Abstract

Culture is the essence of personal and national identity. What people read and watch, and the kind of culture, literature, and norms, they are exposed to, through the home, education, religion, television and the internet  - provide them with basic values, beliefs and attitudes, which affect and motivate them throughout their lives.  The stories people hear, read and watch, as children and as adults, become an integral part of the core of their identity and personalities. The Nobel Prize Laureate, Elie Wiesel, explained: "We are the stories we hear and the stories we tell."  Even religions, which are an integral part of culture, are mainly built on stories and parables.  It is of crucial importance therefore, that those stories we are exposed to, at the socio-cultural, religious, and educational levels, which we are told, read, and watch on television and in films, should be inspiring, harmonious, peaceful and constructive ones, that open our eyes to the world, and that build and do not destroy.  We are today in the midst of a relentless “War of Cultures”, that is causing ravaging violence and destructive wars in the Middle East and in other parts of the world. These “Wars of Culture” cannot be resolved by guns, bombs and tanks, they can only be resolved by cultural means, by bridges of understanding, knowledge, tolerance and respect for “the other’s culture”, and “the other’s religion.” That is, the promotion of “Global Multiculturalism” is at the root of the urgently needed global change from a dangerous Culture of Violence and War, to a harmonious Culture of Peace. To overcome cultural barriers and mistrust of other civilizations and cultures, all governments, educational institutions, and the global media, should inter-connect to promote a harmonious “Global Multiculturalism,” which would include, among others, principles of the equality of women and men.   The best way to accomplish this tremendous task, is by the creation of a network of the  “Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture,” (GSPC), proposed by IFLAC, which can effectively promote "Global Multiculturalism" all over the world and help build an innovative, peaceful global village, beyond war, terror and violence. A Model of the suggested “Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture”(GSPC), is described. Turkey is the ideal place for the establishment of such a major global project, as it is a natural cultural bridge between East and West

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger

of good tidings that announces peace!

The Bible, Isaiah 52

He  who  walks  with  peace – walk  with him...

The Koran, Sura 48

 I Introduction 

In our world today, the conflict of cultures has become one of the most prominent risk factors for the sustainability and future development of human civilization. Following the terrorist attack on the Trade Center in New York  (September 11, 2001), it became obvious that the opening of the third millennium has ushered a dangerous and unprecedented “war of cultures.”  This new global development (that includes the trend of suicide bombings), cannot be overcome by guns and bombs, but rather by a vehicle of culture itself, by an openness, understanding and respect of the values, beliefs and norms of “the other”, or in other words, by the promotion of “Multiculturalism”.  The fear that the opponent, or “enemy”, disdains one’s culture and religion, and is anxious to eliminate it, is one of the profound causes of the clash of cultures, which has led to the present dangerous “War of Cultures.”

The "Webster New World Dictionary" describes "Culture" as: "The development, improvement and refinement of the mind, emotions, interests, manners, tastes, as well as: the arts, ideas, customs and skills of a given people in a given period."  The Oxford English Dictionary adds to this definition, that culture is "The intellectual side of civilization." Hence, “Multiculturalism” is all the above, when applied to many various cultures.

In the era of globalization, there is a new wave of global culture spreading all over the world, parallel to the spreading of a global economy, international relations, markets, information and technology.  However, it is unfortunate that the emerging global culture instead of promoting a culture of peace, harmony and positive ethical values, is often influenced by the predominance of the presentation of violence, crime and homicide films daily shown on global television, and other electronic media.

Multiculturalism and harmonious intercultural communication, can effectively overcome the social culture of violence and war, by promoting the awareness of the oneness of humankind, as well as the promotion of the consciousness of common positive ethical values shared by different cultures. Multiculturalism can also promote a new positive identity of the "global citizen," in addition to the various ethnic identities of specific groups and nations. Instead of being in opposition to each other, the new global identity and the national identity can nourish and strengthen each other. Together, they can create a dynamic and symbiotic enrichment of the individual, of societies, and of nations, at various significant levels.

It is therefore crucially important in our present global configuration, to build an effective multicultural system and network, at the regional and global levels, that would encompass: all levels of society, the media, and education. The main goals of such a system would be to develop through interconnected international institutions, an innovative and revolutionary peace culture, and to spread its various aspects and values to the wide masses around the world.

