Focolare Movement

Giving Visibility to Peaceworkers

Oct 31, 2016

Interview with Chantal Grevin, New Humanity’s representative at UNESCO, concerning the November 15th event to be held in Paris, France, for the 20th anniversary of the conferral of the UNESCO Peace Education Prize to Chiara Lubich.

ChantalGrevin

Chantal Grevin

How does an organization like UNESCO serve peace? First of all, you need to remember that UNESCO belongs to the United Nations. Peace is what is at the basis of the United Nations. The scope of UNESCO’s is to coordinate international cooperation as it regards instruction, science culture, communication and, in some way,  ethical application. Therefore, its basic purpose is peace, especially through dialogue among cultures. Its intergovernmental scientific program, which is dedicated to social transformations (MOST), highlights how no change may take place if it is not integrated by the different cultures.  In fact, UNESCO is known for its promotion of cultural pluralism. But what is the connection between seeking unity and finding a way of making the voice of New Humanity[1] heard among the promoters of peace? If  the diversity of cultures needs to be protected along with biodiversity, then where is the unity that humanity aspires to? We haven’t yet overcome this stage? In this regard, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a common basis even though it is still contested; but it still remains for us to find those common universal values that are indispensable for our global social contract. The November 15 event will allow us to reflect on all this. New Humanity’s public event at UNESCO contributes to UNESCO’s work, what we have to offer: best practices joined to deep reflection. Our NGO can help to understand how unity is the source and goal of humankind’s life. In a world torn by conflict, isn’t it a bit utopian to put any credence into one small event? It’s true that the world is going badly, but we have reason to believe in peace. The event will make visible those who make it possible. The promotion of a culture of peace will never really be able to be measured, but the way is open. I personally believe in the international organizations. They might seem to be impotent, but it is no small matter that 195 countries can come together to discuss, and that countries that are belligerent towards one another can meet in the same room. In the moment that you place yourself on a cultural plane rather than a political one, there is a more free exchange. For example, when Palestine couldn’t join the United Nations, UNESCO made it possible by placing it on a cultural plane. We hope that our event will have an impact through what has been sent to the ambassadors at UNESCO. The Acts of the event could become a reference point, an interesting cultural patrimony for researchers and for all the people of the world – and for many years to come.      [1] New Humanity was granted membership among the 350 NGOs in partnership with UNESCO, in 2008.

___

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to Newsletter

Thought of the day

Related post

In the same boat: a journey toward peace

In the same boat: a journey toward peace

8 months of navigation, 30 ports, 200 young people. The ship for peace, ‘Bel Espoir’ set sail in March 2025 from Barcelona (Spain) and will continue its voyage until October. Its route will link five shores of the Mediterranean. On board, eight groups of twenty-five young people of various nationalities, cultures and religions that share a common desire to build a better world. They will live together and get to know each other, amid debates and personal experiences, tackling new issues at each stop. Among them are traveling twenty Living Peace ambassadors and other young people from the Focolare Movement. Bertha from Lebanon shares her experience. She is involved in the MediterraNEW project which works for the education of young people, predominately migrants in the Mediterranean.

Argentina: commitment in intercultural dialogue with indigenous peoples

Argentina: commitment in intercultural dialogue with indigenous peoples

Agustin, Patricia and their two children are an Argentinian family. After following a course at Sophia ALC, the Latin-American branch of the university institute that is based in the international little town of Loppiano (Italy), they began to research their roots among the indigenous peoples, and this gave rise to a strong commitment in intercultural dialogue.