Global Harmony Association (GHA)

September 1, 2008

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14. Russia – Georgia: Harmonization through Education instead of Militarization

Project

by

Dr Leo Semashko

with 69 participants from 22 countries

From Russia: 33; From other countries: 37

Project publications:

In Russian: http://peacefromharmony.org/?cat=ru_c&key=364

In English: http://peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=337

In French: http://peacefromharmony.org/?cat=fr_c&key=122

If you think for 100 years forward: learn children

Confucius, 2500 back

If we are ever to have real peace in this world

we shall have to begin with the children

Mahatma Gandhi

Education is the most powerful weapon which you

can use to change the World

Nelson Mandela

Project contents

1. Necessity of the constructive and long-term commitment — 20 to 50 years — to the project of harmonization
2. Project purpose
3. Basic directions and steps of the project realization
4. General harmonious education as a key tool of the project
5. World Harmony/Peace Academy (WHPA) for training of harmonization personnel
6. Resources for the WHPA creation
7. Governments and organizations, for which this project is intended
8. Project application for other conflicts resolution
9. Organizations list, for which support GHA hopes
10. Status for "Territories of Harmonization"
11. Conclusion

1. Necessity of the constructive and long-term commitment — 20 to 50 years — to the project of harmonization

Global Harmony Association (GHA) began in February 2005 as an international initiative. It now includes the collective membership of more than o­ne million persons from more than 80 countries.

GHA expresses its sincere condolences in connection with the death of 1600 inhabitants, including children, women and old men, and 70 peacekeepers in South Ossetia’s armed conflict. GHA shares a deep concern for the threat of nuclear war and appeals for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Georgia as expressed by the authoritative international organization and Nobel Peace Laureate for 1985, International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) in their official statement of August 12, 2008, titled “IPPNW Calls for Ceasefire Between Russia and Georgia and Recommends World Court Submission (http://www.ippnw.org/News/Statements/2008AugRussia.pdf). GHA also shares the views of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and French President Nicolas Sarkozy as stated, also o­n August 12, 2008, in their six principles of reconciliation, which would be the first step toward the end of conflict and the beginning of peaceful settlement in the Caucasus (http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/sdocs/news.shtml#205175).

Therefore, GHA offers the international project, "Russia — George: Harmonization through Education instead of Militarization," as a practical application and development of the sixth principle of Sarkozy and Medvedev’s reconciliation, which advises that "an international debate o­n the future status of South Ossetia and Abkhazia and ways to ensure their lasting security will take place." Our project is an alternative to those projects, in which a course that would use the force of weaponry remains dominant. Our project excludes any opportunity of recurrence for humanitarian catastrophe. It creates the new opportunities for a "soft," educational transformation of people’s consciousness through which any catastrophe is impossible. Therefore our project extirpates the conflict’s deep socio-cultural reasons, which lie in the consciousness of the population. Our project transforms the conflict territory from a zone of militarization into an area of harmonization, providing indestructible peace and, hence, perfect security in this region.

But a qualitatively new approach to long-term conflict resolution is necessary for this purpose. Such approach is harmonization, submitted in the GHA Magna Carta of Harmony (2007: http://www.peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=3) and calculated to require an implementation period of 20 to 50 years, depending o­n circumstances. This term is caused by the territorial conflicts that have no quick settlement if they are to be decided at a local level. We do not have time for conflict resolution that will take centuries. Therefore our offers are based o­n the holistic scientific approach to any planetary situation, in which people and leaders realize that any area of any continent is a component of our universal house: Earth. But while this approach has not general application, in local variants, it will require several decades.

2. Project purpose

The project, "Russia — George: Harmonization through Education instead of Militarization," has the purpose to offer to the conflicting parties, governments and international organizations for debate the mutually acceptable, constructive, nonviolent and long-term (20 to 50 years) variant of transformation of a zone of armed conflict into a territory of social harmony. From the GHA point of view, o­nly similar variants of the conflict resolution will be most effective to ensure prosperity, peace and perfect safety in the region. The o­nly weapons to end war are the “weapons” of harmony and the “weapons” of peace because o­nly these provide a policy of harmony, respect for each other’s territory, and peaceful co-existence.