To accomplish this important gigantic task, the following measures are recommended:

1. Institutions and governments should invest in developing a harmonious multicultural system and network that would help people and nations to understand and respect each other. Such an endeavor would reduce the misunderstanding and fear of “the other”, as well as the possibility of violent conflicts, and save in the cost of armaments and defense.  The developing and spreading of a multicultural peace system and network could indeed be the best investment for defense.  As in "preventive medicine," the promotion of a harmonious multicultural social system can be considered as the “prevention of Wars of Culture”. An influential multicultural Global TV for Peace Network could change dangerous influences and trends caused by ignorance, fear, mistrust and hatred of “the other” that lead to conflicts and wars - into attitudes of understanding, trust and respect of that previously unknown and threatening “other”. 

2. Governments of all states, should consider establishing Ministries of "Multicultural Peace” with appropriate budgets, that can accomplish the great task of changing the trends in various national cultures, from bigotry, violence and terror, to  multicultural openness toward other cultures and other religions, and to the promotion of an intercultural  communication based on  harmony and peace.  Literature and the arts in the pursuit of peace, collected from various civilizations and cultures, should be researched, translated, and widely used. Multicultural peace education and peace studies at all levels, should be initiated and established, not only for children and young people, but also for leaders, teachers and parents, as well as the public at large.

3. Finally, wide support for global Peace NGO’s should be initiated and established. Non-governmental organizations in the various countries should be intrinsically involved in the creation of the required new multicultural peace system. The NGO’s  should be largely sponsored, to be able to operate effectively and in a global  interconnected fashion.  NGO's could help in the collection and diffusion of the various cultural contributions of peace literature, poetry, drama and the arts, from the best that is available in various cultures and civilizations. This would help to reflect the great majority of the "Voices of the Earth", yearning for a peaceful world without violence, destruction, terror and war. 

II The Role of A Peace Media: CREATING A NEW PEACE CULTURE

"Ours is a world of nuclear giants and ethical infants! We know more about war than we do about peace. We know more about killing than we do about living … It is not the magnitude of the problem that is the great obstacle. It is our colossal indifference to it."

                                                                               General Omar Bradley

The media and telecommunications should play an important role of interconnection between people and nations, as they are key factors in the process of the globalization of culture and the spread of multiculturalism. Until recently, people in each society mainly read news concerning their own societies, and they chiefly listened and watched to their own local electronic media. The growing global telecommunications networks promote the knowledge, understanding and interconnection of different societies and they open new realms of other civilizations and cultures. In doing so, the global media can break up stereotypes and bring about the required openness and changes in the consciousness of individuals and in global society.  Hence, the modern electronic communications, especially TV networks and global Satellites can play a key role in the creation and the promotion of the required innovative multicultural peace system.

The electronic media therefore, due to its capacity to ensure fast movement of information and to reach global multitudes simultaneously, has a great responsibility in shaping perceptions and opinions of people, and they can fulfill a crucial role in the building of a global village beyond war. The economic globalization that is recently taking place has increased people’s consciousness concerning the notion of the oneness of humanity. The electronic media: satellites, television, radio, and the Internet, can have a meritorious impact in promoting this consciousness.  Links in cyberspace between people and institutions, through the use of the Internet, are an added dimension for the formation of multicultural partnerships and they can render possible a wide expansion of varied inter-cultural influences. 

Furthermore, a balanced, responsible and conscientious media can greatly help in the process of healing our planet of its violent characteristics such as terror and wars, which are infesting many parts of the world, where violence is often erroneously equated to strength. The media should be brought to regard “Peace News” as “newsworthy,” and a balance should be achieved between the reporting of “good and hopeful news” and the sensational reporting of violence and crime. The disproportional amount of homicidal and crime news inflate the negative aspects of society and are a deformation of reality and normalcy.   Hence, it is crucial to quickly create and develop an ethical multicultural peace media and network, to counteract destructive influences and trends, and to build global peace.  The "Peace Radio," linked to the UN University based in Porto Rico, is an example of the suggested multicultural peace media system. 

Governments, decision makers, and people responsible for the media and telecommunications, should strive to reform them in such a way that they can become reliable vehicles for the promotion and diffusion of multicultural peace. In addition, the leaders and people in each country, who usually have an impact on popular consciousness concerning issues of war and peace, such as: journalists, culture researchers, TV and films directors, as well as dramatists and writers— should be personally involved and motivated to contribute the best of their talents toward the creation, development and promotion of the global multicultural peace system. 

The media should give a priority to “peace news”, and cover the aspects of society and culture that are positive and constructive. They should also widely present and positively expose writers, poets, playwrights and artists who are consciously contributing to the creation of the new “global peace system.”

Thus, telecommunications and the media are indeed key figures for the creation of the innovative multicultural peace system that would promote global advancement of humankind. They could also contribute in a major way, toward the individual’s global identification and the notion of the unity of humankind, while keeping one’s own culture, traditions and intrinsic cultural diversity.

