2023 Ukraine and Russia – Peace is inevitable

There is no war in history that has not ended in some way or other.  The question is when?  And with what outcomes or consequences? Some have lasted decades, with countless dead, suffering and trauma.   This is not victory.  At this stage in the war, barriers for peace talks are formidable.   Conditions for peace talks less likely at the moment.  But something is always possible.

Civilized people talk.  One cannot “pound stakes in the ground and call it negotiation”, however “just “ they think they are.  Second, is the importance of the language on non violent communication (NVC).  Involved parties at peace talks have to restrain themselves from the avalanche of emotion, accusations, blame and threats.  These are not helpful. 

Lastly, is the “skill in questions” construct.  Dealing with the intractable questions, is usually approached through the consideration of meta questions, that collectively build to dealing with the intractable one.  This could mean, establishing a permanent architecture of “peace tables” or “humanitarian tables” that involve parties and provide movement “without prejudice to rights or claims” in specific areas. We have already had successful talks on grain exports.  One can envision  “Tables” perhaps dealing with  pauses for such as, refugee support, medical aid,  humanitarian aid, prisoner exchanges, maybe on provision of civilian safe havens, nuclear plant protection, planting or harvesting crops, a space for relentless diplomacy, and  perhaps for temporary ceasefires getting longer and longer. They can be sponsored by any acceptable brokers to involved parties, such as the UN, China, USA, Russia, Ukraine, or willing neutral soft power countries.  We need to do, what we can do, to build peace, and not refuse.    All this can be a precursor for more substantial talks when conditions arise, such as for permanent peace accords, cease fires, security guarantors, peacekeepers, justice and claims.    

If you want a victor’s justice, and define victory as crushing Russia, there is karma attached to that.  And far too much death and generational trauma.   This is not victory.  This is not peacemaking. Peace will come but at what cost?

No matter what, in time, Russia and Ukraine will still have to live next to each other.  The question is “how then can they live well in the company of each other.” How then can they each enjoy respect, security, and prosperity.   Ultimately, it seems that Ukraine desires to survive and possibly with a secure future in the EU.  Russia needs to feel secure next to the EU, a powerful neighbor.  An overwhelming EU or massive NATO militarization is not a condition for security for Russia.

To begin, the media and politicians have to talk relentlessly about peace-making instead of  war.  Stop this parade of Generals in the media.  We need to start somewhere.

In peace

Paul

2022 Solving Ukraine – Solving Peace.

Dear friends in peace:

Again, in 2022, the world faces a new war. Again, the world is at another inflection point of history.  Again, we face choices of sowing seeds for more war in the future, or for making a better future for our children.

We continually face historic inflection points, but we lose more opportunities for peace, than are taken for building lasting peace.  We failed Germany after WWI and sowed the seeds for WWII.  After WWII we chose peace, and Germany and Japan became healthy democracies and world class economies.  After the Warsaw pact dissolved in 1991, we failed Russia, and embarked on NATO expansion, sowing the seeds for what followed. 

The following decades were defined by power without accountability.  This involved superpowers and others acting with impunity, conducting military operations without justifiable or problematic provocation under international law.    The US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan resulted in trillions spent, about 7000 US war dead in Iraq, 2400 war dead in Afghanistan, approximately 30,000 suicides, and countless civilian casualties, estimated around 200,000.  Libya and Syria exploded into war with more carnage.  Russia followed suit with incursions into Chechnya in 1994 and 1999, then into Georgia in 2008, and now Ukraine in 2022.  In less that a month, Russian war dead already exceeds US war dead in Afghanistan and Iraq over 20 years.    China reneged on democracy in Hong Kong.  China ‘s growing military power threatens Taiwan and the Asia Pacific. The list is endless.  The misuse of power underlines all these behaviours.  

Certainly, a nation has the right to resist invasion and violence, and the global community has a ‘responsibility to protect’ as a human obligation.  But war takes on a life of its own.  Nuclear weapons are a dark shadow over everything in the Ukraine conflict.   The military aspect of the Ukraine war will resolve itself either through exhaustion, surrender (which is unlikely), one side prevails, Russia withdraws, or a negotiated ceasefire, a peace treaty, or a grinding endless stalemate.  The outcome is uncertain.  What is not uncertain is the suffering, trauma and death, that will scar generations.

