Peace

ER for Violence Prevention

- Adam Clare

CIIAN LogoThe Canadian International Institute of Applied Negotiation (CIIAN) has create a new fast-reacting Early Response Unit (ERU). Essentially the ERU takes a holistic approach to analyzing potential conflicts to look for solutions before violence breaks out. This is a really good idea. They follow the thinking that even a little bit of prevention can go a long way to preventing conflict.

CIIAN’s President and the Director of the ER Unit, Dr. Ben Hoffman, states “I believe the new ER Unit is greatly needed in our world of increasingly volatile environments. Ethnic and religious strife, land occupations, labor strikes, dysfunctional workplaces, and troubled schools can become violent unless timely action is taken. We have the expertise to recognize early warning signs that these environments may become violent and the experience to deliver an appropriate response aimed at prevention and stabilization.”

Thanks, Evan!

US Congress Supports Peace

- Adam Clare

logo of the organization Unbeknownst to me, the United States Congress has been funding the US Institute of Peace since 1984. Recently they updated their website and have made it a lot better, they’ve added podcasting, and archived recordings. The USIP also offers online training. You should check out their impressive Library!

“Its goals are to help prevent and resolve violent international conflicts, promote post-conflict stability and democratic transformations, and increase peacebuilding capacity, tools, and intellectual capital worldwide. The Institute does this by empowering others with knowledge, skills, and resources, as well as by its direct involvement in peacebuilding efforts around the globe. “

Guns for Bikes Peddling Works

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

The Democratic Republic of Congo has a program that allows people to turn in their firearms for some thing useful – bikes. The program has been so successful that it is being expanded.

A BBC corespondent proclaims that it’s more successful than a previous UN disarmament program. It’s so sucesful that tin roofs are being given out in places where they don’t have enough bikes to hand out.

“Ngoy Mulunda, a pastor in the south-eastern Katanga region, says he has been given some 6,500 weapons in the past year, which he has destroyed.”

Brazil Disarms, Fewer Deaths

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

The government of Brazil launched a disarmament campaign in 2004 that pays compensation to those who turn in their weapons. No questions were asked where/how they got their weapons. At one point someone handed in a high-calibre machine gun that could shoot down planes.

As a result of this campaign there have been fewer deaths as a result of gun violence. Gun deaths have fallen by more than 8% in 2004, the first time the death rate has fallen in 13 years. 443, 700 guns have been collected.

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