National Culture of Peace/Canadian Peace Initiative Symposium

REGISTRATION FORM - click here to register

INVITATION LETTER - please read

Purpose/theme - A venue for the discussion of a Canadian National Culture of Peace Program ("Canadian Peace Initiative" or CPI), leading to the development of a Vision and Action Plan for a National Culture of Peace Program in Canada, following the principles of the United Nations Culture of Peace and Non-violence Program. 

Agenda:

The Symposium will utilize the Open Space Technology ("OST"), an extraordinarily simple approach which enables groups of people, large and small, to engage complex, chaotic, confusing and conflicted issues in a Peaceful fashion (reference further description at http://www.peace.ca/ost.htm ).  Participants create a bulletin board on which to identify issues (guided by the purpose or theme), open a market place to arrange time and place particulars -- and multiple dialogues are on their way.  In support, there are certain planned speakers:

Sunday, November 21, 2004, 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm (Location: Student Union Centre, 3rd Floor, CIBC Banquet Hall)

1. The Symposium will begin Sunday, November 21, 2004 at 4:00 pm with a presentation by David Adams to bring people up-to-speed on the current status of the U.N. Culture of Peace Program, including National Culture of Peace Programs.  (This will coincidentally be the final presentation of the Third Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada.)  

2. A presentation by Robert Stewart, C.A., C.M.C. to describe some of the implications and challenges of formalizing a Canadian Peace Vision and an example of "What might a National Culture of Peace Program for Canada look like?" (background reading http://www.peace.ca/copp.htm  to help start the ideas/issues generation and dialogue)

3. The presentations will be followed by a "Wine and Cheese" Social/Mixer.  This will provide an opportunity to meet and begin networking with other participants.

Monday, November 22, 2004, 9:00 am to 9:00 pm (same location; with breaks throughout the day)

1. Acting on "The Human Right To Peace" - a presentation on Senator Douglas Roche's book "The Human Right To Peace". (background reading is the book http://www.peace.ca/rochebookreview.htm )

2. Introduction by Judi Richardson, Open Space Facilitator on the dialogue methodology.

3. Participants create a bulletin board on which to identify issues (guided by the purpose or theme; for example, see below)), open a market place to arrange time and place particulars -- and multiple dialogues are on their way.  The individuals that identify the issues will lead those discussions.  Participants will go to the dialogues that interest them most.  Summaries of dialogue highlights are prepared for distribution to all.

Tuesday, November 23, 2004, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (same location; with breaks throughout the day)

1. Open Space dialogue continues.

2. Symposium conclusion, bringing together dialogue highlights into a draft Vision and Action Plan for a National Culture of Peace Program for Canada.  Results, including planned follow-up, will be distributed to participants, and will be posted on the Internet.

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ISSUES MARKETPLACE

The following issues have been identified to date, for potential dialogue (in no particular order):

• A discussion of the Vision and Action Plan for Peace Education in Canada and other fundamentals to build peace
• Federal government peacebuilding initiatives including (a) world level: "3D" (Defence, Development, and Diplomacy) and the Peace and Nation Building Initiatives; (b) within Canada
• a proposed Department of Peace by Dr. Saul Arbess, Victoria Working Group for a Federal Department of Peace (background reading http://www.departmentofpeacecanada.com )
• A possible Canadian Peace Initiative Charter of Principles (background reading http://www.peace.ca/CPImission.htm  to start the dialogue, and your particular attention is drawn to the last section of the page for the proposed Charter)
• Canadian civil society report to the U.N. Secretary General on progress of the Culture of Peace Program in Canada in 2005 (Reference UN General Assembly document A/55/47 http://www.peace.ca/UNa55r047.pdf particularly paragraphs 11 to 13:

  11. [the United Nations General Assembly] Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixtieth session in 2005 a report on the observance of the Decade at its mid-point and on the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, taking into account the views of Member States and in consultation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children’s Fund and other relevant bodies of the United Nations system;  12. Invites civil society, including non-governmental organizations, to provide information to the Secretary-General on the observance of the Decade and the activities undertaken to promote a culture of peace and non-violence; 13. Decides to devote one day of plenary meetings at its sixtieth session to consideration of the item, including a review of the progress made in the implementation of the Declaration and Programme of Action, as well as the observance of the Decade at its mid-point, with the participation of all relevant actors, as appropriate;)

• working groups and organizational structure (for an example of what that might look like to start the discussion refer to http://www.peace.ca/appendixb.htm ; note that, due to our technical limitations, this sample organization chart is linear -- it can be redrawn into a circle or, possibly more suitably, into a "web")
• a Canadian National Culture of Peace Program/Canadian Peace Initiative email listserv communication tool
• the Culture of Peace News Network - Canada (U.N. Resolution A/RES/57/6 Encourages the involvement of the mass media in education for a culture of peace and non-violence, with particular regard to children and young people, including through the planned expansion of the Culture of Peace News Network as a global network of Internet sites in many languages; background reading http://cpnn-usa.org/resolutions/resA-57-6.html and http://cpnn-usa.org/ ). Input will be brought in from a workshop to be held on the previous Friday.  Discussion may include violence in the media; media bias; ownership; freedom of speech; etc.
• Canadian business: a part of the problem and/or a part of the solution
• the Leadership Crisis
• future Canadian National Culture of Peace Program/Canadian Peace Initiative symposiums
• engaging key stakeholders, such as government, business community, media, etc.
• consideration of working subcommittees (eg. education, healthy communities, ethics and values, sustainable economy and ecology, foreign policy, the military, human rights and responsibilities, racism and tolerance, interfaith, gender, research, justice, conflict transformation, etc.) 
• resources (available, needed, how to fill the gap, etc.)
• Action Planning: Where we go from here
• other
  
