Tied into all other projects, peacebuilding and development are key components of every good project. Not all projects are direct (eg mediation etc) in how they reach their goals, although that certainly plays an important part of many success stories. Some, though, are indirect – people coming together to work on a unique goal and achieving a peacebuilding goal in the process.

This section will highlight some of my favourite projects – both those that I have a direct connection to as well as though that I have simply become aware of and want to highlight. I will also identify some of my favourite resources – books, media etc. The list here – or in any other section –  is by no means exhaustive. There are far too many great resources available to list here – this is simply the tip of the iceberg, a few of my personal favourites, plus occassionally a current article that I may come across and add to the list.

In my understanding and definition of peacebuilding and development, it is one of the fundamental building blocks of every other project. Whether interpersonal or international – or even between humanity and creation, living at peace is critical to every development project, and sustainable development is a key foundational piece of every peacebuilding project.

News/General Info:

Lego:
– It seems that even Lego has succumbed to the pressure to make toys violent. Perhaps they need a push from consumers to go back to building basic blocks for creative play instead of their new direction.

New York Times: Melt Thy Rifles Into Garden Tools

Time to ditch the harmful myth of the ‘noble’ hunter-gatherer – Guardian

War and Peace

US-led wars have displaced 37m people. America should accept responsibility

At Least 37 Million People Have Been Displaced by America’s War on Terror

Books

DOUGHNUT ECONOMICS: SEVEN WAYS TO THINK LIKE A 21ST-CENTURY ECONOMIST by Kate Raworth.

Naomi Klein – Shock Doctrine

  • If you have read this book already, it may not strike you as a book that belongs on a peacebuilding list. However, depressing as it may be to delve into the challenges of what we are up against, no problem can be solved – or prevented – without taking a hard look at parts of reality that we might want to avoid. The end is surprisingly upbeat and will leave you ready to work even harder for positive change.

Websites/Articles

What better foundation could we ask for in any political leader?

Hugh Evans: What does it mean to be a citizen of the world?
https://go.ted.com/Cy8y

Canadian-led movement aims to seize assets from dictators to remedy refugee crisis: CBC

TedTalk: Dalia Mogahed: What do you think when you look at me?
– Well worth watching! Perspectives on inter-faith peacebuilding by an Egyptian American.

Also, don’t miss her other TedTalk as well, examining the relationship between development and peace (with emphasis on economics, democracy and the Arab Spring).

Dalia Mogahed: The attitudes that sparked Arab Spring

NGOs/Campaigns/Projects:

Urbanization and the Role of Urban Centres in Development:

Parag Khanna: How megacities are changing the map of the world