World Vision Dialogue - Building a new collective dream

WORLD VISION: Embracing Lessons Learned

RELATED PODCAST:
Oguchi Nkwocha, M. D., Igbo visionary from Biafra/south-eastern Nigeria, joins Debbe Kennedy, founder of the Global Dialogue Center to share his thoughts and wisdom, exchanging ideas on creating a new VISION for our WORLD, becoming a visionary ourselves, the role of personal responsibility and how we can become part of the oneness of the full world. Listen now  59:30

Dear Friends,

As we look within ourselves for a new, loving and more generous vision to manifest for our world and planet, it seems important to consider lessons learned ---- to look closely at the responsibility we hold for one another's well-being.

Secretary general of the United Nations, Kofi A. Annan offers us a compelling timeless reflection to consider. We share it with you...

FIVE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED
by Kofi A. Annan, Secretary General of the United Nations
Monday, December 11, 2006

Nearly 50 years ago, when I arrived in Minnesota as a student fresh from Africa, I had much to learn -- starting with the fact that there is nothing wimpish about wearing earmuffs when it is 15 degrees below zero. All my life since has been a learning experience. Now I want to pass on five lessons I have learned during 10 years as secretary general of the United Nations that I believe the community of nations needs to learn as it confronts the challenges of the 21st century.

First, in today's world we are all responsible for each other's security.
Against such threats as nuclear proliferation, climate change, global pandemics or terrorists operating from safe havens in failed states, no nation can make itself secure by seeking supremacy over all others. Only by working to make each other secure can we hope to achieve lasting security for ourselves. This responsibility includes our shared responsibility to protect people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. That was accepted by all nations at last year's U.N.
summit. But when we look at the murder, rape and starvation still being inflicted on the people of Darfur, we realize that such doctrines remain pure rhetoric unless those with the power to intervene effectively -- by exerting political, economic or, in the last resort, military muscle -- are prepared to take the lead. It also includes a responsibility to future generations to preserve resources that belong to them as well as to us. Every day that we do nothing, or too little, to prevent climate change imposes higher costs on our children.

Second, we are also responsible for each other's welfare.
Without a measure of solidarity, no society can be truly stable. It is not realistic to think that some people can go on deriving great benefits from globalization while billions of others are left in, or thrown into, abject poverty. We have to give all our fellow human beings at least a chance to share in our prosperity.

Third, both security and prosperity depend on respect for human rights and the rule of law. Throughout history human life has been enriched by diversity, and different communities have learned from each other. But if our communities are to live in peace we must stress also what unites us: our common humanity and the need for our human dignity and rights to be protected by law.

That is vital for development, too. Both foreigners and a country's own citizens are more likely to invest when their basic rights are protected and they know they will be fairly treated under the law. Policies that genuinely favor development are more likely to be adopted if the people most in need of development can make their voice heard. States need to play by the rules toward each other, as well. No community suffers from too much rule of law; many suffer from too little -- and the international community is among them.

My fourth lesson, therefore, is that governments must be accountable for their actions, in the international as well as the domestic arena. Every state owes some account to other states on which its actions have a decisive impact. As things stand, poor and weak states are easily held to account, because they need foreign aid. But large and powerful states, whose actions have the greatest impact on others, can be constrained only by their own people.

That gives the people and institutions of powerful states a special responsibility to take account of global views and interests. And today they need to take into account also what we call "non-state actors." States can no longer -- if they ever could -- confront global challenges alone. Increasingly, they need help from the myriad types of association in which people come together voluntarily, to profit or to think about, and change, the world.

How can states hold each other to account? Only through multilateral institutions. So my final lesson is that those institutions must be organized in a fair and democratic way, giving the poor and the weak some influence over the actions of the rich and the strong.

Developing countries should have a stronger voice in international financial institutions, whose decisions can mean life or death for their people. New permanent or long-term members should be added to the U.N. Security Council, whose current membership reflects the reality of 1945, not of today.

No less important, all the Security Council's members must accept the responsibility that comes with their privilege. The council is not a stage for acting out national interests. It is the management committee of our fledgling global security system.

More than ever, Americans, like the rest of humanity, need a functioning global system. Experience has shown, time and again, that the system works poorly when the United States remains aloof but it functions much better when there is farsighted U.S. leadership.

That gives American leaders of today and tomorrow a great responsibility.
The American people must see that they live up to it.

The writer, Kofi A. Annan, secretary general of the United Nations, will leave office December 31, 2006 This article is based on an address he will give today at the Truman Presidential Museum & Library in Independence, Mo.

