Many to Many

March 2002

Issue 79

I. EDITORIAL

II. A CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM TO STRENGTHEN THE UNITED NATIONS

III. HARNESSING THE VISION OF A GLOBAL NEIGHBOURHOOD

IV. MESSAGE FROM KOFI ANNAN TO THE WORLD SOCIAL FORUM

V. EAST TIMOR - AN OUTSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE

VI. THE ROLE OF TEACHERS IN THE CULTURE OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE

VII. ON THE ROAD TO THE JOHANNESBURG WORLD SUMMIT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

VIII. WATER

IX. 'ISLAMIC UNDERSTANDING OF RACISM'

I. EDITORIAL

Is it mere coincidence that more and more films and books, for adults and children alike, are today presenting us with wondrous and magical battles between good and evil, backward and forward striving and people living in accordance with different sets of values.?

These books and films have very few real heroes or villains but tell us about people and other creatures with both goodness and wickedness within them. With worlds and habitats crumbling and disintegrating around them, struggling with and often giving in to their own inner weaknesses and desires, and not knowing friend from foe, these people and beings, occasionally surprising themselves and others doing great things, journey onwards into the unknown, tirelessly reaching for seemingly unobtainable goals. Tried, tested and utterly exhausted good eventually stands revealed, put there by ordinary and vulnerable but also very determined people, willing forth that which they believe to be good .

The similarity between these worlds and ours may not be immediately obvious. But are we not reminded that it is all this inner and outer struggle and striving, sometimes failing, sometimes succeeding, but always gaining experience and understanding - that it is this achievement of greater awareness and fuller comprehension that really gives meaning and a sense of wonder to the journeying.

Our civilization too is dissolving, but the tediousness of small or large scale deceits and fraud, the numbing repetitiveness of criminality and violent retaliatory acts — all the many broken promises and good intentions unfulfilled - seems to have succeeded in somewhat dampening our spirit and the fire in our hearts. Outside the imaginary worlds we seem to lose touch with the magic of life and living.

The new wave of storytellers presents us with people and creatures of all shapes and sizes who, in spite of their own shortcomings, fears and idiosyncrasies, use all they have got to face and overcome whatever obstacles and challenges they meet so that something better and more beautiful can fill their world. And as we read and watch we come to realize that it is these people themselves who, through all their travail, filled their world with everything they had sought and longed for.

So, surely it’s more than coincidence that we, amidst the falling debris of a dysfunctional civilization, are warned of the dangers, pitfalls and challenges of the journey ahead, and are also reminded that we must let the spirit and the fire within empower us to do great things as we embark upon the next step of our evolution, creating as we journey that for which we hope and dream.

II. A CIVIL SOCIETY FORUM TO STRENGTHEN THE UNITED NATIONS

This 2-day Seminar, arranged by the United Nations Association of New Zealand (UNANZ), took place in the Parliament Buildings, Wellington. Hon Phil Goff welcomed all present and gave an account of the Government’s response to the UN Security Council’s resolution(no 1373) following the September terrorist attack, that sets out a blueprint for action which every UN Member State would have an obligation to implement.

A wide variety of speakers, representing different spectra of civil society; from former NZ Ambassadors to the UN, the military and peacekeepers, industry and business to the environment, student leaders and NGO representatives, highlighted many interesting and diverse aspects and points of view regarding the three main themes of the conference:

• A strong Civil Society to strengthen the United Nations;
• UN peacekeeping, peace-building and disarmament policies, and
• Sustainable Development, Trade Policies and National Resources

Each day ended with lively discussions, first in small groups where drafts texts to resolutions or recommendations would be formulated which would then be brought to the final plenary session on the second day for approval.

Among these recommendations were one based on the Brahimi Report regarding UN Peace-building (from Dame Ann Hercus’ address), and one on common responsibilities, based on the Commission on Global Governance Report "Our Global Neighbourhood" (from Gita Brooke’s address).

It was generally agreed that the Seminar was a great success; that the discussions had been challenging and stimulating, and that ‘civil society’ had been very well represented, both among the speakers and the participants of the conference. The organisers are currently compiling a comprehensive report which will include the contributions of participants and all the recommendations in their final form.

