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6 things wrong with war
6 things right with peace
6 Alternatives to war and armed conflict
10 ways to say NO to war and YES to peace
6 Alternatives to war and armed conflict
There are many alternatives to war and lots of ways people can prevent large-scale violence. This list is only a beginning. The problem is that most people don’t realize these methods exist, and societies don’t invest resources into researching, testing and developing them. There are alternatives.
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Address the root causes.
Most wars and conflicts are sparked by a real or felt injustice like wide economic disparity, a dispute over land ownership, or victimization. Address these root causes, and the “need” for war might be eliminated.
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Talk to your enemies.
Dialogue, diplomacy and nonviolent conflict resolution can really work, even in very difficult situations. However, a neutral third party is a near necessity in volatile situations.
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Take political action.
Declarations, letters, petitions, rallies, sit-ins, marches - use mass action to convince politicians not to engage in war. In 2003, the Canadian public actually kept Canada out of the war in Iraq by doing just this.
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Use economic pressure.
Boycotts, sanctions, strikes, lockouts – hitting groups in their pocketbook is another way to get the message across. These methods need to be used carefully, as these measures can cause huge human suffering (eg. the sanctions in Iraq and Palestine). However, when they are done well, economic pressures can undermine the power of violent and oppressive groups. This worked to stop the South African apartheid regime.
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Accompany the vulnerable.
When vulnerable people are at risk or human rights are being violated, outsiders that are trained and unarmed can help limit and prevent violence just by being present. Christian Peacemaker Teams and Peace Brigades International are good examples.
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Meet violence with nonviolence.
When a group of people confront violence and repression with organized, disciplined and courageous nonviolence, the oppressors quickly lose their moral legitimacy. The most successful non-violent campaigns (like those led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi) require discipline, commitment and training. Just like soldiers, peacemakers do their job better with personal formation and training.
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For more information, check out these resources, commissioned by MCC
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