3. Basic directions and steps of the project realization

The basic project directions are:

1. General harmonious (peaceful and pluralistic) education in the conflict zone and adjacent territories;

2. Cultural exchange and civil cooperation;

3. Economic exchange and political cooperation;

4. Harmonization in the conflict zone of four spheres of societal reproduction: humanitarian (social, first of all educational), information (cultural), organizational (political) and technical (economic);

5. Detailed long-term (20 to 50 years) plan of harmonization, broken into stages, for example, of four, eight and 12 years.

The basic project realization steps are:

1. Creation by the interested parties and the United Nations of "territories of harmonization" that would unite disputed territories and adjacent territories with an approximately equal population. In the Caucasus, the South Ossetia territory has a population of about 80 to 100 thousand people, plus an adjacent territory with an equal population; the Abkhazia territory has a population of about 150 to 180 thousand people, plus an adjacent territory with an equal population.

2. Creation in St. Petersburg, Russia, of the World Harmony/Peace Academy (WHPA) for training of harmonization personnel from Georgia, Russia (including military peacekeepers), South Ossetia and Abkhazia for work in these territories of harmonization. The WHPA will be an Academy of the highest educational quality at the new international standard, which we call "harmonious excellence" and which is based o­n the recognized international standards of excellence in education. In 2009, this Academy could train 300 experts o­n harmonization from among persons with skills in higher humanitarian education; these would include o­n 50 specialists from South Ossetia and Abkhazia and o­n 100 specialists from Georgia and Russia, with these numbers being proportional to their respective population basis. In 2010, this Academy will train 600 skilled experts; 1,200 in 2011; 2,400 in 2012; and 4,800 in 2013 and beyond, based o­n the same proportion for all parties. Sixty percent of these experts will be teachers, who will teach the humanitarian disciplines at schools in the territories of harmonization. Other experts will be engaged in harmonization of other branches and spheres.It is especially necessary to emphasize that the military peacekeepers also should carry out the functions of harmonization by, for example, teaching children about peace, harmony, sports and so o­n at local schools.

The teachers of harmonization, otherwise known as harmonious teachers or guides to general harmonious/peace education (i.e. scientific and pluralist knowledge about social and individual harmony) are key figures for the peace/harmonious resolution of the military conflict in the project. They will teach an essentially new — harmonizational or harmonizing — approach to military conflict resolution. Such an approach is still unknown in the world — until now. But o­nly this approach is the most effective way for maintenance of lasting peace, locally and globally. No other alternative, except harmonization, as a universal way for a local and global survival of humankind exists. General harmonious education overflows with the concrete contents the great ideas of Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela whose principles of peace and life are the epigraphs of this project.

3. Creation within the WHPA the program for harmonious education in the schools of territories of harmonization with approval by the governments of Georgia and Russia.

4. Definition of the order and stages of introduction of harmonious education in the schools of territories of harmonization with approval by the governments of Georgia and Russia.

5. Creation at the United Nations of an International Supervisory Body for territories of harmonization.

6. Creation within the WHPA of a system of sphere sociological research and monitoring for the territories of harmonization.

7. Working into the WHPA of the project a "Code of Social Harmony" that would cover all four spheres in the territories of harmonization. This idea of a “Code of Social Harmony" is similar to the idea of a "Code o­n Religious Harmony" (2002) by then Prime Minister of Singapore Goh Chok Tong: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Religious_Harmony.

8. An annual international conference within the territories of harmonization o­n the scientific approach to harmonization, with participation by the teachers and experts o­n harmonization as well as the chiefs of Georgia, Russia, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, representatives of the Orthodox churches, international organizations, journalists, scientists and WHPA teachers. Also, the creation within the WHPA of an Organizational Committee to prepare the international conferences.

The following subsequent steps will be defined as required.

4. General harmonious education as a key tool of the project

Harmonizing transformation of the conflict zone begins, is based and is constantly accompanied by general harmonious education. Harmonious and simultaneous peace education is the key tool for peace settlement of the conflict in the given project.

5. World Harmony/Peace Academy (WHPA) for training of harmonization personnel

The WHPA project was created within Global Harmony Association by more than 70 co-authors from 22 countries (http://peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=277). Submitted into this project is a common training program for the experts of harmonization, which can be modified for any peace purposes.

6. Resources for the WHPA creation

GHA has the following resources necessary for the WHPA’s initial stage:

1. Staff: More than 70 co-authors of the WHPA project, 50 of whom are ready to enter its faculty.

2. International resource: The GHA has almost 300 individual members from 46 countries and its collective members with branches in more than 80 countries, number more than o­ne million. GHA will be registered together with the WHPA in o­ne country and in o­ne time.

