Center for Nonkilling, Germany

Last Updated (Saturday, 16 May 2009 11:15) Written by Anis Hamadeh Friday, 15 May 2009 12:54

With this greeting and the introduction of the website Nonkilling.de the "Center for Nonkilling, Germany (ZFNND)" begins its work. The next steps are the release party of the German book translation of "Nonkilling Global Political Science" on May 29 and soon afterwards the official founding of the center in Mainz/Germany as a nonprofit organization. If you are interested in our work you can always reach us at info at nonkilling.de. In the provisional bylaws there is the following description:

(1) The ZFNND has the purpose
- to spread the idea of nonkilling in the German speaking public as formulated by Glenn D. Paige in the book "Nonkilling Global Political Science".
- to attain new insights via research and art about why individuals and societies kill, why they don't kill, why they oscillate between the two and what the characteristics of nonkilling individuals and societies are.
- to support the goals and work of the "Center for Global Nonkilling" (www.nonkilling.org). The ZFNND is autonomous and independent.
- to bring together and to support individuals and associations whose central concern is the global reduction of the killing of humans.
- to bring to public consciousness the life and work of Petra Kelly (1947-1992) who plays a prominent role in the nonkilling book.
 
(2) The ZFNND pursues its activities by
- doing publicity work via publications on the internet and elsewhere, via translations and events.
- crosslinking individuals and groups at home and abroad.
- supporting intellectual and artistic potentials, spiritually and through cooperations.
- approaching scientists, politicians, media people and other public workers in order to advance an awareness for the nonkilling issues, in order to inform and to provide food for thought.
- researching autonomously and interdisciplinarily as well as by collecting and developing/editing the research results of others.

(3) The ZFNND adheres to the principles of the free democratic basic order of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany; it is non-party-political and non-denominational.

Its main medium will be the website that also appears in English so that an international exchange is possible. There will be quotes, analyses, and extensions of the nonkilling book that forms the basis of the whole endeavor. The main working fields will depend on the interests and skills of the individual participants.

How it All Started
As a cyber poet I have always been especially concerned about peace and nonviolent means to reach it. The book „Nonkilling Global Political Science“ I discovered shortly after its first publication in 2002 on the internet and I do not remember if it was a recommendation or how exactly I landed there. After reading the book I was impressed, wrote two reviews and made an interview with the author Professor Glenn Paige in Hawaii.

In 2008, when I heard that the German book translation was not getting on I volunteered and was able to find a prominent advocate for the book in Professor Krippendorff who contributed the introduction to the German edition. Fortunately, a publishing-house was also easy to find. In only a few days the German edition will be published. At the moment, I am working on German subtitles to the docu film „Nonkilling – For a Better World“ (40 min) by Rich Panter, with many quotes (Glenn Paige, Johan Galtung, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Mairead Maguire, M. L. King companions a.m.m.) as well as the story of  Governeur Gaviria from Colombia.

Meanwhile there is a steady exchange with some colleagues of the „Center for Global Nonkilling“ www.nonkilling.org and some kindred souls in Germany so that the introduction of a center and a web platform are plausible. 

How it Will Go On
Among the people, who so far contribute to the project "Nonkilling Germany", there are those, who need a place for their energies. Thus it can be assumed that there will be motion. Moreover, the team includes a graduate in Islamic Studies, one in Anglistics, two Palestine experts, a biologist, two artists, and a political scientist.

The American Center will always be a major concern. News from Hawaii shall continuously be translated or summarized for German readers, e.g. as one part in a monthly e-newsletter.

Anis Hamadeh