(From PEACE INITIATIVE: AN INTRODUCTION BY Darwin T. Rasul)
To address these roots of the armed conflicts, the NUC recommended the Six Paths to Peace:
The FIRST PATH is the pursuit of social, economic and political reforms aimed at addressing the root causes armed conflicts and social unrest. This may require administrative action, new legislation, or even constitutional amendments.
The SECOND PATH is consensus – building and empowerment for peace. This component includes continuing consultations on both national and local levels to build consensus on the peace and reform agenda, and the mobilization and facilitation of people’s participation in the peace process.
The THIRD PATH is the pursuit of peaceful, negotiated settlement with the different rebel groups. This involves the vigorous efforts toward the completion of exploratory talks, the holding of formal peace negotiations, and the achievement of a final negotiated peace settlement with each of the rebel groups.
The FOURTH PATH is the implementation of programs for reconciliation, reintegration to mainstream society, and rehabilitation. These include amnesty and other measures to respond to concerns for legal status and security and community – based assistance programs to address the economic, social and psychological rehabilitation needs of former rebels, demobilized combatants, and civilian victims of the internal armed conflicts.
The FIFTH PATH seeks to ensure the welfare and protection of civilians, and to reduce the impact of the armed conflicts on them, reorganizing the possibility of continuing hostilities even as peace is pursued by the ways of peace. These include the strict implementation of laws and policy guidelines for the protection of human rights, limited suspension of offensive military operations where possible, intensified delivery of basic services to conflict areas, and recognition of Peace Zones as agreed by concerned sectors of the community.
The SIXTH AND FINAL PATH seeks to build, nurture and enhance a positive climate for peace. These include continued confidence – building measures between government and the rebel groups, and peace advocacy and education within the rest of society.
These six paths to peace are complementary and mutually reinforcing and must be pursued simultaneously in order to achieve a just, comprehensive and lasting peace.
Friday, August 22, 2008
A CALL FOR PEACE...
Why we keep on asking for peace to happen? The question of peace is unavoidable. It needs process and people who will make that process turn into actions. The fight for peace is a just fight. We can prove that its realization will not after all be as difficult, for in the end, when there shall be peace it is only our suffering that we shall lose. But with what is currently happening in the present day is already showing signs of turning our small hope of achieving peace from bad to worse.
The all-out war against the MILF has been brought into quick focus what has often been called the “Mindanao Problem”. These refer to the demand by the MORO people for a separate state. However, it has to do with the lack of socio-economic development in the Muslim-dominated provinces that has kept the MORO people in a continuous state of poverty.
Peace talks between government and the MILF rebels’ raises the hope of attaining peace. But the recent warfare between the two groups tells us that the call for peace cannot be easily acquired by simply talking and negotiating. That is why MILF is rushing us to make harsh choice between their version of war and their version of peace (from the Philippine star).
Darwin T. Rasul, the author of Peace Initiatives believes that peace shall soon be in the offing because we have not wavered in this faith.
It is possible to have peace if both parties can unite on one common good. That is for bringing the development of economic problem that would extirpate poverty in the region. War is not the way to peace and a brilliant man will find a way not to fight a war. We can make a difference not just a citizen in this country but for the good it brings. It is possible and always possible to attain peace.
Do we live in a physical world that we can touch or do we live in a world we create in our mind. Why can’t we attain peace? Is it really that tricky and dangerous before we can achieve it? Is war always the solution? Does praying can help? We always prayed for it. Is it still not enough? Yes, we still need a bridge; we need it for us to be able to get peace. How? Let it be our stepping stone. It’s always easy.
We want peace. We all wanted to sleep serenely at night without worrying anything. We always wanted it. Let us initiate peace. Let there be peace and let it be anywhere in the world.
The all-out war against the MILF has been brought into quick focus what has often been called the “Mindanao Problem”. These refer to the demand by the MORO people for a separate state. However, it has to do with the lack of socio-economic development in the Muslim-dominated provinces that has kept the MORO people in a continuous state of poverty.
Peace talks between government and the MILF rebels’ raises the hope of attaining peace. But the recent warfare between the two groups tells us that the call for peace cannot be easily acquired by simply talking and negotiating. That is why MILF is rushing us to make harsh choice between their version of war and their version of peace (from the Philippine star).
Darwin T. Rasul, the author of Peace Initiatives believes that peace shall soon be in the offing because we have not wavered in this faith.
It is possible to have peace if both parties can unite on one common good. That is for bringing the development of economic problem that would extirpate poverty in the region. War is not the way to peace and a brilliant man will find a way not to fight a war. We can make a difference not just a citizen in this country but for the good it brings. It is possible and always possible to attain peace.
Do we live in a physical world that we can touch or do we live in a world we create in our mind. Why can’t we attain peace? Is it really that tricky and dangerous before we can achieve it? Is war always the solution? Does praying can help? We always prayed for it. Is it still not enough? Yes, we still need a bridge; we need it for us to be able to get peace. How? Let it be our stepping stone. It’s always easy.
We want peace. We all wanted to sleep serenely at night without worrying anything. We always wanted it. Let us initiate peace. Let there be peace and let it be anywhere in the world.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
I can contribute..