III The Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture: A Multicultural Model

“It is not too late for the world to be what it might have been”

While most television networks are chiefly framed from the point of view and perspectives of the sensational and what is violent in our world, the “The Global TV by Satellite  Network for Peace Culture” – the GSPC, will be directed and framed by peace culture researchers, and it will have an agenda set by peace writers and media.  Most citizens of the world share universal values: love of the family and love of  life, as well as the basic values of caring and sharing. These are the basic values and ethics that will govern the frame of reference and perspectives for choosing the issues for the agenda and the programs of the GSPC. They will all be relevant to the sustenance and flourishing of humankind and to the building of a world beyond war, terror, violence and famine.

The IFLAC “Global Television Network by Satellite for Peace Culture,” will be an independent, not-for-profit project. It is initiated by IFLAC PAVE PEACE: The International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace: www.iflac.com , www.iflac.com/ada

It will function in collaboration with major networks and institutions, and it will receive counsel from an International Advisory Board comprised of the Directors and of IFLAC in various countries. These leaders are outstanding individuals from the academic peace research sector, literary, social and philanthropic segments of society.

Major television networks and government agencies devote considerable resources to the covering of conflict, violence and war, and there are almost no peace programs on television, or programs for the promotion of peace culture. Hence, there is a great need for a systematic plan of action in all-global networks to provide meaningful and resourceful guidance on the subject of the humane values of peace and multiculturalism.  The programs should be involving, exciting, of a high professional quality and suitable for all sectors of society, including for leaders, teachers, parents and students.  They should make use of the voices and qualities of peace researchers, writers and intellectuals, as well as authentic voices of peace loving citizens, representing the great majority of global citizens that yearn and clamor for peace.

Generations repeat the mistakes of former generations, and mainly conflicts, violence, wars, and the recent disastrous phenomenon of suicide bombings – become preferred priority news, and permanent facets of societies. The GSPC will be a model for the coverage of peace news and for the promotion of the notion that peace culture news is “newsworthy.”

Major Television Networks not only choose to cover mostly disastrous news, but furthermore, they constantly air violent homicide and murder films that have a negative and destructive influence on society. The predominant coverage of mostly violent and destructive events in the global media, and the airing of violent and unethical films - will have to change.

The GSPC network will instead, aim at airing hopeful, positive and exciting programs and films about how people and leaders tackle their problems, avoid violence and solve conflicts. It will function as “preventive medicine” against the possibility of rampant violence, terror and wars.  Toward this aim, the GSPC will develop and implement programs of peace news, peace films, literature and poetry, as well as multicultural and inter-generation dialogues and exciting personal peace stories from all around the globe. The network agenda will also develop and air alternative educational peace programs for all ages, and promote multicultural leadership models. These various peace programs and films will be available in all parts of the world through powerful global Satellites, and they will serve all segments of global society. The GSPC Programs will also be made available on the Internet, and a vast network of Internet Clubs will be built in third world countries, with access to all its various resources and programs.

Through these in-depth, systematic and sustained programs of the GSPC, leaders, as well as all citizens of our global village, will be able to absorb peace values, skills and ideas, and to dedicate their talents and energies toward the building of a world beyond war and violence. Leaders, men, women and youth, will be equipped with the necessary ethical values, insights and skills to overcome the occurrence of conflicts, and to prevent their descent into violence and war. 

The peace loving people of the world, who comprise the great majority of the citizens of the global village, will be inter-linked by the GSPC programs on the Internet, and it would strengthen them in their endeavor to create a better world beyond war. Through various informative links, and exciting video programs, people will be able to express their hopes, dreams, and shared concerns. The GSPC will also initiate, create and support peace inter-communications and peace programs and actions by institutions, governments, corporations and Non Governmental organizations, that will enable humankind to live together in a balanced, harmonious and peaceful world.

It would be a valuable and important step if this prestigious Conference in Istanbul, on “Globalization for the Common Good”, would recommend the foundation of the “Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture” (GSPC), to the Turkish government, and that it would indeed implement it. Turkey is the ideal place for the establishment of such a major global project, as it is a natural cultural bridge between East and West.

The GSPC could start from some weekly hours, and gradually work up to twenty four hours a day, broadcasting at the beginning from Istanbul, Haifa, and Ramallah, in English, Turkish, Hebrew and Arabic, and it can gradually add other major languages, so as to make it a real multicultural Global Television for Peace Culture. When more support becomes available, by the UN and other major Institutions, it is hoped that in time, the GSPC will become fully multicultural and be globally available through a powerful global satellite.

