Peacemaking: Need for Collaborative Efforts - Essay Example

English 1000, Section 95 Essay 2 14 October Peacemaking: Need for Collaborative Efforts Doctors without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) established in 1971 by doctors and journalists. It is a worldwide medical humanitarian organization which assists the suffering humanity and victims of inhuman behaviors in about 60 states. MSF is not only committed to help those affected by wars, political conflicts but also provides aids to those suffering violent behaviors, neglect or those affected by the natural disasters. MSF believes in every human being’s rights to medical care, regardless of religion, political views and races. The organization works in countries where health structures are insufficient, travels to remote places and assists victims of natural or man-made disasters. MSF acts as a ‘witness to the truth of injustice’, and struggles to regain the rights and dignity of human beings by speaking up against injustice. Humanitarians can best be achieved with the active involvement of individuals, media and government. (Biography) The vision of MSF is not to take part in political conflicts, but they view humanitarianism as a noble movement of aiding the humankind. It is not solely aimed at providing medical assistance, charities or food aids but to help people generate their own living standards, recognize their rights and use them, and to teach them to recover their dignity. MSF has “a clear intent to assist, to provoke change, or to reveal injustice (Paragraph 3).” MSF’s visions and activities clearly point towards its “act of indignation, a refusal to accept an active or passive assault on the other (Paragraph 3).” Basing the discussion on MSF’s strategies, actions and work, is it justifiable to believe that government has the sole responsibility of peace making? The individualistic responsibility of people in peacemaking is important for a country and the world at large. Communication, personal responsibility and independence of choice, speech and actions in favor of achieving the peace objectives carry important position in taking part in the peace mission. If the collaborative approach of working towards the peacemaking process is overlooked, it is highly probable that this wave of inhuman acts, unjust decisions, biased policies and unequal distribution of wealth and rights will surround us and our families. Peacemaking is often considered as the responsibility of the government. However, there are numerous examples which provide a contrary situation. Governments are not taking part to improve the ongoing wars between the states and not even within their states, between people. Governments have limited steps to maintain peace and order in the society and the world at large. History is abundant with such examples as in the case of Srebrenica where “the UN stood silent and present – as the people of Srebrenica were massacred” (Paragraph 19). The principles of peacemaking, hence, are not grounded on the concepts of governmental organizations and those influenced by political power. The main principle that may help in peacemaking is to understand personal responsibility of exercising equality, justice, duty of care and serving humanity. The principle of peacemaking, however, does not require silence or affirmation to the activities of minority or majority groups but to avoid conflicts by finding a resolving tool. Zartman provide the core principles which may lead to conflict resolution and peacemaking as the communication of conflicts, helping relationships and mutual problem solving attitudes (p 255). The first principle carries the most important position in peacemaking. The communication or raising voice in order to defend the weak or innocent is the key to a controlled, peaceful and just society. “Silence has long been confused with neutrality, and has been presented as a necessary condition for humanitarian action” (Paragraph 4). But the question is to evaluate what silence implies in certain situations. A person being assaulted in public and others staying silent on this act does not show neutrality of their behavior but shows failure of the judicial systems, governments and humanitarianism. This is the time when MSF’s principle leads which calls for “a refusal to accept an active or passive assault on the other” (Paragraph 3). We, as individuals, must try to stand against such violent behaviors to be a part of the efforts that MSF started long back. In this context emerges the second principle i.e. the establishment of helping relationships which requires individuals and governments to work together in the battle against violence, crimes, inhuman activities, brutality and violation of rights. Finally, the mutual problem solving attitude is something which is not only required by the governments when dealing with other states but is also required between governments and public and governments and other organizations like MSF. A mutual understanding, communication and initiative to cope up with the problem areas may help in making the world a better place to live for people. The main responsibility of individuals, organizations and governments is to ensure that their practices are not violating others’ rights and deterring personal responsibilities. People and governments must take initiatives at their levels to step towards peace making. Helping those who are suffering without discrimination, bias or personal interest is the key to peace making. Such selfless practices may help eradicating the negative thoughts and ideas that are long established in vast populations especially in the minority groups. Freedom and independence of action, thoughts and speech in favor of upholding peace should not be interrupted by anyone. Peacemaking is not possible without a collaborative effort being put to achieve this cause. Governments can pass laws, regulations and jurisdictions to main order and peace in the country but they cannot be effective until people start following those laws. There is a need “to seek to relieve suffering, to seek to restore autonomy, to witness to the truth of injustice, and to insist on political responsibility” (Paragraph 8). Today, a growing injustice confronts us (Paragraph 10). The suffering