Since September 11, violence within and between peoples, nations and
societies has become a part of everyone's awareness, while the power of
the military and the police in even the most liberal societies has been
strengthened in direct bold ways. Fear and insecurity are no longer an
exceptional emotion for many people; they are now a part of daily life. We
are at a time when the task of building a peaceful and just society is
immensely difficult. Presenting and promoting a nonviolent approach to
social problems has become a formidable task with great personal risks.
Yet this is a time when we must find ways to break into and interfere with
a cycle of violence that is spinning faster than ever. The War Resisters'
International conference has the potential to make a major contribution to
this effort.
We need to develop new nonviolent strategies for ending the threat of
terror, as well as for revealing and deconstructing institutional
violence. We need to find ways to listen and enter into dialogue with the
large numbers of people in our societies who find nonviolent, pacifist
approach too difficult. We need to strengthen our own international
network and make it a model of globalisation from below. The WRI
conference provided a forum for steps to be taken toward all of these
goals. The title and theme of "Stories and Strategies. Nonviolent
Resistance and Social Change" holds new meaning in these changed
political times. Storytelling and stories are powerful threads, which help
people learn from each other, connect to each other, heal from painful
experiences, and make our truths known. They attest to the value of each
person as a part of the social fabric.
War Resisters' International provides a strong organisational base for
the conference. WRI, which was founded in 1921, is a network of pacifists
and nonviolent activists on every continent, who work to end war and the
causes of war. WRI members are active in over 90 Sections and Associates
situated in more than 45 countries. With its long history and broad
network, WRI serves as a central gathering point for a broad community of
concerned and active citizens.
Under the "Stories" theme, the Conference examined a wide variety of social issues, from the international arms trade
to violence at the community level. Some of this was done through
Theme Groups, which were discussion groups that meet together for a few
hours every day. These were a central part of the conference agenda. Having
such extensive time together gave participants the opportunity to delve
deeply into a topic. In the Theme Group deliberations, a wide variety of
methods were used to draw out participants' experiences: role-plays,
presentations by resource people, and group exercises.
A special effort is being at the conference to include and highlight
the role of youth. In what ways are the issues of peace and nonviolence
relevant to young people? How do young people prefer to work for social
change? Special opportunities will be set up for youth to meet among
themselves, but throughout much of the conference, steps will be taken to
make sure that young people's voices are heard in the general discussions.
A work camp is being organised which will give some young people the
opportunity to be part of an international team that helps with the
practical aspects of the conference.
The Conference agenda will combine plenary sessions, theme groups, and
one-time workshops to provide participants with a variety of formats and
venues for discussing and exploring. There will also be various artistic
and theatrical activities to which participants are invited to take part.
The conference proceedings will be primarily in English, but simultaneous
interpretation will be provided in English, French, and Spanish (Castellano)
during the plenary sessions. Assistance with interpretation will be
available for some of the smaller sessions.
Plenary Sessions
The goal of the Plenary Sessions is to highlight political questions
and strategic ideas that have broad relevance to nonviolent activists.
Each Plenary Session will include speakers from various countries who have
information and experiences related to the sessions' topic. Many of the
sessions will be panel discussions that incorporate presentations and
questions from the audience. Others will be structured as creative debates
between the speakers.
Plenary 1:What Role do Stories Play in our Strategies?
The history of war and peace is not only found in studies by
academics, or in military war reports. It is also conveyed through the
stories of ordinary people, those who experience changing political
situations and must survive and resist violence as part of their daily
lives. Invited speaker Florencia Mallon is a well-known historian at the
University of Wisconsin (U.S.), who has specialised in the use of story
telling as a way to approach history.
Plenary 2: The Irish Peace Process - Stories and Stages
The conflict in Northern Ireland was once considered a great mystery
to many. But then people began to realise that ethnic conflicts are
everywhere, and that what has been taking place in Ireland is just one
example of such conflict. And it's not over yet. Through their individual
stories, presenters will describe for the audience of international
nonviolent activists, how the conflict has developed, from the early years
of the 'Troubles' through to today.