3. Information resource: The GHA is based o­n two unique educational projects of world importance: WHPA (2008) and Magna Carta of Harmony (2007). Besides, GHA has now begun to prepare the base textbook for academies and schools of harmonious education. The title of that text is "Tetrasociology: Science about Social and Individual Harmony". The textbook is 70 percent complete as it includes a previous textbook written in 1999.

4. Management resource: The WHPA General Directorate, which includes from among the project co-authors 15 representatives of the basic countries and continents of the world. The WHPA General Directorate mission is strategic management of the WHPA creation and unfoldment of its deep social and economic importance for modernity. In parallel with the WHPA General Directorate, the Executive Directorate would be created for the WHPA project’s daily fulfillment.

The Global Harmony Association has all the necessary initial resources for creation of the World Harmony/Peace Academy except for a physical location, material equipment and a financial foundation. For the WHPA’s initial three-years, the GHA needs to rent an educational and office premises with an area of approximately 1500 to 2000 sq.m. and financing of approximately $27 millions (in Western prices), i.e., approximately o­n $9 millions every year.

7. Governments and organizations, for which this project is intended

This project is intended, first of all, for the governments of Georgia and Russia, for their Orthodox churches and also for the governments of the United States of America (new), South Ossetia and Abkhazia. It also is intended for the European Union, the United Nations, UNESCO, UNICEF and international NGOs.

8. Project application for other conflicts resolution

The Project "Russia — George: Harmonization through Education instead of Militarization," has universal importance and can be applied, at necessary updating, for the peace and deep decision of all similar conflicts, such as those in Israel and Palestine, India and Pakistan, Iraq, Northern Ireland, Afghanistan, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda and so o­n.

9. Organizations list, for which support GHA hopes

GHA hopes, first of all, for support of the given project by the Georgian and Russian Orthodox Churches acting with appeals for reconciliation within two Orthodox states. This hope for their support is based o­n the fact that Orthodox churches, as well as all others, share the most ancient "Golden Rule" of harmony among humankind: "Do not do unto others what you do not want they to do unto you".

GHA hopes also for support of this project from the following domestic and international organizations:

From Russia:

1.Association “Russian World”. Co-chairman – Coordinator: Dr. Dmitry Ivashintsov

2.Movement of young peacemakers. Head: Valerie Gergel, Ph.D.

3.Petersburg Club «Paradise». Chairman: Natalie Sidorova

4.“Education for Life” and the project «Planet 3000». Initiator: Dr. Talgat Akbashev

5.“Siberian Center of the Eurasian Projects”. President: Nina Goncharova

Organizations outside of Russia:

6.International Forum for the Literature and Culture of Peace. President: Dr. Ada Aharoni, Israel

7.Universal Esperanto Association. President: Dr. Renato Corsetti, Italy

8.International Association of Educators for World Peace. President: Dr. Charles Mercieca, USA

9.Intercultural Open University. President: Prof. Jan. R. Hakemulder, Holland

10.International seminars «Future of Religion» and «Religion and Civil Society». Head: Prof. Rudolf Siebert, USA

11.«Globalization for the Common Good». President: Dr. Kamran Mofid, England

12.Association of World Citizens. President: Douglas Mattern, USA

13.Federation of World Peace and Love. President: Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, USA

14.Center for Applied Research in Education. Director: Dr. Ghassan Abdallah, Palestine

15.World Poets Society, President: Dr. Dimitris P. Kraniotis, Greece

16.Global Coalition for Peace. Vice- President: Dr. Rose Lord, USA

17.Children of the Earth. President: Dr. Nina Meyerhof, USA

18.Universal Alliance. President: David Stringer, England

19.Shalom Centre for Africa. Co-Director: Mr. Jean de Dieu Basabose, Rwanda

20.International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. Former Vice-President: Prof. Ernesto Kahan, Israel

21.Peace Partnership International. President: Dot Maver, USA

22.Women's International Coalition for Culture of Peace. President: Dr. Dalia Steiner, Israel

23.Mepeace. President: Eyal Raviv, Israel

24.Peace Education Commission. Executive Secretary: Prof. Toh Swee-Hin, Australia

25.International Peace Research Association Foundation. President: Prof. Ian Harris, USA

26.Global Campaign for Peace Education. Co-Director: Tony Jenkins, USA

27.International Sociological Association. President: DrMichel Wieviorka, France

28.Ministry for Peace - Australia (Ltd). Chairperson: Biannca D.Pace, Australia,

And others.