IV GSPC Transformation of Violence to Multicultural Peace

"The same stream of life that runs through my veins day and night runs through the world."  Rabindranath Tagore           

The GSPC will attempt to transform the world from a violent planet into a peaceful one, and to make it a better, more harmonious and safer place for all, through the global spreading of a Multicultural Peace agenda. The highly professional coverage will be humane and democratic, and it will promote the basic notion that all individuals are part of one humanity, and they should be dedicated and faithful to it. To preserve the planet in these dangerous nuclear-bomb-times, leaders and citizens will have to radically change their thinking concerning the waging of wars. One of the major challenges of the GSPC programs will be to guide leaders and citizens as well as youth, to become peacemakers and to devote their talents, capacities and energies towards the creation of a global civilization of well-being and harmony.

As the GSPC will be multicultural, it will have to initiate the translation of works by major global writers, philosophers and poets that promote multiculturalism and peace culture. It will cover and air illuminating interviews of multicultural peace writers, poets and artists, from all over the globe, and make their works and peace messages accessible to the whole world. 

The GSPC will also include a “Peace Culture University of the Air,” that will develop a systematic and sustained program of study on the theory, principles and practice of multiculturalism and the culture of peace. Among various other subjects, it will provide the study of the lives, thoughts and examples of great peace leaders, such as Mahatma Gandhi, Luther King, Anwar Sadat, and Yitzhak Rabin, and the various remarkable and outstanding women peace leaders and thinkers, throughout history, such as Queen Hatshapshut of ancient Egypt, Florence Nightingale, Sister Theresa, and Sister Thea. Thea Woolf was the Head Nurse of the Jewish Hospital in Alexandria, who saved Jews from the Nazi Holocaust, with the aid of Moslem Egyptian officials, as related in “Not In Vain: An Extraordinary Life.”

The principles and theories of these various Peace Leaders will be integrated into the agenda of the “GSPC University of the Air”. Its curriculum will include various subjects, such as: Sociology, Literature, Interrelated-Religions, History, Psychology, Science, Media and Communications, Women Studies, and Art  - all from the point of view of Peace Studies.  It will also establish interrelated programs of intensive “Regional Culture for Peace” units, which will objectively examine in depth specific conflicts, such as the long and acute Israeli – Palestinian conflict, and offer ways how to resolve them.   For example, at this juncture, if it were to comment on this, it would probable state that the best way to solve the Palestinian – Israeli conflict is the “Two States” solution, proposed by the European Community, the Quartet and the Arab League Initiative. Former Member of the Knesset, Prof. Naomi Chazan, recently commented on that: “It would be a genuine investment in Palestinian-Israeli peace negotiations on permanent status issues, to conduct the talks within the framework of the Arab League Initiative. Such a commitment – with all it entails in terms of energy and resources - is the only way to correct the frightening illusion that war and peace can go together.” (Jerusalem Post, May 18, 2007).

The GSPC will moreover establish “Global Peace Culture” programs that will attempt to develop a global identity and consciousness of the individual as well as of ethnic groups and nations, stressing their responsibility to the whole of humankind and to the planet.  These programs will particularly cover those regions where the ravages of war, terrorism, and racial prejudice, such as in the Middle East, have created conditions of misery, fear and insecurity, and they will research ways to solve the crises and conflicts.

The programs for children will include the IFLAC PEACE TRAIN Project, which will run in several countries, where children will exchange peace greetings drawn on wagons of trains, with children across conflicted borders, as for instance, Israeli and Palestinian children, and Turkish and Greek children. Beautiful and humanistic films for children, both modern ones, and old ones, such as for example, those of Shirley Temple and Margaret O’Brien, will be aired, in which children will be able to identify with positive, live and lovable heroic models.

The GSPC will condemn the global social and electronic media culture of violence as  the worst enemy of humankind, and it will strive to powerfully change the belligerent violent lens to a peace culture one.  The GSPC will be a reaction to the disastrous violent mess on the planet earth, it will help to clean the mess and install sanity, beauty and joy throughout the global village. In doing so, it will use various modes and structures.  This will include humor and comedy, together with some other effective vehicles and tools. Humor will be one of the ways to strip the glorification of violence, murder and homicide, and to ridicule and condemn their association with the sensational and with sexism.  The GSPC will pulse with reason and hope, and with the vast celebration of peaceful and caring womanhood and manhood, working together for the creation of a better world.

