CANADIAN
CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM
WORKING
GROUP MEETING
MARCH 15,
2005 – 9:00 AM TO 3:30 PM
In
Attendance:
Anna
Brassa
Saul Arbess, from
Dave Hubert
, from
Renee Vaugeois, from
Paul Nelson
Larry Fisk
Dave Burgener
Alan Blanes, from
Bob Stewart
, Chair
Tex
Albert, in
1.
Review of Agenda, and any Additions
Items to
be added to the Agenda:
2b Update
on new Peace Program at the
8a Court
challenge of federal income taxes to support illegal military acts (
8b Book
club (Renee Vaugeois)
8c Next
meeting
2.
Update on new Peace and Governance Program in development at the
o
nature of their
desired relationship with CCOPP,
o
develop input for
a recommended agenda for a Second Annual National Culture of Peace/Canadian
Peace Initiative Symposium at the
o
develop input for
a recommended agenda for a Second Peace and Leadership Workshop, and recommend
date,
o
consider
educational programming and a consortium model (reference
http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPpeaceeducation.htm
),
o
consider
proprietary issues in the development of peace education materials (i.e. to what
extent might UofA share course materials with others?),
o
consider the
implications of peace pedagogy and the transformation of classrooms to a Culture
of Peace and Non-violence (reference http://www.peace.ca/modellingpeaceeducation.htm
).
Renee
reported that the certificate program was approved yesterday, with an expected
start of September 2006 (it takes time to move through the bureaucracy).
With respect to CCOPP, the commitment is still there to develop the relationship
and UofA expects to be more prepared to discuss this at a meeting in the summer
time as things develop.
2b
Update on new Peace Program at the
Larry
indicated that there has been a change in strategy due to some impediments.
They will now call their program “The Calgary Consortium for Peace and Human
Security”. Will consider role as gap filler, and a Chair of Peace
Studies. See it as complimentary to the UofA initiative, and CCOPP
initiative. Announcement last week that the Mayor and City Council have
declared
3.
Update on CCOPP developments:
o
incorporate CCOPP,
Bob has
been delaying this while we sort out governance issues. Subsequent to the
meeting, with mutual regret, Don Grayston has left CCOPP Core Group due to
personal reasons (to pursue his other dreams J Unless there becomes a
priority to do this, incorporation will await the appropriate moment.
o
secure a web site domain and initiate,
On behalf
of CCOPP, Bob has bought the following domains: www.cultureofpeace.ca
and www.culturedelapaix.ca . They
await a webmaster bringing them to life. In the meantime, a temporary web
site at http://www.peace.ca/canadiancultureofpeaceprogram.htm
has been used to accumulate CCOPP material, and will provide some example
for the future web sites. Bob and Paul will search for a volunteer web
master to start the dialogue to design the new web site. It was noted that
CCOPP needs a robust website to provide the extensive database, constant/live
updating, and interaction necessary.
o
refine a draft protocol for governance of CCOPP, following guidelines
discussed
Reference
http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPprotocol.htm
; we have now set up a Yahoo
Group email listserver to facilitate communications and development - To
subscribe to this group, send an email to: CCOPPprotocol-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
. See also Item 7 below.
o
initiate virtual meeting (i.e. by internet) as necessary
Noted; not
discussed.
o
initiate a CCOPP Working Group email listserver to serve as a
communication tool
Renee has
set it up at http://ca.groups.yahoo.com/group/CCOPPcore
; instructions to join are as follows: To subscribe to this group, send
an email to:
CCOPPcore-subscribe@yahoogroups.ca
o
develop the CCOPP Stakeholder Web concept, with the assistance of Paul
Nelson (
There was
significant discussion on the Stakeholder Document. It is part of a
process of: 1. design, 2. marketing, 3 retail (the simple message).
Consensus was:
-
leave as a draft
document, continuing to solicit input, and seek another author to put into
‘populist’ language
-
go on with the
Marketing Strategy, to invite organizations and people to “get on board”
(which again should have two texts: 1. academic, 2. populist)
-
we have not
solved the governance issue, which should be the focus of a conference to bring
out the problems with the nature of governance (Larry added insight on the
importance of governance, the nature of how we govern ourselves, how we relate
to others, work with others, how make decisions, get into so much; how can we
bring others together; there have been so many other attempts; what arrogance
that we are going to do it and get it right; we better take the time to look
what was done before, what works, approach as the servant; in the meantime, we
can have clarity around principles of seeking, uncertainty; like taking patience
for a year; what we are marketing is this patience)
-
governance will
be incorporated into a Leadership, Governance and Peace Workshop, and the
Stakeholders Conference
-
Bob asked members
to consider the merits of a possible Canadian Peace Initiative Charter of
Principles (background reading http://www.peace.ca/CPImission.htm
, last section)
o
develop a CCOPP Marketing Strategy, with the assistance of Paul Nelson (
There was
significant discussion on the Marketing Strategy. Consensus was:
-
We are defined by what we do. If we define ourselves by what we do, then we avoid
the “marketing argument” (eg. The coercive sales person); this is
complimentary to Servant Leadership; we will do, rather than talk – and we
will listen; Gandhi was the best “marketer” (eg. The Salt March); what we
are doing now (i.e. in this meeting) is what we should be marketing – as we do
this the marketing will come out; when I go to Mustard Seed to put on a class I
am marketing peace; reaching out (or outreach) is very important.