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Dame Laurie Salas, co-organiser of this event and former WFUNA Vice-president, at the outset urged the participants at the seminar "to undertake to begin, or to continue, a commitment through the forum or in any other way, to further the cause of making the UN work and eventually achieve its objective of maintaining peace, security and justice, and finally removing the scourge of war from future generations." She laid emphasis on the two recommendations of the Millennium Summit Declaration and the Millennium Forum Declaration, resolving respectively, "to give greater opportunity to the private sector, NGOs and civil society in general, to contribute to the realization of the UN Organisation" goals and programmes; and "to support the creation of a Global Civil Society Forum to the General Assembly, provided that such a forum is conducted democratically and transparently and is representative of all sections of civil society and all parts of the world."

Dame Laurie enumerated the various movements working actively towards the goal of civil society representation at the UN and elaborated on the World Civil Society Forum and its aims, leading to the creation of a permanent forum for civil society at the United Nations. There was a need to maintain vigilance in carrying out the intent of the General Assembly and the Security Council resolutions and at the same time in educating ourselves and others across the education spectrum about UN programmes - development, refugee, environment, human rights, disarmament, children, women, social policy. She would like to see the Charter taught in every school, stressing that "the United Nations was still humanity’s best hope".

Terence O’Brien, a former NZ Ambassador to the UN, traced the emergence and development of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in a globalising world, where the role of the state was being re-shaped and reduced, and how the international dimension of civil society had, until the recent past, been largely focused on the activities of NGOs concerned with single issue advocacy. International civil society, he considered, included NGOs but was "more spacious and comprehensive." High level summits provided a ready target for highly visible dissent by increasingly active NGO groups which, for widely different reasons, opposed various parts of the liberalizing agenda.

To create and sustain a democratic civil society involved various challenges. The proliferation of democracy itself defied a universal model. In many countries it could be destabilizing, which explained why home-grown NGO foundations remained sparse in transitional countries and why a truly international civil society therefore remained in its infancy as an authentic universal influence. But just as there was more than one model of capitalism, so also was this true of democracy.

Regarding UN reform, O’Brien pointed out that the need for this had been around for nearly as long as the UN had existed. Improvements had been secured, but some skepticism derived from an instinctual belief in the sheer unmanageability of a global system comprising nearly 190 members. and notably among west Europeans there existed a concern that their privileges and entitlements would inevitably be eroded by an authentic reform intended to reflect the world as it was now. "Many crocodile tears are shed in many capitals about UN reform."

NGOs or single issue advocacy groups could not validly be regarded as representative of civil society. Civil society embraced social movements which were larger and more comprehensive. Their influence, including within their own homeland, could therefore be appreciably greater. It was therefore for civil society collectively to determine the best methods for influencing international institutions by self-regulation, while building upon precedents created with governments at the national level, such as including NGOs on official delegations, or institutions, such as NGO partnership in environmental debates.

Did international civil society, and associated NGOs actually accelerate the process of globalisation by effacing boundaries and uniting people in common causes, or impede it by fostering enclaves of resistance to defend against global trends, perceived as undesirable or threatening? Or did it do both things at the same time? Were the efforts of international civil society serving actually to strengthen democratic accountability by governments or insitutitons, or did individual NGOs intrinsically suffer from a democratic deficit, essentially representing the preferences and goals of their founders and their supporters who were answerable, basically, only to themselves? Such questions should be kept before our eyes as a constant reminder of the need for self-analysis and examination.

O’Brien posed "one last big question". Had the events of September 11, 2001, introduced a totally new and unforeseen element into the equation and, as a result, would a revitalized, properly resourced, effectively mandated UN System be fashioned to meet the challenges of the 21^st century?

A serious and revitalized collective international effort must harness the resources and aptitudes of civil society, nationally and internationally if the grossly unequal political and material conditions that existed in a globalising world were to be surmounted.

