In a time of war I find myself inundated with violent images that only propel thoughts of fear. Turning on the T.V. or opening up the newspaper makes me wonder when this violence will bear a sustainable change.

Is there an alternative to violent intervention, or are we bound to repeat destructive behaviors?

Peacekeepers in Sri Lanka.

Walking into the offices of the Nonviolent Peaceforce I look around and see a flurry of people committed to resolving conflicts through nonviolent tactics. As inspiring as this is, I still find myself thinking, peaceforce: isn’t that an anomaly? How can nonviolent communication stand up to violence, or even the threat of violence? Armed with my own skepticism regarding the influence that nonviolent communication can wield in war-torn societies, I sit down with Major Gifts Officer Erika Shatz and Development Coordinator Natalie Brenner.

Immediately I am struck by their dedication and knowledge involving nonviolent solutions. As I listen and understand, my skepticism quickly dissolves.

The organization has a staff of over 95 professionals from 24 countries. Key components that ensure the success of the Nonviolent Peaceforce are their dedication to remaining unarmed, their allegiance to remaining non-partisan, and being invited in by local partners. Natalie highlights the importance of this by explaining, “We are not in the business of being martyrs, we are in the business of getting in where there is a window of potential peace-building.” Erika echoes these sentiments and adds, “We do not take sides, and everyone knows that, allowing us to gain the trust and respect of the people.”

With endorsements from noted Noble Peace Prize recipients such as Desmond Tutu in South Africa, His Holiness the Dalia Lama in India and Mairead Maguire in Ireland, the Nonviolent Peaceforce’s credibility is solid throughout the world. Mairead Maguire has been quoted explaining the Nonviolent Peaceforce this way: “I take great hope in the work of Nonviolent Peaceforce—a little seed that is growing into a wonderful forest around the world.”

Boys assisted by NPF in Sri Lanka.

From rescuing child soldiers in Sri Lanka, to training filed team members in Nairobi, to disbanding violence in the Philippines the Nonviolent Peaceforce is active. The strength of the program is truly grassroots. Highly trained, paid professionals form the core of the success of the Nonviolent Peaceforce. Given the danger to individuals working in volatile areas, the high number of applicants reflects the dedication that so many have towards nonviolence. Erika explains, “10 people apply for every open position, that is how many people want to do unarmed peace-keeping.”

These professionals come together to form teams with acute organization skills and a vision for peace that can overwhelm violence. They accompany civil society activists, provide safety and passage to high-risk civilians, and use arbitration and communication as an alternative to military strikes.

When I leave Natalie, Erika, and the offices of the Nonviolent Peaceforce, I feel safer, and empowered by understanding how important and authoritative nonviolence is when executed strategically. I can only hope that future generations take note of what a force peace is.

Nonviolent Peaceforce
425 Oak Grove Street
Minneapolis, MN 55403
www.nonviolentpeaceforce.org

This entry was posted on Monday, April 21st, 2008 at 10:44 am and is filed under Organizations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.