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Nonviolence as Transformation
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Dear Friends of Peace and Nonviolence,
University of Rhode Island President David Dooley recently released a video message articulating a powerful new vision that sets forth URI's Transformational Goals for the 21st Century. Embodied in his message are the priorities of international collaboration and community built on the strengths of diversity. We believe that the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies is well-positioned to embrace these priorities through our continued emphasis on internationalizing nonviolence and through our growing global beloved community comprised of the diverse network of trainers we have across the US and around the world.
In this issue you will find evidence of how the Center has been working to promote diversity and how nonviolence has been recognized again as a foundational and powerful force guiding social change movements.
These stories and events are just a sample of the Center's activities and contributions to the "transformational" goals established for URI. There are many more stories to be told. I invited you to share your story and to help us document the accomplishments of the nonviolence trainers from our Center, whether they are occupying Oakland, developing youth in Ghana, or constitution-building in Nepal.
Peacefully,
Paul Bueno de Mesquita Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies University of Rhode Island
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Nonviolence Takes Root on Wall St. and Around the World
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Starting in December of 2010, hundreds of thousands of citizens took to the streets in countries like Tunisia, Yemen, and Egypt. In what became known as the Arab Spring
, protestors from all walks of life revolutionized the Arab World with nonviolent demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience. Now, New York'ers are trying their hand at the transformative powers of nonviolence. A group that has grown in number from the hundreds to thousands has stationed themselves on Wall St. for over a month, protesting corporate involvement in U.S. government and the uneven distribution of wealth. They call themselves "Occupy Wall. St." Dozens of branches of the Occupy Movement have sprouted up in cities around the country, and the world.
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*Note: The opinions and ideas expressed by individuals involved with these movements are independent and do not necessarily represent the intent, opinion, or official statement of The Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies or any company or organization.*
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Where Are They Now? Occupying: Trainers' Perspectives
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Jonathan Lewis, Ryan Alexander, and Kazu Haga are just a few of our Kingian Nonviolence Trainers who have become involved with nonviolent direct actions in different branches of the national Occupy Wall St. movement.
Level II Trainer, Jonathan Lewis, led an introductory nonviolence training workshop for the local "Occupy" branch, Occupy Providence. He has been active in both the Proidence branch, and the original Occupy Wall St. demonstations. You can see Jonathan, above, in front of a camp on Wall St.
Ryan Alexander, also a Level II Trainer, has become active in the Occupy Philly movement. He is planning Kingian Nonviolence workshops for members of the Occupy Philly group. Read more on Ryan's perspective, here:
Read More: "Ryan Alexander: Kingian Nonviolence at Occupy Philidelphia"
Kazu Haga also recieved his Level I & II training at URI. Now he trains all around the country, but is particularly active in his own neighborhood in Oakland, CA. Kazu has been offering his expertise in nonviolent reconciliation to Occupy Oakland. Read more about his experience with the movement, and his perspective on, the need for nonviolence education:
Read More: "Oakland Occupation Underway: Kazu Haga’s Observations"
and his latest piece:
Read More: “More Random Thoughts on the Occupy Movement”
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Laura Baracaldo: Temas Familiares Conference
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Level II Kingian Nonviolence Trainer, Laura Baracaldo, of Colombia, represented the Center at a recent conference in Providence, RI addressing issues related to families and parenting. The Temas Familiares Conference offered a full day of workshops to parents, teens, teachers, and childcare providers, focusing on practical advice for raising children. Ms. Baracaldo delived a workshop entitled, "Resolviendo Problemas en el Hogar" (Resolving Problems in the Home). In addition to Kingian Nonviolence Principles, her workshop provided information from the Guía Para la Familia de Segundo Paso
, a violence prevention curriculum by the Committee for Children, a Seattle-based organization.
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URI Diversity Week:“Using Spoken Word, Music, & Art to Promote Nonviolence”
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The Center was pleased to take part in several events as a part of the annual URI Diversity Week, hosted by the Multicultural Center. Level I Kingian Nonviolence Trainer and URI Professor Dr. Diane Kern co-led the "Using Spoken Word, Music, & Art" program with Center Director Dr. Paul Bueno de Mesquita and Trainer, Professor, and Center Collaborator Kay Johnson. The event featured local spoken word artist and activist Rudy "Rudacious" Cabrera, who joined us to perform some of his pertinent pieces.
Learn more about this event, and Diane's perspective, by reading this article written by URI journalism student, Kou Nyan:
Read More: Interview with Professor Diane Kern on Diversity and Nonviolence
We were also delighted to invite Rudy, along with musicians and performers Level II Kingian Nonviolence Trainer "Miss Lori" LeChien, of Tucson, AZ, and Level I Kingian Nonviolence Trainer Kalyana "5th Element" Champlain, of Providence, RI, to speak and present at our Raise your Voice: Spoken Word, Hip Hop, and Music program.
