7. Since 1950 - IRNC, Institut de recherche sur la Résolution non

Historical orverview of nonviolence
Thinkers and actors of nonviolence
since 1950
Étienne Godinot
Translation : Claudia McKenny Engström
- 14.07.2015
Jean-Pierre Dardaud
Frenchman born in 1950, brother in arms of Rajagopal and Ekta
Parishad for over 20 years, ex-President of the Frères de Hommes
(“Brothers of Men”) and coordinator of the international civil
campaign “Disarm to combat poverty”.
Founding Member of the non-profit organization JINOV International
(“Jeunesse, Initiatives, NOn-Violences”, or Youth, Initiatives and
Nonviolences), collective network of solidarity-based and nonviolent
initiatives by youths around the world. JINOV writes “nonviolences” in
the plural ton outline the diversity of the inspirations and social,
professional and civic nonviolent practices.
“Daring to practice new articulations between the individual and the
collective, the professional and the civil, the local and the
international. Daring to promote eco-development and solidaritybased economy in all domains, on every continent.
Daring to uphold radically democratic nonviolent commitments.
Daring to value truthful discussion, overthrowing clichés, shaking the
coconut trees .”
Haytham Manna
Born in 19??, Syrian. Doctor, writer committed for the past 30 years
to defending Human Rights in the Arab world. Founder in 1988 and
spokesman of the Arab Commission for Human Rights (ACHR).
Spokesman of the National Coordination Committee for Democratic
Change (logo presented below).
Ardent defender of laity, opposes a triple refusal of confessionalism,
violence and foreign interventions. Denounces both the cruel
regime of Bachar Al Assad and the armed rebel groups.
“As soon as one chooses violence as an option, one is not master
of one’s destiny anymore. When one arms oneself, one becomes
dependant on another. Since the Second World War, we haven’t
found a single case where violence generated a democratic
transition. (…) There are at least 50 000 non-Syrians who would be
capable of fighting another ten years without any regard for the
population.”
Fernando Pereira
(1950-1985), Dutch photographer of Portuguese descent,
member of the environmental organization Greenpeace. Died
on the 10th of July 1985 in the explosion which sank the
“Rainbow Warrior”, a ship owned by Greenpeace, docked in
Auckland, New Zealand.
This manslaughter was the result of an attack organized by the
French secret services (DGSE) with the assent of the authorities
of the Sate, to stop the boat form protesting against the French
nuclear tests in Mururoa. France payed 7 million dollars in
damages to New Zealand and 8,16 million dollars in
compensation to Greenpeace.
François Lhopiteau
Frenchman born in 1950 ?, former teacher of people’s education,
founder in 1989 of the IFMAN-Normandie, (Institut de recherche et de
Formation du Mouvement pour une Alternative Non-violente, or
“Research and Training Institute of the Movement for a Nonviolent
Alternative”).
7 IFMAN organisations (Bretagne, Lorraine, Méditerranée, Nord.Pasde-Calais, Normandie, Rhône-Loire, Sud-Ouest), offer their services
in France. They accompany teams from the educational, cultural,
medical and social sectors, from non-profit organizations,
local authorities, etc. and offer courses in finding nonviolent
solutions when solving conflicts, or the development of interpersonal competences.
Training (educational sanctions, stress and conflict at work,
reacting to aggressiveness, mediation, etc.), accompanying
teams (regulation, practical analysis, support groups).
Jean-Blaise Kenmogne and Kä Mana
J.-B. K. : pastor and theologian from Cameroon, director of the Cercle
International pour la Promotion de la Création (CIPCré, or
International Circle for the Promotion of Creation), writer.
K. M. : philosopher and theologian from Congo, writer.
Coordinators of the book Pour la voix africaine de la non-violence (or
“For the African Voice of Nonviolence”, Yaoundé, ed. CLE, 2009). The
CIPCré puts into practice an educational program promoting
nonviolence: training activity leaders and actors of the civil society,
campaigning in religious communities, etc.
“ The current violence in Africa is absolutely not natural. It is socially
and culturally constructed to serve material, ethnical and geopolitical
interests against which it is possible to fight to build a nonviolent
society. (…) Nonviolence is not only an inner attitude or a social
behavior, it is also an option for a new type of culture and commitment
for the promotion of new human values. ”
Gary Slutkin
Born in 1950, American doctor, infectious disease specialist in San
Francisco. Within the OMS, fights tuberculoses and cholera in
Somalia for three years, and then for 7 years other sicknesses such
as AIDS in several African countries. Back in the US, observes
closely armed violence and notices , with help of geographical maps
and graphics, that it acts and spreads in a manner similar to that of
infectious diseases.
To put a stop to violence as well as epidemics, he explains that we
must :
- interrupt the transmission (detect the first cases)
- stop the spreading (find the persons exposed)
- create an immunity of the group by changing the norms, for
example by rethinking education.
In 1995, creates a structure, CeaseFire, and an intervention program,
the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention.
../..
Gary Slutkin
In 2000, recruits in the most dangerous neighborhoods
“interrupters of violence” on three criteria (socially credible,
worthy of trust, accessible) to work with gangs, and then social
agents of change. The action develops in American cities *,
notably upon request of the United States Conference of Mayors,
and then around the world **. The film “The Interrupters” was
released in 2011.
“ Injustice is like the standing water in which cholera proliferates.
Sometimes, it is not purifies quickly enough. If injustice is not
removed quickly, a strategy must be found to control violence, until a
long term solution can be found. ”
“ A new strategy, a new set of methods, a new type of social
workers.”
* New-York, Baltimore, Kansas City, Chicago, New Orleans
** Porto Rico, Honduras, Kenya, Iraq.
Christian Delorme
Born in 1950, French catholic priest from the Lyon diocese,
nicknamed “le curé des Minguettes” (“the priest of the Minguettes”, a
difficult neighborhood outside Lyon). Takes part in the fight against
new forms of slavery, the ethnocide of Guyanese Indians,
militarization. Co-founder in 1973 of the magazine Alternatives nonviolentes. In 1975, occupies a church in Lyon together with
prostitutes as part of the movement Le Nid (“The Nest”). In 1981,
undertakes together with the pastor Jean Costil a 29 day hunger
strike against the expulsion of second generation immigrants.
In 1983, coinitiator of the Marche pour l’égalité
des droits et contre le racisme (“March for equality
of rights and against racism”), also known as
“Marche des Beurs”. Committed to fighting for
freedom in Tibet. Initiator of intercultural and
interreligious dialogue with Islam.
../..
Christian Delorme
“ With nonviolence, I have never managed to dissociate
theory from practice. One and the other help me not to
despair and then fight. I have no enemies. Only adversaries.