For those who doubt that the GSPC can be effectively created and have a major revolutionary impact on the world, let us consider for example, the Al – Jazeera Television. A few years ago it was difficult to imagine that a small, new Arabic channel would lead news agenda, stir the world and throw serious challenges to media monopoly. Today, Al-Jazeera, a Qatar based independent television channel, stimulates and creates controversies in and out of the Arab world, as well as in Europe and America.

This year Al-Jazeera has established programs in English that provide English speakers in the United States, Europe and elsewhere, with their particular version of reporting. Its inflammatory and sometimes biased programs often project one-sided views about the Middle East, the world's most turbulent region.  In spite of these lacks of professional objectivity and one-sidedness, Al-Jazeera has become a powerful reality, and no major international TV station can afford to ignore it. The CNN, ABC, NBC, Fox, BBC, German ZDF and NHK of Japan, have signed agreements with Al-Jazeera and they co-operate with it.  Although Al-Jazeera was known to the western world only in 2001, from the very beginning of its establishment in 1996, it became a center of attention and a powerful global influence.

The “Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture”, will air a quite different tune – its reporting will concentrate on an objective and serious analysis of present predicaments and conflicts, with the intent to solve them with equity and to promote peace among nations. It will forcefully counteract biased, fanatical and violence-oriented reporting in the global media, and it will widely air objective Global News including Peace News, as well as Regional News. It will also deeply analyze and project global and regional political perspectives, together with the systematic delineation on a daily basis, of the global and national peace culture progress, in an honest and objective way, and with a high standard of professionalism.  This will give hope to the masses of citizens who yearn for peace, especially in conflicted and war regions of the Global Village.

V  Peace Culture Leadership

In the above illuminating quotation, the British poet, Mathew Arnold, wisely writes about the latent possible peace power of women.  Indeed, if women -who are more than half the population of the world and the best allies for peace - unite and succeed to attain equal leadership status with the men, it would be a tremendous step toward the creation of a world beyond war and terror.  Therefore, women should be trained on an equal basis as the men, to be able to acquire the knowledge and skills for successful peace-centered leadership.  “The Peace Culture Leadership Program” will be one of the intensive training programs on the GSPC agenda, aimed at equipping men and women with a strong background of peace values peace culture knowledge and skills. It will prepare prospective Peace Leaders for positions in all segments of society: government, civic, religious institutions, business, NGOs, professional institutions, and in work places. The peace culture leadership program will focus on developing the capacity of women and men leaders so that they will be empowered to create suitable strategies for a wide implementation of the  culture of peace in their respective communities, governments, institutions and organizations. In particular, the program will:

1.      Equip participants with the principles of the equality of women and men.

2.       Provide the conceptual understanding of an enlightened and progressive peace-   based leadership, formulated according to the principle of unity in diversity.

3.      Provide a strong basis of the ethics and practice of democracy, characterized by inter-ethnic harmony and cooperation, as well as a deep respect for the human rights of all citizens.   

4.       Methods of conflict resolution will be taught and applied. Participants will be trained to acquire the skills for diffusing the Peace Culture Program ideals into the public consciousness, including in religious and educational institutions, municipalities and governments all around the world.

VI Funding

"In the fullness of time, war will come to an end, not for moral reasons - but because of its absurdity” Evelyn Hardy

Funding for such a colossal and urgent project such as the GSPC will be solicited from Governments, as well as the UN, UNESCO, the WORLD BANK, and major institutions, including national and private corporations, foundations, and individuals.  The creation of the GSPC is crucial to the whole of humanity and to the whole global village, it will function as “Preventive Medicine” to overcome conflicts and avoid wars, terror and violence, and it will support the global development of a culture of peace, instead of the prevalent culture of violence and militarism.

A frequently asked question by peace loving individuals is: How can I help?  There are many ways in which people can help to promote the foundation and the firm establishment and development of the “GSPC: The Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture.” Mainly:

1. Individuals can help by writing to their Senators and Congress representatives in their Governments, as well as to the UN, UNESCO, and the WORLD BANK, about the urgency to create the IFLAC GSPN, and ask them for their sponsorship, financial help and participation. 

2.Participants can send the GSPC Project to additional various  local and global institutions, who share the commitment to global peace and to the building of a world beyond war, and ask for their support and help.

3.Individuals and corporations can help by making donations toward the establishment of the GSPC and encouraging friends and associates to do the same.

4.People, who are versed in the Technology of Television and Satellites, can be solicited to offer their voluntary services in all aspects of setting up the “Global Television Network by Satellite for Peace Culture. “                                                                                                  

5.Fund Raisers, Public Relations persons and Secretaries, can offer their services for coordinating communications and activities in the various countries and sectors they belong to.

