Symbolizing Peace: Revisiting the Past and Moving Forward

At the ripe old age of 52, the internationally recognized iconic symbol has recently made a popular resurgence. Commonly known as the peace symbol, this famous circle of protest and solace has reemerged as a means for mainstreaming opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. The peace symbol is arguably the most controversial sign in common usage, and has not only an interesting past, but will continue to follow the evolution of social justice.

The peace sign as we know it now in the United States signifies an absence of war and the hope for prosperity. However, this meaning evolved from its original symbolism as developed by Gerald Holtom, a British artist and contentious objector during World War II. Holtom created the symbol for a march sponsored by two organizations dedicated to eradicating nuclear armament: the Direct Action Committee Against Nuclear War (DAC) and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND). Convinced that their mission would gain attention if it had a logo, Holtom created what we now know as the peace symbol, and called it the "Ban the Bomb" sign. To create the symbol, Holtom used the semaphore, or flag-signaling, alphabet, combining the letters N and D for nuclear disarmament with a larger circle to represent the Earth. This symbol was later adopted by CND, who to this day refuse to copyright or trademark the logo on the basis that it is the property of free people worldwide.

Image from BBC News

The "Ban the Bomb" sign was adopted across the pond by American activists who applied it to a myriad of causes, beginning with the African- American Civil Rights movement. The sign quickly became a symbol of protest among anti-war activists during the unpopular Vietnam War, and was also applied to the women's and gay rights movements. Controversy arose mainly with the symbol's application during the Vietnam War, when it was perceived as an attack on the troops. As tension mounted in American society, the presence of the symbol caused many to negatively associate it with the counter-culture of the 1960's and 1970's.

Fortunately, the modern usage of the peace symbol is more inclusive, as an appeal to a cessation of violence. As CND states on their website, "A symbol for freedom, it is free for all." The presence of this symbol in our current society is a proactive comfort. While some people fear that we are becoming desensitized to words and images of war, it's essential that we continue to mainstream ideals and symbols of prosperity and civility.

Thanks to activist JRC for inspiration of this article.

Happy World Peace Day!

It's Peace Day and across the globe thousands of people are celebrating with comedy, movies, school activities, community outreach events, music, prayer vigils, and personal commitments. Peace Day was originally designated in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly as the third Tuesday in September. The UN member nations wanted this day to represent international unity through a one-day celebration of ceasefire and non-violence.

The move to make Peace Day a fixed date was a civilian initiative, undertaken on the silver screen by a British filmmaker named Jeremy Gilley. Inspired by the activities accomplished on rotating Peace Day through the dedication of individuals, organizations, and governments, Gilley decided to advocate for a fixed date for the holiday. He achieved his goal two years later, when in 2001, the UN adopted September 21 as an International Day of Peace.

But why just a day you ask? Although in recent years, organizations have pushed for weeklong events, many activists maintain that one day of peace is significant, especially in active war zones. In the words of Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland, "My experience of conflict is that those who are involved in it long for even a day of peace. To have a day of cessation of violence, that to me is an idea whose time has come." Last year in 2009, all 192 UN member nations held commemorative activities, ranging from celebrations to immunization campaigns. In Afghanistan, for example, 4 million children were protected from polio through a ceasefire agreement supported by all conflicting parties. This achievement was possible through the observation of Peace Day, which not only saw a one-day 70% reduction in violence, but also improved the health of millions of kids.

But for some, Peace Day means 24 hours of very hard work. The unique circumstances of ceasefire and non-violence tips the scales in favor of those pressing for peacebuilding and long-term sustainability in war zones. This gives international mediators the upper hand in working with groups in conflict. Given a one-day hiatus of violence, mediators have taken advantage of this opportunity to engage opponents to foster more permanent peace between groups. In addition, humanitarian organizations have utilized Peace Day as a means to access citizens in volatile regions by organizing large scale efforts to promote public health and education through added resources.

So what can you do to get involved? Most organizations, such as the UN, Peace One Day, and the African Union, are encouraging people to make their own pledges for peace. Pledges are easy: let them know how you're celebrating Peace Day, and then have fun.