So I do not wish to be recognized or destroyed. Although in
latent conflict with police forces, I am always glad to
personally meet policemen, to hear their own take on truth.
For a shock militant, that might appear as
some kind of treason. In my case, it is a
fundamental attitude… and simply common
sense. ”
François Marchand
Frenchman born in 1950, civil mining engineer, director of major
projects in a firm for travelers’ transport. Conscientious objector,
member of the Mouvement pour une Alternative Non-violente
(MAN, “Mouvement for a nonviolent alternative”) since 1974.
Founding member and president of the Institut de recherche sur la
Résolution Non-violente de Conflits (IRNC, “Research Institute for
the nonviolent resolution of conflicts”) when it was created in 1984.
Member of the orientation committee and treasurer for the
magazine Alternatives Non-violentes. Greatly involved since 1995
in the creation of a voluntary service for peace in France.
Founder in 2002 and co-president of the association fund Nonviolence XXI which contributes to financing nonviolent
organizations in France.
Guy Boubault
Frenchman born in 1950 ?, founder and director of Non-Violence
Actualité (NVA).
Specialized in the prevention of violence in a daily environment
(family, school, and neighborhood, social and professional lives),
NVA aims to provide private individuals or institutions with
researching documents, media, contacts or traineeships,
concerning interpersonal and social competences: communication,
conflict management, mediation, nonviolent action, cooperation,
etc.
NVA also publishes (magazine, books, studies, leaflets, posters,
exhibitions, etc.), distributes (DVD, cooperative games, etc.),
documents (resource-addresses) and trains.
Antonio Gutierrez Perez
Mexican born in 19??, cofounder of the Sociedad civil de las
Abejas de Acteal (“Civil society of the bees of Acteal”). This
nonviolent Christian organization was created in 1992 in Chiapas
(Mexico) after the unfair arrest of 5 peasants by the police and
massive demonstrations. Present close the town of Chenalho, on
six municipalities where the majority speaks tzotzil, another part
speaks tzeltal, it fights for the rights of the indigenous peoples and
the defense of their lands.
In 1994, Las Abejas showed solidarity with the objectives of the
Ejército Zapatista de Liberación Nacional (EZLN, “Zapatist Army of
National Liberation”), “Work, lands, housing, food, health care,
education, independence, liberty, democracy, justice and peace”,
but refuses its methods of action which, at this date, did not
exclude violence.
../..
Las Abejas de Acteal
On the 22nd of December 1997, 300 villagers are praying in a
church when 45 of them (amongst which 21 women, 14 children
and a babe) are massacred by an indigenous paramilitary group
hostile to the EZLN, armed with firearms and machetes.
Since then, the members of Las Abejas fight against the impunity
of the perpetrators of this massacre, as well as for their
autonomy, rights, for the defense of their lands and “ for the
construction of a serene living space ”.
“ Nonviolence is our legitimate weapon to build a Mexican state
of respect, justice and non-discrimination.”
Photos :
- Mgr Samuel Ruiz at the funeral of the 45 victims of the Acteal massacre
- March in the name of the victims against the impunity of the perpetrators of the
massacre
François Vaillant
Frenchman born in 1951, philosopher and theologian, ex Dominican
friar. Teaches educational philosophy in Marseilles during ten years,
then taxi driver in Paris and project manager for the IFMAN
Normandie.
Editor-in-chief of the magazine Alternatives non-violentes from 1989
to 2013. Cofounder with Yan Gradis of the Collectif de
“déboulonneurs de publicité” which fights against the invasion of
advertising. Against the DNA recording of militants, especially of
those using civil disobedience.
“ While the social landscape continues to darken, while passivity and
violence remain dead-ends, ethical disobedience carries within the
seeds of a logical nonviolent collective action, always operating to
thwart repression and built a society based on solidarity. ”
François Roux
Born in 1951, French lawyer. Defends conscientious objectors,
antinuclear militants in Tahiti, peasants from the Larzac and José
Bové, Kanacks of New Caledonia, those who take down
advertisements or cut down plantations treated with GMO.
Supports the collective fund Non-Violence XXI, member of the
Counsel of the Fondation Un Monde Par Tous (“Foundation One
World By All).
In 1999, also defends some of the accused in the International
Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, Zacharias Massaoui following the
9/11 attacks, and the former Khmer Rouge leader Kang Kek Leu,
also known as Duch.
“I profoundly believe in international criminal justice. Just as
prosecutors and judges are needed to make this justice function,
attorneys are needed. A doctor treats everyone, a lawyer defends
everyone. At the same time, I find it strange to have spent my life
defending those in civil disobedience, and to be today defending
who was in servile obedience. “
Jacques Sémelin
Frenchman born in 1951, historian and political scientist. Professor
at the the Institut d’études politiques de Paris (“Paris Institute of
political studies”) and research director at the CNRS as part of the
Centre d’études et de recherches internationales (“CERI, Centre for
international studies and research”).
His work endeavors to understand the genocides and massacres of
the 20th century through a multidisciplinary approach combining
history, social psychology and political science. On this subject, he
finished writing in 2005 his master work, “Purifier et détruire”
(“Purify and Destroy”).
Member of the editorial committee Vingtième Siècle. Revue
d’histoire (“Twentieth century. Historical magazine”). Also manages
the international electronic encyclopedia for mass violence,
massviolence.org.
../..
Jacques Sémelin
The importance of nonviolence in his research bears witness to his
past as a militant in the 1970’s (Man, editor-in-chief of the
magazine Alternatives non-violentes).
“If physical domination in an established fact, political submission
is a state of mind. The whole point of a civil resistance is to
increase the gap between the established fact and the state of
mind. In the end, the point is to
go into the street, to go from
the immaterial and confined
public sphere to the open
space. Un process of civil
resistance must first of all
vanquish fear.”
Vandana Shiva
Born in 1952, Indian, physicist, epistemologist, writer, feminist,
researcher and environmentalist. Manages the Research
Foundation for Science, Technology and Natural Resource Policy.
Winner of the alternative Nobel Prize in 1993, “for having placed
women and ecology at the heart of the discourse on modern
development”.
Walked alone around India at the end of the 1980’s, looking for the
seeds threatened by industry, came back leading 500 000
demonstrators – peasants and militants – and a network of 120
seed banks. Disciple of Gandhi, believes in nonviolent resistance
and civil disobedience.
“Why do I keep my own seeds, why do I go against the laws that
say that Monsanto “invented” seeds? Because it is a lie and I will
not cooperate with that lie. (…) If we do not campaign for noncooperation, we will disappear just like the pollinator insects. Only
democracy can allow us to save the environment and allow us to
live.”