Read more about Rudy, and his perspective, by reading this article written by URI journalism student, Kou Nyan:
Read More: Rudy Cabrera: On Peace Within and Spoken Word
See photos from Diversity Week Here:
See More...
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Nonviolence Scholarships
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The Center is pleased to offer three scholarships for URI Students and Summer Institute participants interested in the study of nonviolence and social justice: The Bruce Tancrell Memorial Scholarship for Nonviolence Training and Peace Education, The Art Stein Scholarship for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, and The Stephen Myles Scholarship for Social Justice. Learn more about our scholarships and the 2010/2011 recipients!
Read More...
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Gandhi Essay Contest Prompt Announced
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Our 2nd Annual 8th Grade Gandhi Essay Contest prompt has been announced! All 8th Grade (and home school) students in RI are eligible to particpate. Prompt:
Gandhi brought his wife and children from India to South Africa in 1898 on a ship called the Courland. A crowd of white South Africans protested the ship's arrival and threatened violence to the dark-skinned immigrant passengers. When Gandhi disembarked, he was surrounded and violently attacked by the angry mob threatening to lynch him. He narrowly escaped and when asked to identify his attackers, so that they could be arrested and punished, Gandhi refused. Throughout his life Gandhi chose love and truth over violence, never retaliating with violence against his attackers. Gandhi was once reported to have said, "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind."
Write a personal essay in which you explain what you think gandhi meant by the quote, "An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind." Also, discuss how you think this saying has meaning for our world today. Describe examples of what you have done or what you could do to make the world a better place, following Gandhi's philosophy of nonviolence.
For more information and the contest guidelines:
Read More...
Visit our Facebook album to see photos from last year's winners:
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Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial
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"Thousands of people gathered at dawn Sunday to give the new Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial a proper dedication on the National Mall after its opening in August. Aretha Franklin, poet Nikki Giovanni and President Barack Obama [were] among those honoring the legacy of the nation's foremost civil rights leader," Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "The sculpture of King with his arms crossed appears to emerge from a stone extracted from a mountain. It was carved by Chinese artist Lei Yixin. The design was inspired by a line from the famous 'I Have a Dream' speech in 1963: 'Out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope.'"
Read More: Thousands Gather For MLK Dedication
Rep. John Lewis, a prominient Civil Rights student leader, friend of MLK, and the last surviving speaker at the March on Washington, reflected on the dedication of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial with CNN.
Read More: Rep. Lewis reflects on MLK’s impact
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International Day of Peace Celebrations
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On September 21st the Center joined the Student Nonviolence Involvement Committe and the URI GSA in celebrating the International Day of Peace by giving Free Hugs for World Peace and making Peace Flags with the Peace Flag Project on the URI quad. Participants were encouraged to make a pledge of peace by having their photographs taken with an "I Stand for Peace" sign. To the right, you can see URI President Dooley with members of the Student Nonviolence Involvement Committee who stand for peace! The festivities on the quad were followed by a candlelit vigil and a free screening of Jeremy's Gilley's "Peace One Day"- a film about his journey to make an internationall recognized Day of Peace. See pictures from this event on our Facebook Album by clicking below! (*Note: You do not need a Facebook account to view these photos.)
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International Day of Nonviolence Celebrations: Gandhi's Birthday
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Still energized from the fun that was had celebrating the International Day of Peace, the Center and the Student Nonviolence Involvement Committee organized a Gandhi Birthday Party for October 2nd, the International Day of Nonviolence. The party was hosted by our friends at the Rainbow Diversity House. The celebration of Gandhi's birthday is a national holiday in India, known as Gandhi Jayanti. He is recognized around the world for his momentous contributions to the promotion of nonviolence and civil disobedience. Members from the URI and local community gathered at the D-house to celebrate the great leader by sharing an Indian meal, some music, peace flag making, and reflections on Gandhi and the International Day of Nonviolence. See pictures from this event on our Facebook Album by clicking below! (*Note: You do not need a Facebook account to view these photos.)
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South East Civil Rights Tour
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Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., The Ira and Mary Zepp Center for Nonviolence and Peace Education, and Dr. Charlie Collyer and Dr. Pam Zappardino are pleased to present the South East Historical & Education Civil Rights Tour! This 3-day bus tour, lead by Dr. Bernard LaFayette, Jr., offers participants the opportunity to hear about the history of Southern Civil Rights sites from someone who was there, first hand. The trip will start in Atlanta Georgia, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthplace, pass through Mississippi and Parchman Prison, where many Freedom Rider's were jailed, and culminate in a tour of the National Civil Rights Museum in Tennessee.
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