So, when the Ukraine post conflict stages arise, and it will, we begin yet again.  We will make choices that will sow seeds for future conflict or future peace.  There will be an outcry for justice.    The ethic of care for victims and reconstruction will be generational and hugely expensive.  We will rebuild Ukraine and face the question of deciding what to do about Russia and its place in the global community.  The road to reconciliation and justice will be long.  But, we will deal with this.  Hopefully, this not a wake-up call for further militarization, but a wake-up call for building credible global and national infrastructures for peace to prevent or mitigate future conflicts.  Already there is a political cry for increasing defence expenditures.

At this infection point, positive solutions always exist and are available.  It is always a question of political will and values.   In considering overarching global solutions, two alternatives stand out:

• Reorient the world view regarding international law to regarding “just peace” interventions and operations, as a strict precursor to “just war” interventions. Adopt a world view that identifies and faces conflict and peace as a collective obligation to act, and in a manner that prioritizes non-violence and human security. (See annex A)

• Reorient the world view towards building new infrastructures for peace (I4P) and cultures of peace as a priority.  The world must invest at least half as much in peace and peace education as it does in militarization.  This means strong global and national peace institutions (See annex B) and effective peace architectures.  (See Annexe C)

Whatever the choices are after this war, there is “karma” attached to them.  They will be who we are.  They will again define the future for generations to come.  Choose peace.

Paul Maillet

Accredited Peace Professional (CPSC)

pmaillet@magma.ca

FOLLOWING BELOW

Annex A.  A Resolution for ‘Just peace’ Intervention before ‘Just war’ Interventions

Annex B.  A Resolution for Establishment of Infrastructures for Peace (I4P)

Annex C.  A Resolution for Peace Architectures

2022 Ukraine and the victims of wars in the last decades

There are no words.

2021 No More War

No More War.

“Civilized people talk”.   How we talk is important.  We must be sensitive to non-violent communication.

The human project is clearly to live in peace together and share and protect the land.   God is not a real estate agent.

We must face the problem of violence and war and suffering, and not by causing any further suffering or death.

We must find balance between prudent security and building peace and harmony.

Facing systemic racism

Systemic racism is perhaps simply racism that is enabled by systems, whether intended or not.  This is a difficult conversation, as it is difficult to define, as it often speaks to the intersection of behaviours and “systems”.

An organizational system, or governance structure, or legal or social framework, can be directly racist with discriminatory laws, rules or norms that directly treat different racial groups differently; that may deny the privileges of one group to other groups based on racial grounds.  They may allow or administer matters that result in inequality, whether intended or not.

On the other hand, some systems may be indirectly racist in that they enable racist behaviours by omission of prescriptions against discrimination.  Laws, rules or norms that in their silence provide space for people to treat others differently.  They provide power without sufficient accountability. They may allow informal racist norms to exist, may have social behaviours that ostracize or diminish, they may have incidents of reprisals for ethics disclosures. They may not feel obligations to accommodate disadvantaged, poor, suffering or vulnerable segments of society.  For example, the existence of hiring systems, task allocation, promotions, pay scales, services that are open to racial, indigenous, or gender biases.

In general, systems are not designed with moral content, but often expect moral content without proscription.  People should be good, honest and respectful.  But this is not the case for all people. People and systems are never perfect and need a vigilant balance between laws, rules, norms and ethics to mitigate the creation of, or existence of, unhealthy or toxic cultures of discrimination.

2020 Code of Conduct for Community Racial Harmony

A moment spent in hatred of others is a moment of love and happiness lost forever.

 Most dictionary definitions of racism lack moral content.  For our purposes, perhaps a working definition of racism is as the superior belief by some, that other groups of people are inferior corresponding to physical appearance or ethnicity, and thus are treated with prejudice or discrimination and less deserving of equality, respect, dignity, and basic human rights.