Christian Brunier
(1952-2004), Frenchman, member of the Mouvement pour une
Alternative Non-violente (MAN-Paris), as well as the IRNC, Artisans de
Paix (81-84), Stop Essais, the Observatoire des transferts d’armements,
Equipes de paix dans les Balkans, the Coordination française pour la
Décennie internationale. One of the initiators of the first Salon
international des initiatives de paix in Paris in june 2004.
Very appreciated for his kindness, his commitment, his devotion and his
appreciation of well finished work, in the animation of meetings as well
as in the organization of actions. A “Christian Brunier fund for nonviolent
action” was created by Non-Violence XXI.
“Christian didn’t spare his energy, didn’t count his time; he was working
in the service of the ideas he defended. For that, he sacrificed his
health, he gave his life for projects furthering peace between men.”
Alain Refalo at the funeral of CB
Photo : C.B. in March 2003 on the péniche “Alternat”, where he organized “Nonviolence
Mondays” with the MAN.
Philippe Beck
Swiss born in 1952, mathematician and IT specialist, member of
the Centre pour l’Action Non-Violente (CENAC) in Lausanne.
Over 30 years of volunteering for conscientious objectors,
families of the Fourth world, the Sahrawi people, Sandinista
Nicaragua, against GMO… Member of Les Verts (French
environmental party), municipal counselor in Morges, mediator,
certified coach and adult trainer for the FormAction, which he
founded.
Specializes in : nonviolent solving of conflicts, educational
sanction, mediation, coaching, listening, managing violent
situations. A lot of experience in community work and training
teachers and educators, notably training for civil interventions for
peace for Peace Brigades International (PBI).
“ Educational sanction comes from a threefold pedagogical need:
learning the rules, making amends towards a possible victim, and
reflecting upon oneself. ”
Ken Butigan
American born in 19??, doctor of history of religions, writer, militant
since the 1980’s for nuclear disarmament, freedom in oriental
Timor, in Iraq, etc. From 1987 to 1990, national coordinator of the
Pledge of Resistance, network of 100 000 people divided into 400
local groups who organize nonviolent action for peace in central
America. Director of the centre for training and nonviolent action
Pace e Bene, founded in 1989. Professor at the DePaul university
and at the Loyola university of Chicago. Cocreator of the program
Engage : Exploring Nonviolent Living.
“This massacre (28 people of which 20 children, by a young man on
14th December 2012 at Sandy Hook primary school in Newtown)
and this year 12 shootings in the U.S. illustrate the culture of
violence which marks our society. We must work at forbidding
purely and simply firearms.”
David Hartsough et Mel Duncan
D. H. : born in 19??, American Quaker militant committed to
antisegregationism (1960’s), to peace in Vietnam, to stopping
nuclear proliferation (1970’s), and to missions of civil
interventions for peace in Kosovo (1990’s).
M. D. : American born in 19??, notices in 1984 that villages in
Nicaragua are not attacked by Contras when foreigners are
there.
Meet in 1999 during the La Hague Appeal for peace. Create in
2002 in Surajkund, in India, with representatives from 49
countries, the international organization Nonviolent Peaceforce
(NP), which sends it first team of civil intervention for peace to
Sri Lanka in the autumn 2003.
../..
David Hartsough et Mel Duncan
Nonviolent Peaceforce is a confederation of 94 organizations
worldwide. Its seat is in Brussels.
Its aim is to form a international unarmed civil peace force, which
can be sent to conflict zones upon request of local groups to protect
human rights activists, to intervene in between the belligerents, so
as to allow a dialogue between them in order to solve the conflict
pacifically. NP, after its intervention in Sri Lanka, is today in South
Sudan, in the Philippines and in the South Caucasus.
“ We imagine a world in which well tested nonviolent strategies are
recognized as a viable alternative to prevent and sole violent
conflicts worldwide. Our main strategy to achieve this aim is the
creation of a space to encourage dialogue. ”
José Bové
Frenchman born in 1953, face of the anti-globalization movement.
Member of Groupe de recherche et d’action non-violente in
Bordeaux in the 1970’s. Settles in 1976 in a farm in the Larzac
coveted by the army. Breeds sheep within a GAEC. Takes par in
1987 in the creation of the Confédération paysanne.
In 1995, takes part in operation Pacifique lead by Greenpeace
against nuclear tests. Supports the Tahitian and Kanak
independence movements.
To denounce junk food, he takes part in august 1999 in the
dismantlement of a “Mc Donald’s” in Millau. In January 2001, parallel
to the World Social Forum, leads an anti-GMO action in Brazil
against a branch of the Monsanto company.
../..
José Bové
Spokesman of Via Campesina in 2004, defends the peoples’
right and sovereignty in producing their food. Condemned
multiple times for illegally pulling out GMO plantations in the
name of his right and duty to disobey and the precautionary
principle.
European MP since june 2009 (for Europe Ecologie Les Verts),
vice-president of the Agriculture and development commission of
the European Parliament. Today, fights against projects destined
to mine shale gas and the airport at Notre-Dame des Landes.
“ Civil disobedience is the ultimate recourse when democratic
debate is blocked. It must be disinterested, nonviolent against
people, transparent. Its author of course accepts to take
responsibility for any possible sanctions. ”
Thierry Nlandu
Born in 1954, citizen of the Congo-Zaïre, professor of angloamerican literature at the University of Kinshasa, spokesman of the
Conseil de l’apostolat des laics catholiques du Congo (CALCC),
playwright and consultant for organizational development.
After meeting Jean Goss, takes part in the foundation in 1989 of the
Amos group, which works on training for democracy and
nonviolence, fights against stealing, adultery and the generalized
corruption.
On the 16th of February 1992, Amos organizes the March of the
Christians in Kinshasa, assembling over a million people to demand
the reopening of the Conférence Nationale Souveraine, in charge of
creating a new constitution and bringing back democracy. It is
bloodily repressed by the Mobutu regime.
../..
Thierry Nlandu
Between 2000 and 2003, manages the “Democratic
Transition” program of the Law Group-Global Rights.
Organizes another march on 16th February 2012
against the fraudulent results of the election of the 28th
of November 2011 and to demand the resignation of
the office of the electoral commission after the
fraudulent reelection of Joseph Kaliba.
Photos :
- March of the Christians in Kinshasa on 16th January 1992
- Repression of the march by Mobutu’s police force.
Élisabeth Maheu-Vaillant
Born Gille in 1954, Frenchwoman, member of the MAN,
teacher at the IFMAN Normandie, used to be a mathematics
teacher for the Académie de Rouen, then put in charge of
preventing incivility and violence within the academy, trains on
the question of educational sanctions.
