NON VIOLENCE AS A WORKING FORCE IN 21st CENTURY

However much we try to attain peace and happiness, the speedy dynamic change in life still leaves us perplexed as to whether there is a likelihood of nonviolence action in this 21st century.
According to Gene Sharp (a political scientist), the politics of nonviolence is based most importantly on the means to successfully attain its goal. That the strategic violence is not passive, neither does it evade conflict. Conflict is unavoidable. Strategic nonviolEnce is basically a way of taking an active part in resisting in order to put agenda across through strategic campaigning using various means of disobedience and disruption.
A few points from the UN on the position of conflicts happening now and the urge for non violent alternatives; In this century, the turn of events have have projected things in different pesrpectives. The height of information technology, the new world order and Economic globalization. Post cold war drastically changed/ and still changing the socio-economic and political environment for better and for worse at the same time. The former being that there has been corresponding opportunities that arises with the change. The later is because there has been incessant risks to human security and freedom. Proliferation number of refugees and the displaced is a living testimony of human rights infringment. The universal declaration ‘vision of all rights for all people in all countries’ since 5 decades a go should be practised since now there are machineries, knowledge and capabilities of reaching for this aspiration.
Regardless of where one is, there is human values that we all expect to have; kindness, universal accountability, open mindedness and considerate. We are obliged to look beneath these characteristics and notice the part every one of us can play in changing the society, the corelation between our mind and actions undertaken and the rapid level of threat and the dread in gearing towards success as a result. Budding up a non-violent intellect becomes a recipe in speeding up the attainement of universal peace. It is a vision that can be reached by a person in a lifespan since it does not command any unique training and can be undertaken on the spot.
Non-violence has beneficial effects to an individual, it attains instant sense of tranquality, diminish intense stress and aggravation, personality and actual competence in yearning to helping others. This approach ,is consequential to a familly, a place of work and to the society at large.
Regarding the turn of events in the contemporary society based on the level of threat and the expression of violence such as civil wars, terrorism, person to person agressions, rape and torture, non violense should be given a first priority. The world is seaching for hope and advancement but appears to be more unsafe than it was before. Since the time of cold war to this century, there has been deadly conflicts, some are internal conflicts and impending disputes between some states. The world is looking for a way of stopping all these.
Even though we have varied experience in our lives, races, tribes, religious doctrines and cultures, we all endevour for a better and happier future regardless of miseries and concern. Everybody has been distressed by the unfolding events in the world. Political analysts have considered 21st century as being bloodier than any other in human history. Our main responsibility now is to change the course of how things have been and resort to nonviolent actions in order to find a lasting solution for peace.
In order to meet this objective, its important to consider the moral foundation of violence and nonviolent action.Non violent action starts from the mind of an individual and creating nonviolence ideology is instrumental in offering us a chance for another hope. Violence however, not only involves physical actions but it also encompasses speech and purpose. Its upon these attributes that we should act on and change the community we live in and the world at large. Violent actions should not be condoned when applied on our perpetrators neither should it be validated when a friend uses it on a common enemy. All in all, it is still violence and it leads to destruction. An action should be taken to prevent the escalation of violent activities such as prejudice, revulsion, inequality,antagonism and religious indoctrination.
The international community has worked together in peacebuilding processes and their work should not be ignored in finding a solution to the conflicts. Indiviuals should also play a bigger role whether in the community based groups or in businessess. Also education and sports are increasingly advancing in acknowledging the process. Multilateral diplomacy is thriving and giving an optimism in acquiring peace.
There is need in checking the way forward so that there can be a shift from violence actions to nonviolent activities and provide a severe deliberation to its perfomance in a commplishing nonviolent community. There are reasons fo this argument; First, it is imperative to discern that violent actions are not skin deep, nobody is born violent, it only starts from the mind of an individual. It lies upon the physical actions and speeches made. However, getting rid of violence in the mind is not an easy option, it involves bravery and fortitude.
Just like mahatma Gandhi said ‘We must be the change we wish to see not the darkness that we wish to leave’.

The Africa You Don't See on TV - Nairobi, Kenya

WEST AFRICA’S REGIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY- ECOMOG

Introduction
African continent has the most cases of conflicts and wars. West Africa however is the region in the continent that shares the biggest portion of the problems. Way back from the 90s there has been enormous number of deaths as a result of the conflict and violence in the region. Many people have also been displaced. All these consequences of conflict and violence have made the region and their regional building block, Economic community of west Africa-ECOWAS, become connected with the words such as insecurity, violence and destruction instead of collaboration and progress as defined in the key mission of ECOWAS.
Despite of numerous problems in the West African region, ECOWAS has built some mechanisms that could be instrumental in realizing the goal of peace and security in the region. Whereas upholding an economic development and cooperation as a focal point in the region.
Two decades ago, the West African community accounted for a military force that had a responsibility of resolving conflicts amongst states inside ECOWAS. The institutionalization of ECOMOG, the ECOWAS cease fire monitoring group.
The launch of ECOMOG made a record because at the time of its establishment, no any other parallel military force in Africa was there. It is not easy to say that those who established ECOWAS way back in 1977 had a prediction in the creation of ECOMOG, not to mention the role it has played in containing the political instability amongst its member states. ECOMOG actively participated in containing the Liberian war during the military take over.
Sierra Leone is another case example of ECOMOG’s active participation, where class struggle, high level corruption and misuse of natural resources changed into one of the most atrocious conflicts in the world. From 1991-2001, civilians were killed, raped, kidnapped, children were also recruited as child soldiers and millions were displaced.
In retrospect, undoubtedly ECOMOG actively played a bigger part in reinstating peace and security in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. It is also credible to say that ECOWAS and its military sister have advanced with the time.
During the wake of multipartism by most of ECOWAS member states; the regional body created more emphasis on negotiations and diplomacy as a first approach rather than military interventions. In cases of political coup or misuse of the constitution by one leader, the first reaction is through diplomatic intervention by way of negotiations or economic sanctions. These methods however give a first hand, in tackling the conflict before it escalates fully. This however does not imply that ECOMOG has no future role in military interventions.