Resources for Learning More About Nonviolent Conflict

Ode magazine is a terrific resource that I subscribe to, and one that provides some great articles for my Nonviolence: Theory and Practice class. The full title of the magazine is Ode - For Intelligent Optimists, and it focuses on positive change being created by individuals and groups around the world. Many of the stories are quite inspiring, as well as being informative about issues. The July/August issue has a wonderful article called "Activism for Beginners," which profiles the success of a group called Invisible Children, which has focused on rescuing child soldiers in Uganda. Another good article in this issue is entitled "In Praise of Dissent," which is well worth reading and can provide some food for thought.


To get a sense of nonviolent conflicts going on throughout the world (many of which we don't hear about on our news here in the U.S.), check out the International Center on Nonviolent Conflict. Their website provides summaries of nonviolent movements and campaigns, past and present, as well as current news about nonviolent conflicts throughout the world. You can also subscribe to their News Digest via email. They also provide a great list of resources for more reading on the subject on nonviolent conflict.

A Message of Hope on September 11

As we reach another anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, we may find ourselves reflecting upon the horror of that day, mourning the lives that were lost or forever changed, remembering the heroic efforts of those who responded to the crisis, and contemplating how we can prevent such events from happening again in the future.

Some amazing articles that I've come across over the past couple days are worth sharing, as we try to put these events into perspective and figure out where to go from here.

A former student, Sheri Wander, wrote this incredible post on her blog, and notes that September 11 is also the anniversary of another significant event -- the start of Gandhi's system of nonviolent struggle, known as "satyagraha" (truth-force), which began on September 11, 1906. Sheri's reflections here are thoughtful, inspiring, and uplifting, and are definitely worth reading:

http://playfulspirit.wordpress.com/2010/09/11/how-i-will-honor-911-911-1906/


Another article I found inspirational is an Op-Ed piece from the New York Times from September 8, 2010, which talks about two 9/11 widows who channeled their grief and energies into helping widows in Afghanistan. They formed an organization called Beyond the 11th, focused on providing education and job opportunities to widows in Afghanistan, who often have no support systems, so that they could better care for themselves and their children, in hopes of helping to stop the cycle of poverty and hopelessness that can lead to violence. Their website also provides ideas for things that we can do as individuals to help with the cause.

For examples of courageous nonviolent actions and significant events throughout history, check out This Week in Peace History (or look at the entire year of peace history). There is a wealth of information here -- some of it well-known, some of it little known. Reading these examples each week can be both educational and inspirational. For each entry, there is a link to more information.

While the stories we hear on the news tend to focus on anger and hatred and violence, there are amazing people all over the world who dedicate their time and their energies to working for positive change. Today is a good day to recognize those people, and to think about the positive things that we can do to make the world a better place.

Using Technology

This week I've been exploring how others are using technology to promote change or to help build a better world. There are, of course, thousands of websites dedicated to various causes -- but how do they keep from getting lost in the shuffle? Some of my students have utilized Facebook to promote some of their causes, but often friends and family are the only ones that become fans or "like" their causes (and then never visit the page again). When it comes to promoting events, Facebook can be good at getting the word out, but people often post that they're attending events and never actually show up.

Blogs and podcasts are currently popular, and some have pretty strong followings. And -- believe it or not -- even Twitter can be used quite productively (for things other than finding out what some celebrity had for lunch today). Twitter is being used by social activists as a tool to keep people posted on critical events as they unfold, and to organize and mobilize people quickly.

I found a podcast series on iTunes called "Digital U: Social Media & Social Change," which explores how Facebook, Twitter and other social media can impact social change.

In exploring what types of educational materials were available online for teaching about conflict management and nonviolent change (besides iTunesU), I came across a site called LearnOutLoud.com that has a number of podcasts on a wide variety of subjects ranging from Arts & Entertainment to History to Politics to Science and everything in between. Some of the resources there are free, while others can be purchased. (If you just want the free stuff, you can click on a tab there labeled "Free Stuff.")

It was there that I found the Introduction to Nonviolence podcasts by Michael N. Nagler, which are recordings of his lectures during a semester course on nonviolent change. (Dr. Nagler wrote a book called "The Search for a Nonviolent Future" which I use for reference material for my Nonviolence class.)

A better site for accessing Dr. Nagler's class is at the Metta Center for Nonviolence which includes two of his courses, and provides the syllabus as well as some of the reading materials for each class. This site provides links to the podcasts through the UC Berkeley Webcast site, YouTube, and iTunes. Dr. Nagler also offers some additional podcasts on the topic of nonviolence through the Metta Center for Nonviolence.


Another university is also producing podcasts related to social change. Below is a link to some interesting podcasts that come out of the Stanford Center for Social Innovation:





So what are your thoughts on using social media for social change? What do you think are the most effective tools?

What Is Activism?

This topic was inspired by a discussion we have in my Nonviolence: Theory and Practice class about what activism really is. If you do a search for the definition of activism, you'll find a wide variety of answers to that question. Many of the definitions refer to activism as action that is "militant," or "aggressive," or "confrontational," something which tends to cause people to conclude that they not only are not activists, but they don't want to be! And yet, there are people who are able to make an immense impact on the world around them, by actively working to help to improve their communities or create positive change in a way that empowers people, and not necessarily in a militant way. In other words, there are as many ways to be an activist as there are people who want to create change. Simply put, activism is action that is taken to try to create change, and that can take many different forms. Sometimes it is militant and confrontational. Other times it is not. (Note: There is a difference, however, between charity and change, though sometimes the two go together. That can be thought of as the difference between giving a person a fish (charity) and feeding him for a day, and teaching them how to fish (change), which will feed them for a lifetime. Charity helps in the short term, but change is what can help in the long term.)

In exploring this question a bit further, I came across some clips from a 2008 film called "Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action." It is an award-winning film, with absolutely glowing reviews. One such review can be found at http://www.fiercelight.org/educational-review. I was so intrigued by the clips I saw that I ordered it, to see if it might be a good educational tool for stimulating discussion about activism.

The clip below is from from "Fierce Light: When Spirit Meets Action." This clip explores the question, "What is Activism?"

Welcome to My Blog Spot

So I am now entering into uncharted territory ... blogging. I have somewhat mixed feelings about that. There's something about things like blogging and tweeting and posting statuses on social networking sites that seems so ... egotistical. Not that I have any problem writing or talking about myself and things that interest me! It just seems a bit pretentious to think that one's goal these days is to have "followers." Guess I should check to make sure I have enough Kool-Aid on hand ...

At the same time, I think there's some value to sharing information and ideas, especially if one is trying to promote ideas that can help others in some way. Back in 1996, I created my own website, the "Odyssey of Infinite Possibilities," which was "dedicated to the development of human potential and the advancement of ideas, philosophies and actions for the betterment of society and humankind." Rather lofty goals, but admirable, I suppose. As I recall, the site had two main sections -- "Becoming Better People" and "Building a Better World", where I included extensive links to sites that I thought would help people to accomplish each of those goals. Among the keywords I used to describe the site was the phrase "pragmatic idealism," which is still how I would describe my approach to life, the universe and everything. (And yes, the answer is 42.) But over the years, I got busy, and no longer had time to maintain the site, and the free hosting services I was using disappeared or went on to pursue more lucrative business. I guess I see this blog as an opportunity to once again help promote the idea that we can indeed become better people, helping to build a better world.