“ Whether its educating children, teaching, participation in the
life of a community, working in a team, co-elaborating rules and
guaranties or improving the democratic process within an
institution; whether its protesting against injustice or starting a
nonviolent resistance, or intervening in a conflict zone as a
third party, we need to try different media, work on our
postures, practice containing our emotions and communicating
better, (…) analyzing the power struggles. Nonviolence has to
be learnt. ”
Jacques Muller
Frenchman born in 1954, agricultural engineer of the INAPG,
professor of general, agricultural and rural economy for over 25
years, member of the MAN in Mulhouse. Cofounded several
environmental and human-rights organizations. Mayor of Wattwiller
from 2001 to 2014, EELV senator for the Haut-Rhin form 2007 to
2010. Renounces his mayoral compensation to oppose
accumulation of mandates.
In April 2007, subpoenas the Ministry for Agriculture, in the name of
Wattwiller, in front of the administrative tribunal of Strasbourg for
having failed to take the necessary measures to establish a
protective perimeter against GMO around organic farms.
“ The ethical requirement of nonviolence in terms of individual and
collective political practices, in the daily political game, always
appears to be generally absent. (…) The representatives of political
ecology have a very particular responsibility : to (re)
discover the nonviolence they refer to and to bring her into
action. ”
Jan Zielonka
Born in 1995, polish doctor of political science, professor at the
university of Leiden, in Florence and then in Oxford. Has
studied lengthily nonviolent polish resistance and takes an
interest in civil defense strategies.
“An analysis of the nonviolent resistance of Solidarnosc can
contribute to an enriching debate on the potential effect of
nonviolent actions in different national or international conflicts.
We are presented with one of the most impressive historical
examples of nonviolent action, although there is neither a
nonviolent tradition in Poland, nor a serious theoretical analysis
exploring the potential power of nonviolent fighting.”
Nov. 1985 in Strasbourg
Liu Xiaobo
Chinese university professor and writer born in 1955.
Sentenced to eleven years imprisonment for taking part in
2008 in the Charter 08, signed by 333 people, demanding
democracy and the compliance to Human rights in China.
Nobel Prize for Peace in 2010.
“ Liberty, Equality and Human rights are universal values (…).
A “modernization” which strays from these principles (…)
amounts to a degradation of human relationships, to hindering
the dignified struggle of men against misfortune. ”
Maria Biedrawa
Born in 1956 in Austria, specialized teacher, consultant and trainer,
member of Jean Vanier’s Arche, ex-president of the French branch
of the Mouvement International de la Réconciliation (MIR), deacon
of peace.
Teaches nonviolence and reconciliation dynamics in post-conflict
situations in several African countries.
“I have met refugees, victims of dictatorships, in DRC and
elsewhere, children who worked in mines to earn enough for a
meal. But I also saw men and women who, in the worst situations,
show the best of humanity. I saw more than just methods. I met
people who oppose violence with their entire being. Little by little,
the words I hear and read make me realize why African
nonviolence has such vitality and freshness about it.”
Javier Sicilia
Born in 1956, catholic and Mexican poet, essayist, novelist and
journalist.
In march 2011, his son Juan Francisco, 24, is assassinated by the
mafia, along with six other people. Gives up poetry and, with the
motto “Estamos hasta la madre” (“We have had it”), leads several
demonstrations demanding a stop be put to violence in Mexico. The
March for Peace, from Cuernavaca to Mexico from the 5th to the 8th
of May 2011, denounces the corruption, impunity and gains from
crime. It brings together 80 000 people and received the support of
Sub-commandant Marcos and international support. Founder of the
Movement for Peace with Justice and Dignity.
“In the midst of this badly planned war, badly done, badly managed,
which precipitates the country into a state of emergency, you were
incapable – because of your pettiness, your brawls and your rivalries
– of creating the consensus so badly needed by the nation. It is time
to give our nation back its dignity.”
Marguerite Barankitse
Born in 1956, nicknamed Maggy, burundese tutsi teacher. In
October 1993, a group of tutsi militia men assassinate 72 Hutus in
front of her eyes in the bishopric of Ruyigi. Saves 25 hutu children
from a burning building.
Opens in a rundown building a home called Shalom, then the
Oasis of Peace and the Casa de la Pace for traumatized and
mutilated children, without any distinction based on ethnical,
religious or social background, educates them towards peace and
pardon.
“ He who kills is the first victim of his act. You cannot condemn
another man, only his actions. Each life is sacred, even that of a
criminal.
Evil will never prevail. Faith and love can move even hatred’s
mountains. ”
Nafez Assaily
Palestinian born in 1956, Sufi Muslim. Studies in Christian
schools and then at the university of Nablus (English and
sociology), PhD in Washington. Family evicted by the Givat
Arsina Israeli colony. Loses sight in his right eye in 1990 after
taking part in the protest against the death, the previous day, of
Palestinians in front of the Al Aqsa Mosque.
Creates the Library on Wheels for Nonviolence and Peace in
Hebron (LOWNP) and the House of nonviolence. Encourages
eating local product to develop Palestinian economy,
reconciliation within families.
“There is no other choice for Palestinians than a nonviolent
struggle.”
Yang Yoon-mo
Born 1956, professor and critic for south Korean cinema, expresident of the Korean association of cinema critics. 59 days
of prison and 71 days of hunger strike in 2011, 42 day long
hunger strike in 2012, and again in 2013 as a nonviolent protest
against the creation of a huge naval base in Gangjeon, on the
volcanic island of Jeju, 85km south of the Korean peninsula.
This base is destined to house American nuclear submarines,
destroyers and aircraft-carriers, would be an advanced post for
the American anti-missile defense, and part of the strategy to
encircle China. The site belongs to the UNESCO World
Heritage. 94% of the 1900 inhabitants of Gangjeon opposed
the project in a referendum in 2007.
../..
Yang Yoon-mo
an the nonviolent resistants of Jeju
From 2007 onwards, the villagers have been supported by a large
part of South Koreans, by 125 Korean and more international
NGOs.
The bishop of Jeju, Peter Kang U-il, president of the Confederation
of catholic bishops of Korea (photo), supports the resistance. Joseph
Takami Mitsuaki, archbishop of Nagasaki, when visiting Jeju in
2013, expressed the support of the Catholic Chruch in Korea. The
Protestant Church and Buddhists are also against the project and
mobilized.
../..
Yang Yoon-mo
an the nonviolent resistants of Jeju
Amongst the nonviolent militants :
- Sung-Hee Choi, teacher and artiste;
- Regina Pyon, representative of SPARK, an
association committed to the reunification of the
Koreas;
- Shing Yong-In (professor of Law advocating civil
disobedience);
-Wook-Sik Cheong, founder of the Network for
peace;
- Gil Chun Koh, artist.
Thomas d’Ansembourg
Born in 1957, therapist, Belgian author and lecturer. First a lawyer,
he enters in the 1990’s an association designed to help young
people with difficulties, where he realizes that violence is the
demonstration of deep unsatisfied needs. Learns about nonviolent
communication with Marshall Rosenberg.
