The Olive Branch A Global Strategy of Nonviolence

To all the people in the world, an amazing opportunity is at our fingertips! The world is ecstatic about Obama’s election. This is a time for “people” to stand up, speak out, and reach out to others with the olive branch.

We, the people of the world, can send a message of unity to the new President of the United States and all the leaders of the world via a global initiative! The message is:

We, the people, in every country, want to have peace with everyone in the world and we are not a threat to each other, we do not want war, and we will not harm each other!

It is my honor and privilege to present for review a “people movement” called a “Global Strategy of Nonviolence, For the Children” (GS of NV). A GSofNV elaborates on three major elements of unity – children, the common denominator, a common desire for no war, and nonviolence to be the path to reach out with the olive branch.

A GSofNV is a global illustration of nonviolence designed for everyone to participate. It is a plan of action. A major marketing plan is planned to capture the attention of the world and the media! As a people movement, a GSofNV is designed to assist leaders to prevent, diffuse, and resolve conflict. Pragmatic steps and idealistic goals are planned for changing military spending to humanitarian needs.

No “fear” is used, only positive, altruistic steps. A GSofNV is designed to prepare for, practice, and teach nonviolence on a daily basis and as an “Emergency Plan” in times of trouble.

A “Catalyst” is planned to set the initiative in motion. A strong representative of nonviolence is suggested – something different, readily accessible, already organized in many ways, and usually, summarily dismissed – WOMEN! Women are asked to be the diplomats and the peacemakers to lead the way for a world-wide unity campaign. Leaders must come to the forefront and issue a Call to Women. Many women non-governmental leaders are aware of the concept. What spark will implement the project?

The sages throughout history have proclaimed the strength of nonviolence. The election of Obama offers an opportunity for the people to support a new global ideology of peace. Please review the following four-page document. Study my work – Look for insights. Look to see where it can be made stronger, or re-written. My research, theories, and full plans are available for review. A GSofNV is a guideline, a template, and designed for everyone to participate. Let’s work together to inspire humankind!

Peace and Love, Andre Sheldon, Facilitator www.GSofNV.org
(Much has happened over the last six months. Website is incomplete and being updated)

Thomas Merton – in Ghandi and the One-Eyed Giant , Chapter One, stated, “Non-violence heals and restores man’s nature, while giving him a means to restore social order and justice.”

The Olive Branch

Global Strategy of Nonviolence, For the Children (GS of NV)

A GSofNV is a strategy to stand up and illustrate the desire for unity! A GSofNV is based upon people power with nonviolence as its strength. It states that the time has come for nonviolence to be the doctrine of all societies and countries. If we do not harm each other, we, the people, can devote our lives to humanitarian needs.

To accomplish this, the main unifying element will be the children, the basic common denominator between all people. “If a person with black hair sees a person with red hair, he or she sees someone different, but, if a person with black hair sees a child with red hair, he or she sees a child.” This is a statement told by Adil Najam, a Boston University professor in International Relations. A GSofNV is based upon the attributes that come from the fact that there is a perceived innocence and beauty and a sense of security because there is no threat or intimidation from children. These attributes can be tools to unify the world.

Working for commonalities will help solve the differences. The children should be the focus for three phases: for mobilizing, for conflict resolution, and for prioritizing programs for the children as the long term goal. It adds idealism and hope. It will lead one of the main objectives – expenditures changing from military to humanitarian spending!

A GSofNV states: Whatever an individual’s or country’s political, national, religious, spiritual, or ideological beliefs are, we will not harm each other! We come in peace, we offer the olive branch, we are not a threat, we are all part of the family of the human race, we are not enemies, we have common bonds, we apologize for our misdeeds, we forgive your misdeeds, we need to heal the wounds, we can work together, and we need to start a GLOBAL ACTION to “break down borders.”

• A global illustration of nonviolence is planned.
• A global marketing plan is developed.
• A GSofNV is a guideline to be molded by the leaders and the people.
• A GSofNV is a plan of action.
• A GSofNV includes conflict resolution measures, support for de-militarization, nuclear disarmament, conventional disarmament, and arms sales controls.
• A GSofNV is designed to send a MESSAGE to the governments of the world.

The message is meant to influence everyone. The main plan is for demonstrations to be held in every village, town, and city at the same time. People have to change themselves and their own societies. Demonstrations, obviously, may not happen everywhere, but if the oppressed people see the world following a strategy of nonviolence, they will be influenced to follow nonviolence as well. Leaders convey specific demands and deadlines to governments. The people movement will continue until there are changes.

NEVER BEFORE has the opportunity been so great to accomplish this feat! There is a new president of the U.S. Communications happen instantaneously around the world. An initiative must be started as a proactive measure because once there is an incident, emotions of anger and retribution will hinder new thought and precipitate the old, entrenched thinking of dominance.

The beauty is that fear is not being used. The strategy will be to use positive goals that make people feel good, such as unifying with all other human beings to illustrate the ability to resolve conflict nonviolently to the children.

In the words of Martin Luther King (MLK), from the book, Strength to Love, nonviolence is a “commitment to a way of life.” MLK said “It gives them new self respect. It calls up resources of strength and courage that they did not know they had. Finally, it so stirs the conscience of the opponent that reconciliation becomes a reality.” How powerful is that statement?

An initiative is designed and ready for implementation. The people are waiting for a catalyst to change this world! A catalyst is planned to set everything in motion.

