Institute of Social Transformation

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Browsing Institute of Social Transformation by Author "Kokonya, Pamela Achieng"

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    Active Non-Violence: A Means of Personal and Social Change
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-04) Kokonya, Pamela Achieng
    Violence is as old as humanity. Efforts have always been there at various levels to minimize it yet the world today appears to be more violent than ever. More weapons than ever stand poised at all times on the brink of disaster. In part, this is seen as reason why the Americans keep an eye on Saddam Hussein, the President of Iraq for fear that he could destroy the whole Middle East or even the world. Today, many people live on a nervous edge all the time, thus requiring the large number of psychologists and psychiatrists that the world has. Before the era of the present advanced technology, one would destroy another person with a spear. Today, it would only take the press of a button to extinguish the whole world. For many years, many people have believed and acted as if the only solution to conflict is violence. Unfortunately, this is not the whole truth. Violence is a quick-fix method that succeeds in as much as it instills fear in the weaker party, leading to the withdrawal or submission of the weaker one. But the source of conflict still lurks. We see this in families that believe in corporal punishment as the one and only means of instilling discipline in their children. A child may have the habit of not eating in their house but feed to its full at the neighbor's. As a result, the parents constantly beat the child for doing so. Though the child, out of fear of more beatings may stop the habit, the reason underlying the behavior will not have been addressed. For instance, it could be that at the neighbor's, the family sits round the meals and each and every individual's needs are catered for, thus creating a very homely atmosphere which may be lacking at the child's home. Violence is force or the use of force that is injurious and destructive of the life or quality of life or dignity of any human person. Violence begets violence. Active non-violence on the other hand, is a way of life towards personal, social, national and international change based on the power of truth and the force of love. Parties in conflict dialogue for the betterment of all the stakeholders. There is no winner or loser. Violence has wrecked havoc in Africa; the continent has the largest number of refugees. Generally speaking, the refugee situation in, for example, Guinea is the worst in the world. The people are the poorest not because they are lazy but because of profit-driven economic integration that favors the already rich. However, we find non-violent ways of conflict resolutions though non-violence by the use of masses is a new concept. To some communities, especially the so-called warrior communities, such a concept is difficult to digest. There are cases where religion has been used to perpetrate violence. Examples of this include the Historical Christian crusades and the Jihad. However, the holy books such as the Qur'an, the Bible and the Gita among others, underline non-violence, portraying the Supreme Being as one of Justice and Peace and not war. For peace to reign in this world, it is important that the faithful adhere to their religious teachings and constantly dialogue among themselves and with other religions. This Long Essay is an effort to critique violence as the solution to conflicts and to propose an alternative, Active Non-violence, as a more effective and long lasting solution.