Advent 2011

I dream of a world in which mankind
Is able to live together under humane conditions,
Of a time in which no one fights again others,
Since they all look into the same direction,
Of a world in which there is enough room, and bread for everybody
Of a time in which sharing is more respectful than having,
Of a world which is not subjected to possession, exploiting, destruction,  
Of a time which gives everybody a chance,
Since there is no one envying,
Of a world in which no one is left alone in tears,
Nobody has to die in the storeroom,
Of a time in which no papers and daily news report of ill fate
As living together has more value than conflict.
I dream that God will tell me one day: I was your mother,
Your sister, your friend, your neighbour, your colleague, your closest person, and you
Helped me.
I was your God and you loved me and tried to live as I told you.
I dream of a world…
I cannot procure it …
But I can do the first step, my step. Amen.

Henny Seidemann, a Jew, born 1922

 

Human society is like a vault
Which would crash down
If the individual stones did not
Support each other.

Seneca

Dear Friends of our Shanti Family,

“Peace on Earth“: this is the message the Angels proclaimed in Bethlehem more than 2,000 years ago.
Again, the festival of Peace is coming nearer, and I was aware for a long time that our Christmas circular had to be written. But what I feel more and more is a certain hesitation and fear. I really wanted to write something positive about the situation in Nepal – but what? Reality seemed so troubled and desolate, but I do not wish to tell you something that is untrue.    

But beginning of November, I happened to glance into the FAZ where a small report was published: „Peace solution for Nepal“ - and it is my wish to share this message with you urgently as we longed for it for so long.
It is a real miracle that the government made a U-turn in its policy. The nation was staved off for so long, or it was frightened with the threat that a third civil war was imminent in order to bring about a solution to the conflict.
The big camps, where thousands of former Mao rebels were held in custody, got more and more disastrous but nobody dared think of an actual solution, or implement a sensible solution.    

The new, more moderate president of the Mao leaders, Baburam Batterei, finally gave way to reason: All weapons which had been stored in containers were to be handed over to the Government.
Former rebels can get a settlement payment enabling them to earn their living by an independent employment as civilians if they chose this option. Others will be integrated into an army unit which will be composed of 65% of soldiers and 35% former Mao rebels working side by side.

But my biggest joy is that this new unit will not serve for battle but for development work: including forest conservation, protection from industrial plants, crisis management and similarly constructive tasks.
We could even ask the unit to help us remove damage from erosion in Buddhanilkantha if we provided the material.