humanity is facing problems of discrimination, bias and lack of facilities. These factors create negative impacts on their minds about the governments and those who have such facilities and are financially able. The speech of MSF clearly indicates that more than 90% of the deaths and sufferings from infectious diseases are observed in the developing nations. “Some of the reasons that people die from diseases like AIDS, TB, Sleeping Sickness and other tropical diseases is that life saving essential medicines are either too expensive, are not available because they are not seen as financially viable, or because there is virtually no new research and development for priority tropical diseases” (paragraph 10). There is hence, a need to aid the suffering humanity in every possible way. It is of course not possible for a single person to help the whole suffering humanity financially or morally and satisfy their needs. It is apparently a responsibility of the public at large, regardless of their race gender of ethnic differences, to demand and act for a change. There is a need to push the government and political parties towards a change as well as a collective effort to aid the suffering people. There is a need to understand the implications of political steps being taken in response to any disaster, war, mishap or disease within a specific area or region. Political parties and officials are not rational in their thoughts and actions. They consider many other factors before their sole aim to aid the humanity. “The political knows borders, and where crisis occurs, political response will vary because historical relations, balance of power, and the interests of one or the other must be considered” by them (paragraph 11). However, we have the responsibility to think beyond this circle of personal advantage and self-interest. Our responsibility in aiding the suffering humanity and achieving peace calls for “the refusal of all forms of problem solving through sacrifice of the weak and vulnerable” (paragraph 11). Our responsibility is to be rational, independent and unbiased when dealing with victims and unsatisfied people with the socially, politically and economically flawed environment. Violence, discrimination, unjust behaviors, discriminatory judgments, unequal distribution of wealth and political unrest leads to higher dissatisfied population. The violence has been destructing the social order and has long been considered as the most destructive evils in the society. Victims of violent behaviors, crimes and the ignorant suffering humanity are highly vulnerable to diseases, emotional distress, poverty leading to starvation and lack of basic life necessities. The increasing inequality and silence of suffering people is giving rise to the discrimination, injustice and crimes. If we do not take our responsibility to raise voice in favor of the victims and for the rights of suffering people, the increasing violence and unjust behaviors may soon spread its roots to our homeland. The silence of public and those in charge is promoting the political ignorance to such important issues. As human beings, every one of us has an unspoken responsibility to exercise human rights. Ideally, this holds us accountable for the occurring violence and to lend a helping hand or even a listening ear to prevailing troubles facing the world to the best of our abilities. In the lecture, MSF essentially showed the organization’s principle that “More than offering material assistance, we aim to enable individuals to regain their rights and dignity as human beings (Paragraph 3).” The Noble lecture of Medicins Sans Frontiers has also introduced the significance of equality and fairness among human being and introduced the point that “humanitarian responsibility has no frontiers. Wherever in the world there is manifest distress, the humanitarian by vacation must respond (Paragraph 11).” In my interpretation, I think this means helping those in need without regard to race, gender, financial situations or any other determinant factor. For example, when Chilean miners were trapped down under, the whole world mourned and worried about the safety of them, and rejoiced when these miners finally saw daylight. In conclusion, individuals, organizations like MSF and government should work hand in hand to ensure the expansion of humanitarianism. The world has become so brutal and cruel place for some people and our selfishness and ignorant behaviors many times fail to remember the very essence of being human. Sometimes, I wonder if we are even humane enough to be qualified as humans. Here is one of my favorite quotes from Fyodor Dostoevsky who said, “Indeed, people speak sometimes about the "animal" cruelty of man, but that is terribly unjust and offensive to animals, no animal could ever be so cruel as a man, so artfully, so artistically cruel." In the MSF lecture, a Rwandan woman said she was not only attacked by a machete, but her entire body was rationally and systematically mutilated. Her ears had been cut off. And her face had been so carefully disfigured, that a pattern was obvious in the slashes (Paragraph 18). Every day we hear about more bad news in the newspaper about rapes, killing, abusive incidents and so on. One can definitely join the Red-Cross or be like the Medecins Sans Frontieres, do something noble, dedicate their lives for the betterment of mankind, and attempt to change the world. But not everyone is Jesus Christ, not everyone has the power to turn stone into bread, but we could all contribute to humanity in different ways. It starts from the realization that you could make a difference. It begins with someone who says that ‘I can do it’. The chorus of the song “We are the world” reminded me of the responsibilities that we all have, “We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones who make a brighter day so let’s start giving.” It begins from you and me, and that is good for a start. Work Cited “ Biography.” Nobleprize.org. The Noble Foundation, 15 Oct 1999. Web. 14 Oct 2010. Orbinski, James. “Noble Lecture.” NobelPrize.org. The Nobel Foundation. 10 Dec 1999. Web.14 Oct 2010. Zartman, I W. Peacemaking in International Conflict: Methods & Techniques. Washington, D.C: United States Institute of Peace, 2007. Print. Read More