6.The organization of fund-raising dinners and events for the launching of the GSPC, in major cities all over the world, requires good, creative and skillful administrators.  At such fund-raising events, Peace Culture Researchers will be glad to address such themes as how the GSPC can create “A Healing Among Nations and Promote Global Understanding,” toward the creation of a better world beyond war. In addition, writers, actors and poets, would be glad to present artistic “Peace Presentations, Poetry and Music”.  

VII Multicultural Peace Literature and Art

"He playfully showed with a smile and a wink, and a Teddy Bear hug - it could be the beginning of a honey-laden decade in a brave new world - by wisely trading guns for Teddy Bears”   You and I Can Change the World   A.A

Culture and literature are an important part of our lives, we absorbed them daily as we do our daily bread, and they constitute the building blocks of our identities and personalities. However, we do not give their contents and impact enough attention.  The major components of literature:  novels, fiction, poetry and drama, are often made into films and television programs, and as various studies have shown, fiction, drama and stories can often influence more than facts.

Both classical and modern peace creations collected from multicultural resources around the world, should be used as models for building the harmonious peaceful culture needed to repair the world from the violent phase it is going through. Outgoing multicultural major works of peace literature and art should influence and characterize the dawn of the third millennium.

There should be a thorough examination of what has already been achieved in national cultures that can help the building of a multicultural climate of peace.  Despite the fact that our global village has been affected by major destructive cultural upheavals caused by conflicts, wars, and differences in development and standards of living, peace culture traditions and literary heritage exist in all civilizations. They have been developed at different periods of history, and in different regions, and they should now be collected and used for the reinforcement of the common cultural ties of humankind, and the new global citizen consciousness. Those collected peace works can constitute important stepping - stones toward the required innovative multicultural peace developments.

The manifold benefits of a multicultural literature in the pursuit of peace, should be made available to the wide public all over our global village. Various valuable classical literary peace sources that have stood the test of time, such as Rabindranath Tagore's philosophical poems, Wilfred Owen's peace poetry, Jubran Khalil Jubran's  "The Prophet," and Leo Tolstoy's "War and Peace," “Hafez” and “Omar Khayam’s” beautiful poetry, and many other valuable creative works, should be widely presented to audiences around the world, through satellite television programs and radio. They should also be utilized in education programs at all levels, and in cultural entertainment as well.  Peace culture research studies of world literature could highlight new angles of peace themes in great classical drama, as for instance, the condemnation of violence and war in the works of Shakespeare, as can be seen in his major tragedies: “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet” and “Othello”.

Multicultural peace literature should also be intensively researched in contemporary culture and literature, and new peace books, like for instance, in the historical novel From the Nile to the Jordan, that shows multiculturalism in Egypt, and the biography of the peace heroine Thea Wolf, in: Not in Vain: An Extraordinary Life, as well as Prof. M. Fawzi Daif’s book on “The Significance of Peace in the Poetry of Ada Aharoni”,  and the book for children: “Peace Flower”, should be explored and utilized.  The first three books describe the cooperation of Jews and Egyptians in Egypt, before 1948, and they should be made widely known, as they give hope for the possible cooperation and reconciliation in the present, between Israelis and Arab/ Palestinians. 

We find words and descriptions of peace in all cultures and in all religions. For instance, in the Holy Bible we find: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings that announces peace!” (Isaiah 52), and in the Koran: “He who walks with peace— walk with him!” (Sura 48). And in our own times, the late Pope John Paul II admonished: “War is a defeat for humanity. Only in peace and through peace can respect for human dignity and its inalienable rights be guaranteed.”                                                                            

Governments, relevant institutions, NGO's, and the large public, should be made aware of the power of multicultural literature in the pursuit of peace, to render the world a safer place to live in, and to enrich the intellectual and ethical standard of living.  This view of a constructive, ethical, and harmonious peace culture does not imply an escapist or unrealistic attitude. The concrete problems in conflicts, such as land, water, work opportunities and education possibilities of nations should be thoroughly investigated and solutions that are acceptable by both sides of the conflict should be provided.  These materialistic and concrete grievances should not only be addressed socially and politically, but also aided and exposed through the projection of effective cultural programs on television, as well as in films, literature, and drama. 

The multicultural works of peace literature and art could promote powerful components of BCM's: "Building Confidence Measures," among people and nations, including the values of appreciation and respect for the culture, religons and art of "the other". 

