Hi everyone,
My name is Wendy. I set up this blog to share with you all the joys and pains of establishing and running the Foundation for Global Collaboration and Peace, a New York State registered non-profit that aims to inform, engage and connect the global community by serving as a resource center for Participatory Peace, in order to promote equality, inter-community communication, cross-cultural collaboration, peaceful conflict resolution and global peace building.
We are a member of Genocide Watch’s International Campaign to End Genocide, the World Volunteer Web (a United Nations Volunteers programme initiative) and the Peace Innovation Project at Stanford University (listed as “peace.global-cnp.org”). Our research has been published by the PeaceWomen Project at the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.
Participatory Peace Building
At the Foundation for Global Collaboration and Peace, we believed that we, as human beings, must all own our responsibility for the world we live in. Peace is within us and Peace Building is what we all must do if we hope to achieve peace in our life time and sustain it throughout the ages.
No matter the condition of our individual lives at any given moment, we always have within us the choice to treat our fellow human beings with dignity and care.
And though despots may attempt to stir our fears, anger and hatred to usurp our negative emotions for their own gain, we are responsible to choose whether to follow in their footsteps or remain in our own.
With that in mind, let’s not leave the peace-building process in the hands of the selected and the few. Instead, let’s make our mark on the peace we so long to see by getting involved in this or the work of any peace-building organization in the world today.
Our Vision:
Through the emphasis of universal human commonalities, the Foundation for Global Collaboration and Peace provides a basis for on-going dialogue between communities worldwide, in order to better collaborate on a global scale to achieve and maintain peace holistically
Our Mission Objectives:
- Build a virtual reference center about universal human commonalities
- Provide a live forum for discussion and exchange of ideas
- Show what everyday life is like around the world
- Connect activists with peace-building and human-rights organizations
- Adapt the data so that it is accessible to children and adults with varying reading levels and scientific understanding
- Make this data available to the worldwide audience by translating it into all currently in-use languages
- Highlight the often invisible human commonalities to overshadow our instinct to prejudge based on visual, auditory and other obvious differences such as gender, race, nationality, etc.
- Fund on-going studies into human commonalities, especially in areas where information is lacking or outdated
Good thinking, Wendy. Good luck.
WOW! Wendy this is something huge. Awesome!
Yeah, I feel overwhelmed most of the time, but very exhilarated at the same time.
You might find Prof. Bontempo’s seminar informative/helpful.
Thank you for this Noel! I have heard Prof. Bontempo speak and finds his work incredibly relevant in what I do.
Wendy -
Keep this going! People have an easy time in affiliating with smaller and smaller sub-sets, and rarely take the time to reflect on how much we share in common. There is no conflict so broad that we cannot find common bonds between us.
Thank you for the encouragement. Please get involved if you can.
Congratulations on your noble project. I co-founded an organization that I think is very aligned to the questions you are exploring. It provides a philosophy + framework, approach + path + tools + practices to address the very questions you are pondering on.
Check out our introductory video on our Website + my Facebook page [jcobywayne].
I would also be interested in interviewing you for our new online + print-on-demand magazine, “Evolution in Action”, which is launching this month.
Cheers,
J-Coby Wayne
Co-Founder + Chief Experience Guide, Energy Arts Alliance
Co-Founder + Executive Editor, Evolution in Action Magazine
Congratulations Wendy, I love your idea and you have my support in anything I can help you with.
I suppose that you must be in mid 40′s, as I am. I wonder whether it is a common phenomenon for this age group. I have a respected job, University Professor, married with two-daughters; and suddenly I started wondering about my existence. My work in the past seemed to be futile effort as if competing a rat race. I started discussing the topics with my friends, and found that there are people who have think similar, but have kept the things with themselves. Never communicated. Lets share our thoughts and make this place better. If I can be of any help, please let me know.
Hi Ninad,
Thank you for your comment and offer to help.
I’ve put together a list of action items on the “Get Involved” page. Please let me know if any of those interest you.
Regarding self-reflection and changing life priorities, I think that can take place at anytime in our life, especially when you have the time to think about what you want out of life, which I was fortunate enough to have over the past year.
Wow Wendy,
That is some big dream you have!
A scientific library, sort of like a WiKi?
I’m particularly looking for what connects and binds us all, opposed to what divides.
Know thy self is another one.
Where is that virtual libray situated?
Is it shared?
Realise your dreams,
Have a nice day,
Vic
Hi Vic,
Yes, I think a WiKi is a definite possibility. As of right now, I am concentrating on raising the awareness and funds necessary to support building this virtual library.