-
at higher levels,
we want to be facilitators, connectors; we need to be in local communities
-
while we still
have differences about governance, there is a lot we can say about CCOPP in the
meantime
-
Paul will lead a
facilitation process to develop a draft Marketing Strategy in this light
-
We are not ready
to talk to organizations formally yet. In the meantime, we are networking,
developing the Stakeholder Web; we have to let the process percolate (as we are
learning by doing; staying anchored in reality).
-
“I am a local
person, how can I …; i.e. what is in it for me?” Our comparative
advantage – listening and helping people to solve peace and violence
problems/issues through our extensive knowledge network of skilled people and
resources (information, people, money raising, best cases).
-
We are not going
to solve everyone’s problems – but we can help teach them how to solve their
own problems within the values of a Culture of Peace and Non-violence.
o
develop a CCOPP Report to the United Nations Secretary General pursuant
to General Assembly Resolution A/RES/58/11 paragraph 10 (i.e. the Mid Term
Report of the Decade of a Culture of Peace), with the assistance of Don Grayston
(Vancouver) and Renee Vaugeois (Edmonton)
Bob tabled
the report of the Canadian Centres for
Teaching Peace, for information. The consensus was:
-
CCOPP should
draft its own Report,
-
CCOPP should
choose with care its words as we wish to enter into and build meaningful
relationships with the Government of Canada and the United Nations (i.e.
obviously we do not wish to start the CCOPP conversation with GC or UN in a
potentially offensive way)
-
The CCOPP
Mid-Term Report should be in the nature of “reportage”, showing what has
been done, what remains to be done, CCOPP plans
-
The CCOPP Report
would be drafted by a smaller working group, complete with any recommendations
(such as distribution) and submitted to the larger CCOPPcore group for
consideration and decisions. Accordingly, we set up a Yahoo Group
CCOPPunreport to facilitate this. (Currently, the working group is
comprised of
-
Strategically,
there are times when there is a benefit in using Canadian Centres for Teaching
Peace to say or do some things that, for whatever reason, it may be best for
CCOPP not to say or do at the time.
o
find individuals who will “champion” the CCOPP Stakeholder Web Action
Areas
See Item 6
below.
o
invite Canadian Universities, Colleges and other institutions to join the
CCOPP Stakeholder Web
Noted; not
discussed.
o
continue discussions on a Culture of Peace News Network in
Noted; not
discussed. (Subsequently, a CCOPPfreeflowofinformation Yahoo Group email
listserver has been set up to facilitate the discussion of the COP Action Item
free flow of information, media issues and CPNN-Canada. To join, send an
email to CCOPPfreeflowofinformation-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
)
o
coordinate with the World Peace Forum 2006 in
Bob to
submit a formal endorsement letter. CCOPP should submit a proposal to make
a presentation at WPF.
o
fill the Small/Executive Core Group and Larger Core Working Group, with
the input of participants of CCOPP meetings
Noted; not
discussed. (This is a work-in-progress.)
o
develop a list of minimum required reading for newcomers to CCOPP
It is
suggested the list at http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPpeaceeducation.htm
would be a list of minimum required reading for CCOPP members. Also
see Item 8b below.
o
develop input for a recommended agenda for a Second Annual National
Culture of Peace/Canadian Peace Initiative Symposium at the
See Item 4
below.
o
develop input for a recommended agenda for a Second Peace and Leadership
Workshop
See Item 5
below.
o
do some preliminary research on the needs and issues related to
“Educating Peace Educators” (i.e. peace pedagogy to guide the establishment
of a University program to teach teachers and other potential peace educators
how to teach peace), with the assistance of Larry Fisk (
To be done
in conjunction with Item 6 below (i.e. the Fourth Annual Peace Education
Conference in
o
develop a strategy for funding CCOPP work
Noted; not
discussed. (This will probably follow from the Marketing Strategy above.)
o
develop a protocol for representing CCOPP and strategic plan on an
approach for facilitating developments in Stakeholder Web Action Areas, with the
assistance of Paul Nelson (
See Item
3c above, and Item 7 below.
