Quaker Peace Network-Africa. An evolving model for

peace work

Jeremy RoutledgePhaphama Initiatives

(formally QPC)

Outline of presentation

•Quaker peace testimony•Kosovo, QPN-Africa•Elements

–AVP. Gender reconciliation, EAPPI•Complexity•Model•Discussion

George Fox 1651

• I told [the Commonwealth Commissioners] I lived in the virtue of that life and power that took away the occasion of all wars and I knew from whence all wars did rise, from the lust, according to James's doctrine... I told them I was come into the covenant of peace which was before wars and strifes were.

• All bloody principles and practices we do utterly deny, with all outward wars, … for any end, …. That spirit of Christ by which we are guided is not changeable, so as once to command us from a thing as evil and again to move unto it; … and so testify to the world, that the spirit of Christ, which leads us into all Truth, will never move us to fight any war against any man with outward weapons, neither for the kingdom of Christ, nor for the kingdoms of this world.

• The Peace Testimony is largely derived from the teachings of Jesus to love one's enemies and Friends' belief in the inner light. The Peace Testimony does not mean that Quakers believe in passive resignation; in fact, they believe in and practice passionate activism. It does mean that Quakers believe that nonviolent confrontation of evil and peaceful reconciliation are always superior to violent measures.

Quaker Peace Testimony

• The peace testimony has inspired Quakers to protest wars, refuse to serve in armed forces if drafted, to seek conscientious objector status when available, and even to participate in acts of civil disobedience.

• Not all Quakers embrace this testimony as an absolute; for example, there were Friends that fought in World War I and World War II.

Kosovo

• Breakup of Yugoslavia• Suppression of Serbs• Peace deals• Escalating conflict• NATO Intervention and bombing

– There were no alternatives

NATO issued a statement announcing that it was prepared to launch air

strikes against Yugoslav targets "to compel compliance with the demands of the international community and [to

achieve] a political settlement". In effect, NATO was saying to the Serbs

"make peace or we'll bomb you" and to the Albanians "make peace or we'll

abandon you to the Serbs

Britain Yearly Meetingof Religious Society Of Friends

(Quakers)• How do we respond. We have our peace

testimony. Do we agree there were no alternatives?

• Passed minute to put funds aside for conference of Quaker Peace Projects around world and other experts

Quaker Network for the Prevention of Violent Conflict -QPN

• 2000 London• 2001 US New York and Washington• 2002 Burundi• 2003 Rwanda. London• 2004 Kenya QPN Africa• 2005 Rwanda• 2006 Burundi• 2007• 2008 Kenya

• Africa- More wars than any other continent–More Quakers than any other

continent (Evangelical and silent)• Peace – Involve people at all levels and all

sectors• Projects- All used AVP to some extent

–Monitor elections• Share experiences• AGLI in response to Burundi and Rwanda• AVP in response to Kenya

Alternatives to Violence Project

• Greenhaven Prison in 1976• Set of manuals, network of volunteer lay

facilitators• Adaptable to cultures and languages• Spiritual but not religious• Spread around the world and in different

contexts• Prisons the AVP universities

AVP workshops

• Experiential – all have experience of conflict and have solved a conflict non-violently

• Basic, Advanced, T4F, A+ Typically 16hrs• Diversity and teamwork• Affirmation, Cooperation, Community,

Communication, Transforming Power• Consensus decisions

South Africa

• Prisons- Pollsmoor- male and female, Leeukop, Boksberg

• Schools• Community- Burundi refugees, townships,

churches, • Namibia, Lesotho, Sudan, Palestine, Hong

Kong• Hosted International gathering 2006

Gender Reconciliation-The power of reconciliation between women and men

• Satyana Institute- Will Keepin and Cynthia Brix

• 6 day experiential workshops – Preparation/invocation- create safe space– Immersion and transformation- gender

disharmony, silent witnessing, breathwork, women’s and men’s circles, truth circles

– Consecration, Integration and closure- honor and bless each other

Gender Reconciliation in SA

• Workshops- QPC, parliament, Pollsmoor,AVP facilitators, SACC regional staff and leadership

• Overcome patriarchy- Declaration to our sisters

• 2009 Workshops and recruit, start training local facilitators and adapt to context

EAPPIwww.eappi.org

• Ecumenical Accompaniment in Palestine and Israel

• Teams (20-70) live with nonviolent activists and vulnerable locals- 3 months

• SA involvement since 2004- Africa?• Accompany, report and advocacy in home

country• Piloted by Quakers• Based on ecumenical accompaniment in SA in

‘94

Complexity

• Butterfly effect- weather • Financial crash• Religion • Particle physics• Human behaviour• Flocks of birds and shoals of fish

Low

High

High Low

Professional/social agreement on outcome

Certainty of outcome

Low

High

High Low

Professional/social agreement on outcome

Certainty of outcome

Planning and control

Low

High

High Low

Professional/social agreement on outcome

Certainty of outcome

Planning and control

Chaos

Low

High

High Low

Professional/social agreement on outcome

Certainty of outcome

Planning and control

Chaos

Zone

of

complexity

Complexity

• Small set of simple rules– Direction, prohibitions and resources. eg

• Behaviour emerges- specially at edge of chaos. Evolutionary

• Nonlinear- Each element or person is important and can be the source of significant change

• Fractyl nature• Often not either or but both

Active peace

0 Surface- conformity, unaware, denial, 1. Acquiescence2. Pacifism3. Passive nonviolent resistance4. Active nonviolent resistance5. Triad of active peace

1. Peacemaking –transforming conflict2. Peacekeeping –nonviolent accompaniment3. Peacebuilding –sustainable development

Active peace

• Next stage only becomes visible and understandable once you have reached one before

• Peace education and education about stages important to gain firm purchase of stage and not regress

Active peace and hope

“ I saw an ocean of darkness and death, and an ocean of light and love. And the ocean of light and love, overcame the ocean of darkness and death.”

George Fox 1624-1691

Discussion

• What other elements contribute to active peace?

• How can we provide education and experiences to help people move towards becoming active peacemakers?