Nobel Women's Initiative

Speech to Islamic Community and friends,
Chicago 5th April, 2006.

Dear Friends, Salaam Alikum,

I am very happy to be here with you and would take this opportunity to thank
Abul Malik Mujahid, Dr. Irfan Ahmad Khan, and co-workers for their kind
invitation to speak to you all.

I am pleased to be here in the United States.   I have been coming here for over
30 years and in that time have made many friends, some of whom
I see in the audience this evening.  I want to thank all of those people here
and throughout the USA who have walked in solidarity with the people of
Northern Ireland, as we worked to solve our problems through the ways of dialogue
and Nonviolence.   I want to share with you with our joy  that we have now
Peace in Northern Ireland.   This is a good news story and proof that even
in situations of seemingly intractable violence, peace is possible.

I hope that by sharing some of the lessons learned from the longstanding
deep ethic/political conflict in Northern Ireland, we can give hope to  people, in other parts of our world,  trapped in murderous cycles of fear and violence.

Since 9-11 fear has gripped not only America, but increased around the world.  The people of the world were shocked by the shameful and horrific events of 9-11 and their sympathy was with the American people.  However, the response by the American Government with its ‘war on terror’ and the continuation of its policy of Hegemony and world domination, increased the fear and alienation of millions of people, especially the Muslim communities, both in USA and in other countries.  The scapegoating and demonization of the Muslim community, by the US Government and the corporate media, fed the disease of racism and increased Islamophobia.  The USA Patriot Act, passed the day it was introduced, established guilt by association, indefinite detention without a hearing, secret evidence and secret hearings.  The tactics of the United states Government of feeding fear resulted in public policy and public opinion both becoming increasingly zenophobic, with disregard towards the American constitution, rule of law, civil rights and nations human values.  I believe it is important for the US Government to recognize that Islamophobia is a growing phonemena and to take actions to confront this problem.

It is important also for us all to try to understand the root causes of violence and
the real threats to human security and begin to address them together.

Some Western Governments, led by USA, have defined (wrongly I believe)
Terrorism, as the greatest threat to world security.   In their misguided attempts
to deal with this they are carrying out a ‘war on terrorism’ taking the form of
War, invasions, occupations, and abuse of civil liberties both at home and 
abroad.  The resulting human rights violations being committed by Governments
Under the guise of security issues have increased terrorism, set back the course of
International laws and human rights, and created not a safer but a more dangerous world.

I am aware that Muslim communities here in the United states of America, and around the world  in Muslim Countries, feel less secure and under threat by their own Governments, as the ‘war on terrorism’ has been against Arab countries with predominately Muslim citizens.  Many other USA and  world citizens feel afraid and disfranchised, as some Governments continue with their violent aggressive policies, to ignore the peoples’ demand for policy changes.   In some Western countries, democracy itself is in danger, as Political leaders ignore the ballot box and their Peoples’ wish for new Politics and Policies which are ethical and fair for everyone and not just an ‘elite’ few.

Current Governments’ analysis of National and International Security and the real
Threats to it, when based on the ‘old’ thinking of Defence against alleged outside enemies, is only producing ‘cold war’ policies which are counter-productive and
do not identify or tackle the real causes of insecurity.  Harsh internal counter-terrorism measures and military action against insurgency groups result in increased 
Level of threats from home-grown insurgents in response to State injustice and Western foreign policies in relation to the Middle East.  However, terrorism though
horrific and unacceptable is not the main threat to International Security.  All Worlds
Governments (particularly the USA) need to have a broader and more in-depth analysis of the Real Threats to Security, and implement not quick fixes (or quick
Media sound bites) but more sustainable approached to human security.

The Threats include (amongst others):
Climate Change/Competition over resources/Marginalization of the majority of the world/Global Militarization / Increasing violence and ethnic/political conflicts.
Climate Change.  Many scientists agree that Global warming leading to climate change is being caused by human activity and the use of fossil fuels, destruction of forests, etc. Governments and people must change policies and lifestyles by replacing carbon based energy sources with local renewable sources of energy generation.

Competition over resources.   We are well aware of one example regarding competition over resources, that of the invasion and occupation of Iraq by USA/UK
which as we all know was about power and oil.  This illegal and immoral war and occupation should end immediately and the USA/UK apologise to the Iraqi people
and put in place funds to rebuild Iraq.   So too the insurgency groups can use the means of Nonviolence and put up their arms and come together in dialogue to solve the  problems of their country whose people are suffering so much.

Regarding Iran.   The American Administration should learn the lessons from Iraq,
That threats of violence, or military attacks do not solve any problems.   The USA
Administration should enter into dialogue with the Iranian Government over the nuclear issue and the USA must uphold their own obligations under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and lead by example to rid the world of all nuclear weapons.  Israel has an important role to plan also in opening dialogue with Iran, and would give hope to the world by leading the movement towards a Nuclear weapons Free Middle East.

Marginalization of the Majority of the world.   We need urgently to put in place a
Global ethical economic system, as the current system is creating a situation where the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.  Government policies need to be value based and people rather than profit centred.  Governments should meet their GNP commitments, and promises of cancellation of Debt, and setting up of trade system which are fair and inclusive of all sections and countries.  We also need to develop political systems which are all inclusive and power sharing and genuinely reflect the plurality of our increasing multiethnic, multicultural societies.  We cannot progress towards a non-violent world, if we do not first address the gross injustice of poverty and marginalization of the majority of the worlds’ peoples.