GHA kindly invites these and other international organizations to support of the given project and participation in it, that has the large meaning for search of new and constructive ways of peace settlement of the armed conflicts o­n our planet.

10. Status for the "Territories of Harmonization"

GHA offers to affix to the "territories of harmonization" the status of "Joint Territories under the UN Control". This status assumes creation for these territories of the most favourable international regime and an international priority for humanitarian and financial assistance. The question regarding the choice of independence or joining of disputed zones would be solved by a referendum by their populations only after achievement of the harmonization purposes within these territories.

11. Conclusion

The conflict around South Ossetia and Abkhazia is o­ne more evidence of the inevitability of violence in an industrial society. This conflict has existed for approximately 20 years, and it tends not toward resolution but toward an aggravation and expansion at the expense of involving within it the world’s largest major nuclear powers and the inherent risk of nuclear war. This dangerous threat has been confirmed by international organizations, including the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), as described above. Simultaneous with the conflict in South Ossetia and Abkhazia the decision to place rockets with nuclear warheads in Poland and then in Georgia is an escalation that swiftly replicates the recurrence of the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962; the o­nly difference between then and now being that the escalation is close to Russia, not the USA. Humankind appears to be o­n the verge of self-destruction. However, harmonization of the relations between Georgia and Russia, as well as in other hot points of our planet, will preclude an opportunity for placement of rockets with nuclear warheads in Georgia and in other countries.

Total military threat is an integral feature and inevitability of an industrial civilization in almost all of its political variants (to see more than 2,500 global incidents of violence, go to the Global Incident Map at http://www.globalincidentmap.com/home.php). At present, our civilization seems to believe that it cannot exist without wars and armed conflicts, which “serve” as an economic necessity and “feeds” a demented mental paradigm. With rare exception, this civilization has resorted o­nly to military resolution for its conflicts, a situation that aggravates those conflicts to an even greater degree and leads to a threat of global war. This civilization does not appear to know and does not seem to be capable of offering effective alternatives for prevention of war and resolution of armed conflict.

Yet, in spite of this apparent evidence, other ways can be found o­nly through the new, information and harmonious civilization, which is being born painfully inside the dying industrial civilization. The examples of modern global harmonization include development of the European Union since 1992; creation in Singapore of "a racially harmonious nation and society" since 1997; China's direction o­n "building of a harmonious society" since 2006 and other examples. These and similar facts make "Global Harmonious Revolution of Modernity" (http://peacefromharmony.org/?cat=en_c&key=336) a potential reality. In fact, the situation in Singapore 34 years after racial revolts in 1964 creates the opportunity to pose the question of why Russia and Georgia cannot create in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, with a population 20 times less than that of Singapore, a "harmonious nations and societies" as did Singapore just a decade ago?

Therefore, the GHA project is a practical application, a continuation and a further development of this global harmonization tendency as a coordinated integration of diversity, i.e. harmonious pluralism. This project concerns a culture, not industrial, but harmonious peace. It expresses, not an industrial, but a harmonious civilization, which persistently awakens human consciousness in order to rescue humankind from industrial self-destruction.

In the Global Harmony Association’s Magna Carta of Harmony, it is written: "Humankind will survive in conscious harmony or will destroy itself." The "Russia — George: Harmonization through Education instead of Militarization" project is an example of a local harmonious survival through transformation, i.e. through replacement of militarization by harmonious/peace education and a harmonious life. Undoubtedly, this example will be instructive for all.

This project awaits support from peaceful communities, individuals and organizations for the sake of humankind’s survival. Toward which side of the scale will we devote our energies regarding this and other conflicts: toward the side of harmonization and harmonious (indissoluble) peace or toward the side of nuclear war?

By posing that question, the Global Harmony Association kindly invites all people, who are internally responsible for peace, as well as all peace organizations to support the "Russia — George: Harmonization through Education instead of Militarization" project and to join with it your ideas, your vote and your authority.

This project was approved by the Global Harmony Association Board and Honorary Advisory Committee o­n September 1, 2008