Please let me know if you want to get involved in any way.
Have a great day!
Wendy
I share your objectives and principles, but feel the self-identification survey I just took may be too simplistic.
Without a context, I identified myself as a “man,” although I could just as well have left it at “human being.”
The fact that a Nazi, a Pacifist, a Gay Republican, a Muslim or Zionist fundamentalist may have identified themselves in the same way as I did seems of little relevance.
Pointing out what we all have in common will only be useful in the context of the specific issues and conflicts that exist; and only if it becomes an effective means of delivering “win-win” solutions for all parties involved.
No one cares about the humanity of their opponents if their own survival, fundamental rights or prosperity remains what is perceived to be at stake. And frankly, to someone involved in such a conflict, the “we are the world” “can’t we all just get along” pitch comes across not only as pathetically naïve, but obnoxiously insensitive as well.
The fact that we who are privileged enough to even entertain these discussions are enjoying a luxury denied to most of our fellow human beings, does not make this any less valid or legitimate; but ignoring this fact would, I think, interfere with our effectiveness.
This (like clean drinking water) is both a luxury most human beings have no access to, and a basic necessity of life, and it is important we do not lose sight of both of these aspects.
What you are trying to accomplish is as close to impossible as it is necessary for our survival as a species. For this reason I feel it is very important that the net is cast truly as widely as possible, and that there is a special focus on those subgroups that are likely to be most resistant to this project and its stated objective. This is very difficult and unpleasant, but it is important that the tendency to “preach to the choir” is overcome.
One such factor is the fact that only people who are likely to agree with you are likely to take your survey or read your blog, so there is a fundamental obstacle built into our circumstances that must be overcome.
If it becomes another “let’s feel good about ourselves because we are all together and all agree we know what’s best for the world” project/organization, then it will succeed at nothing truly meaningful.
In this vein, and with the hope that it may be useful for your objectives, that I offer my humble criticism.
Best Regards,
Reinaldo
Reinaldo,
Thank you very much for your criticism.
While having a virtual library centered on universal human commonalities may be an imperfect solution to the death and destruction we see in our world, it does, even in the form of this survey, make people think about and be more aware of identity, as it pertains to themselves and others around them.
I think “The fact that a Nazi, a Pacifist, a Gay Republican, a Muslim or Zionist fundamentalist may have identified themselves in the same way” is enlightening, in that it illustrates the range of human potential. And in that potential lies the possibility of achieving so much more than we already have, of attaining peace despite the requirement of giving up short-term gain.
While I don’t think people of all races and creeds will always hold hands singing happy peace songs together because of the availability of this virtual library, I do think that making the information about universal human commonalities available, in the mainstream, especially to those who don’t have the luxury as us to ponder over its long-term meaning, would greatly change the way we interact with one another.
In fact, conflict resolution is based on finding commonalities between negotiating parties. While tailored solutions are needed to resolve specific conflicts, those solutions come about when shared interests can pave the way to dialogue, giving common ground for opposing sides to come together, air out their differences, discover the root of their conflict, and find less costly ways than violence to achieve acceptable compromises. It is also the driver behind your own networks, whether familial, social or professional.
Cool project – keep it up!
Thank you, Thomas!
Fantastic, Wendy! Keep up the good work.
Lorna, thank you!
Wendy, this IS a very impressive and ambitious project. I would love to contribute in any way I can. I have worked in NGO’s in SOuth Africa, and in non-profits in canada, so if I can offer you a perspective/resource or anything else, I’d be honoured.
Dear Karin,
Thank you very much for offering your help. I would love to speak with you further about how you might get involved with this initiative. If I might ask you to please visit our Get Involved page (http://globalcnporg.wordpress.com/foundation-for-global-collaboration-and-peace_get-involved/), you will find on there a list of action items as well as a link to get in touch with me.
Thank you again for your offer to help. I look forward to speaking with you again in more detail about how you can get involved.
Kind regards,
Wendy
Hi,
This looks really ambitious and interesting – good luck making a difference.
By the way – the link to “get involved” in the 10th line of the “About Us” section” doesn’t seem to be working.
All the best,.
Hilary
Hi Hilary,
Thank you for your words of encouragement and letting me know about the broken link. It’s all fixed now. I do hope you will get involved.
