WTO or GATT."

Statement authorized by:

Jeremy Jones - National Vice-President, Executive Council of Australian Jewry

Amjad Ali Mehboob - Chief Executive Officer, Australian Federation of Islamic Councils

David Gill - General Secretary, National Council of Churches in Australia

A TIME TO STAND TOGETHER

A CALL BY JEWISH, MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN AUSTRALIA

(14 September 2001)

Christians, Jews and Muslims in Australia share the world’s horror at the tragic loss of life resulting from terrorism in New York and Washington. Together we mourn for the victims and griever with those whose loss is so great.

This is a time for Australians of all faith and of none; the tragedy should provoke a new affirmation of our shared commitment to peace and human dignity. We call on members of our three faith communities to respond to the terrible events by strengthening the ties of faith and mutual respect that binds us together.

Our compassion for the victims and our horror at the inhumane deeds must not become an excuse for hatred or bigotry or be exploited by those who seek to divide us on the basis of religion or ethnic origin.

Together we call on our people to respond to the evil by uniting, as Australian and human beings, in reaffirming respect for life, for human rights, for peace and for justice.

As people of all faith we pray for peace and call on world leaders to respond to this tragedy seeking justice, not revenge.

May the beneficent God protect us all.


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