Nonkilling main theme of 10th International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action

The 10th edition of the International Conference on Peace and Nonviolent Action organized by Anuvrat Vishva Bharati (ANUVIBHA) will be held on December 17-20, 2019 in New Delhi, India under the theme “Educating and Training Children in Nonviolence and Nonkilling”.

For the first time, the Center for Global Nonkilling will be the academic co-organizer of the event, represented by its Chair Prof. Anoop Swarup. The conference will include the special panels “Are Nonkilling Societies Possible?” and “The Concept of Nonkilling as Visualized by Late Prof. Glenn D. Paige” as well as a thematic track on “The De-militarization of Global Youth for a Nonkilling Global Future”.

ANUVIBHA and CGNK invite scholars and activists to join the conference by submitting their presentation proposals (150 words) by September 30. Registration closes on November 30 with a token amount of 50 USD that includes free local hospitality. Abstracts and queries may be addressed to the Dr Sohan Lal Gandhi, Convener of the 10th ICPNA and International President, ANUVIBHA, at slgandhi@hotmail.com A full brochure can be also downloaded here: 10th ICPNA Conference Brochure (595 downloads ) .

Plenary Session 1. Nonviolence and Nonkilling: Concept, Meaning and their Many Facets

The word ‘nonkilling’ was used by late Prof. Glenn D. Paige of the University of Hawaii who opined that “it seeks to direct attention beyond ‘peace’ and even nonviolence to focus sharply upon the taking of human life. Concentration upon liberation from killing as a source and sustainer of other forms of violence could be a significant step forward.” The speakers are expected to dwell upon the many facets of nonviolence and nonkilling and share their own perceptions.

Plenary Session 6. The De-militarization of Global Youth for a Nonkilling Global Future

There is a crisis underway globally, as the militarization of youth is continuing in many countries– child soldiers are being recruited to guerrilla armies worldwide because they are expendable and can fire weapons like adults; schools continue with their recruitment and cadet programmes and in many countries the military have open access to schools to draw in young people into the military machine as if this is “normal”; many young people accept militarization as if it is natural and yet we must ask if we are really programmed to be killing machines? Children are taught to be competitive and even violent in schools by continual testing and regimented learning, by the examination systems and by competitive and sometime violent sports programmes. Education is in many ways modeled on a military methodology – accepting what a teacher says and not questioning it. If we are to truly demilitarize our youth, all this needs questioning and reforming.

Special Panel: “Are Nonkilling Societies Possible ?”

The world today is full of unrest. A third of human population on this earth go to bed with excruciating pangs of hunger. The gulf between the rich and the poor is widening. Human greed is bludgeoning. It has resulted in unprecedented environmental and ecological degradation. Murders and rapes are galore. Ordinary people feel increasingly insecure. People do not hesitate to kill one another on trivial matters. Killing is becoming a culture. The stream of compassion has dried. In such a situation, ‘Are Nonkilling Societies Possible?’. Late Prof. Glenn D. Paige said that a global nonkilling socio-political order is possible. The panelists will discuss this possibility.