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

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

NEW VISION for NIGERIA: Honoring the Ethnic Nations

Creating a new world starts with paying attention  to all our struggles. For it is in the struggles of our good neighbors across the world that we are called to look at ourselves. It is in the understanding of others' dispair that we allow painful truth into our hearts so that innovative solutions emerge in our creative minds. It is in the understanding of others' situation that our individual call-to-action emerges. It is by building understanding and acceptance of one another's injustices that we can take ownership --- feel a since of responsibility to reach out to help nuture, support and sponsor BIG IDEAS that could not only be a solution for one people, but beginning of framework of new thinking that could become a repeatable process for change --- creating a better world than we know today.

Recently, Oguchi Nkwocha, Igbo visionary from South-eastern Nigeria, in sharing a Multi-Nations Solution (MNS) for Nigeria in the editorial below, offers a new vision for honoring one another versus the continued pushing to control, exploit, abuse, rob, displace and impose our differences and beliefs on one another.

I share it with you. May it inspire your action.

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center

FAITH UNDER FIRE
Crackdown on Christians could go nationwide
Fears raised that Islamic law will expand under new president

It is unfortunate that headlines, titles and subtitles such as the above might be ignored by the rest of the world as mere hyperbole, or even worse, religious propaganda.  The fact remains that in Nigeria, real persons, real groups, and real people—Christians—do indeed suffer massively because of Islamic teachings and Muslim actions and practices in their enclave, against Christians residing therein. Not even the reported-quoted individual experiences in your article may get the attention of the world who are in constant psychological denial on this matter. Regarding these experiences, I did not read, in your article, about a not uncommon occurrence which is reported only rarely: the kidnapping of Christian children (of / from Christian families) in Northern Nigeria on the orders of Muslim leaders, and the subsequent forced Islamization of such children behind a religious, social, psychological and even physical wall that is all but impenetrable to the aggrieved Christian families who long with such indescribable longing to rescue and re-unite with their children—in futility, in helplessness, and all alone.

Let’s not assume that the “world” is merely in psychological denial about this issue: often, world and sociopolitical agencies are willing accomplices and play an active role in continued Muslim brutalization and domination of Christians in Nigeria. Recall that for the last 8 years in Nigeria, General Obasanjo has been the President of, and “civilian” Dictator in, Nigeria. He frequently boasts his “Born-Again” Christian credentials and flashes those to blind gullible fellow-Christians from the rest of the world, easily garnering their support or buying their silence. But, the same General Obasanjo has never taken a stand against this problem of Muslim aggression against Christians in Nigeria. Rather, he would publicly attempt to compete for credit for formalizing Shariah in Northern Nigeria. Few would recall that when Shariah was formally launched by one of the Northern Nigerian State governors during Obasanjo’s administration, Obasanjo personally called that State governor on the phone in a live-performance during the launch to congratulate him for the action.  Today, it is “Christian” Obasanjo who, alone, personally and willfully hand-picked relatively unknown Umaru Yar’Adua, a staunch Shariarist, and foists him over Nigeria as the President-elect, if Nigeria’s recent fraudulent (s)election is allowed to stand, by the cowed and comatose peoples living in Nigeria.  Regarding the launching of Shariah, that this formal launching of Northern Nigeria’s Sharia was performed in the US strengthens earlier assertions about the permissive role played by world-bodies.  The US is under constant barrage and pressure by pro-Muslim, non-Muslim ex-diplomats and lobbyists to show and exercise preference for Northern Nigerian Muslims, even over the Christian South, and there is direct and indirect evidence that the US is responding positively to such, including its unusual “softness” with a region where the US flag is burnt with regularity, children are named “Osama” after bin Laden’s 9/11 attack on the US,  and anti-America sentiment runs high all the time. It should be interesting to find out exactly how the US aid to Nigeria is split in terms of Northern (Muslim) versus Southern (Christian) Nigeria.

But the most “indicted” in this area has got to be the British government, a government representing the world’s bastion of Christianity, the world’s traditional “poster-child” Christian Nation. The same British government, starting in the colonial days, even as the British missionaries were busy converting Southern Nigerians to Christianity, got in bed with the Muslim Northern Nigeria and have since supported the Northern Muslims over, and to the clear detriment of, hapless Christian Southern Nigeria—and it makes no secret of it.  As a reminder, when Britain’s Charles, Prince of Wales, visited Nigeria recently, he spent all the time on this official visit in Muslim Northern Nigeria. A year or so earlier, when his mother, the Queen of England, was on official tour of Nigeria, she preferred to be quartered in Muslim Northern Nigeria, snobbing “fellow-Christians” of Southern Nigeria. Take note: these are not just enabling actions by the British government favoring Northern Muslims; they are also truly abrasive actions—deliberately malicious—against the Christians of Nigeria, for reasons still inexplicable.

