Let’s strike peace accords, not each other

Growing international concern about a possible Israeli rogue attack on Iran as early as April confirms the need to pass private member’s Bill C- 373, the Department of Peace Act.

This non-partisan effort was introduced by three Members of Parliament as advocates of peace; NDP MP Alex Atamanenko, Green Party MP Elizabeth May and Liberal Party MP Jim Karygiannis, and received first reading in Ottawa on Nov 30.

When it was introduced, MP Alex Atamaneko remarked: “The notion that there can be peace in the world may be a utopian ideal but each generation owes it to the next to make a dedicated attempt to get as close to it as humanly possible.”

In 1953 Albert Einstein said; “Mere praise of peace is easy, but ineffective. What is needed is active participation in the fight against war and everything that leads to it.”

In response to that wisdom several countries have created Ministries or Departments of Peace, including Nepal, the Solomon Islands and, most recently, Costa Rica.

Many others have active, citizen-led campaigns to promote legislation that would create such ministries in their countries.

If officials in Israel or anywhere else are anxious to strike, the only things they should be striking are peace accords, not each other.

Leaders in the Middle East should be reminded of this. Someone needs to tell them that nuclear bombs can destroy the lives of millions of innocent people yet their urgently needed speeches can save those lives and possibly many millions more.

Canada should lead a delegation to Israel to conduct urgent talks with Israeli officials and others about the world’s hunger for peace and abhorrence of war.

Leaders need to be reminded that effective conflict management does not require everyone to get along or agree but it does require redirecting energy to a common goal and purpose.