[gha] Re: Syria reconciliation proposal - Where is your mind? God has taken away the mind of modern peacemakers, as seen.
- From: Leo Semashko <leo.semashko@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Wadlowz@xxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 9 Sep 2013 15:56:45 +0400
Rene,
Your suggestion - this is that case, when good intentions lead to hell.
Do you want to add a number of innocent victims in Syria, which will be
decapitated or shot, it does not matter which side? Your suggestion with the
planting trees in the area of military operations - this is madness.
We do not see your desire to go to Syria and the first plant at least 10 trees,
as an example to others. You have not thought about it, about its organization
and security, and most importantly - on its meaning. You can plant a million
trees, but if in the minds of people on both sides the ignorance in peace and
one militaristic rage reigns, your trees will be powerless!
You demonstrate degeneration of peacekeeping thinking when you deny the Science
of Global Peace, but are calling people for a mad anarchist action,
irresponsible to the fullest.
Do you take on yourself the responsibility for the death of people who will
plant trees under the bombs? Where is your mind? God has taken away the mind of
modern peacemakers, as seen.
Dr Leo Semashko
GHA President
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----- Original Message -----
From: Wadlowz@xxxxxxx, Wadlowz@xxxxxxx
To: leo.semashko@xxxxxxxxx
Sent: 9 сентября 2013 г., 12:05:20
Subject: Syria reconciliation proposal
Dear Colleague,
The recent use of chemical weapons in Syria (by whatever faction -
government or armed opposition) has increased tensions within Syria and its
wider region. There are real possibilities of an escalation of armed conflict
unless creative steps for conflict resolution are taken both by governments and
civil society as structured in Non-governmental organizations.
There is a short -term effort - these next few days - needed to guide the
US Congress to refuse support of US missile strikes on Syria which are likely
to cause deaths without advancing measures toward a political compromise within
Syria. There is also a need to lower tensions and create stability on a
regional basis.
There is a crucial, if somewhat longer-range need for efforts of
reconciliation among the people and communities within Syria. World Citizens
have called for good-faith negotiations among all parties from the start of the
demonstrations in 2011 which had begun in a spirit of nonviolence. Neither the
government nor the oppositions were willing to set an agenda or a timetable for
such good-faith negotiations. The government held out vague promises for reform
but without details and without open discussions among those concerned. As the
fighting has escalated, the possibility of good-faith negotiations has
increasingly faded, despite offers by the UN mediators to facilitate such
negotiations.
Discussions of specific issues on specific reforms or setting an overall
agenda seem impossible for the moment. When discussion through words is not
possible, peace efforts must turn to non-verbal, symbolic mean carried out as
rituals by persons devoted to such symbols.
Therefore, I am pleased to send for your consideration the possibility of
creating reconciliation teams of Syrians and concerned world citizens. The
difficulties to make such teams operational are many and evident, but the time
for creative action may be short. We need to analyse the possibilities now,
and therefore your views are most welcome.
Rene Wadlow
Syria : Not Missiles but Trees : Alternatives to Violence
Rene Wadlow*
There is a need to manifest the proper response to the use of chemical
weapons in Syria (by whatever faction: government or armed oppositions) that
would symbolize both the need to respect one of the few nearly
universally-recognized restraints in war — the 1925 Geneva Protocol — and at
the same time would be a symbol of the need for reconciliation among the people
in Syria currently in armed conflict.
Firing Tomahawk cruise missiles from far out at sea is not an
appropriate response, neither as a symbol — a tomahawk being a weapon for
killing — nor as a political message pointing to the need for reconciliation
among Syrians, the need for regional cooperation, and the need to respect
human rights in time of war.
There is wide agreement that limited US and French or other missile
strikes will not lead to regional cooperation but rather will increase
tensions. Nor would limited missile strikes lead to negotiations among Syrians
to develop a more broadly-based administration to reflect better the
multi-cultural dimension of Syrian society. While some of the armed opposition
groups hope to be able to advance their interests in the confusion which would
follow missile strikes on military targets, there is little likelihood of
permanent advances, much less “regime change”.
If not missiles, what is an appropriate response, either from
governments or civil society as structured by Non-governmental Organizations
(NGO)?
I suggest that there be a cooperative effort led by Syrians but in
cooperation with people from other countries to plant trees in as many villages
and neighbourhoods of cities as possible. Tree planting would be done with
appropriate and creative rituals and mythic language symbolizing
reconciliation, cooperation, and a desire to live together in peace. Mythic
language refers to symbols, imagery, allegory and metaphor used to convey
meaning and the deeper aspects of reality, renewal, transition and new
beginnings.
The tree is an oft-used symbol of the required growth of a person:
roots going deep, branches and leaves reaching toward the sky. Trees have long
been part of humanity’s daily life as well as an important part of its myths
and symbols. In Scandinavian mythology; the Great World Tree, Yggdrasil is the
tree of existence, the tree of life and knowledge. Care of the tree is
entrusted to three maidens, named Urdhr (Past), Vervandi (Present), and Skuld
(Future). From this tree springs forth our visible universe. On the topmost
branches of this tree of life sits an eagle, who symbolizes light and whose
keen eyes see all things taking place in the world. The tree is the cosmic
pillar that supports heaven. Its branches are a ladder so that humans can
climb, through initiations, to higher consciousness. The loss of the leaves of
a tree in Winter and their renewal in Spring has served as the symbol of death
and regeneration. In this situation of the use of chemical weapons, the leaves
of the tree also take impurity out of the air — symbolically absorbing poison
gas. Nature is coming to the rescue of the folly of men.
Thus the tree is an appropriate symbol for living in harmony with
Nature and among humans. Our natural senses are designed to bring our lives
into harmony, fulfilment and community with the world. This re-connecting with
Nature can produce joy, regeneration and community bonding — so necessary after
periods of division and conflicts.
We must not underestimate the difficulties of assembling teams of
ritual tree planters, of creating cease-fires so that the ritual can be carried
out with as wide a representation of local populations as possible, and on
building communal accord after the rituals. However, in a world in which
governments can move war ships and planes to the area, it should also be
possible to organize alternatives to more violence. Within Syria, both
government and oppositions are moving to safer positions and preparing in the
event of missile attacks. Thus it should also be possible to plan for
ceremonies of reconciliation.
As Syria is a land of old cultural roots, there are no doubt sites
considered as important or sacred, power points with special energy flows. One
could start with such sites and then widen the circle.
This proposal is now being sent to representatives of the Syrian
government and to some opposition groups with which we have contacts.
However, I believe that it is up to NGOs and spiritual centers to take the
lead. Thus your cooperation is most welcome.
Rene Wadlow, President, Association of World Citizens
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