World Vision Dialogue - Building a new collective dream

Standing In Peace

As the most powerful leaders in the world work to discover pathways to peace, the Interfaith Encounter Association in Jerusalem continues to help us discover how people are leading the way. I was taken by one of events they shared in their newsletter that was organized by the Jerusalem Municipality. In its simplicity, it is the children demonstrating that a new world vision begins with each of us valuing our good neighbors.

They held an exhibition at Jerusalem's City Hall plaza. The exhibition was called Buddy Bears, featuring 138 "Buddy Bears" representing as many bears as countries acknowledged by the United Nations.

As was written in a plaque describing the exhibition, "They stand peacefully hand-in-hand promoting tolerance and understanding between different nations and cultures." It was described as an enjoyable "trip around the globe" with a chance to view these "designer" bears from around the world. (Click on the picture to see a bigger view.)

I continue to be grateful for IEA's work in connecting with people around the world to help us all see the good that can be done. The work by the Jerusalem Municipality is a wonderful example. Dr. Stolov shared the story of the Interfaith Encounter Association (IEA) mission with me:

"Some years back, I joined with a group of long-time activists in interfaith dialogue to form the Interfaith Encounter Association. Each of us felt a compelling need to make interfaith dialogue a widely used tool for building harmonious inter-communal relations in the Holy Land and the Middle East. Our vision was to make interfaith dialogue a real social movement---one that would transform these relations of mutual ignorance at best---and violence at worst---into mutual understanding, respect and trust.

We started with a framework of inclusion from the start. Our Board was composed of two Jews, two Muslims, two Christians and two Druze. These inclusive qualities attracted many people very quickly. We were moved by the response that included thoughts signing up for our mailing list and thousands of people participating in hundreds of dialogue programs.

...After being involved in these interactive dialogues focused on building mutual understanding, respect and trust, I believe real peace is possible and that it is
much easier to achieve than one would think."

It it notable that the Interfaith Encounter Association has been acknowledged for their groundbreaking efforts in generating peace and acknowledging the peace that people are generating for themselves with their time, ingenuity, and hearts, including these IEA honors:

Women's Peace Initiative Award - 2007
INTR°A-PROJECT AWARD for the Complementation of Religions - 2007
Prize for Humanity by the Immortal Chaplains Foundation in the U.S. - 2006

IEA's courageous work, and the work of people, like those involved from the Jerusalem Municipality, is a compelling call to leaders around the world and to all of us. Peace begins with each of us and we need to teach it to our children looking to us for leadership.

"It may be long before the law of love will be recognized in internal affairs. The machineries of governments stand between and hide the hearts of one people from those of another." --- Mahatma Gandhi

As we move into a new year may we all stand for peace wherever we find ourselves in the world. It is by living by the law of love that our world will be transformed.

Debbe

debbe kennedy
founder, president and CEO
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com

IEA is also featured in my new book...
www.puttingourdifferencestowork.com
Putting Our Differences to Work  Pre-Order at Amazon
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
by Debbe Kennedy ▪ Berrett-Koehler ▪ May 2008 – Hardcover
Foreword by Joel A. Barker, futurist, filmmaker and author
Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future

THE POWER of A NEW WORLD VISION

Recently, in response to our post, "NEW WORLD VISION": "When evil men burn and bomb, good men build and bind," Janina left a meaningful comment, I wanted to share her comment and my response back:

JANINA WROTE and QUESTIONED:
I am totally moved by all of these entries by yourself and Dr. Nkwocha. Sadly women, who represent a majority in the world, as well as the poor, are underestimated and not-allowed to make changes on a large scale. We are bullied and destroyed even in North America, especially in our homes and the work place. Rarely does the law help us. I ask how we can collectively or individually make changes when so much evil pervades the earth? Perhaps writing is one of the ways.

The threat of Christian destruction is becoming a world pendemic. Governments are slowly being run by corporations and corporations are after only one thing and that is money and profit.

How do we get through to our government officials? How do we reach out on a world scale, when we cannot even in our own back yard.

RESPONSE TO JANINA from DR. OGUCHI NKWOCHA:

Dear Janina:

I identified these issues in your efficient response—two dozen or so issues in just 3 short paragraphs!
________________________________________________________________
# Women:
• represent a majority in the world, but 
• represent a majority of the world’s poor,
• are underestimated
• are not allowed to make changes on a large scale.
• are bullied and
• are destroyed, even in North America,
• are destroyed  in our homes and
• are bullied the work place.
• Are rarely helped by the law.

#  Present Realities:
• Evil pervades Earth
• The threat of Christian destruction is becoming a world pandemic
• Governments are slowly being run by corporations
• Corporations are after only one thing and that is money and profit

# Questions:
• How we can collectively or individually make changes?
• How do we get through to our government officials?
• How do we reach out on a world scale?
• If we can’t even make changes in our backyard, how do we reach out on a world scale?