By knowing themselves and communicating, people take into
account their needs and their limits by listening to their internal
commanding sensations (gut, heart, head) and then negotiate with
others.
Analyses happiness and anti-happiness traps, develops the concept
of “citizen interiority”, a capacity to align your life on your vital force.
Mazin Qumsiyeh
Palestinian born in 1957, biology and genetics researcher in the
universities of Bethlehem and Birzeit, after having taught in the
U.S.A. President of the Centre for Rapprochement Between
Peoples. Important figure of the popular resistance which he
organizes partly, works in collaboration with several peace
movements with the civil society.
His book called People’s History of the Palestinian Resistance
synthesizes enormous amounts of information from varied and
original sources in order to present the most complete study of
civil resistance in Palestine.
“An edifying and powerful book, which reveals human suffering
caused by the destruction of the Palestinians (… whose) methods
of resistance, based on active nonviolence, deserve to be better
known to the international community.”
Mairead Maguire
Yazid Kherfi
A Frenchman of Algerian descent born in 1958, tough delinquent
from the “cité du Val Fourré” in Mantes-la-Jolie (suburb outside Paris,
where he was known for armed robberies). Wanted by the police,
flees to Algeria, imprisoned for five years after his return to France.
Accountant in a local community. In 1990, becomes first animator
and then director of a Youth center in tough neighborhoods, where he
works for 10 years. Animator of a Communal council for the
prevention of delinquency, obtains a Bachelor degree in Educational
Sciences and then a DESS in Security Engineering from the Institut
des Hautes Etudes de la Sécurité Interieure.
Teacher, consultant for “urban prevention”, lecturer, mediates
between youths and policemen, social workers, wardens, etc.
../..
Yazid Kherfi
“Today, young people have no natural leaders around them,
they are extremely lonely in the face of injustice. Neither the
public authorities, nor the activists working in the neighborhoods
want to work with these natural leaders and recognize these
“expert inhabitants” as partners. According to me, it is a big
mistake. Violence is for some the only medium they know how
to use. The first victims of violence are the inhabitants of these
neighborhoods, particularly these young people.
Therefore, it is important at first to lower the tension by
channeling anger towards nonviolent actions of solidarity. It is
today a real waste because these young people have intelligent
things to say and even ideas to diminish the violence in these
neighborhoods ! Inhabitants and social actors must work
together for a better life in these places.”
John Dear
Born in 1959, American Jesuit. Author of 28 books on peace and
nonviolence, lecturer.
Worked in refugee camps. Was arrested over 75 times as imprisoned
during several months following actions of civil disobedience against
injustice, war (in Iraq, Afghanistan), and nuclear weapons (attempts to
destroy F15 bombers). Executive director of MIR-IFOR (International
Fellowship of Reconciliation) in the U.S. from 1998 to 2001. Peace
mission in Afghanistan in 2012-2013 with the Afghan Peace Volunteers.
“ If, to return to our roots, we want to proclaim the Gospel and follow
Jesus the nonviolent, we will get in trouble not only with the Pentagon,
but also with ecclesiastical authorities...”
Françoise Keller
Frenchwoman born in 1960, engineer having graduated from the
Ecole Centrale, coach and consultant based in Lyon, 20 years
experience in management, nonviolent communications trainer in
different organizations and companies.
“ Economy is not naturally violent, it is man who is violent in the
way he puts economy into practice. Why and how does man
contribute to violence within a company ? How can he come out of
this circle of violence ?
- Clarify ones intention in life.
- Observe, spread information, communicate.
- Become conscious of our emotions to understand our needs.
- Mourn and become aware that what I have accomplished in life
up until now makes no sens in my life.”
Florence Burgat
Born in 1960 ?, French philosopher, research director at the
Institut National de Recherche Agronomique (INRA), director of
seminars at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales
(EHESS).
Author of three founding books on the condition of animals in
industrial societies. Studies the duty to respect animal rights in
Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and in the history of thought
(Pythagoras, Theophrastus, Jeremy Bentham, Arthur
Schopenhauer, Gandhi, etc.). Considers vegetarianism as the
founding principle in an code of ethics respectful of animals.
“ One must understand how many means of projection and
abjection have been and are still used by philosophers, priests,
politicians, defenders of tradition, but also by defenders of
progress to harm animals, ever more present in man when he
wants to act as an angel .”
Christian Renoux
Frenchman born in 1960, graduated from the Ecole Normale
Superieure, doctor of History, head-lecturer for modern history at
the university of Orléans, where he also teaches History of religions
and History of nonviolence.
Copresident of the Mouvement International de la Réconciliation
(MIR-FOR) from 1994 to 2004. Since November 2000, president of
the Coordination française pour la Décennie de la culture de nonviolence et de paix (2001-2010), which organized the Salon
international des initiatives de paix and renamed in 2011 the
Coordination pour l’éducation à la non-violence et à la paix.
This organization gathers together 80 associations and aims for the
promotion of education and training to develop a culture based on
nonviolence and peace. Every year, it organizes the forum
Nonviolence in school. Since 2008, it has been developing the
Reseau Ecole et Non-Violence.
Jenni Williams
Born in 1962, half-caste form Zimbabwe, human rights activist and
founder in 2002 with others (Magodonga Mahlangu, Taurai
Nyamanhindi, etc.) of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA). This
movement involving 75 000 women and men encourages citizens to
demonstrate in favor of their political, economical and social rights
and protests through civil disobedience against the dictatorship of
President Robert Mugabe.
Arrested more than 40 times, declared “prisoner of opinion” by
Amnesty International. Awarded the International Women of
Courage Award in 2007 by the American government for giving “an
example of courage and leadership by working for change through
pacific and nonviolent means.”
“ We are scared, like everyone else… What gives us the will to
continue is that we tell the truth and do it as the moral authorities of
the mothers of the nation.”
Jean-François Bernardini
Frenchman and Corsican born in 1963, founded with his
brother Alain the singing and music group I Muvrini, committed
to the defense of Corsican language and culture.
Animator of the Association pour la Fondation de Corse,
participates in courses for a culture of nonviolence.
« Nonviolence does not judge or give moral lessons. It listens
to anger and suffering. It searches for dignified answers, for a
hope : to deliver all of helplessness, not to abide to injustice,
choosing intelligent and efficient means. It counts on
imagination and creativity, on discipline, on collective
commitment. (…)
Corsica is today a land being born in a dying land, and
nonviolence can be at the center of that process.”
Alain Refalo
Frenchman born in 1964, schoolteacher in Colomiers (HauteGaronne), conscientious objector of the military service and militant
for nonviolence. Founder of the Centre de ressources sur la nonviolence de Midi-Pyrénées, ex-manager of publication of the review
Alternatives non-violentes.
