Hopedance

In the latest issue of New Internationalist, a monthly international magazine subtitled “the action in the fight for global justice,” the focus for its current issue is “Getting It Right,” all about Solutions. The editor Chris Richards writes in her editorial that at a conference she had attended, there was one workshop where people in a circle spoke about workshops they wanted to create. When it came to Bridie’s turn to speak, she told the circle of activists of her sister who was so full of dread and despair at the meaningless of it all that she wouldn’t go outside anymore and who fervently believed the word would end within her lifetime. Bridie said she wanted to create a workshop where her sister could embrace hope once again. The editor goes on to say that if we continually pile up the world’s problems in front of the public, especially young people, people will eventually give up. Because Ms. Richards was so moved by Bridie’s call for alternative visions and solution-oriented activities, this current edition of NI is dedicated to inspiring stories which can give hope to readers, both young and old.

Some of the highlights of the issue include:

1) Factories in Argentina are being taken over by the employees and edging toward workers’ councils. When the situation got so bad economically, many of the owners did not return to the factories. During the alleged cancellation of work, either the workers would leave the factories peacefully and become a statistic of the more than 22% unemployed or occupy the building and keep working. At the Brukman factory, for example, the workers decided to stay on, and their wages increased from two pesos a week to more than 100 pesos. And it has been reported that around 110 factories across Argentina are doing the same thing.

2) Pupils at a primary school in China (in 1985) sent a letter to the mayor that the Funan river was polluted by an assortment of factories along the river. The children appealed to all citizens and companies to clean up their act. The mayor responded. His letter was published in the media. Other students in other schools near the river followed their example. More indepth reporting resulted from the children’s original pleas. Seven years later the government acted — 488 polluting factories were closed while 478 others were ordered to update their waste-disposal technology. Shanty houses along the river were bulldozed. 100,000 residents moved into modern homes for free. Grasslands replaced the shanty houses. As years moved on, environmental protection increased as well as community support. Now the river is clean and the adjacent area is used for sightseeing, weddings and morning exercises. All because of some concerned children!

3) To ease tension and constant battles between Hutus and Tutsis, Adrien Tuyaga, whose mother was a Tutsi and whose father was a Hutu, decided to create youth soccer matches that included both ethnics. Because of this, much understanding and compassion has occurred especially when “trauma counseling” complemented efforts to reintegrate the youth into their communities.

4) Peace Brigades is an international volunteer organization which works in conflict zones across the world to “make space for peace,” as well as protecting human rights activists in their day-to-day activities. Go to www.peacebrigades.org for details.

5) In Ahmedabad, India, the February, 2002, massacre between Muslim and Hindus occurred where 2,000 people were killed and 100,000 were displaced. Father Prakash spearheaded initiatives promoting interfaith harmony by creating peace committees to counter the inflammatory propaganda spread by each side. When rumors hit the streets, the peace committees sprang into action to begin the process of “myth busting” as an antidote to fears and mistrust that often lead to violence. This report comes from the author of “War Prevention Works” (reviewed in HopeDance) [go to www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk for details].

6) Iceland reported in 1999 that it will become the world’s first hydrogen society by replacing the island’s buses, cars and boats with hydrogen- fuel-cell-powered vehicles and vessels over the next 30 yeas. It hopes to become the Kuwait of the North, exporting hydrogen to Europe and other countries. The islands of Hawaii and Vanuatu are following Iceland’s lead. 7) In Bogota, Colombia, 120 kilometers of main city arteries are now closed to motor vehicles for a seven hours each Sunday so people can bicycle, jog and get together. The first Thursday of every February will be set aside as a Car Free Day. To read the full stories in the current issue of New Internationalist, go to their website at www.newint.org.