Transcending the divisions among people
I believe that world peace is possible. I believe that a constructive approach to transcend the divisions among people is by uniting all people in a common cause to better our world. I believe the Beyond War Guiding Principles are a perfect set of basic principles to accomplish that goal. If a majority of people would commit to these principles, we could be united in a common cause and could work further to eliminate disputes and exploitation.
I also embrace these three ideas as core values to advance the cause of peace:
Nonviolence
Violence is never an acceptable solution to disputes. Achievement of goals and objectives must always be accomplished by nonviolent means.
Freedom and Justice
All people are unique and different. We must recognize and support the right of each person to develop in intellectual, artistic and spiritual endeavors to the fullest extent of their skills and abilities, free from threats and intimidation, provided it harms no one else. We must embrace diversity and support equal rights for all people. We must assert that distinctions between people based on race, color, sex or sexual orientation are irrational and destructive. Only when all people are empowered to develop to the fullest extent of their abilities will we truly understand and benefit from the full power and potential of humanity.
To empower all people, we must seek a world order that produces the instrumental goods to maintain the life and health of all human beings by the most efficient, just and environmentally responsible means possible. The accumulation of wealth is not a just end in and of itself. The accumulation wealth to benefit a few at the expense of many is immoral. It is the moral responsibility of those who control the factors of production to do so with enlightened commitment to socially and environmentally responsible practices, including the best practices of fair trade and stewardship of resources.
Environmental Responsibility
We must stop the destruction of our planet. Business as usual in our present time is no more rational than standing in the path of an onrushing train and not moving out of the way. In our present state of affairs, mankind is to the planet earth as cancer is to the human body. It is a moral imperative that we do everything in our power to slow and stop pollution, hasten environmentally sustainable society and environmental remediation. It is never acceptable to enrich a person, corporation or nation by destroying the environment. We must commit to observe environmentally responsible principles to the fullest extent possible, and work for better alternatives wherever possible. I believe that a strategic commitment to wind, wave, geothermal and solar energy can make fossil fuels unnecessary.
I think true justice can only be achieved if all nations support the United Nations and we take away the veto power of the few major countries that block effective action for selfish reasons. In believe we can only truly have a peaceful world if no nation has armed forces capable of waging war. I believe we need a world where nations only have national guard, coast guard and police forces adequate to maintain internal order and to protect their borders. If the UN was not suboptimized by constant vetoes from selfish states, resolutions and sanctions supported by all the member nations should be effective in preventing a rogue person or state from gaining enough power to threaten the world community.
I don’t believe we can fight terrorism with military force. I believe violence to suppress terrorism creates more hatred, and therefore ensures a never ending supply of new recruits for their cause. One man’s terrorist is another man’s patriot. I believe it is important to promote justice in our world to reduce hatred. I understand why many Muslims dislike western nations. They see us as raping the world’s resources while suppressing other peoples through poverty and military force. Only when fair trade is enforced as a mandatory code of ethics in commerce and business, and wealthy nations contribute resources to development of poorer states and peoples, will we create a world where there is more tolerance and less hatred. Justice in allocation of resources means there must be more equality. Paying people in poor countries poverty level wages for a full time job in order to maximize corporate profits is immoral and unfair. Less billionaires and more equal shares for all! Instead of making defense contractors rich by investing in war, we need to stop having wars so those resources can be used to improve the human condition. More justice will equal less hatred.
I believe that humanity has not yet evolved to its highest state. I believe we must evolve to a higher consciousness that embraces nonviolence, justice, equality and environmental responsibility as obvious facts of life, not idealistic theories. We must evolve to the understanding that love of our neighbors is the only moral approach to human interaction. Only then can humanity truly develop to achieve its greatest potential.
I also embrace these three ideas as core values to advance the cause of peace:
Nonviolence
Violence is never an acceptable solution to disputes. Achievement of goals and objectives must always be accomplished by nonviolent means.
Freedom and Justice
All people are unique and different. We must recognize and support the right of each person to develop in intellectual, artistic and spiritual endeavors to the fullest extent of their skills and abilities, free from threats and intimidation, provided it harms no one else. We must embrace diversity and support equal rights for all people. We must assert that distinctions between people based on race, color, sex or sexual orientation are irrational and destructive. Only when all people are empowered to develop to the fullest extent of their abilities will we truly understand and benefit from the full power and potential of humanity.
To empower all people, we must seek a world order that produces the instrumental goods to maintain the life and health of all human beings by the most efficient, just and environmentally responsible means possible. The accumulation of wealth is not a just end in and of itself. The accumulation wealth to benefit a few at the expense of many is immoral. It is the moral responsibility of those who control the factors of production to do so with enlightened commitment to socially and environmentally responsible practices, including the best practices of fair trade and stewardship of resources.
Environmental Responsibility
We must stop the destruction of our planet. Business as usual in our present time is no more rational than standing in the path of an onrushing train and not moving out of the way. In our present state of affairs, mankind is to the planet earth as cancer is to the human body. It is a moral imperative that we do everything in our power to slow and stop pollution, hasten environmentally sustainable society and environmental remediation. It is never acceptable to enrich a person, corporation or nation by destroying the environment. We must commit to observe environmentally responsible principles to the fullest extent possible, and work for better alternatives wherever possible. I believe that a strategic commitment to wind, wave, geothermal and solar energy can make fossil fuels unnecessary.
I think true justice can only be achieved if all nations support the United Nations and we take away the veto power of the few major countries that block effective action for selfish reasons. In believe we can only truly have a peaceful world if no nation has armed forces capable of waging war. I believe we need a world where nations only have national guard, coast guard and police forces adequate to maintain internal order and to protect their borders. If the UN was not suboptimized by constant vetoes from selfish states, resolutions and sanctions supported by all the member nations should be effective in preventing a rogue person or state from gaining enough power to threaten the world community.
I don’t believe we can fight terrorism with military force. I believe violence to suppress terrorism creates more hatred, and therefore ensures a never ending supply of new recruits for their cause. One man’s terrorist is another man’s patriot. I believe it is important to promote justice in our world to reduce hatred. I understand why many Muslims dislike western nations. They see us as raping the world’s resources while suppressing other peoples through poverty and military force. Only when fair trade is enforced as a mandatory code of ethics in commerce and business, and wealthy nations contribute resources to development of poorer states and peoples, will we create a world where there is more tolerance and less hatred. Justice in allocation of resources means there must be more equality. Paying people in poor countries poverty level wages for a full time job in order to maximize corporate profits is immoral and unfair. Less billionaires and more equal shares for all! Instead of making defense contractors rich by investing in war, we need to stop having wars so those resources can be used to improve the human condition. More justice will equal less hatred.
I believe that humanity has not yet evolved to its highest state. I believe we must evolve to a higher consciousness that embraces nonviolence, justice, equality and environmental responsibility as obvious facts of life, not idealistic theories. We must evolve to the understanding that love of our neighbors is the only moral approach to human interaction. Only then can humanity truly develop to achieve its greatest potential.
Tags: environmental, justice, peace, responsibility, transcend, world
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The people living here are very unique and different. There are many different races, religions, and faith's living on our earth.
Living a life beyond violence, or a life without violence is very essential to going about life without war. Faith and trust in one another is definitely needed for all of these to take place.