Terence O’Brien stressed that a strengthened United Nations required, first and foremost, a change of basic attitudes on the part of all countries. A greater measure of democratization of international institutions and their work was indispensable for global management in the 21^st century. This was one of the messages from the tumult in the streets of Seattle, Genoa, Gothenburg, Nice and other places in recent times. This change would be driven by the embracing social movements such as those concerned with environment, women’s rights and peace that now challenged states and international agencies. The multiple issues and problems were already linking people regardless of the particular nation states in which they were born or brought up. This cosmopolitan quality of co-operative non-government behaviour that respected diversity was, concluded Terence O’Brien, the real and evolving basis for international civil society and global citizenship.

Gita Brooke on behalf of Peace Through Unity made the following contribution to the seminar:

III. Harnessing the Vision of a Global Neighbourhood

I’ve been listening — as I know we all have — with such deep interest to the previous speakers and I realize I need to tell you that the only possible justification for my standing here, is that I could be seen as one member of that majority of ordinary people who must become ever more actively involved in the harnessing of the vision of a global neighbourhood.

Because as speaker after speaker has stressed in different ways, without the resolve and commitment of us people, the vision will simply not be realized. The choice is either to continue to repeat old habitual patterns with their predictable and familiar outcome; or decide to break the mould. Individually and collectively we must decide: will we — or will we not — work for a world of good neighbourliness? And following this decision comes an even more challenging and crucial one: Will I myself, whatever the challenges, be a good neighbour?

Because when it comes to the crunch, it is all about relationships, and good and trusting relationships depend on the values we choose to express in a sustained way.

It is really difficult to stay in touch with the vision of one humanity in all its many-facetted splendour ; when you see the tearful panic-stricken eyes of the North Ireland school children, shielded by their parents, trying to reach their school through the barrage of insults and abuse from other parents; when you see the desolate refugee camps with homeless people, welcome nowhere on a planet belonging to no one more than another; when you hear of thousands upon thousands killed in ethnic cleansing or through the singleminded destructiveness of a handful of persons who have lost all hope of a meaningful future in this life, aiming for glory in the next. Neighbourhoods, villages and towns everywhere are harbouring people with such predatory and barbaric behaviour and bearing the brunt of their action.

These kinds of tragedy on whatever scale prey on our hearts and minds and can make us fearful and at a loss what to do. But we must not allow the scourge of terrorism to poison or cripple our spirit. As the president of the UN General Assembly (Han Seung-soo) said on United Nations Day this year: "Let us always remember that the terrorists’ capacity for evil is infinitesimally smaller than humanity’s collective capacity for good". There is a great need for us to be much less timid about goodness.

I truly believe that when the concept of globalisation began in earnest to affect our minds humanity did in fact break the mould of an old and outdated mindset. The way we think can no longer stay the same. All issues of relationships are under public scrutiny and going through the difficult process of being re-defined; sovereignty and community left open — however reluctantly by some — to be given new meaning. The vision of the UN Charter’s preamble can at last be realized and people throughout the world can now collectively go to the task of creating a world in which they can — to use the words of the preamble: "live together in peace with one another as good neighbours."

The report, published in 1995 by the Commission on Global Governance, called "Our Global Neighbourhood", emphasizes the difference between the concept of global government and global governance, saying that governance should be seen as: "the sum of the many ways individuals and institutions, public and private, manage their common affairs. It is a continuing process through which conflicting or diverse interests may be accommodated and cooperative action taken."

We, the members of a local community, must now learn to see ourselves also as members of a global one, whose scope and dimension we have yet to comprehend and embrace. And together we shall need to find peaceful and innovative ways of bringing together all the conflicting and diverse interests of a multinational, multicultural community of peoples and creating tools and structures through which the common good of all can be served.

The commission calls for a common commitment to uphold core values which they name as: respect for life; liberty; justice and equity; mutual respect; caring and integrity. I believe these values sum up the sentiments of most, although perhaps not all, of the many conventions, resolutions and declarations adopted, some even ratified, by most UN member states. So these basic values are thus to a large degree already — at least in theory — accepted by the global community and its leadership. But the gap between theory and practice, between thought and action, vision and its realization, is every bit as wide, if not wider, than the yawning gap between the rich and the poor, gluttony and deprivation.