In November 2008 initiates the movement of disobedient
schoolteachers, opposed to reforms presented by the minister “de
l’Education Nationale”, Xavier Darcos, explaining that they
“consciously refuse to obey”.
“ Our resistance wants to implicate in an inextricable way a noncooperating program which opposes itself to measures that seem to
us bad for the future of our schools, and a constructive program
proposing solutions which might help prepare this future. (…) Our
resistance never did any harm to the pupils. We have always
wanted to present effective pedagogical alternatives to ensure the
continuity and the efficiency of public education.”
Benny Tai, Martin Lee, Chan Kin-man,
Chu Yiu-ming, Joseph Zen
Benny Tai Yiu-ting (first photo), born in 1964, law professor at the
university of Hong Kong, politician. Instigator in January 2013 of the
informal movement of civil disobedience called Occupy Central with
Love and Peace which had emerged around a single demand :
democratic and free elections in 2017 to designate the successor of
Leung Chung-ying as head of the government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region. Occupy Central is supported by
many democratic movements around the world, such as the
American National Democratic Institute.
Martin Lee Chu Ming (lower photo), lawyer born in 1938, member of
the Legislative Council of Hong Kong, founder of the Democratic
Party of Hong Kong, is cofounder of Occupy Central.
../..
Benny Tai, Martin Lee, Chan Kin-man
Chu Yiu-ming, Joseph Zen
Chan Kin-man (first photo), professor for sociology at the Chinese
university of Hong Kong. Cofounder of Occupy Central.
Chu Yiu-ming (second photo), born in 1944, Baptist pastor in Hong
Kong, Human rights activits. Played an essential role in the
evacuation of dissidents from Tiananmen in 1989, where he was
himself the day before the repression. One of the founders of
Occupy Central.
Joseph Zen Ze-kiun (last photo), born in 1932, Chinese cardinal of
the Roman Catholic Church, emeritus bishop of Hong Kong since
2009. Favors democracy, one of the main dissidents of the
Chinese communist regime.
See the slideshow “Civil resistance against dictatorships”
Txetx Etcheverry
Born in 1964 in the Pais Basco. Cofounder of the nonviolent
Basque movement Démo, active within the Basque anti-global
movement Bizi !, implicated in questions regarding climatic and
environmental emergency and encouraging nonviolent action.
Works with ELA, an unusual Basque union equipped with a
resistance fund allowing it to initiate and win strikes lasting up to
three years…
“My choice of nonviolence was born from the need for efficiency,
taken from my own experiences as a Basque militant. I had the
opportunity to experience the limits of organized violence, and the
capacity of a system to turn that weapon on those who attempt to
fight it. (…)
The real winning strategies, as much concerning our aims as our
values, are democratic and progressive, and stay within the scope
nonviolent action, of civil disobedience and of a constructive
program.”
Étienne Chomé
Belgian born in 1965, researcher at the catholic university of
Louvain, author of the C-R-I-T-E-R-E method, founder and manager
of CommunicActions : this international school, born in the
multireligious and multiracial context of the Île Maurice, has
developed on three continents. Its animators teach this method of
conflict management to very diverse audiences : parents, teachers,
managers, teams, all the way to working-class neighborhoods and
schools, prisons, etc.
“The conflict of structures, of experiences and interests all require specific
remedies, and they are the three ideas with which the C-R-I-T-E-R-E
method teaches to juggle :
- Framework of right and wrong : firm authority helps to abide to rules.
- Truthful communication : emotional intelligence respects people,
understanding their personal and collective history improves the quality of
relations.
- Efficient negotiation : rational intelligence respects the different interests at
stake, creativity invents win-win solutions which optimize the agreement.”
Jawad Siyam
Born in 1969, Palestinian teacher and social worker, lives in the
Silwan quarter of East Jerusalem, which the Israeli settlers,
pretexting the holy past of the place (as the city of David) and
archeological gigs, are trying to rid of Palestinians. There are
250 000 Palestinians in East Jerusalem and 50 000 in Silwan, of
which 50 % youths.
Founder and director of the Wadi Hilweh Information Center, a
cultural non-profit organization (music, dance, artistic activities)
which defends nonviolently the Palestinian identity (information
concerning human rights violations, legal counsel and assistance).
Organizes sit-ins to protest against arrests.
“ We have been colonized by the Romans, the Turks, the English
and now by the Israelis, but we still have hope. We cannot not lose
hope.”
Rami Elhanan and Ghazi Briegeith
R. E. : Born in 19??, Israeli, graphic designer in Jersualem. In
1997, his daughter Samadar died in the suicide-bombing of a
Palestinian kamikaze. He and his wife realize that this attack is
the result of the occupation, decides to forgive and adheres to
the Israeli-Palestinian organization for mourning families called
Parents Circle. In September 2010, is part of the crew of the
catamaran Irene which denounces the maritime blockade of
Gaza.
G. B. : Palestinian electrician living in Hebron. His brother is
killed in 2000 by a young Israeli soldier at a check-point. Adheres
to Parents Circle. He says “ There is no need for love to build
bridges between both nations: there is need for respect ”.
Both are also part of the non-profit organization Forgiveness
Project.
Ronit Avni
Born in 19??, citizen of the U.S., Canada and Israel. Founded in
2003 and general director of Just Vision in Washington.
This organization aims to raise awareness and support
Palestinians and Israelis working to secure “freedom, dignity,
security and peace through nonviolent means”. Demands the
end of the occupation and implantation of Israeli settlements in
Palestinian territories. It also creates documentary films in
Hebrew, Arab and English (“Home Front”, “Budrus”, “Encounter
Point”) and acts as a turning plate between different actors and
movements within the conflict.
“ The changes in today’s world start from the bottom and are
finally lead by those in power: ecology, feminism, civil rights
movements, etc. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is no different.
Politicians will end up following, but I am worried about who will
lead. ”
Camille Joseph Gomis
Born in 1970, Senegalese priest. After 10 years of priesthood and
many responsibilities, comes to France for management,
geopolitical and mediation training.
Creates in 2006 in Ziguinchor, Casamance, the non-profit
organization Generation Non-Violente. In 2012, opens in Brin a
Centre de recherche et de formation en gestion non-violente des
conflits, which works with 1000 people a year. Works to create a
university degree in sociopolitical analysis and sustainable
development at the Université catholique de l’Afrique de l’Ouest in
Ziguinchor.
“ The bracelet symbolizes what we want man to remember
permanently, which is that the power which comes from his hand
must no longer be used to destroy, but to build. ”
Daoud Nassar
Born in 1970, Lutheran Palestinian, master in corporate
administration.
