There are Alternatives to War

Common Sense: Wars do not solve problems, they create more problems and more severe ones!

Michael Nagler, president of the Metta Center for Nonviolence in Berkeley, California, writes in today's Common Dreams News (go to http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/09/27-2). I want to draw your attention to the three points listed below.

"I encourage anyone who hasn’t already done so to familiarize him- or herself with the alternatives to war that fall into three broad categories: 1) living more lightly on the earth, since most wars today are fought over its diminishing resources; 2) diplomacy, mediation, and international institutions that can keep disputes from turning into wars, and 3) nonviolent mechanisms to deal with the wars that nonetheless break out, like the unarmed interventions just mentioned that are helping to reduce violence in trouble spots all over the world now. I recommend that we all learn about these things and talk about them with family, friends, and our congressmen or women. You may not get anything but raised eyebrows at first, but remember what Gandhi said about a real innovation: “First they ignore you; then they laugh at you; then they fight you – and then you win.” Provided you have learned to fight nonviolently. That must be the subject of another article."