Today’s world presents a living testimony to the saying that the road to hell is paved with good intentions.. We are all contributors to the great divide created by unfulfilled promises, by good intentions not acted upon — by half-heartedness. But as His Holiness the Dalai Lama said in relation to the recent tragedy in New York: "let us seek not to pinpoint blame, but to pinpoint cause." He also suggested that if we want a better world for future generations we shall have to become spiritual activists, right here, right now, and cause such a better world to happen. It is we, the individual human person, who must be the cause and catalyst for transformation.

The New York catastrophy certainly brought home to people everywhere the vulnerability of any neighbourhood to the impact of a dangerously unbalanced state of world affairs. The devastating effect of the atrocious act of a few individuals, first and foremost upon the lives of the thousands of people who went about their daily business that September morning, but also on society as a whole , is still to be fully realized. That it has taken us this long - so many centuries and generations of wars and acts of atrocity - is a responsibility that humanity must suffer and shoulder together.

The Commission on Global Governance identifies seven main responsibilities which it believes all people should share together. These are:

• Contribute to the common good;
• Consider the impact of our actions on the security and welfare of others;

• Promote equity, including gender equity;
• Protect the interests of future generations by pursuing sustainable development and safeguarding the global commons;
• Preserve humanity’s cultural and intellectual heritage;
• Be active participants in governance, and
• Work to eliminate corruption.

Could this recommendation which forms part of the commission’s "Call for Action" be given emphasis in some way at this seminar? Perhaps in the form of a resolution or commitment? In my view, it comprises the good, sound and down to earth common sense of us all, on which we depend for right, responsible and well-tempered and timed action.

As public awareness and understanding grows and expands, the primary role of us people will be to intensify our influence on people in power, through the increasingly enlightened decisions we make both individually and collectively. Furthermore, the riches of diverse experiences and practices of the peoples of the world will become an invaluable and constant resource for a developing global community.

The United nations is the natural forum for such a complementary working relationship between the nations and the peoples of the world in a two-chamber assembly — a truly democratic partnership for peace.

In theory we know of the inter-connectedness and inter-dependence of all living things — in our hearts we know what is right and we have a common vision of a global community of good neighbours. We have in fact all it takes to create a whole new civilization — all but sufficient will to cause it to happen.

We are still struggling I think to re-define sovereignty and community; the relationship between one and the many — between the individual and the whole. While the rights and freedoms of the individual are becoming known worldwide, individual responsibility is, as perhaps it should be, depending less on written law and more on values and on heart : a personal resolve and commitment to make a difference to the dysfunctional relationships within the world community.

Untill we the peoples, as individuals, give power and substance, body and soul, to the creation of a global neighbourhood of friends, it won’t happen. Let us therefore harness the vision and so cause it to happen.

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IV. Following is the slightly abbreviated text from the

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan’s message to the

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM, held, 4 February 2002 in Porto Alegre, Brazil:

I know that you have come together to voice deep concerns and convictions about the direction in which globalisation is taking our world, and about what we should do to remedy it. Some of these I share, some of them I do not. But whatever the case, I respect and share wholeheartedly your commitment to improving the lives of individual men and women on this planet. Indeed, if there is one guiding motto that the United Nations must work under in the twenty-first century, it is to put people at the centre of everything we do.

When I address the World Economic Forum in New York later today, I shall do so because I believe the participants in that gathering should hear some of the concerns that you and I do have in common. I will remind them that they are sharing this small planet with well over 6 billion people who are denied the very minimum requirements of human dignity, and with 4 or 5 billion whose choices in life are narrow indeed compared to theirs.

Those who have the power and means, governments and business, must show that economics, properly applied, and profits, wisely invested, can bring social benefits within reach not only for the few, but for the many, and eventually for all.

But, at the same time, you in civil society must show that you are ready to work in partnerships for change, rather than remain aloof through the politics of confrontation. We cannot afford to wait for perfect governance, or to engage in endless accusations and discussions. The challenges at hand are far too urgent. You will need to work with government and business, and civil society in the developed world must join hands with colleagues in the developing world to form alliances of common cause. The way forward lies in finding constructive solutions together.

