We, the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal right of men and women and of nations large and small....And for these ends to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors...have resolved to combine our efforts to accomplish these aims.

- Preamble, Charter of the United Nations.

Please check out a wonderful site on peace and conflict resolution: Peace and Collaborative Development Network - a net work of professional peace workers; A great resource on peace and conflict activism - training, advocacy and much more... Just click : http://www.internationalpeaceandconflict.org

ALSO

Please check there at Peacemaker Institute. Some useful peacemaking training programs are available. For more information, please visit: http://www.peacemakerinstitute.org/training.htm

TOOLKIT:
I Painted Peace - Handbook on Peace Building with and for Children and Young People
Save the Children is pleased to share I Painted Peace - a Handbook on Peace Building with and for Children and Young People with the INEE community. In this handbook you will find examples of peace building from children and young people in four different countries. They present experiences, achievements and plans. It is hoped that the handbook can be useful for children and young people in other countries in their efforts to contributing to peace. To access this book, click here

Here is President Obama's speech to the Muslim World. I think it is great and very bold step toward global peace and security. He knows that LOVE is more powerful than the HATRED. It is good beginning.

Obama speaks before 3,000, addresses a billion

By Theodore May - GlobalPost

CAIRO — By the time President Barack Obama arrived at Cairo University to deliver his much-anticipated address to the Muslim world, he had already accomplished much in the Arab world’s most populous city.

Obama visited with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. They focused on trying to break the impasse in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis, according to news reports. President Obama then headed to the Sultan Hassan Mosque with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for a tour.

Obama strolled the mosque in his socks, and Clinton wore a loose headscarf in deference to Muslim tradition.

Egyptians across Cairo crowded around televisions and radios to hear the president’s address, as various Arab TV stations dubbed his words in Arabic.

But it didn’t take any translation to understand some of his opening words, which were a simple gesture of respect.

“Assalaamu alaykum,” Obama said, wishing peace, in Arabic, to the 3,000 attending Egyptians.

In his speech, Obama made almost immediate mention of the discord between the West and the Muslim world, bringing up both European colonialism and Muslim extremism.

He then framed the purpose of his visit.

“I have come here to seek a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world; one based upon mutual interest and mutual respect; and one based upon the truth that America and Islam are not exclusive, and need not be in competition,” he said.

Obama also showed a new willingness to open up about his own history. During the presidential campaign, Obama sought to distance himself from his Islamic roots in an effort to combat rumors he was a Muslim. His middle name, Hussein, was often used as fodder for his opposition.

Since taking office, though, Obama has re-emphasized his past. In his Cairo speech, he mentioned that his father was Muslim, that he had lived in Indonesia, and that he had worked with Muslims in Chicago.

In the lead-up to Obama’s speech, many around Cairo were concerned that Obama would rely on rhetoric rather than offering specific strategies for dealing with a region in a deep state of crisis. Obama needed to offer a plan for action, many from across the Egyptian political spectrum said, for them to view his speech as a success.

Obama did take on some of the pressing regional issues in his address.

“Make no mistake,” Obama said, “we do not want to keep our troops in Afghanistan. We seek no military bases there. It is agonizing for America to lose our young men and women. It is costly and politically difficult to continue this conflict. We would gladly bring every single one of our troops home if we could be confident that there were not violent extremists in Afghanistan and Pakistan determined to kill as many Americans as they possibly can. But that is not yet the case.” More>>

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WHY I’M JOINING THE ACADEMIC BOYCOTT OF ISRAEL
By Jake Lynch
Nearly two-thirds of Israelis in favour of direct, substantive negotiations between their own government and the leadership of Hamas. Some mistake, surely? Actually no – this was the finding of an opinion survey in February 2008 by Tel Aviv University. Barely ten months later, as ‘Operation Cast Lead’ got underway, pollsters were finding still higher majorities, up to 90% in some cases, in favour of war against the same Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip. More>>