history & methods…
This space is a resource for those interested in the tradition of satyagrahi (non-violence). The two philosophical figures who most influenced my decision to study philosophy were Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi. Living peaceworkers are slowly being added so that you can connect with present events, players and situations. Look for additions regularly.
Nelson Mandela:
This former leader of South Africa had a Long Walk to Freedom and began fighting against apartheid and for justice in the 1940s. He paid a dear price for the political struggle against white supremacists spending 27 years in South African prisons under very harsh conditions. When he was freed on Sunday 11 February 1990, he tried to end the violence in South Africa and unite the country. Whenever I think a struggle is too hard or has too high a price to pay for justice, I try to remember Mandela’s example as a living fighter for freedom and justice.
- Read the bare biographical details here on the ANC’s web site.
- The Nelson Mandela Foundation has tons of current links and news items that should be of interest to anyone who follows current movements for peace and justice.
- A brief biography with links to resources from the History Channel.
Dr. Martin Luther King:
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The King Center: This is the site in Atlanta where Dr. King’s museum and research library are located. It is next to the Ebenezer Baptist Church where he once preached.
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The Martin Luther King, Jr. Papers Project @ Stanford: This a a great starting place if you would like to read King’s work!
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Memphis We Remember: A site dedicated to honoring Dr. King and
remembering the sanitation worker’s strike.
Mahatma Gandhi:
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Mahatma Gandhi Research and Media Service : This site is a one-stop shop for persons interested in an introduction to Gandhi’s philosophy .
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The Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation: another great site for links/resources
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The Bhagavad-Gita is a wonderful text and should be studied by anyone seriously interested in Eastern philosophy.
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Norbert’s Bookmarks for a Better World offers many non-violence resources.
Other notable resources:
- Ten Ways to fight hate – community resource guide: fight hate on the macro & micro levels
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University of Minnesota Human Rights Library: Find the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights here among many other valuable resources.
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Tibet In Exile: This is the main site for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, a strong living advocate for the cause of nonviolence and universal human rights.
Peace Activities:
- Join the Thomas Merton Center in Pittsburgh to wage peace:Thomas Merton Center
- Merton Center Events: fight for justice on the homefront
Peace & Justice Organizations:
- United for Peace & Justice: organization and site that describe present causes & opportunities to support peace & justice initiatives
- Peace & Justice Center: an organization committed to research, policy & action, this organization works for changes that will benefit people in our communities. Check out the news on the main page.
- The Institute for Peace & Justice is a Christian group devoted to bringing out the peace teachings in Christian doctrine. I can’t imagine a more worthy cause when so many in our country support two wars.
- The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is another Christian organization devoted to peace. I think it is incredibly important to be aware of these views which receive little publicity in our culture.
Women & Peace:
Below are a few organizations linking women globally and locally to work for peace. While I believe both men & women have to work together for peace, I also think women have a special role to play as mothers, daughters and wives. From the Western tradition espoused in the Lysistrata to the organizations listed below, women have a strong role in publicizing and promoting peaceful relations among peoples from different cultures.
- Women’s Human Rights Resources: The name says it all. If you are interested in promoting women’s rights, this is a great starting place.
- Peace Women is an organization devoted to promoting peace & justice activities globally and locally. Amazing resource for anyone interested in this cause. Lots of global news we never hear in the United States.
- The Working Group on Women Peace and Security tries to “make peace work for women” but undoubtedly everyone enjoys the benefits of non-violence. From people to animals to the environment, a healthy peaceful country is more likely to be ready to meet unexpected challenges from nature and man-made calamities.