A first vital test will come as early as next month, with the International Conference on Financing for Development in Monterrey. It offers us the best chance we have had in many years to unlock the financial resources that are so desperately needed.

It is essentially up to the governments of the world to make this happen. The Conference must help developing countries to mobilize domestic resources, and attract international private investment. There should be agreement to conclude a comprehensive international convention against corruption, providing, for example, for the repatriation of illicitly transferred funds.

On trade, there must be a commitment on the part of the developed world to open its markets fully and genuinely to developing country products, while removing unfair subsidies to its own producers. At the same time, many of the poorest countries must receive substantial assistance in developing their infrastructure and capacities in order to benefit from trade opportunities. and if we are to reach the Millennium Development Goals — including the halving of extreme poverty in the world by 2015, to which all the world’s governments have committed themselves — we need an extra $50 billion of official development assistance each year.

The Monterrey Conference should be the occasion for those who currently wield the greatest influence to show that they are taking this subject seriously.

Another vital test will be the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg this September — an opportunity to rejuvenate the quest to build a more sustainable future. The Summit must bring the world together, and forge more cohesive global partnerships for the implementation of Agenda 21. It must send out a message that sustainable development is not only a necessity, but also an exceptional opportunity to place our economies and societies on more durable footing.

On all these challenges, the United Nations will depend increasingly on the constructive engagement of civil society. Our ability to improve the lives of the men and women of this planet will depend on the ability of all sectors of society to move beyond ideology, and work together in the search for pragmatic solutions.

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V. East Timor — an outsider’s perspective.

I went to E Timor primarily to visit my husband who is employed by the UN in East Timor. However, I am also currently studying for a Masters degree in International Relations and felt it was too good an opportunity to miss seeing a "country in the making". My particular area of work is in crime prevention and this year my main study is in the field of justice

I knew about the criticisms of past UN missions and in my opinionated way, thought that they may possibly have a grain of truth in them. I certainly expected to hear and perhaps see the usual criticisms of cultural inappropriateness and western values being imposed on a non-western nation. I also half expected to see a mission dominated by westerners especially from the USA and the UK, but in fact met few of these and lots of people from Haiti, the Congo, India, Bosnia, Romania, Malaysia, Russia, Uruguay and myriad of others bringing with them the richness and diversity of their own peoples culture and view point. Never have I met so many people from so many nations who were committed to helping the East Timorese people establish their nation.

As part of my research, I spent half a day at the main prison in Dili where over 200 prisoners reside. The UN does not usually involve itself in prisons but does so if there is a transitional administration, as in the case of East Timor and Kosovo.

Interestingly, in East Timor, they have not segregated prisoners from the Militia but have integrated them with the mainstream prisoners. This has worked extremely well with no reports of fights or trouble. The Director of Prisons and her staff have gone to great lengths to make sure the prisoners keep strong links with their families and communities and for some juvenile offenders (of which there were fortunately few) who have lost touch with their villages, have made contact, with their agreement, for them. They have found that where there is support from their family and village there is no re-offending amongst the young.

The prison itself is extremely well run with local staff (whose opinions have been valued and taken into account during training) ready to take over after independence. The prisoners receive three good meals a day, an exercise area and access to literacy and language lessons. Recreation activities are limited but the most is made of what is available. Even the cells themselves although very basic, are clean and the prisoners encouraged to put up family pictures and posters.

The prison staff feel very strongly that the prison system should be appropriate to the East Timorese culture and not just a copied or "bought off the shelf" version of the penal system of Australia or New Zealand.

E Timor has a strong village justice system that tends to deal with property crimes and neighbour disputes. The church too is often involved. In fact the Police prefer, where possible, for the village to deal with these issues thus sustaining the traditional nature of the system of apology, reparation and rehabilitation. Consequently the only people in the prison are those who have committed very serious offences such as rape and murder. It was fascinating to learn that inevitably, if an offender is caught and they are guilty of the offence, they will always own up and show remorse for their actions. Not, unfortunately, a typical "western" criminal response.

