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"Peace is Possible" is an incredibly encouraging book. It shows how much idealism, creativity, guts and "will to achieve the impossible" people have in this seemingly cynical time. Just imagine if the media had given these ideas, people and possibilities the space they deserve! Environmental philosopher and pioneer Erik Dammann, Oslo, Norway
"Peace is possible" provides a look behind the scenes into how Civil Society Oganizations, working with groups of "like-minded states" have been greatly successful in improving international law. This is the more democratic "New Diplomacy" that Jody Williams has called "The New International Superpower!" Bernice Boermans HAGUE (NL), Secretary General of IALANA, International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms"
Thank you for "Peace is Possible". A fine idea, prominent contributors ...extraordinarily interesting. The book will be most useful in my work as a professor at the University of Roskilde where I will recommend it to my students, to my collegues and people in Denmark who work with peace and conflict research and with the EU plans to develop into a major military power. Professor Kai Lemberg, DK 2900 Hellerup, Denmark.
...an exceptionally valuable book. What the peace movement needs most is some such success stories to encourage all to keep up their efforts. Philomena Ahn-Ja Ham, Ph.D. Korea
I was very interested by the manuscript of your book "Peace is Possible". The idea of bringing together the personal testimonies of so many distinguished figures who are doing so much for peace is most commendable and ties in with the spirit of UNESCO´s project "Towards a culture of peace" and the words in UNESCO´s Constituion: "Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed". The authors show the road to a peaceful world in a particularly instructive and inspiring way. Your project admirably serves a cause dear to UNESCO and central to its mission. Federico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO, Paris, June 1999
I am very interested in a copy of "Peace is Possible" for a peace studies course I will be teaching next semester at the University of Hawaii. The short version had great possibilities. Please send me the full version! Professor Joshua Cooper, Honolulu, Hawaii 96815
"Peace is Possible" is a very valuable and encouraging tool for training our people in participatory democracy. We have also been reading many of the chapters on a radio station here in Albania. Peace activist Admir Duraj, Albania
PEACE IS POSSIBLE31 new, short, and readable stories of successful peacemaking
published by: The International Peace Bureau
The book, original in English, is presently available - or coming soon - in Bangla, Finnish, Hindi, Marathi, Norwegian, Russian, Serbian, Spanish, Urdu, French, Chinese and Spanish.
Browse before you buy:
http://www.peaceispossible.info/
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Fredrik S. Heffermehl (editor): Peace is Possible
Cecilio Adorna Children: Teaching Adults Not To Fight
L. Axworthy/K Vollebaek: New Diplomacy for a Humane World
Lee Butler: The Enemy of Humanity
Helena/Stella Cornelius: 12 Skills for Conflict Resolution
David Cortright: "Bought and Paid for by the Soviet Union''
Dalai Lama: Human Rights and Peace
Kate Dewes: Taking Nuclear Weapons to Court
Daniel Ellsberg: Our World needs Loyalty
Tulle Elster: The Peace March to Moscow
Scilla Elworthy: People Talking with Power
Richard Falk: A World for People
Dietrich Fischer: The Power of Ideas
Mikhail Gorbachev: Time to Abolish War
Jostein Gaarder: We are all Actors
Fredrik S. Heffermehl: In Search of Common Ground
Margareta Ingelstam: Building Security
Joanna Macy: Making Peace with our Habitat
Nelson Mandela: Welcome to Robben Island
Mary Matheson: Fighting Violence with Presence
Lois Nicolai: Closing a Soviet Test Site
William R. Pace: Making War Criminals Think Twice
Joseph Rotblat: The Social Responsibility of Scientists
Sheikh Hasina: My Hard Lessons for Peace
Allister Sparks: Talking can do Miracles
David Tinker: It was not a Film
Mordechai Vanunu: I'm your spy
Alyn Ware: Lobbying for Nuclear Disarmament
Cora Weiss: The Hague Appeal for Peace
Jody Williams: "A Ban against Land Mines? Never!"
Howard Zinn: The Possibility of Hope
Excerpt from Fredrik S. Heffermehl´s introduction to the book:
( ... ) This book is written for all those who wish for the endless sorrow, killing, loss and devastation caused by wars to come to an end, but who add "if it had only been possible". The writers, 31 prominent peacemakers, through their own experience from a wide range of backgrounds and approaches, show that, indeed, "Peace is Possible". It is possible despite continuous overspending on more and more vicious weaponry. Possible even if millions of people depend on military and war preparations for their living and even have the power to control political decisions, above all their own budgets. Possible despite armies of journalists who, "describing the world as it is", keep telling us that nothing can be changes.
And still: "Stronger than the tread of armies, is an idea whose time has come." Incredible and totally unexpected changes happen. Nobody believed Communism and the Iron Curtain could fall even a few months before it occurred. And nobody believed that the white minority in South Africa, with all their military power, would have to negotiate with prisoner Nelson Mandela, release him and hold elections that made hin President Mandela.
People united for a common goal made the "miracle" happen. The greatest obstacle to worldwide peace may be the widespread belief that it is impossible. Whether or not you add the few words "if it had only been possible" is a crucial point. In fact, it makes the difference between being part of the problem, or part of the solution. ( ... )
Belgrade, 22.4.2001.
To Fredrik S. Heffermehl
Dear Sir,
I am happy and honored to be given such an opportunity to contact you, thanks to my dear friend Mr. Bruce Kent, who sent me the book "Peace is Possible". The moment I started reading it, the decision of translating it flashed through my mind. Because my country needs peace as much as the bread we eat. Because the book you edited offers wise words of wonderful, experienced people on their struggle for peace, conflict resolution and democracy my countrymen need to hear and believe in. Because I am the daughter of a man who devoted his life to peacemaking.
My father, professor Miladin Zivotic, the philosopher, dissident during Tito's era, was the founder and co-director of the Belgrade Circle, the association of independent intellectuals who fought for peace, justice, tolerance and truth till the day he died in 1997. Since the beginning of war in Former Yugoslavia he organized numerous peace activities and protests in Serbia, traveled to Bosnia, Croatia and abroad, spreading ideas of nonviolence, nonationalism and democracy.
Therefore, translating this, and hopefully some other books of the kind, would be my small contribution to the great ideas of people like you, Mr. .Bruce Kent, my father and all the other divine people worldwide who care for saving this planet through peace, humanity, tolerance and democracy.
The members that remained in the Belgrade Circle could help me publish my translation in Serbian language, and agreeing with you about settling the matters of the copyrights, seeing that you completely understand my position, I would like to inform you that I could organize publishing of your book through the Belgrade Circle. Thus, I would like to know if it's necessary that I get from you some sort permission or authorization to do that.
Sincerely,
Dragana Jovicevic
E:joviki@Eunet.yu
Tel:381 11 426 422 (home)
"Not one of us knows what effect we may be having or what we may be giving to other persons. It is hidden from us and shall remain so. Often we are permitted to see a very little portion of this, so that we may not become discouraged. Power work in mysterious ways."
Albert Schweizer