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Thinkers Lodge Histories

May 26th, 2015

5/26/2015

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Joseph Rotblat 

“A War-Free World: Is it Desirable? Is it Feasible?

Imperial War Museum, 11 November 2002

Excerpt:

“[N]ot only is a war-free world desirable, it is now necessary, it is essential, if humankind is to survive.  I am referring to the development of the omnicidal weapons, first demonstrated in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  The destruction of these cities, heralded a new age, the nuclear age, whose chief characteristic is that for the first time in the history of civilization, Man has acquired the technical means to destroy his own species, and to accomplish it, deliberately or inadvertently, in a single action.  In the nuclear age the human species has become an endangered species….

“We all crave a world of peace, a world of equity.  We all want to nurture in the young generation the much-heralded ‘culture of peace’.  But how can we talk about a culture of peace if that peace is predicated on the existence of weapons of mass destruction?  How can we persuade the young generation to cast aside the culture of violence, when they know that it is on the threat of extreme violence that we rely for security?  …

“The diabolical concept that in order to have peace we must prepare for war has been ingrained in us since the start of civilization.  So much so that we have begun to believe that waging war is part of our natural make up.  We are told that we are biologically programmed for aggression, that war is in our genes.  As a scientist, I reject this thesis.  I see no evidence that aggressiveness is genetically built into our behaviour.  A group of experts, meeting in Seville under the auspices of UNESCO concluded:  ‘It is scientifically incorrect to say that war or any other violent behaviour is genetically programmed into our human nature.’ …

“Nevertheless, we are moving towards a war-free world, even if we do not do it consciously.  We are learning the lessons of history.  In the two World Wars of the 20th century, France and Germany were mortal enemies.  Citizens of these countries – and many others – were slaughtered by the millions.  But now a war between France and Germany seems inconceivable….

“We have to change the mind-set that seeks security for one’s own nation in terms which spell insecurity to others.   We must replace the old Roman dictum by one essential for survival in the Third Millennium: Si vis pacem para pacem – if you want peace prepare for peace.  This will require efforts in two directions:  one – a new approach to security, in terms of global security; the other – developing and nurturing a new loyalty, loyalty to humankind….

“In a world armed with weapons of mass destruction, the use of which might bring the whole of civilization to an end, we cannot afford a polarized community, with its inherent threat of military confrontations.  In this scientific era, a global equitable community, to which we all belong as world citizens, has become a vital necessity.”

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June 11th, 2014

6/11/2014

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Margaret Skabar attends international peace conference in Sarajevo beginning Friday.

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Skabar Headed to Peace Conference in Sarajevo



Amherst News: The Citizen Record
Cumberland News
Darrell Cole
Published on June 04, 2014
http://www.newslocker.com/en-ca/region/cumberland/skabar-headed-to-peace-conference-in-sarajevo-cumberland-news-now/

To commemorate anniversary of First World War

Margaret Skabar is attending an international peace conference in Sarajevo beginning Friday.
AMHERST – A young peacemaker from Cumberland County is on her way to attend an international peace conference this week.

Margaret Skabar is a 21-year old St. Francis Xavier student from Amherst. She will be attending Sarajevo Peace Event 2014.

The conference is taking place from June 6 to 9 in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is one of the largest peace conferences in the world to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

The conference is taking place from June 6 to 9 in the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina and is one of the largest peace conferences in the world to mark the 100th anniversary of the First World War.

Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire is one of the key note speakers and the program includes more than 200 sessions.


Skabar is pursuing a major in psychology and a minor in political science.  She became involved in the peace movement three years ago when she worked at Thinkers Lodge in Pugwash.

“I was fortunate enough to learn about the history of Pugwash's role in international peacemaking and it changed my life,” said Skabar.

While working at Thinker’s Lodge, Skabar observed some of the sessions of the Canadian Pugwash conference. She later joined the Nova Scotia Voice of Women for Peace.

She will be joining Tamara Lorincz, a board director of the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, at the conference.

Lorincz is from Nova Scotia but is currently pursuing the Rotary International World Peace Fellowship in the United Kingdom.

Skabar’s trip to Sarajevo Peace Event 2014 is funded by the St. Francis Xavier University and by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace.

