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Showing posts from August, 2011

Extending Eupan - Reflection on Personal Privilege

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Written while on location in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: I have spent quite a few weeks studying to be in Cambodia – being as aware as I can be of the current situations in this country – while remaining aware of the social/political factors that have shaped its history. In particular, I have been reflecting on the issues of Genocide that characterized the regime of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, particularly between 1975 to 1979.   As part of our plans for shared time of peace and conflict resolution engagement in the land, we will be visiting the “museum” that commemorates the killing fields, as well as the “S-21” prison, now a museum.   In these ways alone I have been prepared for the reality of death, gruesome genocide and terrible torture that has taken place in this land.   Our first day in Cambodia, having landed in Phnom Penh, we went straight to a tourist event – visiting the King’s home at the Grand Palace.   Our guide told us his name was “Ritz,” and I thought as we walked th

Too much killing

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“At least 28 million people have been killed in more than 150 major armed conflicts fought mainly in the Third World since 1945 (IISS, 1997); another estimate puts the total at 40 million civilian and military deaths (Leitenberg, 2003). The proportion of civilian casualties rose from only 5 per cent of total casualties in the First World War, to 50 per cent by the Second World War and to 80 to 90 per cent by the end of the century, of whom the majority were women and children (Grant, 1992: 26; Collier et al., 2003). This is a reversion to older types of warfare.”  Source:   Contemporary Conflict   Resolution: The prevention, management and transformation of deadly conflicts.   Third Edition Oliver Ramsbotham,   Tom Woodhouse and Hugh Miall. (Page 85)   Let's not revert to warfare - but press forward in peacemaking!! Toward eupan . ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d. Posted via email from Eupan Global Initiative

Senators for Peace

I attended Elementary and Secondary school in Oregon when Senator Mark O. Hatfield was one of Oregon’s U.S. Senators.   He died this week.   I did not grow up in a politically active family and do not remember too many occasions in school or in my elementary and secondary schooling when we spoke about Senator Hatfield.   But I do remember reading about him.   My recollection is that during his term of office, he was greatly respected.   Neither loved, nor hated, but respected for the integrity. I wonder what U.S. policy and action – and U.S. International relations -   would be like today if more Senators advocated as he did. Hatfield was a Republican who disagreed with then Republican President Ronald Reagan.   He, “used his chairmanship of the Appropriations Committee to denounce what he considered the ‘madness’ of excessive defense spending.” Though a Navy Veteran who participated in the battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, he is described as “one of the Senate’s most unwavering pac

The Majority World

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We used to say the "First World" and "Third World" to designate the disparities between countries in their "progress." More recently, "Developed" and "Developing" Worlds have been used to be sensitive to the priority given to "First" and "Third" categories. While no term is perfect, I like the term I have recently read - and can not cite as I genuinely do not recall where I read it - "The Major World."  It should serve as a reminder for me (and for all too many who have the privilege to blog/free-press/freedom from war) - that I am the "Minority" in a big world that is complex and intricate.  I am not the "first" nor the  "developed" who brings peace - but a minority individual striving for peace for the entire World.  Toward eupan ~ ~ marty alan michelson, ph.d. Posted via email from Eupan Global Initiative