  

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BACKGROUND/ISSUES PAPERS

Participants at the Symposium are invited to submit articles and papers addressing our Purpose/Theme - "A Canadian National Culture of Peace Program": the desired outcome is the development of a vision and action for a National Culture of Peace Program in Canada, to help build peace in our communities and world.  It is recommended that you read these articles prior to the Conference.

1. Senator Douglas Roche's book "The Human Right To Peace". (background reading is the book, highlights at  http://www.peace.ca/rochebookreview.htm and http://www.peace.ca/humanrighttopeace.htm  )

2. A NATIONAL CULTURE OF PEACE PROGRAM by Robert Stewart

3. A suggested Canadian Peace Vision: To significantly reduce the human cost of violence, within our country and our world. A presentation by Robert Stewart, C.A., C.M.C. (background reading Canadian Peace Initiative Strategy )

4. What might a National Culture of Peace Program for Canada look like? (background reading http://www.peace.ca/copp.htm  to start the dialogue)

5. Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating Committee article, "A CANADIAN ACTION AGENDA ON CONFLICT PREVENTION: Some Key Points proposed by Canadian Civil Society", October 31, 2004

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REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS:

I am attaching the following Canadian Culture of Peace Program ("CCOPP") Reports for your information:

1. CCOPP Summary Statement  (in HTML)   (in Microsoft Word) 
2. CCOPP Initial Action Plan   (in HTML)   (in Microsoft Word)
3. CCOPP Leadership & Peace Workshop Report   (in HTML)   (in Microsoft Word)
4. CCOPP Organization Network/Stakeholder Web (Draft) (in HTML)  
5. CCOPP Mobilizing Peace Resources (Nov 19, 2004) (in HTML)   (in Microsoft Word)
6. CCOPP Open Space Technology Conference Report (Nov 22 - 23, 2004) (in HTML)   (in Microsoft Word)

and our amazing, 60 page Youth Day Report (Nov 18, 2004) (in pdf)

A great "THANK YOU" to all the participants.  Without you, none of this would be possible.

View Canadian Culture of Peace Symposium 2004 Slide Show 1 - pictures by Shall Sinha

View Canadian Culture of Peace Workshop 2004 Slide Show 2 - pictures by Shall Sinha

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REGISTRATION

The early registration price prior to October 31 is $200.00, after which the registration price will be $250.00.  Cancellations are allowed up to November 10 with a 15% cancellation fee.  Though refunds are not possible for cancellations after November 10, registrants unable to attend can assign their participation to someone else.  Note - places will be reserved for students at a reduced registration fee of $50.00 CDN (To October 31 $25.00 CDN) and seniors students at a reduced registration fee of $75.00 CDN (To October 31 $50.00 CDN).  All Registrants at our Conference will get a copy of the highly recommended book "The Human Right to Peace" by Canadian Senator Douglas Roche as part of the Registration Package.  This is a $24.95 value, and 'must reading' for all peacebuilders.  Students and seniors who wish to have a copy of the book may purchase them at the Conference for the discounted rate of $10.00CDN.

Our conferences are designed to cover our costs.  Any surplus is provided to the Canadian Peace Education Foundation.

REGISTRATION FORM - click here to register (URL - http://www.peace.ca/registrationformCPI.htm )

Participants should make their own hotel arrangements and pay the hotel directly.   An html file is attached at http://www.peace.ca/HamiltonAccommodations.htm (ask for the McMaster University rate if applicable).  We are not recommending any one hotel or accommodation in particular, and we are not responsible for them.  To help mitigate costs of accommodation, we are trying to organize some home boarding.  Please indicate here your request for home boarding and for what dates:

Transportation to and from Hamilton, Ontario is the responsibility of the registrant. The closest airports are Hamilton airport (at Mount Hope) and Pearson International, on the north-west outskirts of Toronto.  NEED A SPECIAL RATE FOR TRANSPORTATION FROM/TO PEARSON AIRPORT? - SEE ATTACHED.

Campus Map  (to get to McMaster directions ).  Parking locations are indicated on the map.  Parking charges are NOT included in your registration fees.  Rates are indicated on the directions page.

Location: at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario (Student Union Centre, 3rd Floor; following the Third Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada, November 18 - 22, 2004).  Contact Bob Stewart stewartr [at] peace.ca  for more information.

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LANGUAGE CONSIDERATIONS:

We recognize how important it is to conduct peace discussions like this in both of Canada's Official Languages.  Unfortunately, unless we are successful in acquiring funding for interpretation and translation between French and English languages, this discussion will be conducted in English for the most part.  We regret leaving anyone out and will plan to correct this .  (We would love to hear from anyone who would like to sponsor this initiative.)