Racism is a particularly divisive and destructive form of human behaviour.  It comes with its own karma.  Karma is often reflected in the kind of person one becomes, which in this case is certainly not conducive to good mental and physical health.    It can be systemic, or individual.   Systemic can be seen as the causes, conditions and mimetic structures that enable racist behaviours and create victimization. The literature is endless. The question is finding practical simple approaches to build racial harmony, and respond to racism in our daily lives.  This may involve such as:

• Building racial harmony. The acceptance of social norms, values and expectations.  Living such values and practices.  The principle of harmony within the self and harmony between the self and others.
• Confronting racism. Being aware of wrongdoing or misbehaviours, and taking action, both as an individual and as a community. Being listened to, taken seriously and being supported.  Silence is complicity.

Building racial harmony

Racial harmony is not to be taken for granted and requires a constant response of vigilance and practice.  The need for a healthy meta approach around racial groups is important. This means communities of peace, a sense of everyone feeling welcome, feeling safe, job opportunities, equal access to health care and education.   This means clear behavioural expectations from everyone.  Racial harmony begins within the self, before it can be possible between the self and others.

Building Racial harmony within.  This is about building racial harmony in the self.

• Initially, the need is for all persons know themselves, and to be aware and attentive to the mimetic structures around them that influence and condition their values, beliefs and behaviours. This is the first step to making free and unconditioned choices that reflect compassion and care.   We must all reflect on what influences our beliefs and actions regarding people of color.
• Resolve to live the basic peace and ethical practices regarding racial harmony.
• Resolve to be an honest and compassionate person, be grateful for the blessings you have, and wish them for others.
• Commit to the ethics and values of racial awareness, non violence, respect and gratitude.

Building Racial harmony between.  This is about building racial harmony in the community and between others:

• The number one expectation for building racial harmony is the use of non violent communication. (NVC)
• Be aware of the racial climate in such as the workplaces or community life and resolve to contribute to a good and harmonious racial climate.
• Talk to the next generation about racism, about what is harmful and that they have good choices when they live with or encounter racial diversity.
• This is to assert and practice, racial inclusiveness, racial dialogue, equality and respect in your life, workplace and the community social life.
• Everyone can set an example of leadership in racial harmony.

Confronting Racism.

In the self and others, beware “the sword of righteousness” that can lead to rage and violence.  We need both consensus and resolve in confronting racism.

Racist Indicators:  We all know what is wrong and harmful.  Perhaps an approach of indicators and responses is helpful in early stages of social awareness and change.

Individual behavioural indicators. Some of the most harmful indicators are:

• The use of language that is disrespectful or the use of racial slurs.
• Behaviour that involves outright violence, intimidation, discrimination, or reprisals.
• Behaviour that reflects inequality, preferential treatment, unfair advantage, lack of privilege enjoyed by others
• Social isolation, either in the workplace or community, a general a lack of insider access or participation to what is going on, that involves or concerns them.
• The misuse of power. Racism means prejudice with power, either in work relationships, or from the police or authorities.

Systemic or institutional indicators.

• The existence of institutional policies or rules or norms opportunities, that are exclusionary, or racist, whether intentional or not.
• The existence of an inter-racial climate or atmosphere of racial tension or animosity.
• The existence of toxic or violent mimetic structures, (mimicking values and beliefs to survive or belong), and which are passed from generation to generation.

Indicators in disadvantaged groups or victims.

• The existence of conditions of poverty, economic, health care, or educational disadvantage within racial groups.
• The existence of adverse effects on well being and mental health, conditions of fear and trauma, in racial groups.

Responding to Racism 

• You have a responsibility to act whether you are a victim or witness.
• See something. Feel something.  Say something.  Do something.  Consider your safety.  Talk to someone you trust.
• Recall the “facing wrongdoing” practices, the disclosure and reprisal protection measures.
• If you elect to seek social change, recall the practices of non violence activism.
• In terms of toxic mimetic structures, advocate awareness, the first step to finding ways to break cycles of violence.

Community Principles for Racial Harmony

You have a duty to contribute to both confronting racism and building racial harmony in the community.  The following principles may be useful.

