ENDING WAR, TRANSFORMING CONFLICT…
A world without war is possible, however far away it may seem. A world without conflict may not be possible but nor is it necessarily desirable. Conflict can be a very positive thing, out of which new knowledge and perspectives can be borne. Conflict is destructive only when it is permitted to lead to oppositional relationships, violence, or armed warfare. There is therefore a major shift that must happen in our own minds, as well as in the cultures in which we move and to which we contribute. At the interpersonal level all the way to the global level we must challenge the fundamental belief that violence is an effective means of overcoming disputes and move away from our reliance on weapons as a source of personal and national security.
Media
Relevant Sydney Peace Prize Winners
DR. HANS BLIX, 2007 - Swedish diplomat, international human rights lawyer, weapons inspector and disarmament campaigner.
“I found it peculiar that those who wanted to take military action could - with 100 per cent certainty - know that the weapons existed and turn out to have zero knowledge of where they were.” - Dr. Hans Blix.
In 2007 Dr. Hans Blix won the Sydney Peace Prize award for “principled and courageous opposition to proponents of war in Iraq, for life long advocacy of humanitarian law and non violence, and for leadership of disarmament programs to rid the world of weapons of terror.”
Dr. Blix gave the City of Sydney Peace Prize Lecture on November 7th, 2007 in the Sydney Town Hall. You can listen to Dr. Blix’s lecture HERE.
OLARA OTUNNU, 2005 - United Nations Under Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict.
“Those who destroy the children are destroying the future of our societies. We must stop this process of self destruction.” - Olara Otunnu.
In 2005 Mr Otunnu was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for “lifetime commitment to human rights, his ceaseless efforts to protect children in time of war and his promotion of measures for the healing and social reintegration of children in the aftermath of conflict.” Read more about 2005 Sydney Peace Prize recipient Olara Otunnu HERE.
XANANA GUSMAO, 2000 - Former militant revolutionary, former President of East Timor, current (2009) Prime Minister of East Timor.
“Independence is only the beginning.” – Xanana Gusmao.
In 2000 Mr Gusmao was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize “for his courageous and principled leadership for the independence of the East Timorese people.”
Read more about 2000 Sydney Peace Prize recipient Xanana Gusmao HERE.
YPI Projects
The following projects designed and run by Australian young people are dedicated to the cause of Ending War & Transforming Conflict:
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