The events of the last few days which involve the European continent and the world affecting the fundamental well-being of the human community shed doubts about the ability of human beings to learn from the past. Not in vain, the year 1948 saw the return of peace after many years of conflict and the recognition of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“(…) recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world”
Peace is not built in a single day nor by a single person. Peacebuilding is never static, it’s dynamic and adaptive to things that happen. Sustainable peace is a collective endeavor. In this regard, we echo the words of J.P. Lederach who states the need to use our moral imagination more often to generate sustainable solutions for constructive social change, to adapt, reshape and remake our connections within the realities presented in a given space.
After all these years, we must believe we are not still working towards a dream, but a duty and ultimately, a moral act to ourselves and to future generations. We strongly believe that open dialogue, human relationships and a sustained education on a culture based on peace are the way forward.
At this time more than ever, CESIE will work to create bridges for forging constructive authentic change, valuing the beauty in difference and practicing imagination for conflict transformation. First and foremost, peace education is the only way to reshape our future.