• We are a community that accepts that our moral worth is how we treat the most disadvantaged, vulnerable, suffering and marginalized amongst us. This includes minorities, and the racial and ethnic groups we have.
• We are a community that will not accept racist behaviour, and have clear expectations and laws against racism.
• We are a community that actively supports and celebrates racial diversity and equality.
• We are a community that actively values dignity for all, that enables self respect, and where all can live well in the company of others.

Code of conduct for Racial Harmony

Four Directions

1. Racism is not acceptable!
2. See something, say something!
3. Practice Non violent communication!!
4. Dignity, equality and respect for all!

 

Annex.  The racial climate

The racial climate is the reality of the harmony, blessing, or animosity, or violence that exists in the self in their lives, workplaces and community. Everyone must be sensitive to the racial climate for that defines expectations, reality and behaviours.  It is not a goal but a response to everyday life and a resolve to wake up every day and not refuse to do what one can do.

Similar to the ethics climate is can be defined in terms of language space and violence.  Language that is non violent, but that the words racial harmony and racism are in common usage especially by leaders and when concerns are expressed, they are taken seriously and listened to.  Space is the natural creation of making immediate room to discuss such matters in a respectful manner, that practices NVC, and has a bias and shared intention to solve the issues with respect, compassion, justice and care for each other.

 

Reference.  Paul Maillet Center for Ethics and Peace Services.  Basic Peace Practices Guide

A Peace Architecture in a Post Pandemic World

Dear friends;

The suffering of a pandemic builds over months, climate degradation over years and decades, a nuclear war in minutes.  A higher consciousness is needed to survive.

In these difficult times of a pandemic we desperately need a future of resiliency, kindness and the ethic of care.  We realize that a global future will need vision, leadership and support to be successful.  We need innovative and visionary thinking.  We need a renaissance in the ethic of care for each other.

From crisis, possibilities emerge, that may build a new more enlightened consciousness.  A peaceful global community, living good peace practices, and expressing the values of non violence and the care of others, can collectively weather any pandemic, or climate disaster, depression, or conflict, and emerge with the best possible outcomes. In this regard we offer a highly  practical peace architecture, from which choices can be made,

Peace Support Structure

Being an effective citizen for peace, a peace practitioner, or a peace professional is strengthened by having a strong support structure, which in an ideal sense may consist of:

• A National Peace Center,
• A National Action Plan for Peace,
• Trained Peace Professionals and Training staffs,
• Local Community Peace Centers, committees or offices,
• Community Action Plans for Peace.
• Trained and available Peace Practitioners in communities;
• National and Community Outreach Peace Programs and Projects;
• Ultimately, a community of peace educated and engaged citizens.

Basic Peace Practices Competencies.

Core peace practices necessary for everyone should include:

Peace Within – Strengthening the self

• Basic Peace Theory
• Intention and commitment
• Purpose and meaning
• Inner practice and well-being
• Resiliency and facing suffering

Peace Between – Engaging others

• Non-violent and peace centered communication,
• Building Integrity
• Facing wrongdoing
• Basic conflict resolution
• Promoting human values
• Social Responsibility
• Nonviolent Social action
• Facing extremism
• Gender Equality.

Peace Practitioner Competencies

Structure

• Basic Peace Practices Competencies
• Peace Practitioner Roles and Responsibilities
• Community Centers for Peace
• Community Action Plan for Peace

Community Outreach and Support

• Peace Education and Training,
• Social dialogue and Building wellness
• Mentoring, Accompaniment, Coaching
• Communities of Compassion Program
• Community Empowerment activity
• Community Ethics Awareness
• Building Resiliency and Facing Trauma
• Peace Building, Peace Making, Peace Keeping
• Basic Conflict resolution, Reconciliation, Closure.
• Social action and non-violent activism

Peace Professional Competencies

Structure

• Peace Practitioner Competencies.
• Peace Professional Roles and Responsibilities
• Building Peace Institutions
• National Action Plan for Peace

Services and Support

• National and Community Peace outreach and programs,
• National Ethics and disclosure protection Program
• Peace Practitioners training, mentoring, and support
• Conflict resolution, reconciliation, and closure services
• Research, risk monitoring, advisory services to governance
• International and Domestic Peace Operations and Support

The architecture above comes with guidance and education material, training, coaching, accompaniment and implement support, all mostly freely given.  But in the end, it is only you who make the difference.

