the Art of Peace Radio

Year Of Rebellion: The 1970 Isla Vista Riots

P. Le Vasseur — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:41:37 GMT

Photographer Joe Melchione recounts a turbulent period in Santa Barbara's Isla Vista through his recent photographic exhibition. www.JoeMelchionephotography.com In 1970, Isla Vista, home to the University of California's “Campus by the Sea”, witnessed an unprecedented level of political radicalism and immersion in the counterculture. Isla Vista was the last place that anyone expected this to happen. Three full-scale riots took place in Isla Vista. The unrest reached such extremes that the National Guard was called out and occupied the town. During the course of the rebellion, one student was killed by sheriffs' gunfire and the Bank of America branch was burned to the ground. These riots were initially sparked by the outrage that students felt about the University's highhandedness in denying tenure to a popular, but unconventional, professor. This was all against a backdrop of a growing recognition of the absurdity of the Vietnam War and the Nation's slow pace in providing equal rights to all of its citizens. The momentum for change spread to an otherwise apolitical and apathetic student body. Melchione portrayed the group dynamics of forces arrayed against each other. His iconic photographs of National Guardsmen pointing rifles and students flashing looks of empowerment sum up that turbulent era. “The images capture what I witnessed. I have tried to present them objectively, but I must admit that being involved in these events was more important than recording them. Nearly thirty-five years later, I am proud to say I was there and I took part and sad to say that we seem to be at it again with an increasingly senseless war in Iraq.” -- Joe Melchione

Future Guardians of Peace

P. Le Vasseur — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 06:32:11 GMT

Everyday Gandhis is proud to be working with the Liberian Government to formulate a national plan of healing. They are creating a new program-The FUTURE GUARDIANS OF PEACE. Their approach of working deeply within the framework of traditional culture is distinct from the approach of most conventional NGO’s and aid organizations and has recently attracted the interest of other communities and peacebuilding professionals. ART OF PEACE interviews the Christian Bethelson and Sawo about their work with youth affected by war. SAWO (J. Flomo Sawo), is the Liberia Program Coordinator . He comes from a family of traditional Healers. Sawo and his brother, Bazzie are deeply traditional Lorma men. Their father was Voinjama's Paramount Chief. Soon after the civil war came to Liberia, their father died, but continued to guide them through dreams, with specific instructions on when to travel, what route to take, when to lock or unlock the door, etc. Sawo received both traditional and Western education, graduating from ‘bush school’ and also earning a degree in agricultural science from Cuttington University. He taught high school until joining everyday gandhis in 2003. Sawo is currently our Program Director in Liberia. Sawo works closely with traditional healers, dreamers and elders to closely follow rigorous traditional peacemaking practices, working with dreams, divinations and, when necessary, traveling village to village and into the bush carrying messages of peace and reconciliation. He also works closely with local government and colleagues in other communities. Thanks to Sawo’s expertise and dedication, everyday gandhis’ work has earned the respect and trust of the local community and government officials alike. Christian Bethelson, is Field Supervisor for Youth Programs. Bethelson born Mohammed Fofana, is of Mandingo heritage. He spent 27 years in the Liberian National Army. As a young man, he enlisted in the military and devoted his life to it because he was in search of initiation and a way to be of service to his country, just as many young people are drawn into the military today. During that time he received anti-terrorism training in Israel, Romania and Libya, and was chosen as one of President Samuel Doe's personal body guards. When Charles Taylor took over after Doe’s death, Bethelson was imprisoned and tortured. This was part of what pushed him to become active as a LURD (rebel faction) commanding officer, where he fought under the name of General Leopard. Bethelson met Bill Saa and the egp team in September, 2005, at a time when he was contemplating leaving Liberia. Through telling his story and learning of the work of egp, Bethelson discovered his own passion for peacemaking. Bethelson continues to mentor and encourage former child soldiers and war-affected youth to become future guardians of peace. FUTURE GUARDIANS OF PEACE's purpose is assisting former child soldiers, other ex-combatants, and war-affected youth in becoming contributing members of the community and role models for future generations. Future Guardians of Peace will engage in, but not be limited to, the following activities and programs so that participants will see themselves and be recognized as leaders in safeguarding peace for the future. * trauma healing for victims and perpetrators of violence * scholarships for participants who maintain a high level of good behavior and academic achievement * training in sustainable agriculture, photography, journalism, traditional culture (music, dance, arts), ecological restoration, peacebuilding, healthy relationships and leadership * small business loans and micro-credit