In a conflict situation, there are several benefits to be reaped from the development of a multicultural and intercultural peace system. These can be grouped in three major stages: before, during, and after, the occurrence of a conflict or a war.

a) Before a tense situation, multiculturalism based on openness and peace values, can function as a preventive remedy. Coming into contact with the culture of  "the other” and listening to his side of the "story" or the conflict, an acceptable agreement by both sides becomes easier and he ceases to be a threat, for: "An enemy is someone to whose story we have not listened to." 

 b) During the conflict: An open, pluralistic culture, based on values of understanding, respect, tolerance and moderation, can help in arriving to a solution, even during the conflict or war. When conditions for a settlement may have developed, attainment of peace can be delayed by the mistrust created by the conflict situation. The building of bridges of understanding of the "other's" view, and respect for the other's culture, religion and identity, can greatly help to overcome the mistrust and hatred. 

c) After the conflict or war is over, the multicultural peace system can also help in building renewed trust between people and nations.  During a war not only buildings are destroyed, but also the image of the enemy, who is usually portrayed as a "demon," by each of the sides. Deep residues of fear, hatred, and mistrust linger in the hearts of former opponents. These sentiments cannot be overcome only by the signing of a peace treaty by leaders, but require also a thorough re-construction of a positive image of each other, by the people themselves, and by acquiring knowledge, understanding, and respect of each other's identity, ethnicity, culture and religion. 

Literature, poetry and the arts, are suitable vehicles for this required "reconstruction," of each other’s image, as they have the ability to reach the deeply emotional layers of mistrust and hatred built over the years in the hearts of enemies, and they have the power to dissipate them.  It is also necessary to know and respect the core identity of the previous “enemy”, consisting mainly of: cultural heritage, values, ethics, history and religious beliefs, to be able to reach a full reconciliation.

VIII  Interactive Peace Museums

“Dear Descartes, I Create therefore I am, and not merely, I think there fore I am!" A. A

Another possible innovative aspect of the building of a new multicultural system, which municipalities and governments should consider, is the founding of " Interactive Peace Museums." This development has recently been established in various countries to help propagate multiculturalism and the peace cultural and historical heritage of nations, and to make it accessible to the whole of humankind. Peace museums have been founded in various countries, including Japan, England, Samarkand and other countries. Japan that has suffered so much from the atomic bomb during World War Two is a leading figure in this new trend, and it has already founded more than eighty peace museums.  These museums demonstrate the great yearning of the Japanese people for a global multicultural peace system, after having suffered the atrocities of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Peace Museum in Kyoto has a whole floor dedicated to the condemnation of the Jewish Holocaust, by the Nazis, which is one of the examples of the openness to the cultural history of other nations. 

Creative, interactive and Multicultural peace museums represent a new conception of what a museum should be. They are "alive" and full of vital activity and multicultural programs for all ages, and are becoming increasingly popular. School children and students regularly visit them, and use their peace materials for their works and research on multicultural peace. In addition, public lectures, exhibitions of arts, peace literature and poetry, and peace concerts for all ages, are organized and presented to the wide public.

Ideally, multicultural peace museums should become a "must" in every major city and town in our global village. A well-financed governmental and municipal budget, as well as the UN, UNESCO and the World Bank, should sponsor the building of peace museums in every city and major town of our global village.

IX. CONCLUSION

I am the enemy you killed my friend. “ Strange Meeting”   Wilfred Owen

In view of the fact that the conflict of cultures and religions has become one of the most prominent risk factors for the sustainability and future development of human civilization, ways to curb it and to replace it with an ethical and peaceful multicultural system and network are suggested. The new regional and global multicultural system would include ethical and peace values from various cultures, and it would be based on the best of peace heritage, cultures and literature from various civilizations and nations around the globe. It would be spread and promoted by telecommunications and the media in general, as well as by the IFLAC GSPC project consisting of a powerful Global Television Network by Satellite, for the spreading of the Culture of Peace, and to counteract the global terror and violence, and the “War of Cultures.”.

 The establishment of the IFLAC GSPC can also help to impart to humanity a new multicultural identity, in addition to national and ethnic cultures and identities, and it can guide humankind in making the world more secure.  The development of a multicultural peace satellite over conflicted areas would spread the best of what is available in neighbouring cultures, religions and civilizations, and it would help to promote intercultural bridges of understanding and respect, and to promote a world beyond violence, terror and war. It would furthermore, abate the fear and mistrust of the "other", and create bridges of understanding between people and nations, especially in conflicted areas such as the Middle East.