Slow internet connection is one of the major problems in our school. The university is creating ways to solve this crisis. But it still exists. Improving internet connectivity specifically on our University (USEP) is such a big responsibility. For all we know, our school can’t meet the expense of having these high technologies.
But, if the university will hired me as their IT consultant, I would suggest solutions that can help in improving internet connectivity by not spending a lot of money. Downloading can cause the delay of connection. To address these dilemma and as the newly hired IT consultant in my university, limiting the sites to be viewed by the students can be a big part in achieving fast internet connection. Few won’t agree to this kind of plan because it will lessen the students’ freedom in using the internet which they paid for but it’s worth the sacrifice if we will do such things.
Computers with viruses are prone to damaged and affects internet connection because it lessens the computer performance. Thus, updating and downloading anti viruses in each unit will reduce threats of damage. Other than these solutions, proper computer maintenance (in and out) is needed.
If given a large amount of money. I will suggest buying new sets of computers with high memory so that the students will be able to browse the internet faster and worry free. These solutions will not be possible unless the university will pay the price for the benefit of the plan and by making an effort towards finding an easier way to improve internet connectivity.
But, if the university will hired me as their IT consultant, I would suggest solutions that can help in improving internet connectivity by not spending a lot of money. Downloading can cause the delay of connection. To address these dilemma and as the newly hired IT consultant in my university, limiting the sites to be viewed by the students can be a big part in achieving fast internet connection. Few won’t agree to this kind of plan because it will lessen the students’ freedom in using the internet which they paid for but it’s worth the sacrifice if we will do such things.
Computers with viruses are prone to damaged and affects internet connection because it lessens the computer performance. Thus, updating and downloading anti viruses in each unit will reduce threats of damage. Other than these solutions, proper computer maintenance (in and out) is needed.
If given a large amount of money. I will suggest buying new sets of computers with high memory so that the students will be able to browse the internet faster and worry free. These solutions will not be possible unless the university will pay the price for the benefit of the plan and by making an effort towards finding an easier way to improve internet connectivity.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
State of the NAtion Address
One of the highlights in President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo 58-minute State of the Nation Address (SONA) last July 28, 2008 is about the text rate cost of messages between networks cut down to 50 centavos. She stated that “Texting is a way of life. I asked the telecommunications companies to cut the cost of messages between networks. They responded. It is now down to 50 centavos.” But the National Telecommunications Commissions confirmed the text rate cut between networks that it was just good for three months. I think that it was half good but not totally better because it is not for a lifetime. Hehehe.. Cutting down its cost is one of the great things our president has ever done. At least, she sited a possible and visible way to increase our way of living.
She also talk about the 350 million training partnership with the private sector to qualify 60,000 for call centers, medical transcription, animation and software development, which have a projected demand of one million workers generating $13 billion by 2010. Many years ago, the demands of nurses inside and outside the country are far above the ground. But due to the advancement of technology, the demand of IT is also on its way up. As for me, by being one of those students who study IT, it is a great relief that President Arroyo clearly sited that she will give emphasis on the demand of such courses. It seems that I have already a vision of what will be the possible outcome of the said project for those students who are studying computer related courses.
In her speech, she states that she will not let no one’s political plans threaten nation’s survival. “As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people’s wellbeing.
Our country and our people have never failed to be there for us. We must be there for them now.” Sometimes, we think that SONA are just promises which are meant to fail. Filipinos are known for being Christians. As a citizen in our country, it is our responsibility to do our part and follow whatever plans our national government has in store for us. Sometimes, we just pray and ask God for help in making our country abhorrence free and peace. Our prayers are sometimes full of wishes asking God to help us in solving problems in life and in our country. But why not we solve this by our own and not ask God? God is just our strength. We are the one who provide a vision for how our nation should be in the future. Our president cannot do it all by herself. Let’s act now, as a group.
She also talk about the 350 million training partnership with the private sector to qualify 60,000 for call centers, medical transcription, animation and software development, which have a projected demand of one million workers generating $13 billion by 2010. Many years ago, the demands of nurses inside and outside the country are far above the ground. But due to the advancement of technology, the demand of IT is also on its way up. As for me, by being one of those students who study IT, it is a great relief that President Arroyo clearly sited that she will give emphasis on the demand of such courses. It seems that I have already a vision of what will be the possible outcome of the said project for those students who are studying computer related courses.
In her speech, she states that she will not let no one’s political plans threaten nation’s survival. “As your President, I care too much about this nation to let anyone stand in the way of our people’s wellbeing.
Our country and our people have never failed to be there for us. We must be there for them now.” Sometimes, we think that SONA are just promises which are meant to fail. Filipinos are known for being Christians. As a citizen in our country, it is our responsibility to do our part and follow whatever plans our national government has in store for us. Sometimes, we just pray and ask God for help in making our country abhorrence free and peace. Our prayers are sometimes full of wishes asking God to help us in solving problems in life and in our country. But why not we solve this by our own and not ask God? God is just our strength. We are the one who provide a vision for how our nation should be in the future. Our president cannot do it all by herself. Let’s act now, as a group.
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