Family violence sadly, is a fact in most cultures of the world and East Timor is no different. I did wonder if the village system would therefore make it harder for women to seek help. In fact it appears that confidence in the police is growing, and several incidents have been reported to them and action taken on their behalf. Regretably there are no agencies or refuges that I was aware of for these women to go to yet but it is still early days.

It is difficult to imagine a country, which has to totally rebuild its infrastructure, and the interim government is certainly doing its very best with the talent that is available. The Indonesians dominated most professions, so everyone is on a steep learning curve, including the internationals there. For example, it was found that there were just over 70 people in east Timor with law degrees. Out of this number, the interim government made 25 of them judges, 13 prosecutors and 9 public defenders. It may seem somewhat arbitrary to outsiders, but every country has to start somewhere and in my, although inexpert opinion, it was working very well.

The interim government is obviously keen to "get on with the job" and the amount of international workers from the UN is decreasing hugely from now on. After Independence and the elections it is expected that only the very necessary UN sections and peacekeepers will remain.

Although it is easy to paint a very rosy picture of the building of East Timor, not everyone can expect to be happy with the outcome. I met many young people who were unhappy at the interim governments decision to make Portuguese and Tetun (the local language) the official languages. They have been brought up speaking Bahasa (Indonesian), Tetun and English, so there is a little resentment there. Some of the political parties too feel sidelined by politicians who they feel have top appointments yet did not stay behind to fight for independence. However, the local people and the internationals alike seem optimistic that these issues can be resolved and considering what East Timor has been through in its history, there appears to be a real desire among the people to move forward. I am glad that the UN is part of that.

VI.

on Education for Human Rights and Peace

This National Conference was held at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and attended by over 550 participants: teachers of primary and secondary education from all areas of Greece, university professors, students and other individuals interested in, or involved with, the issues introduced and discussed in the Conference.

The organization of the Conference was made possible thanks to the financial support of the Ministry of National Education and Religions, the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace, the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (Research Committee and Rectors’ Council), the School of Psychology of the same University and the Institute of Education for Peace.

The organization of the Conference was also intended to mark a new contribution of the UNESCO Chair on Education for Human Rights and Peace at A.U.Th. and of the Institute of Education for Peace to the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010) and to the UN Decade for Human Rights Education (1905-2004). The Conference marked five years of continuous and creative presence of the UNESCO Chair of the A.U.Th (1997-2001) and fifteen years of uninterrupted activities of the Institute of Education for Peace (1986-2001).

A broad Organising Committee of the Conference consisted of 12 members, mainly University Professors of A.U.Th., representing various disciplines: the School of Psychology, the Departments of Physics, Law, Chemistry, etc. Representatives of various other organizations and institutions , including the Greek Armed Forces, were members of the Organising Committee. Professor Dumitru Chitoran, former Chief of the Higher Education section of UNESCO served as Honorary President of the Organising Committee and was one of the invited keynote speakers.

Mr. R. Halperin, Chief of the Teacher Education Section of UNESCO, emphasized the significance of the Conference from the standpoint of UNESCO. Referring to UNESCO’s work in support of teacher education, especially the Recommendation concerning the Status of Teaching Personnel, he pointed out that the members of the ILO/UNESCO Committee of Experts on the Application of the above mentioned Recommendation, singled out Education for Peace and Tolerance, "as the first need for concerted training, to meet the challenges of the Twenty-first century".

In the plenary sessions, eleven invited speakers, distinguished scientists (representatives of international organization, university professors, etc.) including Dr. S. Moussouris, Former Assistant Secretary-General of the UN, Lieutenant General P. Kasseris, Prof. Dr. D. Chitoran, UNESCO, Consultant on Higher Education , Mr Louziotis, President of the Center for Educational Research and Documentation of the Greek Federation of Secondary School Teachers, Prof. M Grypeos of the School of Physics of the A.U.Th., Prof. I. Tsoukalas of the School of Information Technology of the A.U.Th. et al. presented papers concerned with important current issues, such as: "Afghanistan, Foreign Interventions and the Role of the UN", "Recent Developments in Genetics", "Child abuse and neglect", "Challenges for the Teaching Profession at the beginning of the twenty-first Century", etc.