The foundation of a powerful global multicultural Peace System and Network should be waged by human society on a large scale, comparable to the efforts for creating a global economy, or for obtaining petroleum, and with as much perseverance and tenacity.  This colossal task should be considered one of the major goals of humankind near the end of  the first decade of our third millennium.  The endeavor would gain momentum by involving all governments and major institutions - the UN, UNESCO and the World Bank, as well as the private financial sectors.  These would gain in investing in such a venture, as they would be protecting themselves in the best and most profound manner from possible future violence and terror as witnessed on September 11.

The GSPC will powerfully weave the global voices and strengths of peace yearning people, who indeed comprise the great majority of the citizens of the world. With commitment, determination and vision, it is indeed possible to create and promote a resourceful, effective and influential Multicultural Global Peace Television Network that will curb and dispel the present dangerous “War of Cultures.”  Turkey is indeed the ideal place for creating the Global TV by Satellite for Peace Culture (GSPC), as it is a natural multicultural bridge between East and West.

References

Books and Articles by Professor Dr. Ada Aharoni (1979 – 2007)

Aharoni Ada. ed. et al (1993). A Song to Life and to World Peace: Selected essays and poems presented at the XIII World Congress of Poets of the World Academy of Arts and Culture, Jerusalem: Posner and Sons., Jerusalem (Jerusalem Books: jerboooks@netmedia.co.il ),  ISBN 965-219-013-6.   www.amazon.com                                                                         

Aharoni Ada. (1995) Peace Flower: A Space Adventure, A Quest for World Peace for young and old, 119 pp. Haifa: M. Lachman’ ISBN: 965-9013930.  Amazon.com  and www.iflac.com/ada

Aharoni Ada ed. (1987 -2003). Galim-Waves Culture of Peace Anthology,(Numbers 1 to 10). Galim Number 8: Waves of Peace, In  Memory of Yitzhak Rabin, Selected essays and poems. New Waves 2000, and 2003: Peace Culture Anthology,  (Galim- Waves: 9 and 10), include essays by Albert Einstein, Shimon Peres, Kofi Annan, Saul Bellow, and selected articles, poems, pictures and paintings. (IFLAC) Jerusalem Books. ISBN 965-222-774-9, and  ISBN: 965-902-900-4.  www.amazon.com

Aharoni Ada. (1998) Not In Vain: An Extraordinary Life, 218 pp. CA: Ladybug Press,  ISBN:  1-889409-18-9.    Amazon.com  

Aharoni A. (1999). From the Nile to the Jordan, 146 pp. (Jerusalem Books: JERBOOKS@NETMEDIA.CO.IL), ISBN: 965-9013981   www.iflac.com  amazon.com

Aharoni, A. ed. (1996-1999). Horizon: Pave Peace, Peace Culture Online Magazine, nos. 1–5, Number 4 is dedicated to “Women, Children and Peace,” www.New-Horizon.up.co.il

Aharoni Ada. (2000). Peacemaking Through Culture: A New Approach to the Arab/Palestinian–Israeli Conflict, in Peace Studies from a Global Perspective: Human Needs in a Cooperative World, ed. Ursula Oswald Spring, pp. 252-280. Delhi: Maadhyam Book Services, maadhyam@india.com

Aharoni, Ada. (2000). You and I Can Change the World, Includes Poems from Israel, International Peace Poetry, Letter to An Arab Friend, and pictures of Israelis and Palestinians together in Gaza.  Micha Lachmann. ISBN 965-901-399X amazon.com www.iflac.com/ada   amazon.com

Aharoni Ada. (2001). Women: Creating A World Beyond War and Violence, Selected articles, letters, poetry, documents and pictures, on women's struggle for World Peace (Jerusalem Books: POB 26190, Jerusalem, Israel, 91261),ISBN: 965-7204-00-3.  www.iflac.com

Aharoni Ada.  (2001).  A New Peace Culture Required for Sustainable Global Development, Our Fragile World: Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development - Forerunner to the Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems: Unesco, ed. M.K.Tolba, Eolss Publishers Co. Ltd. Oxford, UK, pp. 917-935.  

Ada Aharoni. (2007). Peace Poems – Atrilingual edition: Arabic, Hebrew and English.  www.iflac.com/ada  amazon.com

By Other Authors:

Deif Mohamed Fawzi. (1995). The Significance of Peace in the Poetry of A. Aharoni, 200 pp. Cairo University, Egypt: The Nile Publications. (In Arabic and Hebrew).

Naomi Chazan. “War and Peace don’t go together” The Jerusalem Post, Israel, May 18, 2007, p. 9.

McConon Shay & McConnon Margaret (2002). Resolving Conflict. Oxford: How To Books.

Dejong W. (1993) Building A Peace: The Resolving Conflict Creatively Program. Washington DC: US Department of Justice.