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THE DECADE
FOR A CULTURE OF NONVIOLENCE
A City
Resolves to Build a Culture of Peace
by Janet Chisholm
What is our vision
for future peace and justice movements in this country? Will they
be successful if they remain as small as they are today? In his
acclaimed new book, Doing Democracy, Bill Moyer warns that social
movements will be "self-destructive to the extent that they
are defined as rebellious, on the fringes of society, and in opposition
to the society's cherished core social values, symbols, rituals,
beliefs, and principles." He offers advice based on 40 years
of analysis, organizing, consulting and participation in social
movements. The central task of all social movements, he writes,
is "…to win the hearts, minds and support of the majority
of the populace. Because it is the people who ultimately hold the
power, they will either preserve the status quo or create change."
Building a majority movement, according to Moyer, means from the
beginning we must empower people to exercise their collective power.
And we must ally with activists who play different, yet critical,
roles if a social movement is to progress through all developmental
stages successfully.
Judith Stoutland
and other citizens of Northfield, Minnesota, are helping to lay
the groundwork for a nonviolent people's movement in their own community.
Their focus is on increasing awareness and understanding of active
nonviolence, starting with constructive nonviolence, or the building
of a culture of peace. On May 20, 2002, their organizing of various
local groups and individuals led to a City Council resolution supporting
the Nobel Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence for the
Children of the World. The city resolved "…to make it
a priority to teach and practice nonviolence, making use of resources
from the community and organizations associated with observing the
Decade." Now there is an identified core group that can collaborate
and there are agreed guidelines for affirming and fostering local
initiatives when the inevitable controversies, conflicts and struggles
for justice arise.
Recently Judith
described for me how the resolution came about and her hopes for
the future.
JC: What
inspired you to get involved with the Decade movement to build a
culture of nonviolence?
JS: My interest in nonviolent resolution of conflict and
my concern for the increasing violence and destruction in the world
which is devastating to children goes back many years. The Nobel
Laureates' Appeal for a culture of peace and nonviolence was a catalyst
for action worldwide--and also for me personally. It spoke
to my concerns. As a Lutheran, I benefited from ELCA's (Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America) official support for the Decade, which
brought both materials and encouragement, and, of course, from
the leadership of the Lutheran Peace Fellowship and FOR.
JC: You
told me that Candace Lautt, an FOR National Council member who lives
in Northfield, was helpful in organizing support. She is the one
who arranged for me to talk with a wide variety of Northfield groups
and individuals about the Decade and active nonviolence. She wrote
many letters of invitation and posted notices all over the town.
In early April she coordinated my meetings with parents, teachers,
social service workers, college students, peace groups, and members
of faith communities. By the last day of my stay, I met with you
and representatives from many of these groups to discuss action
that would support the Decade.
JS: Yes, I think this kind of organizing developed a broader
base for the initial effort, increased interest in nonviolence,
and gave encouragement to those who felt they had been working alone
in their corners of the community.
JC: What
led you to work on a resolution for city council?
JS: The City of Northfield signed onto the U.N. Manifesto
for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence in 2000. After your visit,
in late April of this year, I became aware that the Manifesto related
to only the one year of preparation prior to the Decade, and support
for it did mean automatic carryover to the Decade itself. Candace
alerted me that the Manifesto was no longer mentioned on our city
web page. Feeling we were already behind (this is Year 2 of the
Decade), we wanted to move as quickly as possible to get things
going. Also, annual planning sessions for many groups in the
city were coming up soon, so we wanted to get on their agenda. I
was eager to have as many people as possible involved, so I called
the list of persons who attended your last Saturday session in April,
Janet, and got good responses. I also called others who are active
in peace and justice work for suggestions of other groups that should
be asked and included. Rebecca Bazan who chairs the
Northfield Human Rights Commission was able to help in the mobilization
of individuals and groups in the broader Northfield community.
JC: What
groups signed on?
JS: We contacted everyone who was suggested and had an
overwhelming response - with signatures of support representing
26 groups and 70 individuals. I was especially pleased that
the Superintendent of Schools signed on, that the regional Girl
Scout Council and the Boy Scout Council joined (I encouraged the
rep to send this on to BSA - the national council - also), and also
a 4-H group. These groups work so directly with young people over
long periods of time, so I think the youth will be involved in many
ways. Other supporters included the League of Women Voters, St.
Olaf College, the Family Education Center, the Special Olympics,
the Domestic Abuse Prevention Program and several faith communities.
JC: Was
there newspaper coverage of the resolution's passing?
JS: The Resolution got no coverage in the news for a week;
all the space allotted to City Council activity was taken up with
other issues. Finally, the paper published a letter I sent in to
thank the Council and to alert the community to the Resolution.
We will get the Resolution published and put it and the Decade logo
up on the city's web page.
JC: What
do you think will change in Northfield as a result of passing
the Resolution?
JS: We are spreading the message in a yeast kind of way.
We feel many appropriate, constructive nonviolent actions are already
in motion and support the Decade; therefore, our intent is to encourage
this work and to keep up with what is going on. The Health
Community Initiative focuses on how we care for our children. The
Brownies are gathering donations for the food shelf. Our middle
school organizes group exercise for an American child fund. Wings
is a group of women investing in a foundation for local projects.
And there are many more examples. We will encourage groups that
endorse the Decade resolution to highlight it on their web pages
and to use the logo on stationery and newsletters. There will be
lots of stickers, pens and pencils with slogans like "Peace
is in Our Hands." I am preparing a binder full of reference
materials for our town library. And we hope to establish an email
network where people can explore possible actions and activities
and see what others are doing. We will have a presence at the Youth
Activities Fair the end of August with materials especially designed
to raise awareness and items for them to take home as reminders.
My own church, St. John's Lutheran, will continue to develop its
Decade work through parish education planning, a web site, peace
and justice committee, and special brochure. It will be important
for us to keep in touch with those who signed the petition for the
Resolution to see what they are planning and to coordinate with
them. I hope we have begun to create a group (however loosely organized)
that will hold steady and firm, working together in the future.
We will be developing other ways to keep the Decade 'visible' and
increase the understanding and commitment to nonviolent action.
July 2002
Let us know if your city passes a Decade resolution,
too. More information on the Decade is available on these web sites:
www.ci.northfield.mn.us,
www.unesco.org/cp
and www.forusa.org
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