In peace

paul

Prepared by Paul Maillet, Canada

Paul Maillet Center for Ethics and Peace Services

Accredited Peace Professional . Civilian Peace Services Canada (CPSC)

Contact pmaillet@magma.ca  Tel 1 613 866 2503

2018 Canada, Mali and return to Peace Operations

Dear friends. I have been watching the media traffic on the Mali mission with interest and offer a few reflections. I served in the military for 33 years retiring in 2001 before 911. In my time we were either peacekeepers or cold warriors serving in Europe. The forty years or so of peacekeeping missions saw about 113 killed. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, there was a period of somewhat ill-fated missions, Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, Somalia. Then in 2001, we became war fighters, and the military marginalized peace keeping, essentially getting rid of the Pearson Peacekeeping Center. Well, within a decade, and Afghanistan. Libya and Iraq later, we saw 156 killed, more than that in suicides, thousands wounded or with PTSD, and responsible for civilian fatalities and causalities, unintended but 100% foreseeable.

Now with a new government we are tentatively exploring peacekeeping again, almost from the perspective of little experience, and not much evidence of understanding of UN multidimensional peacekeeping under civilian control. So, over cautious and hesitant, and with seeming resistance from the war culture generation of officers, the military continues to budget for heavy warfighting capabilities and the government in turn delays funding and procurement.    Peacekeeping is almost viewed as a nuisance, or an attentive military would already have permanently rerolled, reequipped, and trained a brigade or two, and assigned dedicated air support, for peace operations, and the money would be flowing. In addition, government departments such as GAC should be well on their way to establishing some type of non-DND federal institution for peace and peace operations.

So here we are heading for Mali, and without a new military generation, or a change in mentality in DND officer-ship from war to peace operations. We are entering a conflict where there is a significant risk of being sucked into anti terrorist or anti insurgency operations, and the killing and casualties will begin again. When something happens, watch how fast the warriors take over if we are not careful.

We will not end wars but can respond to them with humanity. Certainly, there will be causalities, there have always been causalities. The military trains for war zones, civilians do not.   Civilians deserve better.

So in principle, seeking to contribute to peace or the relief of suffering in Mali or any conflict zone, is something Canada should be doing in my view. Hopefully we will learn our way from this start. The question is how and with what sense of humanity. Peace professionals have the characteristics of presence in the conflict, of impartiality, talking to all sides, of uncompromising values for human rights, and with non-violent communication and mediation skills. This is what Canada should be in conflict zones.

Good luck to us.  In peace

2017 A Canadian Declaration on the Control, Verification and Eventual Elimination of Nuclear Weapons

Perhaps it is time for a review and update of Canada’s role in nuclear weapons elimination.  It may be time to have a debate of such as:

A Canadian Declaration on the Control, Verification and Eventual Elimination of Nuclear weapons

Preamble.   The IPNDV consultation represents an opportunity for Canada to continue to deliver its government mandated “pivot to peace operations’ in regards to international peace and stability, specifically in the area of nuclear weapons control.

However, getting rid of all nuclear weapons does not un-invent the technology or the knowledge for reconstitution of a nuclear threat. Certainly getting rid of existing nuclear weapons is a necessary step but may be impractical in the near term. An overriding need is a new global ethic regarding nuclear weapons to deal with this reality.

This ethic must certainly deal with the treaties, prohibitions, control and verification regimes, safeguards and global pressure, but in parallel, we have to deal with the nature of conflict, the evolution of national and global identities, the responsible use of power, and the mimetic structures that pass on cultures and values of hate, violence, or conflict from generation to generation. Structures that often fuelled by poverty, corruption or extremist politics. We must transcend our identities, live beyond national interest, beyond differences, to the level of global citizen, to that of human being. We are one family.   We must change the language of conflict from “war and enemies and anger”, to a language of “peacemaking, humanitarian operations, reconciliation, of stopping violence and relieving suffering”.