With his wife and children, he works the Farm of hope,
encircled by 5 illegal Israeli settlements in Nahalin, Westbank
(9 km South-East of Bethlehem). They have possessed
ownership titles since 1916 and resist nonviolently to all
initiatives and threats to demolish the buildings (barn, water
tank, toilets, Cave of peace, etc.), plants olive trees to replace
those cut down by the Israeli settlers.
Founded the peace project “Tent of Nations” in 2000 to
promote understanding between peoples and cultures. Youths
from all around the world live in these tents.
“We refuse to be enemies.”
Ziad Medoukh
Born in 1970, Palestinian, post-graduate diploma in French as a
second language from the Université Stendhal in Grenoble, doctor
of linguistics from Paris VIII. Manager of the French department of
the Al-Aqsa university in Gaza since 2006 and founder of the
Center for peace in 2007.
Tireless lecturer on Gaza and Palestine, and on the oppression
forced on the population by Israel, encourages nonviolent
resistance and meets with many organization and youth networks in
France and Europe.
“ Today, living in Gaza, organizing your life, the education of
children, is already a form of nonviolent resistance, spontaneously
chosen by the civilians: 94 % of children go to school, which goes to
show the strength of Palestinian families. ”
Musa Abu Maria
Palestinian born in 19??, political prisoner from 1999 to 2003, tortured,
hospitalized following this physical abuse. Arrested again in 2009,
freed thanks to Amnesty International and Israeli non-profit human
rights organizations. Coordinator of the civil resistance in the West
Bank.
Founder of the Palestine Solidarity Project. This organization, founded
in 2006 in the village of Beit Ommar (southern West Bank) opposed
through direct nonviolent action the occupation of Palestinian
territories by Israel.
“ We believe in firmness as a force to resist. For many communities
with which we work, remaining on their lands in the face of
intimidation, violence, economic difficulties and attempts of mass
displacement, is a resistance in itself. ”
Pinar Selek
Born in 1971, Turkish sociologist and novelist, women’s rights
activist and conscientious objector. In 1998, arrested and
tortured by policemen looking for Kurds which she had
interviewed for sociological research concerning the effects of
the civil war. Accused of being responsible for an attack
committed in July 1998 in the spice market in Istanbul, but found
innocent.
Organizes a Reunion of women for peace in Diyarbakir. In 2001,
founds together with others the feminist and non-profit
organization “Amargi (“back to the mother”, but also “freedom” in
Sumerian), which participates in the mobilizations against
violence towards women, for peace and against all kinds of
domination. The organization is responsible for the “March of
women towards one another” : millions of women from all over
Turkey meet in Konya.
Political exile in Germany, then France, PhD student at the
Université de Strasbourg.
Yonatan Shapira
Born in 1972 ?, Israeli, ex-officer in the Air Force. In September
2003, is one of the 27 pilotes who refused to go into occupied
territories. Dismissed from the army. Denounces Israeli war
crimes *.
Founder, together with the Palestinian Souliman Khatib, of the
Israeli-Palestinian organization Combatants for Peace, which
fights nonviolently against Israeli occupation of Palestine and for
a pacific agreement between both peoples. Calls for boycott of
Israel and international sanctions. Takes part in the boat trips
towards Gaza intended to denounce the maritime blockade of
Palestine.
* In July 2002, to kill a leader of the Hamas in Gaza, an Israeli F 16 drops a bomb,
killing 14 people, of which 9 children. During Operation Cast Lead (22 days of
shelling in Dec. 2008 – Jan. 2009), 1400 Palestinians were killed, etc.
Étienne Raphaël et Dominique Legeard
E. R.: Frenchman born in 1972. Graduated in modern literature
and cinema, film director, screenwriter, producer, film editor. Meets
militants of nonviolent Palestinian resistance, peasant of the
Larzac, travels through the primary forest of Gabon, in exYugoslavia, takes part in environmental struggles against GMO
and nuclear energy.
D. L.: Frenchman born in 1960 (pseudonyms: Lidwine, Marcel de
la Gare), cartoonist.
Create a 240 page long graphic novel about nonviolence
scheduled to come out in 2017.
“ Nonviolence requires imagination, it is spectacular and full of
surprising developments and movements: actually, it contains all
the ingredients to create a great adventure, with colorful
characters, action and even humor. The “Instant neige” is the
metaphor of this moment which surprises each one of us when we
wake up to find snow has fallen during the night, thus upsetting our
plans for our day. ”
Abdullah Abu Rahma
Born in 1973 ?, Palestinian, inhabitant of Bil’in, a West Bank village
deprived of its lands by the construction of the wall between Israel
and the West Bank.
Coordinator of the Bil’in Popular Committee Against the Wall and
Settlements. Since January 2005, the village has organized weekly
nonviolent demonstrations each Friday against the construction of
the wall, together with Israelis and international supporters. The
committee succeeded in 2007 in convincing the Supreme Court of
Israel to order the moving of the wall. Arrested in December 2009
for possessing used Israeli weapons after having presented an
exhibition featuring the grenades used by Israeli forces on
demonstrators. 25 resistance committees have adopted similar
methods of action.
“ Our only enemy is occupation (…). Nonviolence is effective. And
we are proud of it. Our intifada is pacific, that is why it is powerful. ”
Leymah Gbowee
Born in 1972, Liberian social worker, member of the Lutheran
church. In Ghana, member of the West African Network for
Peacebuilding (WANEP). Manages the nonviolent movement
Women of Liberia Mass Action for Peace, which works to put a stop
to the second Liberian civil war in 2003 and allows the election in
Liberia of the first female president of an African nation, Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf.
In 2002, as a “peace fighter”, starts a “sex strike” during which
women of all religious backgrounds refuse men sex so long as
hostilities continue. The action forced the murderous dictator
Charles Taylor to include them in the peace negotiations a short
time before his loss of power.
Wins, together with others, the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2011 for
“mobilizing and organizing women beyond ethnical and religious
divisions to put a stop to a long war in Liberia and ensure the
participation of women in the elections.”
The unknown protester of Tian’anmen Square
On the 4th of June 1989, a pro-democracy demonstration is
violently repressed by the Chinese regime. The next day, on
5th June, on the Tian’anmen Square in Peking, a unknown
protester holds up the advance of a column of at least 17 type
59 tanks of the Chinese army.
The tanks stop before him, and he signals to them to retreat.
The first tank tries a few times to go around the man, but he
moves back into its way. Then the man climbs onto the vehicle
and has a short conversation with one of the crew. A few
witnesses (or policemen clad as civilians ?) take hold of the
man and lead him into the crowd. The tanks resume their
advance.
The photography of the scene, taken by Jeff Widener of Associated Press, is
often used to symbolize courage and the power of nonviolence in the face of
military oppression.