Kind regards,
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
You put out a fabulous and attractive vision ! Diversity has been abused to cause division and conflicts among mankind since ever… Many share your vision and have searched for commonalities to eliminate those aspects of diversity that cause destructive conflicts…Gandhi, Marx, Mao, the UN…. None have come close to their vision. Some have even increased the rift and brought destruction to people and the environment.
Commonalities integrate, bring people to equality. Diversity makes the global society colorful and is mutually enriching. We need both for a better world. We need to properly handle and balance both for a better world for all.
Good luck !
Ignaz
Ignaz,
You make a great point about balance. I think that given how much we all still rely on audio-visual cues to judge who’s a friend and who’s a foe, greater awareness of our commonalities will tip the scale toward a more balanced approach to cross-community interactions.
Just today, I saw an example of this heavy reliance on visual cues in action in the subways. A woman decided to clean a portion of the subway bench before sitting down among a row of people 80% of whom share her skin color, instead of sitting at a perfectly clean spot on the opposite bench where no-one looked like her. It is a small action, but it decries how long we still have to go before reaching that equilibrium.
At the same time, we must all remember how far we have gone and how much integration there is now in the world because of people who continue to do peace-building work. Yes, sometimes we make it worse, but at least we have tried. And I for one, would much rather risk failure by doing something than accept certain defeat in doing nothing.
So, Ignaz, I don’t need luck, what I need is people who think critically, like you, to get involved and make this initiative more comprehensive.
Wendy
Wendy,
Any early signs of success?
Hi Dan,
I am getting positive responses and a lot of help from the non-profit community.
Hey Wendy
Congrats on setting this up. Great to see one of my MBA classmates doing something so worthy.
Keep up the great work
Dave
Thank you, David! It means a lot for me to hear this from you.
Happy holidays!
Wendy
Wendy,
I would be happy to talk to you and discuss further. You have a great idea and I will be happy to support in anyway I can.
I am a faculty member of the non profit Art of Living Foundation…
That’s wonderful to hear, Mandar! Let’s take this off-line. I will get in touch shortly.
Kind regards,
Wendy
[...] About us [...]
Hi Wendy,
Galatians 6:7:
‘Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.’
I am fully in support of your magnificent works, the same time using this opportunity I invite you to view our participation in the process of Global Collaboration and Peace.
I observed it some time ago and from then I share this invitation which we all received from the hands of all signatories of the United Nations’ General Resolution 55/282 where in § 3 we read:
“Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate, in an appropriate manner, the International Day of Peace, including through education and public awareness to cooperate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.”
Our part in the process is to disseminate received invitation, make it known to all inhabitants of our Mother Earth and work together in the establishment of Global Peace Forever.
Let it be a motto for life:
MAN DROP THE GUN
In Global Collaboration and Peace
Marek
Thank you for the invitation, Marek.
Venerable sir or lady
May we and all our relatives be safe and secure.
May we and all our relatives be happy at heart
I got your address from an website related to prevention of genocide and it is for that that I need your help. For the last 3 days was I demonstrating with the UN in Bangkok with two signs and some flyers/handouts.The first board said: “Genocide is the fruit of a discriminating personality(art 26) The ICC, ECHR or ACHR don’ t prevent or stop it.” which was attached to a pilar. And one big one that I was holding in my hands “A human rights tribunal (art 6)can prevent and stop genocide and can be facilitated by the dutch constitution”. I came to the last conclusion based on the statements of prof. Liesbeth Zegveld (Leiden).
When I was there for the second day, a UN woman spoke to me and said that if I was staying there with a small group for several days it might be effective. So I decided somewhere that I would stay demonstrating there until the problem is solved. But I agree, the message is transmitted over more effectively when the demonstration is supported worldwide. Because of demonstration problems in the past I know that standing somewhere with a demonstration board is freedom of speech, but doing it as a group means that you need a permit. If the rule applies here too, that I can’t tell, but I don’t mind staying here alone.
What I want to ask you if you can organize demonstrations with a similar theme “That genocide can be prevented and stopped with a Human Rights Tribunal and facilitated by the dutch constitution” near other UN buildings. If we approach this properly then we can terminate genocide once and for all.