Sarajevo Peace Event of 2014 will mark the anniversary of the First World War that started after the Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo in June 1914. Less than two months later the First World War began and killed millions before ending in November 1918.

The conference will call for a global culture of peace and non-violence. More than 50 organizations across Europe have coordinated to organize the conference with over a thousand delegates expected to attend.

There will be round table discussions on developing a culture of peace and non-violence, gender, women and peace, militarism and alternatives, peace and social justice and reconciliation and dealing with the past.

The conference will include some 200 workshops and a wide range of cultural activities.






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Peace Bus stopped at Thinkers Lodge Summer 2013

6/9/2014

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The Peace Bus stopped at Thinkers Lodge today. They are driving from Halifax to Vancouver - https://www.facebook.com/PeaceBus — with Elizabeth Eaton.

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Peace Bus

6/9/2014

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CISV Canada Peace Bus
http://c2cpeacebus.org/

We are still looking for one more delegate for the Eastbound leg of this 
year’s great Canadian adventure on the 2014 PeaceBus – a boy is especially wanted!

The Peace Bus consists of two 39 day cross-Canada journeys in a 15 passenger van for 12 delegates (14-18 yrs), 1 junior leader (19+) and two leaders. During the trip, the group volunteers in communities, visits local CISV chapters, engages in educational projects, participates in team building activities and learns about Canada, all while lodging at CISV family homes and camping in breathtaking national parks.

Trip 1: Eastbound Victoria to Halifax June 22-July 31, 2014, ages 14-16 yrs.
Trip 2: Westbound Halifax to Victoria July 17 – August 26, 2014, ages 15.5-18 yrs.

We are taking names for our waitlist too, as plans sometimes change & delegates might drop out.

A big thank you to Windsor Salt, which has been our main corporate sponsor for several years. Aside from investing in youth programs like the Peace Bus, Windsor Salt has also been actively involved in improving health through the eradication of Iodine Deficiency Disorders. Thank you Windsor Salt for your generous financial support.  Check out:  http://www.windsorsalt.com/utility/outreach.htm


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August 6 1945 Hiroshima - International Day of Forgiveness

8/6/2013

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"What has kept the world safe from the bomb since 1945 has not been deterrence, in the sense of fear of specific weapons, so much as it's been memory. The memory of what happened at Hiroshima."

John Hersey

On Sunday I attended the International Forgiveness Day celebrations where a lifetime achievement award was given to Bob Plath.  For 17 years Bob has tirelessly worked to promote forgiveness.  Several "Heroes of Forgiveness" were there to acknowledge Bob, including Takashi Tanemori.

At the age of eight, Takashi was playing hide and seek with his classmates. The day was Aug. 6, 1945. Little Boy was falling from the sky (3 days later the second bomb was dropped on Nagasaki).

Takashi was one mile from ground zero.  His mother, sister and brother died immediately in the blast.  His father died a month later.

In an article Takashi shared this story about his father, "The night before he died, he taught me the seven codes of the samurai and said, ‘Promise me that you will teach your children that which I taught you. Promise yourself and promise to me that you will live your life as I lived before you. Live for the benefit of others, then we all benefit. This is the simplest way to make a peaceful world.’ ”

At the Forgiveness Day, Takashi, now frail, nearly blind and with a warm smile, talked about forgiving America, which has allowed him to have peace in himself.

Today is the 68th anniversary of the dropping of an atomic bomb on Hiroshima.  It is a time to reflect about the lives that were lost that day and the need for humanity, all us, to develop our moral capacity to keep pace with our technology.  

The dawning of the atomic age woke us up to the fact that we have the power to destroy ourselves.

Last year I interviewed Steven Leeper from the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation.  At that time Steven emphatically pointed out that even though the cold war is over, the potential risk of nuclear weapons being used is increasing.  In the next five years the number of countries with such weapons will grow dramatically.



Warm regards,

Philip Hellmich
Director of Peace
The Shift Network
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    Cathy Eaton

    Please contact Cathy Eaton at Eatonmurph@aol.com if you want to share some stories.  Please post your stories or memories that relate to Thinkers Lodge, the Dining Hall (Lobster Factory), Joseph Rotblat, the Conference Participants, Cyrus or Anne Eaton, or Eaton Park.

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