Plenary 3: Linking Violence in Daily Life with Global Violence
Speakers in this plenary will try to answer the challenging questions
about whether the global violence of war and militarism has an effect on
the violence people experience in their personal daily lives. What is the
effect on children of growing up in a violent society? How does militarism
have particular effect on women's experiences and daily lives? How is
family life affected by violent community conflict? Panellists will share
stories where nonviolent strategies have been used to break this cycle of
violence.
Plenary 4: Militarism, Antimilitarism and Civil Society
Too often the activist movements to strengthen civil society and to
resist militarism are separate developments running on parallel paths with
little co-ordination. WRI can help to bridge this gap by developing and
clarifying an analysis that identifies the immense threat that militarism
carries to any civil society. This plenary session will examine how
militarism limits civil liberties and the building of a strong civic
sector. Speakers will outline ways that peace and antimilitarist efforts
can contribute to the development of civil society.
Plenary 5: Grassroots Efforts and Nonviolent Strategies
It is common for stories and case studies from other communities to be
woven into grassroots campaigns, whether as inspirational models, humorous
anecdotes or rumours about failure. A panel of grassroots activists will
take a closer look at how the local stories transfer across cultural
divides. They will begin by sharing their own campaign stories, and then
describe how the reports from other grassroots efforts influenced their
strategies.
Theme Groups
Conference participants will spend the mornings meeting in Theme
Groups, which they return to each day. The goal of these ongoing groups is
to give participants the time to delve into a subject in greater depth.
Theme Group sessions will include analysis of a problem, the pooling of
information and experiences, development of new strategies and if there is
interest, the designing of co-ordinated efforts for the future. Each theme
group will have resource people knowledgeable about the topic, as well as
a facilitator who monitors the group process. Where possible, preparations
for each Theme Group preparations are being handled by both international
and Irish convenors.
Theme Group 1: Economics and Globalisation
(Facilitation: To Be Confirmed)
Political and economic developments in Ireland and Northern Ireland will
serve as the starting point for exploring broader patterns of global
pressures to build military-dependent economies. Two issues to be
presented will be the Republic of Ireland's incorporation into military
alliances through NATO-linked bodies and the EU, and the increased
importance of the arms trade for the economies of both Northern Ireland
and the Republic of Ireland. Local activists will share case studies about
national efforts to stop Ireland's entry into new international military
treaties and a local community's resistance to the construction of an
armaments facility. Effective models for public education and outreach
will also be on the agenda.
Theme Group 2: Violence in Society and Nonviolent Social Transformation
(Facilitation: To Be Confirmed)
How does violence manifest itself in our whole society? This theme group
will look at this large issue as it affects life at the level of daily
experience. What are the patterns of socialisation and of domination that
encourage and nurture violence, both within society and between societies?
How do the manifestations of violence at the local and global level feed
one another? How are youth affected by growing up in violent societies?
The group will look for examples where the cycle of violence has been
broken and will try to design strategies where nonviolence can be used as
a means for social transformation.
Theme Group 3: Addressing Ethnic Community and Intra-State Violence
(Facilitation: To Be Confirmed)
Many violent conflicts today appear, at first, to be based on divisions
and hatreds between ethnic, religious or cultural communities. On closer
look, however, one finds that people's insecurities and fears are often
manipulated and exaggerated by political leaders and the media. This Theme
Group will investigate how nonviolent activists can help people resist the
fears and hatreds that drive them toward war with their neighbours. It
will cover both strategies for long-term bridge-building as well as
short-term nonviolent intervention.
Theme Group 4: Militarisation and Disarmament
(Facilitation: To Be Confirmed)
The past saw some successful campaigns for disarmament of specific weapons
- the Campaign to Ban Landmines is one striking example. At the same time
most societies get more and more militarised, with the Western countries,
especially the European Union, developing new international rapid
deployment forces. The group will discuss the relationship between
militarisation and disarmament, and will try to develop nonviolent
strategies combining disarmament and demilitarisation.
