6. Support World Peace And International Democracy
"Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free." - 14th Dalai Lama
We all know democracy is far from perfect and even those of us living in a democracy often feel we have little say as to what happens in our country. However, the democracy we do have is still better than the dictatorships many countries are still forced to live under. Not only is democracy fairer on the people living under it, it can also prevent poverty and even wars. Inter-national democracy is probably the most effective route to world peace!
Most wars are caused by personal grudges or the fascist views of dictators or terrorists. Citizens don’t want war – dictators do. Of the 353 wars be-tween 1816 and 1991, Professor Rudy J. Rummel found that 100% of the ‘international wars’ involved undemocratic countries. Democratic countries rarely go to war with one another.
Not only are dictators responsible for a lot of wars, they are also responsible for a huge amount of corruption, murder, genocide, poverty and repression. One of the major reasons for poverty is dictatorships. Many dictators are very wealthy while the citizens of their country are left with nothing. While Iraq was suffering from a huge famine in 1991, Saddam Hussein built yet more palaces in his honour and used money obtained from oil sales to buy weaponry instead of food. India has often suffered from poverty but since it became a democracy in 1947, they haven’t had a famine. National laws that ensure a minimum wage and free education all help to ensure wealth is shared among the people but there is no hope of laws like this until a country is a democracy.
What Can You Do?
If you live in a democracy, support these groups who work to help those fighting for democracy in their own countries.
Freedom House Open Society Institute
International Foundation for Election Systems National Endowment for Democracy
National Democratic Institute Democracy International Community of Democracies
Check out www.achieveworldpeace.co.uk for more ways to help.
7. Support Those Fighting For Democracy
Check out Amnesty International (www.amnesty.org.uk) to sign up to their action alerts to support those fighting for human rights and democracy in their countries.
8. Promote Non-Violent Resistance
Citizens of a dictatorship may often feel powerless, but no country or dictator-ship can run without them. This is why non-violent resistance is one of the most effective tools available to citizens in a dictatorship. Some citizens living in a dictatorship have used violence to escape the oppression they’re under but this has not proven as effective. As soon as violence is used by the op-pressed, this is used as an excuse for the oppressors to use violence against them and unfortunately, they usually have more resources available. In Uzbekistan in May 2005, protestors used force against the authorities and many were shot.
The army is made up of people no matter how formidable it may appear, and it’s harder for a person to shoot at innocent people protesting peacefully than people who are shooting at them. Non-violent resistance helped to democratise countries such as India, Georgia, Ukraine, Lebanon, Croatia, Serbia and Romania.
In fact, non-violent resistance has the power to stop wars altogether. Those who want wars are usually small terrorist groups or dictators and usually the majority will go along with their wishes through a mixture of manipulation and fear. If these people resisted, dictators and terrorist groups would soon have to give up with not enough power on their side.
Of course, non-violent resistance is tough. There are, however, an increasing number of groups who are there to support those using non-violent resistance against their oppressors (as mentioned in action 6). Gene Sharp has also produced a lot of documentation detailing strategies and tactics to use non-violent resistance as a way to overcome oppression.
Remember non-violent resistance when you need to overcome oppression and support groups who help those who are forced to use it in countries less fortunate.
“God has made different religions to suit different aspirations, times and countries. All doctrines are only so many paths; but a path is by no means God Himself. Indeed, one can reach God if one follows any of the paths with whole-hearted devotion. One may eat cake with icing either straight or side-wise. It will taste sweet either way…As one can ascend to the top of a house by means of a ladder or a bamboo or a staircase or a rope, so di-verse are the ways and means to approach God, and every religion in the world shows one of these ways…People in ignorance say “My religion is the only one, my religion is the best.” But when a heart is illuminated by true knowledge, it knows that above all these wars of sects and sectarians pre-sides the one indivisible, eternal, all-knowing bliss. As a mother, in nursing her sick children, gives rice and curry to one, and sago arrowroot to another, and bread and butter to a third, so the Lord has laid out different paths for different people suitable for their natures.” - Ramakrishna (Indian Holy Man
– 1836-1886)
All religions teach peace and tolerance but still religious differences are the cause of much hatred and many wars. But what about the similarities be-tween the world’s religions? What if there is no one right religion? What if every religion is right and they are all one of many paths you can take to find God? By all of us focussing on the similarities between religions, we can end religious hatred and enjoy whichever path or religions we choose, and respect whichever religion another chooses.
The Akron Area Interfaith Council approved the following paper in 1993 which gives their position on hatred and violence.
We representatives of seven religious faiths, Baha’i, Islam, Jewish, Orthodox, Protestant, Roman Catholic and Unitarian Universalists, join together in support of the following statements:
1. We condemn the use of violence and hatred by individuals or groups in any situation, but here we focus on those occasions where hatred and violence are used to express feelings of superiority, to overcome a feeling of inferiority, or to gain political control.
2. Hatred is caused by many things, but it is an emotion that needs to be controlled. We denounce the preaching of ethnic or religious hatred and instead advocate living in peace and harmony with one’s neighbours.
3. We hold that all people are equal, both under God and under the laws in many nations. We support freedom of religion for all people in all nations and respect for all people of all races and faiths.
4. Freedom of speech does not allow persons to tell untruths that harm others. Not only the law but many religions preach against making false accusations. We may criticise other’s violations of moral laws in a constructive manner but we should continue to show concern for their welfare.
5. Instead of putting others down, we should treat them as equals. Having respect for others as well as for one’s self and not displaying feelings of superiority is the better method for making an enjoyable life and building a peaceful society.
6. Joining with people of like interests and appearances is enjoyable and harmless in itself but trouble begins when members indicate they are superior to outsiders, are disrespectful of others and think they have the right to dictate who uses the public streets and parks in the area or make the laws that discriminate.
7. Open emigration is a basic right but it is only a partial solution. The preferred solution to repression or famine in a foreign nation is the elimination of the problem with the help of the United Nations.
If all places of worship were to promote this statement and religious education and acceptance was taught in all schools worldwide, it would help to-wards a more religiously tolerant world. You can make a difference by asking for this to be promoted in your place of worship and publicising it wherever possible.