• Play Soccer. If you're a football nut, Peace One Day is encouraging people everywhere to have a pickup match of the beautiful game. 
• Watch Jeremy Gilley's film: the Day After Peace. Featuring some badasses like Ban Ki Moon, Angelina Jolie, Jude Law, and the Dalai Lama, this film has won awards at Cannes, and 15 other International Film Festivals. Another perk: you can get it on Netflix. 
• Go to a comedy show. Although the dates have passed for many of the cities listed, keep these in mind for next year. 
• Youth Enrichment. Whether or not you're a teacher, there are options for getting the kiddos involved. The UN is encouraging educational peace initiatives in all 192 countries today.
• Get pumped up. Listen to your favorite tunes, or try out groups like U2, Michael Franti and Spearhead, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, and others who sing about social justice. If you are going to be in Beijing, China on October 10th, check out the International Show of Peace concert.

Happy Peace Day everyone! "One person may be small, but all together, with 6 billion people, we can make a big difference." -UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

Pre-Game with Peaceable Action!

This upcoming week, September 19-25 is International Peace Week, and to celebrate, The Peace Report has some stellar surprises to roll out! Peace Week, founded by the United Nations and adopted by peace lovers everywhere, is the week surrounding September 21st, the official Peace Day. This year, UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon designated International Peace Day for the chillens, stating: “Young people today are at home with global diversity; they are comfortable in an interconnected world. Yet they are also vulnerable to the forces of extremism." He called on youth from every country to positively contribute to their communities. And for readers who don't think they qualify as youth remember: you're as young as you act during Peace Week. 


Now, we know what you're thinking: "But I didn't get enough sleep last night to sustainably resolve the Israel/ Palestine conflict." Fret not. You don't have to be an internationally acclaimed mediator to bring a little happiness to your friends and family. (Although, if you are, kudos.) To help out, we've developed a list of peaceful potpourri to choose from. Try one item or do all of them, but if you do, comment below and tell us how it went and what you did!


1. Send a friend a snail mail. Include a photo or two or a mixed CD if you can. Who doesn't love getting mail?


2. Email or call your representatives about an issue important to you. If you don't know who they are, click here and you can look them up. Usually their individual websites have forms you can use to submit your opinions as well. Keep in mind, these people work for YOU, so contact them and let them know what you're thinking!


3. Call Grandma and Grandpa. Chances are, they will be psyched to hear from you, and they will tell your mom how wonderful you are for the next five years.


4. Crack your friends up. Have people over for a movie or dinner. I recently watched Friday with my friends, and we were laughing all night. If you've seen any good movies lately, let us know in the comment box.


5. Vote!!!!! Did you vote in your primary elections? Do you know when the general elections are? Take 30 minutes to meet the candidates who will be making decisions for you.


6. If you don't already, volunteer. You can volunteer on a one-time basis, or continuously with organizations like your local food bank, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs, the ASPCA, with local sporting events, or nursing homes. When I'm old, I would love some young person to come over and crack me up.


7. Get some sunshine. Go for a walk with your parents and/or canine. Play pick-up soccer. Play tennis. As your parents would say, "Go outside!"


8. Read a book about another culture. Reading Lolita in Tehran, Lipstick Jihad, Open Veins of Latin America, Under the Tuscan Sun, Eat Pray Love, Into the Wild, A Long Way Gone, Three Cups of Tea, City of Falling Angels; let us know what other fantastic books you've read.


9. Try an environmentally friendly household product. For example, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day, Seventh Generation, and 365 Organic are easy-to-find brands dedicated to both quality and greenery.


10. Pay it forward. If someone does something nice for you, try to keep it going.


What did we miss? Let us know if you have any other ideas, or if you tried something on the list. Happy International Peace Week everyone!

Need Motivation?

“No act of love, however small, is ever wasted.” – Aesop

Need motivation?

