A Preview to the Point of Peace Summit

In anticipation of the upcoming Point of Peace Summit we asked some of the delegates questions on topics of their expertise.

Climate Change

Rajendra K. Pachauri is the co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace prize as the chairman of the IPCC. He is also the director-general for The Energy and Resources Institute, which conducts research and provides professional support in the areas of energy, environment, forestry, biotechnology and the conservation of natural resources.

What are the critical steps needed to deal with Climate Change in the

near future?

I think the most critical steps required to deal with climate change in the near future would be to create large-scale awareness on the scientific realities of this problem. The message that the public and the leadership in every country must accept is that while we have to adapt to the impacts of climate change, we need urgent mitigation measures to ensure that impacts in the future do not reach a level that are beyond the capacity of human society and the eco-systems of this planet to bear. To promote adequate mitigation measures human beings would have to change their lifestyles in a way that is sensitive to the environmental impacts of human actions, but at the same time we would also need several technological solutions. These would evolve only through appropriate policy measures, prominent among which would be to place a price on carbon. It is only then that market based solutions will evolve. Regulation and fiscal measures to promote technology development would also be important.

What are the main obstacles we face in dealing with climate change?

The main obstacles in dealing with climate change are in the nature of inertia across the whole system, including inertia in thinking. Given the fact that human civilization in the last 150 years or so has pursued a path of growth and development that is only concerned with greater production and consumption without regard to the impacts on the environment, this trend has become a major obstacle to change. Unfortunately, change also threatens those who are deriving large rents from the current system, and these entities and organizations use their strengths to stall action in the right direction.

What are some of the upcoming goals of the IPCC?

The IPCC is now working on a special report on renewable energy, and may take in hand some other special reports as well. Meanwhile, the Panel has decided to work on the Fifth Assessment Report, which would be completed in 2014.

Security

Ime Akpan John is the Co-President of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, the 1985 Nobel Laureate organization. Akpan is also a physician and consultant in public health, specifically in areas of epidemiology, violence and injury prevention. He is experienced in safety promotion, conflict resolution and disarmament especially in Small arms and light weapons.

Is it more important that security move from a model of dominance to 
a model of cooperation now compared to other points in history? If so, why?

Yes, cooperation is needed in this current global dispensation rather than unilateralism. Dominance in order to protect national interest cannot be possible in isolation. E.g, Fighting terrorism may never be successful without cooperation of other stake-holders.

What are the critical steps needed to change our security paradigm to one of cooperation?

Nobody (country) can pursue security in isolation for the reasons given in number 1 and hope to win.


How do nuclear weapons shape our security paradigm?

Nuclear weapons are the greatest threat to human security and existence. Being used as a weapons of deterrence should NEVER be accepted by the civil society. We must be reminded that no medical resources including manpower can be enough to treat and manage any nuclear holocaust. Rather, committed steps are urgently needed for prevention of the use of nuclear weapons. Therefore, building a global support for nuclear non-proliferation through the NPT and the nuclear non-proliferation convention advocated by several like minds including IPPNW through our International campaign against nuclear weapons (ICAN) is the ultimate panacea for a more peaceful world.

The Media

Jake Lynch is an Associate Professor at The University of Sydney and has spent the past decade developing, campaigning for, and practicing Peace Journalism as an experienced international reporter in television and newspapers. Lynch has published many scholarly works on peace journalism and has been in the forefront of efforts to establish Peace Journalism as a new field of study in both Peace and Conflict Studies and Journalism and Communication. He is a founding member of the Peace Journalism commission of the International Peace Research Association.

What potential does the media have to transform conflict when it arises?

Media play an important role in conflict, either in spreading understanding

of others' point of view, or, too often, joining in the one-sided

representation of conflict issues and fuelling calls for revenge or

'pre-emptive' violence. This was as true in Rwanda, in the run-up to the

genocide of 1994, as in the United States and some allied countries, in the

run-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

What needs to change in the media to make it a more constructive

factor in peacemaking?

Media need to pay more attention to backgrounds and contexts, so as to show

us more clearly what needs to be fixed, in order to address underlying

causes of conflict. And they need to pick up the myriad peace initiatives,

that are always present in a conflict, albeit often isolated and at a low

level, and retail them into the public sphere, the better to promote

dialogue. They need to give us vantage points from which to inspect war

propaganda 'on the outside' and juxtapose 'official' claims and definitions

with clearly articulated alternatives.

What barriers exist that prevent this change?

There is more journalism like this - peace journalism - these days, and

there could be more. One contribution to that would be to support the

growing cross-fertilisation between research on these topics, and

professional practice around the world. That would help to break down

barriers of convention and unarticulated resistance to change.

Aye Chan Naing is one of the founders of the Democratic Voice of Burma radio and TV station, based in Norway.

How can the media be a constructive force for peace and democracy?

Media could play major constructive force for peace and democracy by presenting both side of the stories or presenting the issues in fair and objective way as well as with the aim of finding the solution rather than just jumping on only exclusive stories.

Can you provide any examples?

In Burma's ethnic conflict, 20 years ago, major ethnic groups in Burma did not trust the Burmen and neither did the Burmen ethnic minority groups. It was partly because of manipulation by government media for so long and partly because of gross human rights violation committed by the Burmese army against the ethnic groups. But when the independent media such us DVB came out, we could have even flame the conflict but by giving voice to both sides of the conflict, the mistrust and anger have gone down. Now, people in central Burma have much sympathy to ethnic groups and understood that this issue is as important as getting democracy in Burma.

What obstacles does the media face in being a constructive force?

At the beginning of the process, the media will likely be angered by both sides as you are giving voice to both sides of the conflict. Second, it is difficult to balance between the role you play as media and the role you play in finding a peaceful solution.