THE CRISIS AND OPPORTUNITY
Our regional, national and global societies are steeped in a culture of violence. We are emerging from the bloodiest century in recorded history, with an estimated 191 million people having lost their lives directly or indirectly as a result of conflicts around the globe. Our violence towards the environment has put our planet on the brink of disaster with global warming, species destruction and other ravages.
On every level, from the individual and interpersonal to the neighborhood and community to the international and ecological, the challenges are vast:
- In the US, homicide and suicide are the second and fourth leading causes of death among persons aged 1–19 years.
- Domestic violence remains the single greatest cause of injury to women nationally.
- Global arms sales have increased 45% since 1998 to over $1 trillion.
- Nearly 70% of biologists conclude that we have entered the sixth mass extinction – with the possible destruction of half of all species within the next 100 years.
Yet despite this picture, there are many rays of hope. On every level, from the individual to international, and every sector of society, from business to education and security, there have been stunning examples of breakthrough transformations of conflict and violence.
- The number of colleges and universities with peace and conflict resolution programs has grown from a handful in 1984 to several hundreds today.
- More and more businesses are embracing socially responsible and environmentally friendly practices.
- Interfaith groups are reaching out across dogmatic lines to focus on shared humanity.
- Military operations around the world are playing increasingly diverse roles in peacekeeping and community development.
- Youth-led initiatives are bringing about dramatic changes on grass-roots and international levels, as seen in the recent developments with the Arab Spring.
On the inner dimension of Peace, science and spirituality are finding common ground as personal peace practices such as meditation and yoga have become mainstream around the world and neuroscientists are documenting the positive effects of these ancient practices on the brain and general health.
Quietly, the different roots of Peace have been growing across the globe over the past few decades. The Summer of Peace 2012 will bring the vast array of different paths to Peace together under one umbrella to acknowledge, celebrate and accelerate this emerging Peace movement. Utilizing modern technology, especially social media, The Summer of Peace 2012 will create a global platform where the individual faces and voices of Peace can form a collective symphony of Peace. Together, this emerging wave of Peace can serve to inspire potentially millions of people with tangible ways to cultivate Peace in themselves and in their families, communities, country, world and with the natural environment.
The Summer of Peace 2012 seeks to serve as a catalyst to help humanity reach a tipping point where cooperative problem solving, rooted in inner Peace and compassion for others, becomes the norm. It is through this evolving culture of Peace that we can unleash the creativity of the human spirit to address global issues together.