Human rights and the justice department
I keep wondering if there could be any faulty reasoning or unclarity found in the reasoning that a Human Rights Tribunal can prevent and stop Genocide during all the phases because of its rapid verdict whether human rights violations exist or not. If I add a complete description I will get the complaint that it is too long and un-understandable, if I don’t I think of the complaint that they don’t understand it. Perhaps I should add a small obvious detail for clarification. First of all do I mean a Human Rights Tribunal founded in article 6, the right of recognition before the law. As history has shown with the dutch justice department that it is evident that it is because of the justice department that things go so terribly wrong. The non humanitarian precedents, the non humanitarian laws, the non humanitarian requisitors, the non humanitarian police, the law state lost the human rights because of the willing participation of the justice department(It is called the phase of denial and can be found throughout all the phases). History repeats itself. It is by recognition of people and groups as equal before the law that a Human Rights Tribunal shines in its effectiveness because it should be independent on the justice department. In all the stages of genocide it is the lawmakers, lawfinancers and the lawkeepers that willingly change the direction towards genocide by adapting to the political plan and it is an independent Human Rights Tribunal that can stop and reverse that process by giving a verdict if groups or parts of groups should or should not be treated equal before the law. Letting members of the justice department solve human rights violations leads to the denial of supported genocides as the dutch history shows. History is repeating itself because of the non humanitarian developed personality of the members of the justice department.
A christmas gift to the world
When I am with the UN I end up with the idea that they listen to the will of the people, and I think it is our will to prevent and stop genocide. I think it is our believe that genocide can be prevented and stopped in all earlier phases by a Human Rights Tribunal. When I am in the shops I hear Christmas music all the time. So what else can I say then happy Christmas to everyone. Attached are the flyers I gave to people entering the UN building on day 2, 3 and 4. However day 4 was a Saturday and they were closed, so I will use it Monday. Every page is cut in two and while handing out I was given the advice to use a spelling checker next time(true). I have hope that you can find the time and will to demonstrate with all UN buildings worldwide for a Human Rights Tribunal to prevent and stop all future genocides so we can end this problem once and for all before Christmas. Thank you.
May all beings be safe and secure
May all beings be happy at heart
R.H.
Location Bangkok
Dear R.H.,
Thank you for your comment and dedication to the prevention of genocides.
As we are a young organization that runs on volunteer efforts and our aim is mainly to distribute scientifically proven commonalities among all human beings, I wonder if we might help you more if you would send us a future date for a coordinated effort to demonstrate in front of UN buildings that we can put up on our Facebook page.
Given the specificity of your aim, I would also suggest contacting local Dutch community groups and legal societies whose members may be in-line with your goals. Otherwise, Genocide Prevention Network is an organization that is quite strong in organizing local/regional demonstrations to raise awareness of and help stop genocides and Meetup, Gumtree and Craigslist are all good on-line tools (although I don’t know how popular they are in Thailand) to organize future group demonstrations.
In terms of the need for permits, this, I believe, varies according to local law.
Hope what I’ve written is helpful to your endeavors.
Best regards,
Wendy
Wendy,
I am inspired by the work you have committed your heart to. I am 23.45 years old and ever since I volunteered in a very poor community in Nicaragua I have been searching for the most significant way that I can work towards the actualization of potential for ALL human beings. It is overwhelming to be a sensitive person in a capitalistic society in which the majority people I am around do not see the word family to mean “the entire human race”. If people saw it this paradigm there is no way anyone could go to sleep with the consciousness that such a large part of our family lives everyday in unnecessary suffering and the pain of never having the opportunity to reach their beautiful human potential. I don’t want people to be insomniacs, I just wish that more and more people would begin to see the illuminated strands that connect us all. I would really like to get involved in the work you are doing and would feel very lucky if there was a possibility of this opportunity.
With hope,
Dave
Hi Dave,
Thank you for your comment. I like what you’re doing with Generation Potential Project. I would like to know more about what you do and love to hear how you’d like to get involved with the Foundation.
Will email you in a bit to continue the conversation.
Best,
Wendy
Hi Wendy,
Always happy to come across the work of fellow peacebuilders! Thought you might be interested in a site that I started last fall at http://www.modelsofunity.net I’ve been looking for and posting models that showcase where diverse racial/ethnic/religious groups have come together to advance their communities, but based on some clear sustainability and outcome criteria. It focuses on very local level success stories. Overall, I’m interested in identity-based conflicts and social cohesion and occasionally blog about these topics.
You may also be interested in the John Templeton Foundation’s work. They focus on how science “relates to the big questions” of human purpose.
Hi Zarrin,
Thank you for your comment. I’m really happy to see what you’re doing with you blog–such a positive encouragement for on-going collaboration and peace building!
Please feel free to share the models you have come across with our Facebook fans and your favorite peace-building organizations on our Peace NGO page.
Thank you also for your suggestion about the John Templeton Foundation–I’m looking forward to reading more about what they do.
Take care,
Wendy