The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war. - Vijaya Lakshmi Pandi

Give to Pakistan to Help Flood Victims

According to humanitarian organization, CARE, Pakistan is currently suffering from the worst flooding the country has experienced in over eighty years. Twenty percent of Pakistan is under water, and the lack of contributions by individuals, organizations, and international governments has slowed recovery efforts and prevented many from recieving basic resources. Seventeen million people in Pakistan are affected by the recent flooding, and 5 million remain homeless. The good news is, you can still help.

The BBC has reported that international aid has been slow in reaching flood

victims in Pakistan, and the UN By texting the word SWAT to telephone number 50555, cellular phone users will be able to donate $10 to help flood victims in Pakistan through the U.N. High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR).

If you would like to contribute to a specific organization, here is a list of a few who are conducting their own operations on the ground in Pakistan:

CARE: Over 17 million people need our help urgently. CARE is on the ground providing shelter, health care and emergency supplies to survivors. Reports of outbreaks of waterborne diseases are continuing to increase. The planting season is expected to start in September, and if we can’t help people recover soon, they will miss the planting season and lose a harvest — which means people will be dependent on food aid for much longer.

UNICEF is supplying clean drinking water for 1 million flood victims daily and has begun vaccinating against polio and measles in the affected areas. Many familes remain vulnerable to water-borne diseases and malaria, both of which can prove fatal for children without necessary treatment and preventive supplies.

Save the Children has staff in the region and is mobilizing to rush aid to displaced children and families who need essential supplies. They are ready to provide more relief as conditions allow and to help protect children from further harm.

So please, choose an organization you think will best utilize your funds to help Pakistani families survive this terrible disaster. We need to surpass fear-mongering tactics invoking terrorism as a means to leave people unassisted through the flooding. Lets show our friends in need that we will be there for them during tough times. Generosity in troubled times goes to show others that we can be positive allies in the interim.

Failed State Index 2010

Fragile, unstable, disastrous, dysfunctional, failed. All of these words have been applied to describe the 10 countries that top the Failed States Index. Developed by Foreign Policy Magazine together with the nonprofit Fund For Peace, the Failed States Index annually analyzes over 90,000 sources to rank 177 countries on their state of health or decay. Twelve social, economic, and political indicators are used to rank these states into four categories that range from failed to sustainable status.

According to NPR, Foreign Policy Magazine first introduced the phrase failed state to policy analysis vernacular in 1992. This phrase, now in wide circulation, is meant to indicate a state whose government cannot provide protections and basic services for their citizens. This index was used to illustrate the need for change in policy to effectively address conflict and development concerns within unstable countries. Somalia is listed as #1 on the Failed State Index, which as Elizabeth Dickinson of Foreign Policy discusses with NPR, acts as a classic example of a country which cannot control its territory, or protect its people. Although Secretary of Defense Robert Gates asserted that failed states are the preeminent security problem of our time, the United States continues to encourage a solely military foreign policy to address the needs of Somalia. The United States government, specifically the Departments of State and Defense, lacks a formal strategy in dealing with failed states. The current model of response is minimalist: addressing problems after they arise instead of focusing on development opportunities to assist in supporting infrastructure. This policy is reactive at best and ad hoc at worst. The debilitating combination of a reactionary policy coupled with the tendency to respond solely with military action is not sustainable as a development policy, and will not be successful in addressing the humanitarian needs of these failed states.

Moving forward, big questions arise. What is/ should be the US' role in policing failed states? What is the international community's responsibility? How do we help currently failed states reach economic growth, as Colombia and the Dominican Republic did? If failed states are the preeminent concern of our time, why aren't we doing more to facilitate development?

These questions will continue to rise to the forefront of international policy. Personally, I do not think that continued military presence is the key to changing the course of failed states, as we saw primarily with Somalia, and see now with Afghanistan, Iraq, and Pakistan. Diplomacy, dedication, and an emphasis on internal infrastructure will get us started, but it is up to the international community to support each other through entrepreneurial and innovative means, using local talent and comparative resources.

Contributing activist Emily W. shared the Failed State Index as an addition to The Peace Report's earlier discussion on poverty and unequal income distribution. Muchisimas gracias a Emily, and if you would like to add to the discussion, please comment below, or send in your ideas.