Nonkilling Arts

Nonkilling Arts Newsletter

The first NKARC letter was published time ago, in April 2012. Since then until 2017 (a period we now call our Volume 1), over 60 epistles have come your way, pulling together your contributions and suggestions. It has been gratifying to see growth of our group from 25 to over 150 (including friends) and increase in the coverage of nonkilling arts topics from fiction to festivals, music, visual arts, humour etc.

The topics we began with were on a specific arts category such as fiction, drama, non-fiction, poetry, visual arts, music etc. exploring the nonkilling thematic in each of these fields. In that process one was trying to work on both exploring and evolving some meaningful definition of nonkilling arts. Unlike many other civil society newsletters that are focussed on contemporary peace and justice issues, in this letter we throw light on the content, new and old, not just limited to lament but about works of art that speak about potential hope and optimism. As Glenn Paige in his email synthesised such focus, “Nonkilling art explores the spirit and practice of how to prevent, respond to, and to improve individual, social, and global well-being beyond killing.” Further a sharp insight was added underscoring, “Nonkilling Culture crosses all the lines.” Crossing of all lines in a Nonkilling Culture is about a culture which goes beyond nations, nationalities, gender, religion etc, raising us from tribalism to opening our hearts and minds in their broadest sense…

From January 2018 on we started a new format, for the Vol. 2, 3, etc. of our electronic newsletter. Will you join us?

Subscribe to NKARC Letter


(R) Indicates a major removal of non respondents.

NKARC Letter Archive (Vol. 6, 2022)

NKARC Letter Archive (Vol. 5, 2021)

NKARC Letter Archive (Vol. 4, 2020)

NKARC Letter Archive (Vol. 3, 2019)

NKARC Letter Archive (Vol. 2, 2018)

NKARC Letter Archive (Vol. 1, 2012-2017)

Books

Quest for Gandhi: A Nonkilling Journey
by Balwant Bhaneja

Quest for Gandhi: A Nonkilling Journey

Summary: At the southern tip of India, the small inlet of Kanyakumari brushes with the waters of Indian Ocean while Dehradun, capital of India’s new state of Uttranchal in the North juts with the mountainous ranges of Himalayas. The book, a deep desire to understand the meaning and relevance of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi’s inclusive message of nonviolent political action in early 21st Century, is from Balwant Bhaneja’s, a retired Canadian diplomat, travel journal about meetings in the spring of 2006 with individuals, young and old, across India who in their unique ways have been impacted by Gandhi’s life and have chosen to follow the nonviolent path for social justice and a nonkilling peace. While on the way to visit them, the journey also becomes a pilgrimage to some of the places, where Mahatma Gandhi stayed during the struggle for India’s Independence from the British Rule.

Download «Quest for Gandhi: A Nonkilling Journey» [324.29 KB] .

Order hardcopies from Lulu Marketplace.

Nurturing Nonkilling. A Poetic Plantation
by Francisco Gomes de Matos

Nurturing Nonkilling. A Poetic Plantation

Summary: These poems by Francisco Gomes de Matos collected to honor the eightieth birthday of the great pioneer of nonkilling thought, Glenn Paige, both show and tell the same thing: that nonkilling thought, act, imagination, art, feeling, commitment, teaching, and career can be experienced, thought about, committed to, felt, imagined, and taught in a whole world of permutations and combinations far beyond innocence. Behind all this lurks mortality. Only in these poems mortality is celebrated, not feared. Like Glenn Paige, they demand intellectual courage with the smile of rational equanimity.

Download «Nurturing Nonkilling. A Poetic Plantation» [673.90 KB]

Order hardcopies from Lulu Marketplace.

Music

“No More Killing”

By Anis Hamadeh.

“No More Killing” was written and composed by Anis Hamadeh in May 2009. It is dedicated to Glenn D. Paige on the ocassion of his 80th birthday (June 28, 2009). The song is a copyleft and free for noncommercial use. For commercial use and feedback contact Anis Hamadeh. Artists: Anis Hamadeh (2 voices, guitar, harp); Tobias Lensinger (percussions, voice); Matthias Merkel (bass); Sabine Yacoub (voice); Rüdiger Schilp (mandoline). Recorded and mixed in Mainz, Germany by Tobias Paldauf (Zentral Studio)

Updated versions and videos at: Zentrum zur Förderung des Nichttötens – Nonkilling Deutschland

Lyrics:

1. In the land of the free there is no more killing
and no threats to kill, and no bets to kill.
Like a bell in the night that is gently ringing, all the kids are singing it now.
We are cheerful and we are proud, that is part of what nonkilling is about.
We vote for nonviolence, all the politicians, senators and presidents.

2. Come to the land where there’s no more killing
and no threats to kill, and no bets to kill.
How would you feel when there’s no more killing, like a dream fulfilling at last.
We went all the way from a lethal tradition,
from a deadly competition, from a killing coalition.
We went all the way from a lethal tradition,
from a deadly superstition, from a killing coalition. It’s a lethal tradition.
Mmh m mm mm mm mm mm mm m mm mm m mm m m m m m m
The world is a public space. I can read and hear you, I can see your face.
If man needs to go to war, there’s a place for that, but don’t kill no more.

3. Come to the land where there’s no more killing
and no threats to kill, and no bets to kill.
How would you feel when there’s no more killing, like a dream fulfilling at last.

Downloads:

“Nonkilling”

By Anis Hamadeh.

“Nonkilling” was written and composed by Anis Hamadeh for the concept album THE FLOOD (April 2013).

Lyrics:

Here’s a new word, have you heard “nonkilling”?
Sound and alert, it’s the word “nonkilling”.
1. Dr. Johnson, get out your book, and write it down for me.
Spread the word in Bangor, Maine, and Memphis, Tennessee.
Nonkilling here, nonkilling there, nonkilling politics, nonkilling care.

2. There is a number, count the killings, count them well,
for every killing has a tale that we can tell.
Index high, my oh my, index low, here you go.

3. Reduce the killings, that’s the first priority.
Respect for leaders who can act responsibly.
Values here, values there, take the microscope and compare.
Here’s a new word, have you heard “nonkilling”?
Sound and alert, it’s the word “nonkilling”.

“No More Fighting, No More Killing”

By Yannick Noah

“No More Killing”

By Donn Paige.

Lyrics:

No more killing put away your sword
No more killing stop all your war.
We want to live in peace.
We want to give in peace.
We want to love in peace.
Please let us be in peace.