The fears expressed by the Christians of Nigeria are well-founded. It is not just the fear of Muslim brutalization and domination or forced Islamization of Christians: it is also the fear that the world at large and World Powers would not only look the other way, but will tacitly or actively aid the Muslims against the Christians, in this sordid matter. Already, the British, the US, Italy, the EU, (even Russia and China) have (reportedly) sent congratulatory or cooperation-delegations to Umaru Yar’Adua.  They have conveniently though predictably forgotten Yar’Adua’s Shariah record as a governor of one of the Sharia Northern Nigerian States. The following story throws light on such a record.

Safiya  Hussaini (“Safiya”) became a near-household name (who could forget?) when in 2001, the 35 year-old woman from the core Northern Muslim Nigerian State of Sokoto was sentenced to death by stoning by a Shariah “court” for the “crime” of adultery, following the formal introduction of Shariah in Northern Nigeria.  A horrified World went into gear, slipping into overdrive to try to stop the Shariah-prescribed murder of this woman, and ultimately, prevailed, thank goodness—no thanks to Yar’Adua who was the governor  of a fellow-Shariah State.  Then, soon afterwards, Yar’Adua would be tested directly. He, as the governor of Katsina State, allowed the conviction and death sentence of another hapless Muslim woman who was still nursing her child. Such is the March 2002 case of then 30 year-old Amina Lawal “convicted” by Katsina State Shariah “court” of the “crime” of adultery.  But for another “massive” intervention-crusade on the part of the World, resulting in “creatively” finding a technical loophole (Amina was already pregnant when Shariah law was implemented in her home province), Ms. Lawal would have been stoned to death. Once again, Yar’Adua did not play any active role in saving Amina from State-sponsored Murder.

Umaru Yar’Adua saw nothing wrong with sentences which would have resulted in the murder of Muslims accused and convicted of adultery by Sharia courts in Nigeria. After May 28, 2007, the same Yar’Adua may become the President of almost 140 million people, half of whom are for the most part Christians.  There is no reason to think that the welfare of Christians in Nigeria will evoke any special consideration by Yar’Adua should they go against Shariah laws and practices: he did not spare his fellow-Muslims. This is why the fear of Christians living in Nigeria is justified. But, these Christians should be, and are, in fact, more petrified by the realization that most of the Christian governments of the world will be on Yar’Adua’s side. That is the tragedy.

We have proposed a “Multi-Nations Solution” (MNS) for Nigeria whereby the natural Sovereignty and original political Independence of the major Ethnic Nations in Nigeria are restored, ratified and respected. This removes individual Christian Nations from under the control of Muslims (who will likewise live in their own Independent Nation[s]) by this plan, since religion-boundaries for the most part run along ethnic lines in Nigeria. Nations resulting from MNS which have, in addition, a minority religion (or a minority population) will be held to UN laws and standards on Minority matters.  All the Nations may then determine, with respect, equity and mutuality, how to relate, one with another, on an inter-National basis. MNS protects peoples and religions, while at the same time subjecting each Nation to International Laws (not inscrutable, inhumane internal laws), with equality. This Solution will also effectively solve Nigeria’s chronic instability problems: it is public knowledge that Nigeria as presently constituted is a failed nation, with no hope of recovery (incidentally, the only strong opposition to this plan comes from the government of Christian Britain); for that matter, the circumstances of Yar’Adua’s election are known to be fraudulent, and the legitimacy of any government he may form is in great jeopardy.  It should not be lost on the reader that continued Muslim molestation and abuse of Christians in Northern Nigeria is only made possible by this instability of Nigeria, a pathologic situation which also sustains and shields such religion-based brutality.

It is clear that if nothing is done, Christians will continue to live (if they do) in fear in Nigeria, fear justified by real nasty experiences at the hands of Nigerian Muslims: the same is the case if the status quo is preserved in Nigeria. As we can see, even under a Christian President of Nigeria, the Christians continue to bleed at the hands of Muslim Nigeria; a Muslim President of strict Shariah credentials is expected to victimize the Christians even worse, this time around.