The task of creating change is very, very difficult. The obstacle is a BEHEMOTH – military, political, and economic dominance. Therefore, a strong representative of nonviolence is imperative. The representative must be trained not to fight back and have a proclivity for nonviolence. An unconventional method is necessary – something never tried before, but appropriate.

To be effective, representatives of nonviolence must be common in every village, town, and city. Therefore, based on research (available for review) and logic, the best representative of nonviolence found that transcends all borders is women!

Gandhi said, “If nonviolence is the law of our being, the future is with women....”

The combination of women and nonviolence is a formidable force, but is summarily dismissed by most. A GSofNV brings in to question, or challenges, people to investigate the strength of women leading the way for peace with nonviolence. Women are half the population. Women are usually socialized to be less violent than men, therefore women have an advantage if promoting nonviolence. Women will lead the way to expand the peace movement to everyone. Therefore, women leaders are urged to implement a

CALL to WOMEN, a World-Wide Unity Campaign

A “Call to Women” does not exclude men. Can it be assumed that most people, men and women, do not want war? Who were the predominant people fighting in every war throughout history? The answer is men. If men fought in every war, and people do not want war, is it not logical that women should fight to prevent it? Men should be courting women to prevent war, if they truly believe they don’t want war. This is the test, for men and women.

All the women’s groups would be notified, then all groups, and then implement a marketing plan that includes an event to capture the world’s attention. First, the core group needs to be formed. If each of the leaders is aware of the efforts, and they each contact other leaders, a Call to Women will have begun.

Once the ball is rolling down hill, there will be no stopping it.
WATCH what HAPPENS - Once in action, all kinds of things will happen.

When the news hits the stands, there will be a reverberation around the world to match Obama’s election. However, women leaders must come to the forefront! It cannot be done without leaders! They must EMPOWER the WOMEN!!

• A Call to Women is a strategy to empower the masses and create political clout
• A Call to Women is designed for 24 months of demonstrations (plus more if needed), planned in advance.
• A Call to Women plans a one year awareness campaign before the demonstrations. Everyone should know about it. The first demonstration is designed to be an EVENT. A special plan is designed to capture the attention of the MEDIA! The media will have no choice but to cover it!

It will be led by women, but it will not be successful just because it is led by women. It is the idealism. Women should not feel they are superior. Men should not feel they are weak if they follow. Both women and men will be supporting strength!

With Obama’s presidency, the expectations around the world are high that change is coming. A people movement is designed to enhance the possibility of change. If there was unity and there were no wars, the problems would be easier to solve.

People on every continent are the same. They want a safe and healthy environment to raise their families. They do not want war. Therefore, a GSofNV is designed to illustrate the people’s desire that they do not want war!

The people of the world have a new opportunity to support and promote the largest, nonviolent peace movement the world has ever seen – a People Movement. Everyone can participate. Everyone is needed to express their desire for nonviolence and to illustrate to everyone else, they are not alone.

A GSofNV is designed to include the religious and spiritual world. There is an incredible spiritual movement around the world promoting inner peace, which leads to world peace.

The answers do not lie within United States politics, they lie within the whole world politics. A GSofNV is in direct conjunction with the United Nations Millenium Goals and Culture of Peace programs by UNESCO. A GSofNV is designed to work in direct correlation with the United Nations and as a people movement, empower the United Nations!

A GSofNV is a comprehensive plan to create a new political, economic, and social order in the world and a new paradigm of humanitarian service. The plan includes administrative, funding, marketing, implementation, and follow-up guidelines. It is a business plan with goals and timetables (as a guideline – available for review).

IN CONCLUSION, The time has come to lay down the sword, stand up publicly against war, and reach out with the OLIVE BRANCH!

The world needs a movement of nonviolence! After the election, if peace becomes the biggest issue of all, Gandhi’s and King’s tactics will create World-Wide Unity. If the world begins to erupt in violence, the people will have experienced an initiative and have an opportunity to rise up and implement a new PLAN OF NONVIOLENCE.

Obama proclaimed being an advocate of change. The reason was that there was an inferred idealism. The inferred idealism was that the U.S. is strong and can overcome any problem. A GSofNV is idealistic and infers that the people uniting can change the world. The world needs idealism combined with pragmatism to heal its wounds.

The world needs to know what will happen next. A GSofNV recommends a movement of unity through nonviolence! Al Sadr in Iraq changed and called for no violence. King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia spoke out and called for tolerance. Now is the time to utilize these signs!

A GSofNV is a World-Wide Unity Campaign. The people of the world can agree on three major elements: The children are the commonality, nonviolence is the avenue, and no one wants war! Through these commonalities, all issues of human rights, civil rights, social justice, and the environment are addressed!

To implement a GSofNV, a special impetus is required. Women are asked to come to the forefront as representatives of nonviolence. A Call to Women is the catalyst! With women leading the way, the inference is that there must be gender equality and awareness of violence against women. The Behemoth can be neutralized by nonviolence! Women and men will proclaim their allegiance to humanity through nonviolence.

Andre Sheldon, Facilitator, GSofNV
For More Information and to Volunteer to Help - www.GSofNV.org
(Website is incomplete and being updated)

Starhawk wrote about women standing for peace as the representation of a “vision of strength.” “Real security can come only when we weave a global web of mutual aid and support. As we make larger connections and take action together, we must assert what we as women know to be true: compassion is not weakness, and brutality is not strength.”

Andre Sheldon’s prediction is when women mobilize, new women leaders will emerge to promote a partnership society, as Riane Eisler, of the Chalice and the Blade fame, and Louise Diamond, author of The Peace Book, have envisioned.