Xavier Renou
Frenchman born in 197?, used to work with Greenpeace. In
November 2006, creates the Collectif des désobéissants to fight
against the nuclear weapon.
Internships destined to train anti-globalization, environmental or
human rights activists, in which the basic ideas of civil
disobedience are explained and how an action should be
organized : analyzing the situation, defining the aim, allocation of
tasks, transport, budget, contacts with the press, security, attitude if
arrested by the police and during the trial, how to deal with the
sanctions, etc.
“ The second article of the Declaration of Human Rights of 1789
asserts the right a citizen has to resist. Civil disobedience cannot
be improvised. A training is useful for those who fight nonviolently
to change the world. Our internships allow the participants to avoid
mistakes, to get better organized and to be more efficient in their
action. ”
Srdja Popovic and Slobodan Djinovic
S. P. : Serbian born in 1973
Ex-members of the Serbian youth resistance movement Otpor !
(“Resistance !”), which played a major role in the downfall of Slobodan
Milosevic in October 2000, together with the coalition of opposition
parties DOS and CESID with its thousands of electoral observers.
These three groups received financial support from American
organizations (National Endowment for Democracy (NED),
International Republican Institute (IRI), U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID), etc.
They were given courses in nonviolent action, lead by Robert Halwey,
close collaborator of Gene Sharp, whose books were translated and
distributed throughout the Internet as worksheets.
../..
Ivan Marovic, Stanko Lazarevic
and Aleksandar Maric
Otpor ! Then tried to transform into a political party, but was a
fiasco during the parliamentary elections (60 000 votes).
When Otpor ! fuses with the Democratic Party of the president
Boris Tadic in 2004, Popovic and Dinovic take their leave, before
creating the Centre for Applied Nonviolent Actions and Strategies
(CANVAS) in 2005, which organizes training seminars against
electoral fraud in ex-satellites of the Soviet Union.
Other leaders of Otpor !, Ivan Marovic, Stanko Lazarevic and
Aleksandar Maric, create the Center for Nonviolent Resistance.
../..
Photo : Ivan Marovic
The former leaders d’Otpor !
These non-profit organizations gradually became private
companies selling their skills.
That is how these nonviolent methods were “exported” to Georgia
(fall of Chevardnadze), to the Ukraine (Pora, an very important
organization during the “orange revolution”), to Belarus (ZUBR,
civil rights defense organization, opposed to Lukashenko), to
Albania, to Russia (Putin’s opposition), to Kirghizstan (downfall of
the president Akaïev), to Uzbekistan (opposition to Karimov), to
Lebanon, etc.
The students of the “April 6th Youth Movement” in Egypt consulted
with Otpor ! and adopted its methods during the Egyptian
revolution of 2011.
Photos : - Srdja Popovic et Slobodan Dinovic,
- Logo of the “April 6th Youth Movement” inspired by those of Otpor ! and
Canvas
Les anciens leaders d’Otpor !
“ The most essential part of CANVAS’ work is to spread
across the world the message “power of the people”,
rather than to win against this or that dictator. Our next
mission will be to show that a nonviolent struggle is a
powerful medium for freedom, democracy and human
rights. ”
They continue, in the future, to verify the coherence
between nonviolent means and the ends hoped for, the
ethics of the training organizations for nonviolent action,
the ambition and political future of their leaders…
Véronique Dudouet
Frenchwoman born in 1977. Spends her childhood within the
Community of the Arch of Lanza del Vasto, studies political sciences
(IEP in Toulouse) and conflict resolution (Master and doctorate within
the Peace studies Department of Bradford University, G. B.).
Head researcher and program director of the Berghof Foudation in
Berlin, where she has been working since 2005. Active for different
international initiatives for solidarity, in Palestine amongst others
(where she went a few times for research and civil support).
Her current research focus on the transition from an armed struggle to
civil resistance, the role of third parties in nonviolent movements,
post-conflict governance, the participatory “action research” method,
negotiation and mediation in asymmetrical political conflicts.
Tawakkul Karman
Born in 1979, Yemenite militant for women’s rights. In 2005,
creates the human rights defense group Women Journalists
Without Chains, to defend freedom of thought and speech.
Denounces the banning of a newspaper and of a radio by the
Ministry for Information, receives threats and attempts at bribing
from the authorities. From 2007 to 2010, takes part and
encourages demonstrations and sit-ins in the Freedom Square of
Sanaa, in front of the government’s headquarters.
One of winners of the Nobel Prize for Peace in 2011 in
recognition of “her part in the nonviolent struggle for women’s
safety and for women’s right to participate fully in working to
consolidate peace in Yemen”.
“Their cause is just, but it is not with violence that
Syrians will succeed in taking down the dictatorship.”
Rachel Corrie
(1979-2003) American militant of Jewish descent, volunteer for the
International Solidarity Movement (ISM).
Died on March 16th 2003 in the Gaza strip during the Second
Intifada, run over by an Israeli bulldozer as she was trying,
together with other members of her organization, to stop
pacifically the demolition of the house of a Palestinian doctor.
Members of the ISM, present at the time, claim that the bulldozer’s
driver intentionally killed R. C. by running her over twice. The
young woman had stood in front of the vehicle in order to
be seen by its driver, thus hoping to incite him not to
continue the demolition. According to the Israeli army, the
driver did not see her because she was in his blind spot.
Rima al Dali
Born in 1980, Syrian, graduated in Law from the university of
Aleppo, works for a development program of the UN, volunteer
for the Red Cross.
In April 2012, protests in a red dress against violence in Syria.
Demonstrates again pacifically in Damascus in November 2012,
together with Ru’a Ja’far, Kinda al-Za'our and Lubna al-Za'our.
Dressed in white wedding dresses, they carry three banners,
one asking for the end of all military operations in Syria, another
bearing the words “Syria is for all of us”, and the last “We are all
exhausted, we want another solution”. All imprisoned.
“The means employed to reach our aims must be as pure
as our aims. ”
Manuel Cervera-Marzal
Frenchman Born in 1987, graduated from Science Po Paris and doctor
of political sciences. Researcher for political sciences at the Université
Libre de Bruxelles and at the Université Paris-Diderot. As part of his
sociological and philosophical research, he focuses on the ideas of
Thoreau, Gandhi and King, but also on the theories of democracy and
contemporary political philosophy. Member of the editorial committee
of Alternatives non-violentes and the IRNC. Author of four books.
“ By substituting the idea that ‘the end is in the means just as the tree
is in the seed’ to the maxim which says that ‘the end justifies the
means’, Gandhi works out a renewed and harmonious conception of
the relationship between ethics and politics. By insisting on
responsibility – which means that everyone must disobey laws they
deem to be unjust – Mahatma inaugurates an idea of citizenship as a
political action and not as a legal status .”
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