# One Solution:
• Writing is one of the ways.
______________________________________________________________________

Your writing re-translated above in fact supports the point that you make: “…[Perhaps] writing is one of the ways…”

My first impression is to throw this open to all readers, and I still favor this idea, because no one source or person has all the answers.

Elsewhere, I have pointed out the power of Vision / “en-Visioning.”  One Vision can produce the results that will solve myriads of problems, or eliminate a root-problem of protean manifestations. We cannot underestimate the power and efficiency, efficacy and enduring nature of Vision. Let’s use it. Individually and collectively.

Sometimes, the compelling nature of a Vision stimulates desired change-producing Political activism in parts of the world where such is productive; at other times, Social activism; in some places, “Communication Activism” (Media, including Writing), in other places, coordinated civil disobedience and Labor action. Activism can be done on an individual level and or a collective level; either way, it is a Vision that ignites it and supports it through to consummation. Yet, activism is but one vehicle for fulfillment of the goals of a Vision: “the system” is more creative.

The thing about Vision is that neither time nor space binds it: it drives the process or processes relentlessly, oblivious of time-frames, oblivious of “failures,” such that the goal is invariably accomplished: today; if not, then tomorrow—whenever—for sure; but accomplished it will be.

Do not allow “present realities” shrink the horizon of what is possible. That also includes not allowing current pervasive negatives affect your ability to form the correct Vision—or to engage in the act of “en-Visioning” at all.

There is practical value in using “Vision.” Really!
Margaret Mead said, quoted in several versions, something like: “…All it takes is a few committed persons to make a change in the world; and in fact, that’s about the only way such change in the world is possible...” History and facts back up her observation.
Can you believe that just one woman and her activism compelled the entire State of California to reconsider and adopt what I call “Green Consciousness”:  responsible use of fossil fuels and management of such resources and the fallout from their use? Her so-called trials and tribulations at the hands of all-powerful, all-wealthy and almighty stakeholders only led to other States in the US adopting her goals, and forcing a US Supreme Court ruling in favor of her goals, thereby now compelling the US government to acknowledge and support such?

Debbe Oneness once quoted: “…the greatest engineering feat of the Universe is the Human Mind…”  That Mind works with Vision.

Vision.

Thank you, Janina, for pricking our individual and collective psyche. We need that.

Oguchi Nkwocha

Oguchi Nkwocha, MD
A Biafran Citizen
California, USA

On behalf of the Nation and People of Biafra

RELATED VIDEO, PODCAST AND STORIES:
Joel Barker's POWER OF VISION video (bottom of Five Regions exhibit) PODCAST with Oguchi Nkwocha, M. D.
STORY #1: NIGERIA: Did you know people are dying?
STORY #2: NIGERIA: GREED, HUMAN ABUSE, STEALING and loving your neighbor?
STORY #3: NIGERIAN LEADERS STOLE 100 BILLION SINCE 1999 

Start Building a New World in Your Mind

I am fond of old books that came before me. I can't tell you why, but they have intrigued me since I was very young. It is not about looking at the past. It is more about having an interest in hearing what others have to say --- and I've learned there is much wisdom that is passed down to us to take in and apply to our lives and world today.

Once in a while through my research on other things, another old book comes to me. I particularly like ones that seem to be in conversation with me. Recently, I found one entitled, TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT YOURSELF written in 1950 by John Homer Miller. There is a great chapter in it called "Start Building the New World in Your Mind." Here are some excerpts to share.

"You want a better world. What you need to help make the world better is not more education of your intellect, but something spiritual and ethical added to your knowledge. You need educated emotions and a dedicated heart. Shakespeare once said that he can always tell a wise many by the fact that everything he says and does smacks of something greater than himself.

...only the consciousness of a purpose mightier than any man and worthy of all men can compose and fortify and control the soul of man. Knowledge is not enough. Knowledge is knowing about things which you can control, which you can master. Wisdom is knowing about and putting yourself under the influence of things which can master you.

Before you do what you can do for the world, do the more difficult thing---let something be done for you. Before you have any right to face the world, you must face yourself. Before you can really say anything worth while to others, you must first let something be said to you. Before can help make the world right, you must be made right within.

Great souls start from within and move out; they start at the center of civilization and move out toward the circumference.

Unless within my heart I hold
Abiding Peace,
No league of nations can succeed,
Nor will strife cease.

If I myself see every fault
In kin and friend,
The world may never see the day
When war will end."

How are you starting from within to build a new world in your mind?
May it lead to you being a beacon of PEACE. Imagine its power when connected to others with the same vision. Hold that thought!

Debbe

debbe kennedy
founder, president and CEO
author, virtual speaker and dialogue leader
Global Dialogue Center and
Leadership Solutions Companies
www.globaldialoguecenter.com

new book!
Putting Our Differences to Work
The Fastest Way to Innovation, Leadership and High Performance
by Debbe Kennedy ▪ Berrett-Koehler ▪ Spring 2008 – Hardcover
Foreword by Joel A. Barker, futurist, filmmaker and author
Paradigms: The Business of Discovering the Future