Theme Group 5: The Roles of Gender and of Racism in War and
Militarisation
(Facilitation: To Be Confirmed)
Sexism and racism are two aspects of militarism, which receive little
attention from the peace movement. This theme group will examine how
particular gender role definitions can lead to militarism and war, and how
militarism builds on racism. The Group will discuss strategies for making
such links within anti-war campaigns, and participants will share stories
about their own efforts.
Theme Group 6: Nonviolent strategies to address the Environmental
destruction by the Military
(Facilitation: To Be Confirmed)
The military structures of the world are some of the greatest polluters
and yet, environmental concerns are not often linked to the military. This
Theme Group will look at the effects of military operations and war on the
environment. It will also explore ways to strengthen co-operation between
anti-militarist groups and the environmental movement.
Theme Group 7: Conscientious Objectors, Veterans, and Anti-Militarism
(Facilitation: Emanuel Matondo, Angola/Germany and Andreas Speck,
Germany/UK)
Individual refusal to participate in the military has been a powerful way
to challenge militarism. This Theme Group will look at conscientious
objection and total resistance to conscription and their role in building
an anti-militarist movement today. Participants will discuss the
challenges they face in their countries, such as the need for new
strategies as more countries professionalise their armies. The Group will
also examine the special role that war veterans can play in
anti-militarist work.
Theme Group 8: Asylum: Strategies to Prevent the Closing of Borders
(Facilitation: Doro Bruch, Germany and Tikiri, France)
This Theme Group will look at issues of migration, asylum, and
deportation, and how these are directly related to war and militarism. In
sharing strategies, the Group will discuss campaigns to challenge the
"Fortress Europe" policy, and the closed-border practices at the
US-Mexican border. They will learn bout specific actions such as the
International Human Rights Team at the German-Polish Border.
Theme Group 9: An Exploration and Introduction to Nonviolence
(Facilitation: N.N., Scottish Centre for Nonviolence, Scotland and N.N.)
This Theme Group, which will be convened by the Scottish Centre for
Nonviolence, is for people who are relatively new to the field and the
concepts of nonviolence or while experienced, are interested in revisiting
the basic principles. This will be an opportunity for participants to
explore nonviolence and its repercussions in detail.
Theme Group 10: Dealing with the Past
(Facilitation: Roberta Bacic, Chile/UK, Brandon Hamber, Ireland/South
Africa)
This Theme Group is about what it means for people to learn to live in the
present. Many people's lives are marked by war, violence, and other
repressive events, which they did not choose, want, or provoke. How can
people learn to handle such experiences and use them for finding meaning
and significance in their present lives? With the help of knowledgeable
resource people, the Theme Group will discuss the psychological effects of
war and other trauma. They will explore various approaches for dealing
with the past, including the use of storytelling and other ways of making
their experiences known. The Group will give a special look at how
justice, reconciliation and forgiveness fit together.
Workshops
Each afternoon, there will be a variety of one-time workshops. These
will include reports on introductory sessions, skills training, networking
meetings, and reports on specific campaigns. Some of these will be planned
in advance, but there will also be space available for participants to
arrange workshops spontaneously during the conference. A detailed list of
workshops will be available in early June 2002.
Volunteer Programme
A work-camp for young people will take place during the Triennial,
under the co-sponsorship of Voluntary Service International, the Irish
section of Service Civil International. The work-camp participants will
help with practical tasks at the conference and will be able to
participate as well in some of the sessions.
Finances and Fund Raising
The full budget for the Conference is €204,310. Some basic
conference expenses will be covered through participants' fees. Funds for
travel costs, interpretation, speakers, and administration are being
raised from WRI member organisations, individual donors, and foundation
grants.
Contact us
War Resisters International Triennial Office, 84 Templeville Drive,
Templeogue, Dublin 6W. E-mail: dublin@wri-irg.org