PEACE CREATION CAN BE A CONSCIOUS CHOICE

But it will only happen when we say so

Peace isn’t something to simply hope or pray for; it’s something to consciously create.

Health isn’t the absence of sickness; sickness is the absence of health. You can’t just suppress the symptoms of sickness; you have to proactively create the conditions of health.

Similarly, peace isn’t the absence of violence; violence is the absence of peace. You can’t just suppress the symptoms of violence; you have to proactively create the conditions of peace.

In any corner of the world, the presence of four factors statistically indicate there will be a higher incidence of peace and a lower incidence of violence: greater educational opportunities for children, more economic opportunities for women, a reduction of violence against women, and the amelioration of unnecessary human despair.

The world will change when we’re more focused on creating the world we really want.

Other countries do it, and so can we.

The problem we have in America is that our economic system does not always support the vision of a happier, more peaceful society. A morally neutral economic system is inherently violent, viewing war, prisons, and the destruction of the earth as economic incentives. And that is what needs to change. We must put the attainment of peace for everyone before the short term profits for a few.

It’s encouraging to read of places where there is a more conscious effort to create peace. In Singapore, for instance, they’re designed a society that promotes healthy living, provides easy access to healthy food, provides universal healthcare, and fosters a strong focus on community and intergenerational support. They’ve prioritized longevity by making healthy choices more easily available to everyone, including extensive public transportation, green spaces, and well-planned neighborhoods that encourage physical activity. They’ve even got higher taxes on junk food and provide subsidies for healthy food. Singapore, by the way, is a free-market capitalist economy. They’ve simply made the creation of a healthier, more peaceful society their highest goal.

We can do that too. We’ve simply been trained in this country to expect much less. We don’t ask for too much; we ask for too little.

I’ll be doing an online event to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Peace Alliance next Monday, Dec. 16th. We’ll discuss these things, and more. Please join me.