We need to acknowledge the truth that under no interpretations of the laws of armed conflict is the use of nuclear weapons either legal or acceptable in any way.

We also need to consider a new global ethic regarding responses to conflict in the global community to reduce, such as the usage risk of nuclear weapons. We need to codify and consolidate a body of law and convention obligating robust peace operations as a precursor to military intervention, and make military intervention a truly last resort. We need to fund and resource such a capacity.

Whereas, we believe that nuclear weapons are unusable within the laws of armed conflict.

Whereas, we believe that the eventual elimination of nuclear weapons defines the best of human existence for all mankind.

Whereas, in the interim, we believe in the strongest verification regime possible for all nuclear weapons states.

It is therefore recommended that Canada formally adopts a principle of non indifference regarding nuclear weapons. Canada cannot remain indifferent to the threat that nuclear weapons represents to mankind.   Canada should not refuse to do what Canada can do.

• Canada support and seek leadership of UN forums working towards the verification and eventual elimination of nuclear weapons.
• Canada lead a “renewal initiative” for nuclear weapons treaty verification, adherence and enforcement strengthening to all existing treaties and conventions regarding nuclear weapons, such as involving the NPT.
• Canada leads a “renewal initiative” involving the development of relational meta environment approaches to address state security needs for nuclear weapons and to build integrity for the primacy of peaceful human values and global human security.
• Canada create institutions capable of peace operations what can support field verification operations, ideally within a department of peace.
• Canada lead an initiative to codify “laws for peace operations” in pre, during and post conflict phases, as a strict precursor to invoking “laws of armed conflict” and military intervention.
• Canada may also consider mandating DND to develop training and expertise, and create deployable units to support verification requirements.
• Canada consider declaring itself a nuclear weapons free zone.
• Canada endorse and recognize cities joining Mayors for Peace (Mayors for Peace is a network of over 5500 cities.  The organization was founded in 1991 by the then Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It calls upon cities to stand together for nuclear abolition and world peace. The leadership provided by the Cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is an important reminder that these are not abstract threats, but a matter of life and death for cities.)

 

 

Paul Maillet  Colonel retired

2016 DND Military Trauma, PTSD, Moral injury and Suicides

It is time to try something different.  Military forces can be seen as a study in cultural rigidity. In a military conference I attended this year, a session on encountering child soldiers, trauma, PTSD and moral injury, the response alluded to ”mental health briefings” as a solution to what may lead to depression or suicide. In a strong warrior culture with the suicide rates being what they are (20 per day in the US among military veterans) belies the effectiveness of briefings. “Killing is killing” and anyone doing so, for just cause or not, encounters a traumatic event. The only question is – will they then be traumatized? This is part of what I am trying to address as a peace professional in first nations work and in a current peace and reconciliation project in the Tamils and Sinhalese diaspora, who have severe trauma issues and a child soldier problem.

There is a saying regarding all this, “one cannot drink the word water”. One does not create strong soldiers by talking about push-ups. One needs to exercise and go running every day. The same can be said for mental or trauma resiliency. Briefings are insufficient without strong military life practices. This means adding or changing certain military service practices and their acceptance in military culture. This would take courage because such practices in some ways may run counterculture to a warrior ethos that is not well suited to real independent and critical thinking and living values that are necessary for wellbeing, such as compassion, inner peace and equanimity. A rebalancing of military culture that blends mental health and resiliency with military ethics certainly begins with serious thinking about “military meaning and purpose” in war and conflict. If the trauma issue is to be seriously addressed, military culture should evolve to include continuous practices of wellbeing, mindfulness, breath practices, presence, and meditation. Military culture must understand the nature of suffering and trauma from the perspective of impermanence and that there are alternatives to victimization and depression. Mental wellbeing and causing harm or violence have a fundamental incompatibility. This is a significant and maybe an impossible challenge in a military culture. Good luck to us, or the consequences will be just more suicides and trauma.