We therefore urge all Christians everywhere to support the Multi-Nations Solution (MNS) paradigm for Nigeria; we urge them to write and contact their respective governments asking that the governments support this plan.  When we do this, then, we will have backed up our prayers for the protection of Christians in Nigeria—and for that matter, all peoples living in Nigeria—with personal action. The fear and suffering of Christians in Nigeria in this matter is unnecessary: it has to end. MNS will accomplish that.

Oguchi Nkwocha, MD
Member, Biafra Actualization Forum (BAF).
May 2007

RELATED PODCAST:
Oguchi Nkwocha, M. D., Igbo visionary from Biafra/south-eastern Nigeria, joins Debbe Kennedy, founder of the Global Dialogue Center to share his thoughts and wisdom, exchanging ideas on creating a new VISION for our WORLD, becoming a visionary ourselves, the role of personal responsibility and how we can become part of the oneness of the full world.
Listen now  59:30

SAVING HUMANITY: One man with vision

Oh, it is sometimes to hard to comprehend the power we have as people to change the world --- the power we have as just a single person. So many looking to us for leadership; so many needing our care and concern; so many counting on us to open the way for the good of all. One dream could change it all.

I was again moved and reminded of this truth in a poem written by my colleague and Igbo visionary from Biafra/south-eastern Nigeria, Dr. Oguchi Nkwocha. He invites us to see a different vision of ourselves, so we can, in turn, bring new dreams to life for others in our spans of influence.

VISION
by Oguchi H. Nkwocha, M.D.
Stirrings, A collection of poetry

The sighted are leading the blind
Where sight is not vision
So indeed do the blind lead the blind.
Sight is the scotoma
Fashioned by the eyes
Interpreted by a perjured brain
Misdirected by a confused mind
Accepted by unchallenge false belief.
Hence it indeed is so--
Believing is seeing.
Enter vision
An act of extension,
Of sharing;
An experience of communion in light,
Always the one field--
Love, peace, joy and happiness;
Oneness and wholeness.
Vision is thought,
The original thought;
It is mind,
The original mind.
One man with vision
Can save the whole humanity;
A thousand men with perfect sight
Could not even guide a babe.

Consider Dr. Nkwocha's wisdom. Let it fall fresh on you. I leave you this call-to-action as I move into it again myself...

Welcome the unexpected.
Look for the uncharted path that bears your name.
Lead the way!

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center

Three related readings, podcasts and music:

WORLD VISION: Embracing Lessons Learned
(includes PODCAST with Dr. Nkwocha)

PERSPECTIVE with Dr. Oguchi Nkwocha
podcast

DREAMS COME TRUE:
Music by Nwakego for Igbo Children and Children of the World

NEW WORLD VISION: "When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind"

Recently, I conducted a SKYPECAST on the subject of War and the QUESTION of a NOBLE CAUSE. It was a most amazing experience. Twenty-seven people showed up instantly. Twenty listened in. Seven strangers from Ukraine, China, Denmark, London and the US joined me. We represented very different perspectives of the world. Our talk wasn't focused, but curious, spontaneous and respectful of one another. Oh, there was some controversy for sure, but very different people proved that we can be at peace with one another. It was somewhat disturbing to hear the wide gaps in how we perceived one another's intent and definitely views of the world that cast blame on specific people and causes. Don't we all share in it in some way? What saddened me is that many most of those who participated believed in WAR much more than the possibilities of PEACE.

But how do we transcend the barriers of greed and bombs and bloodshed?

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a recipe full of wisdom that we could use today:

"When evil men plot, good men must plan. When evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind. When evil men shout ugly words of hatred, good men must commit themselves to the glories of love. Where evil men would seek to perpetuate an unjust status quo, good men must seek to bring into being a real order of justice."

HOW DO WE CHANGE OURSELVES?
We can do it in an instant, replacing what is, perhaps what you perceive to be what has always been, with new bold, new PEACEFUL possibilities. You ask how? RUMI, the mystic poet whispers across thousands of years into our ears with what we need to do:

"Tear the binding from around the foot of your soul, and let it race around the track in front of the crowd. Loosen the knot of greed so tight on your neck. Accept your new good luck. Ignore those that make you fearful and sad. Be patient. Respond to every call for your good deeds."

Imagine the power of a NEW WORLD VISION carried by millions that was built upon the premise of when evil men burn and bomb, good men must build and bind.

How could you contribute today with just a little change in your thinking and actions?

Debbe

Debbe Kennedy
Founder, Global Dialogue Center