4.
Planning for a Second Annual National Culture of Peace/Canadian Peace
Initiative Symposium at the University of Alberta in the fall of 2005 or spring
of 2006 (dates to be decided at this meeting). It will be preceded by a
workshop to bring new participants up-to-speed with respect to CCOPP. The
conferencing will also coordinate with the Provincial and National Peace
Education Conferences.
The
consensus was:
-
there is a
definite need for this; take your time; decide when it fits best for UofA in
fall or spring (Renee indicated it will not be before November due to other
constraints)
-
start with
“What can CCOPP do to help UofA?”
-
consider Day 1
– UofA getting their people together/fitting UofA needs; Day 2 – CCOPP
“here is how we are …” ; Day 3 – Open Space Technology to go where we
need to
-
good idea to hold
the Leadership Workshop after: use the Stakeholder Conference as an invitation
with respect to governance, then sift data and use what is relevant to us to
advance governance and workshop it (Item 5 below)
5.
Planning for a Second Peace and Leadership Workshop.
As per
Item 4 above, to follow the Stakeholder Conference, building on what is learned
between here and there.
6.
Planning and development of the Canadian Peace Education Strategy,
filling Peace Education Gaps in Canada (reference http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPpeaceeducation.htm
), and the Fourth Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada at McMaster
University November 24 to 28, 2005, with the Theme “Peace Pedagogy: Educating
Educators to Teach Peace (reference http://www.peace.ca/CanadianAgenda2005.htm
)
Bob
stressed the need to find people who wish to “Champion” all these key CCOPP
initiatives – keep our eyes open for them; invite them in (many hands make
light work). For example, the case of Gabi Lasko who has highlighted the
bully issue – CCOPP can help by providing “the right tools in the right
place at the right time” to help. As a result, we have initiated a
Manitoba Culture of Peace Program/Peace Education Yahoo Group email listserver
to promote communications. Someone could initiate an Anti-Bullying Yahoo
Group. Anna, Paul and Dave will look into a Schools Peace Program (note
–
7.
Update on the Federal Department of Peace Initiatives (Saul Arbess):
o
Including a discussion on the potential relationship of CCOPP with a
Federal Department of Peace and other recommendations
Saul
provided an update on the Victoria Working Group initiative, and the Civilian
Peace Force initiative who have agreed to work to merge similar proposals.
Predictably, Minister of DFAIT Pettigrew indicated that “most of the things
the federal government is already doing”. Newly appointed Senator Romeo
Dallaire could be an ally. The consensus was:
-
CCOPP take care
to build a relationship with the Federal and other Governments; “there are no
enemies”; be guided by developing protocol (reference http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPprotocol.htm
; we have now set up a Yahoo Group email listserver to facilitate communications
and development - To subscribe to this group, send an email to: CCOPPprotocol-subscribe@yahoogroups.com)
-
Question for poll
and advice to the Federal Government: “to what extent are the implicit goals
of the Culture of Peace and Non-violence Program agreed to by the body
politic?” We think a large number of Canadians support. We can
provide a service to the government and Canadians if we can write, “This is
what the population thinks …” A previous poll indicated that Canadians
most voted choice was for an international role in peace. Give people a
vehicle, to support at the local level.
-
We must
“diarize” our approach to diverse groups, as part of our learning process.
(eg. What we are learning in the Interreligious Dialogue group, led by Tex; not
to act alone; keeping Bob informed; Bob to monitor; “countervaillance
synergy”.)
8.
Any Other Items
8a
Court challenge of federal income taxes to support illegal military acts (
Dave’s
highlights: movement against war taxes; starve war of resources; making me
complicit in deaths and murders; the federal government will not address the
question, “is the Federal Government abiding by the rule of law?”; will
withhold as per Conscience Canada, and put into trust for a Culture of Peace;
will launch a legal challenge; there are legal alternatives for conscientious
objectors that the federal government should allow; it will be helpful to have
support.
8b Book
club (Renee Vaugeois)
Renee will
initiate this (she has subsequently initiated a poll). Bob asks that
members type up highlights of important peace books they recommend for posting
on the web site.
8c Next
meeting
Dates for
a next meeting were left open until we move things along. July 8 to 19 was
noted as a likely window of opportunity so as not to lose momentum – a lot was
accomplished at this meeting, for example. It would likely be at the
Note –
for a list of all the CCOPP Yahoo Groups, and how to join, see http://www.peace.ca/CCOPPgroups.htm
Any errors
or omissions should be reported to
Regards,
stewartr [at] peace.ca