Terrorism:
I believe all inclusive dialogue with all parties to the conflict, including insurgency leaders, is the only way in which to genuinely address many of the world’s ongoing conflicts.  Governments need to address grievances of groups and work for a win/win solution to the problems.   They also need to uphold International Law and Human Rights of their citizens.   Insurgency groups must be challenged to use only non-violent methods, and civil society plays an important role in dialogue with armed groups, and helping bring them into political dialogue and ceasefires.   We are increasingly learning about non-violent conflict transformation, and how to put in progress the steps of non-violent, dialogue, and disarmament, as means for fruitful compromises, negotiations, and trust building.

Violence and Ethnic/Political conflicts:   One of our greatest challenges as the human family is to transform our violent cultures into nonkilling, non-violent cultures wherever we  live.  This journey from violence to nonviolence will be long and difficult, but human beings mimic each other, and as increasingly more people reject violence and use the alternatives available, other will follow their example, and change will happen.   Already many people are asking, “Is it possible to build nonkilling societies?   I believe the answer is yes!  However, where violence is endemic, it is easy to be apathetic.  Also particularly in our current world political situation, faced as we are, with an ethical and moral crisis, brought about by many Governments’, abuse of their power, civil society can often feel disempowered and hopeless.  But we should never give up hope.  If we continue in a negative frame of mind, to accept violence, it will seriously threaten our quality of life and our security.  All violence, ranging from torture, bullying, to militarism and war, destroys our human dignity and life.  All violence, state and non state, is a form of injustice, which demeans us all.  Citizens everywhere must have the courage to delegitimize violence wherever it comes from.

Killings by Governments, and nongovernmental armed groups, and threats to kill, underlie all other threats to the survival of humanity, damaging peoples’ physical, psychological, economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing.  If we are to reverse this downward spiral of violence we need to uphold the Principal that, everyone has the right not to be tortured, or killed, and the responsibility not to torture kill or support the killing of others.   These are basic human rights enshrined in national and international laws and we all must stand firm on the upholding of these Rights by our Governments and by ‘armed revolutionaries’ or ‘armed insurgency groups’.

The good news is that we are not born violent, most humans never kill and the World Health Organization says human violence is a preventable disease.  So happily we can be cured!  Prevention starts in our own minds, with us choosing to reject fear, negativity, changing to a positive, disarmed mindset, cultivating love of ourselves and others, and choosing to forgive and  not to kill.   Prevention also starts in our own conscience where we know what is right and refuse to be morally blinded in our mind and heart by Nationalism, tribalism, racism, and militarism.  To move beyond these to a larger identity linked to the wider human family and the environment is part of the non-violent journey.

Nowadays we hear a lot of talk about security, the greatest military power on earth, the United States of America, decided that the way to achieve its security and power interests was through a policy of war, of shock and awe, invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.  These illegal and immoral wars have caused the unnecessary  deaths of many Afghans, around one million Iraqis, and  4,000 USA soldiers,   The American Governments foreign policies  have done more to fuel the fires of hatred, anger, fear and mistrust, and made the world a more insecure place for us all.  Time now for an end of occupations and for the Allied forces to say sorry and make retribution for what they have done to the Afghan and Iraqi people. 

Time also for the American Government to help both Israeli/Palestinians equally and fairly to reach compromise and consensus together.   Israel can help bring peace to the middle east, by ending the 40 year occupation of Palestine, the Siege of Gaza, and the apartheid policies towards the Palestinian people and entering into serious dialogue with Hamas, and all parties to the conflict.  In the same spirit the Palestinians should release Israeli Corporal Gilad Shalit  cease firing of Qassam rockets, and continue with the non-violent campaigns which are spreading throughout many
Palestinian villages.  As with the conflict in Northern Ireland, the Israeli/Palestinian
conflict will not be solved through militarism and paramilitarism, but only dialogue
and negotiations.  How long must both people suffer before their Political Leaders
do their job and make peace? So the Israeli/Palestinians can become their own best friends.

The Qur’an says‘God does not change the state of a people until they change it themselves’.  God wants each of us to work not only for personal  inner freedom and transformation, but to work for everyone’s else freedom and transformation, including our Governments’ and world.  We can join in solidarity recognizing the deep interconnectness of everyone and everything, and we can open ourselves to the depths of other faiths, even as we are firmly rooted in our own.  Genuine dialogue between us and our religion faiths must be between equals and share an understanding that transcends dominance.  As we work together,  on critical issues facing the planet, including children and womens’ dignity and human rights,  this will generate a more universal vision.   Finally, I want to share with you the good news that last year the Nobel Peace Laureates launched a Charter for a World without violence.  The Charter whose spirit is summed up in Principle 13  invites us all ‘to work together towards a just, killing free world in which everyone has the right not to be killed and responsibility not to kill others’.  I am honoured to be here with you as we join in solidarity to work for transformation, equality, freedom and unity.

Peace, Salaam,Shalom,
Mairead Corrigan Maguire

www.peacepeople.com www.nobelforpeace-summits.org