Non-Violence

Article on "Non-Violence" for Resurgence 245 by Jack Santa Barbara

Recognising NON-VIOLENCE as a core value could strengthen the effectiveness of non-governmental organisations.

There is strength in numbers but the essence of such strength lies not in the numbers alone, but in the common values around which many people align themselves, providing a sense of shared vision.

Might it be that many progressive movements around the world are less effective than they might otherwise be because they have not articulated a common core value that unites them?

Nonviolence might be such a core value. If nonviolence is understood in its broadest sense, both in terms of avoiding harm and enhancing the general wellbeing of all, then it could serve as a core value for a wide range of seemingly unconnected movements. This sense of nonviolence involves understanding violence in all its forms: not just the direct physical violence of war, genocide, murder and sexual abuse, but also structural and cultural violence. These forms of violence can be as deadly as direct violence, and actually account for more death and destruction than direct physical violence.