EveryDay Gandhi's Healing Restoration

P. Le Vasseur — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 05:56:33 GMT

The "Art of Peace interviews Cynthia Travis and William Saa of the everyday gandhis. The question at the core of everyday gandhis® is: What is the story of how lasting peace is created? With deep gratitude, everyday gandhis® offers stories of peacebuilding in the words of those who have known war and violence. Through dreams and indigenous traditions, we honor the living, ancestors and all of Creation. May the experience of receiving these stories be as healing as the process of telling them and being heard. May they awaken and sustain the peacemaker within us all. May words and images of peace become the new reality of our time and times to come. everyday gandhis® is an educational non-profit corporation based in Santa Barbara, California, founded on the principle that human society is in dire need of new stories to live by.We know the story of violence all too well. Violence separates us from each other and the natural world and creates the illusion that our only options are fight or flight when conflicts arise. Through stories we gain access into fresh possibilities. Our current focus is in Liberia, West Africa, where, after 14 years of civil war, peace is taking root. Our American and Liberian teams collaborate with indigenous people whose traditional peacemaking customs bring divided communities together, encourage women's leadership, reunite elders and youth (including ex-combatants), and teach co-habitation with the natural world. www.everydaygandhis.org

Peace & Youth Empowerment

P. Le Vasseur — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 00:29:19 GMT

Peace and Youth Empowerment programs featured on this addition of the "Art of Peace." We cover two programs-the Youth Peace Allaince Organization and "Challenge Day," a successfull school program The Peace Alliance has an extensive network of youth organizing and lobbying for a "Department of Peace." We feature interviews of young people whom were attending the Peace Alliance's Conference in Washington D.C. Feburary 2007. www.thepeacealliance.org "Challenge Day" a program developed by Rich and Ivone Dutra St. John providing youth and their communities with experiential workshops and programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth and full expression. Challenge Day's vision is that every child lives in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated. More info-www.challengeday.org

Jazz for Peace

P. Le Vasseur — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 05:29:40 GMT

Rick della Ratta Jazz musician and founder of Jazz for Peace. An organization that put on world class Jazz events to raise money for worthy organizations. Jazz For Peace reaches out to individuals and organizations on both sides of conflicting issues, believing that if we as a species embrace qualities such as creativity, artistry, intellectuality, humanity, individuality, etc. we will all have a better chance at avoiding the behavior that leads to destruction. On September 25, 2002 Jazz pianist and vocalist Rick DellaRatta was invited to lead a band consisting of Israeli, Middle Eastern, European, Asian and American Jazz Musicians in a concert inside the United Nations for an International audience in what is now considered one of the significant cultural events of our time. Rick named this band JAZZ FOR PEACE and has since performed over 350 Benefit Concerts to raise funds, publicity and awareness for outstanding organizations in need worldwide. In addition Jazz for Peace performs educational programs bringing music and Jazz back into the schools and donates musical instruments to underprivileged children. Jazz for Peace concerts have featured Rick DellaRatta along with such notable jazz artists as Paquito D�Rivera, Victor Lewis, Lenny White, Eddie Gomez, Dave Valentin, Ray Mantilla, Rick Margitza and many others. Mr. DellaRatta�s Jazz influenced orchestral composition �Permutata� was recently recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra. "Jazz creates a positive effect that transforms & unites people; thus transcending the barriers of different cultures & beliefs." www.Jazzforpeace.org

Jeff Cohen Fighting Disinformation w/ real Intelligence

P. Le Vasseur — Thu, 22 Feb 2007 23:10:26 GMT

Jeff Cohen founder of Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (F.A.I.R.) along with former U.N. Weapsons inspector Scott Ritter are speaking around the country with a program entitled "Fighting Disinformation with REAL Intelligence.". The following interview was conducted on Feb 1, 2007 and broadcast on KCSB 91.9 Fm in Santa Barbara and streamed on KCSB.org Jeff Cohen comments on his "misadventures" in Corporate journalism when he work for Fox News and MSNBC. For more info go to: www.ustourofduty.org

Department of Peace

P. Le Vasseur — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:59:26 GMT