In the working sessions, forty teachers working in pre-school, primary and secondary education in the entire country, presented contributions based on their individual experience in the planning and implementation, in cooperation with their students, of educational and cultural activities devoted to the promotion of the principles of the Culture of Peace. It is worth noting that:

• all of the said teachers were educated in, and taught all areas of science and the humanities. They were teachers of philology, languages (English, French, German), special education, religion, physical education, chemistry, physics, biology, mathematics, the arts (painting, theatre, etc.);
• they represented almost all regions of Greece.

All presentations with no exception were original, imaginative and creative in regard to application of ideas to the actual teaching of the official School Curriculum. A few examples of contribution titles will illustrate the breadth of concerns and the great variety of the forms of action presented at the Conference: "Xenophobia, Racism and School", "We use colouring paints to object to violence", "Working for a Culture of Peace: the contribution of cinema and of a school newspaper", "A collection of stories, tales and fairytales from our pupils’ countries of origin", "Advocates of the Culture of Peace", "Educating students in Peace through the preparation of a theatrical play", etc.

Another group of contributors included seven Greek graduates of the Post Graduate Programme "European Master’s Degree in Human Rights and Democratisation", run by a consortium of 15 European Universities, including A.U.Th., through the UNESCO Chair. They participated in a Round Table discussion on the "Contributions of the Younger Generation to the Culture of Human Rights", based on research findings on issues such as: "Territories in Cyprus occupied by Turkish Army: Is looting of cultural property a violation of Human Rights?", "Juveniles-Crime and Justice: The International Convention for the Rights of the Children", "Democracy and Vote", etc.

Special mention should be made of the contribution of a secondary school student, who presented the activities of students in secondary schools, aimed at promoting students’ sensitivity to issues of human rights, and providing information on the relevant activities and the working methods of various international organizations, etc.

The fruitful debates of the Conference led to a large number of proposals for future action, which could be undertaken by teachers of primary and secondary schools throughout Greece. For that purpose, it was agreed, following the initiative taken by Professor Dimitra Papadopoulou, to set up a National Network of Educators for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence. The signatories of the Chapter for the establishment of the said Network committee themselves to promote, in their everyday teaching activities, the principles of the Culture of Peace as stated by UNESCO and reflected in the Manifesto 2000. To this date, more than 250 teachers of primary and secondary education, from all specialties, working in all areas of Greece, have joined the National Teachers Network. It is anticipated that membership will increase considerably in the near future. This Network is the principal instrument of cooperation of the UNESCO Chair of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the Institute of Education for Peace with the Greek teachers of primary and secondary education in their joined efforts to promote the Culture of Peace in the schools of Greece.

After their most recent meeting, 28 January — 8 February this year, the Preparatory Committee Chairman, Emil Salim (Indonesia), issued a press statement summarizing key areas to be addressed in Johannesburg. The two-week intensive discussions took place between government representatives and representatives of the nine major groups identified in Agenda 21, namely farmers, scientists, non-governmental organizations, business and industry, local authorities, trade unions, women, indigenous people and youth, and many of the suggestions from this dialogue were incorporated into the Chairman’s text. The focus for the outcome of the Summit has been identified as poverty eradication, sustainable patterns of consumption and production. sustainable development of natural resources, and making globalisation work to promote sustainable development. For each of these broad topics, there are a dozen or more recommendations for immediate action.

• We must spare no effort to free all of humanity, and above all our children and grandchildren, from the threat of living on a planet irredeemably spoilt by human activities, and whose resources would no longer be sufficient for their needs.

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In the past 26 years, water resources have decreased by half, declining from 13,000 m3 to 7,500 m3 per person, while consumption has more than doubled.

IX. "The Islamic Understanding of Racism"

The Islamic Centre, based in London, is an NGO having special consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations (ECOSOC).

The Centre’s guiding principle is that dialogue at all levels is the key to understanding "which is indispensable to a true perception of justice and peace".