Connecting to the Power of Women: Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament

www.vowpeace.org CONNECTING TO THE POWER OF WOMENDr. Janet M Eaton, Co-Chair, VOW Keynote Address: Pugwash Public Forum, July 8th, 2007, Pugwash on the 50th Anniversary Communicating the Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament:A NEW CALL FROM CANADIANS

Connecting to the Power of Women OUTLINE 1. Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament: • Differences in level of threats 1955 - 2007 • Different paradigm and mindsets • Frameworks for paradigm shifting 2. The Emergent Power of Women: • Evidence • Examples – VOW, 1325, grandmothers speaking out, third wave movement – women as peacemakers, shift in psyche of western mind 3. How to Connect to the Power of Women’s Wisdom for Peace and Disarmament ONLINE: VOWPEACE.ORG CANADIAN VOICE OF WOMEN FOR PEACE

The Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament 1955 We appeal as human beings to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest. If you can do so, the way lies open to a new Paradise; If you cannot, there lies before you the risk of universal death. The Russel – Einstein Manifesto – Issued London 1955 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Online: www.pugwash.org/about/manifesto.htm

The Threats - Compounded in 2007 The nuclear threat is now compounded by: • Escalation of uranium mining, DU weapons, star wars, small nukes, bunker busters, reneging on treaties, powerful lobby for nuclear power with its link to nuclear weapons, no safe place for uranium waste, etc • Global poverty and injustice leading to terrorism, wars, failed states, AIDS, etc. • Fundamentalist extremism, violence, and terrorism • Ecosystem collapse and climate change • End of cheap oil and coming end of civilization as we have known it

The Urgency in 2007

The Signs of Collapse 2007 • Plethora of new books and writings reveal latest research and warn that the present global fossil fuel economy propped up by the military will lead to: • Collapse of oil (peak oil) • Collapse of US economy • Collapse of the American Empire • Collapse of Corp Globalization • Climate Change – Global Warming • Collapse of Ecosystems • Collapse of Civilization!

Other Differences Now in 2007 • Danger / Threat compounded • Dominant paradigm shift – emerging but constrained • Civil Society shifts • Gender shifts • Mind Shifts Crucial – framing, paradigm shifting • Strategy for advancing concerns must be appropriate to the time

Dominant Paradigmshifting since 60s The term ‘paradigm’ is commonly used to mean model, theory, perception, assumption, or frame of references. In the more general sense it is "the way we see" the world -- in terms of perceiving, understanding, interpreting. A simple way to understand “PARADIGNS” is to see them as “MAPS”. _____________________________________ Janet M Eaton. 1996. Paradigms, and Paradigm Shifts as Broad Context for theTransition to "Health Care" Online: www.chebucto.ns.ca/CommunitySupport/NCC/SCDEFJE.html

Paradigm Shifted Late 60s … now you’re out there and what you’ve got around your head is a goldfish bowl and there are no boundaries. There are no frames, there are no boundaries!” _________________________________________________- Rusty Schweickart, Apollo Mission in 1969.

Paradigm Shifted Late 60s • Floating in space, Rusty discovered the first principles of systems thinking. • Nature (and that includes us) is not made up of parts within wholes. It is made up of wholes within wholes. All boundaries... are fundamentally arbitrary. • We invent them and then, ironically, we find ourselves trapped within them. _____________________________________________________ - Peter Senge. 1994. The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of the Learning Organization. Doubleday.

Scientific Mechanistic Paradigm WHOLE IS SUM OF THE PARTS • Rational/cerebral superior to intuitive, spiritual • Preference for analysis, reduction and convergent focus • Problems seen in linear mode- solutions: quick fix, technical • Knowledge bureaucratized in uni-disciplinary approaches • Humans separate from nature- control and dominate Framework for Industrial Militarized Growth Economy ____________________________________________________________________ CLOCK METAPHOR: The universe as a mechanical system, thehuman body as a machine, etc. ________________________________________________________________________________________ ONLINE: www.chebucto.ns.ca/CommunitySupport/NCC/SCDEFJE.html

Systemic Sustainable Paradigm • Whole more than sum of parts • Preference of synthesis/wholes • Creative solutions • Interdisciplinary/transdisciplinary • Humans part of world – don’t dominate others or planet • Intuitive, spiritual in balance with rational Framework for local, participatory sustainable peaceful economy The Planet Earth = A Whole System – Gaia – Mother Earth ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Metaphor = Network, Web, Gaia ____________________________________________________________ ONLINE: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/CommunitySupport/NCC/SCDEFJE.html

Global Economy (Scientific Mechanistic) Local/Planetary Economy (Systemic Sustainable) Promotes a globalized market & absentee ownership Promotes local markets and local ownership Puts money & corporations first Puts people, nature & communities first Advances material & financial growth Advances spiritual , local & intellectual growth Treats nature as a mine & dump Treats nature as co-producer & source of life Maximizes material consumption Maximizes quality of life Nurtures monoculture Nurtures multiculture - cultural & biological diversity Promotes global competition & communities vs. community Promotes global cooperation & planetary consciousness Resulting in economic exclusion & inequality Resulting in economic inclusion & security SOURCE: David Korten presentation "When Corporations rule the World” at the Alliance for Democracy, Founding Convention 11/21/96

Sustainable Economic Paradigm Principles • Living Democracy - Participatory • Subsidiarity - Essential to sustainable societies • Ecological Sustainability • Common Heritage - Collective Birth Rights Three Categories: 1) Natural Resources, 2) Cultural Diversity and, 3) Public Services • Human Rights • Jobs, Livelihood and Employment • Food Security and Safety • Equality, Social Justice and Greater Equity Among Nations, within nations, between classes, men and women = Cornerstones of Sustainable Societies • Precautionary Principle ________________________________________________________________________ John Cavanagh and Jerry Mander, Eds. 2004. Alternatives to Economic Globalization: A Better World is Possible.

Culture of War Images of the Enemy Armaments & Armies Authoritarian Governance Secrecy & Propaganda Violence Structural/Physical Male Domination Education for War Exploitation of the Weak & Environment Culture of Peace Tolerance/Solidarity Disarmament Democratic Participation Free Flow - Info/Knowledge Respect for ALL Human Rights Equality - Men & Women Education for Peace Culture Sustainable Economic & Social Development Culture of War - vs - Culture of Peace ! Douglas Roche . 2003. The Human right to Peace. Toronto: Novalis P. 108.

Power Relationships: Old Paradigm Adapted from Asoka Bandarage. 1997. Women Population and Global Crisis – A Political Economic Analysis. London: ZED Books.

Paradigm Shift Imperative “We have to learn to think in a new way.” ONLINE: www.pugwash.org/about/manifesto.htm

Paradigm Shift Imperative "No problem can ever be solved by the consciousness that created it. We must learn to see the world anew." ONLINE: www.pugwash.org/about/manifesto.htm

Importance of recognizing that the shift demanded is one of whole system change i.e…SYSTEMIC CHANGE!! Therefore we recognize the necessity of having frameworks for systemic change and the importance of knowing about dominant paradigms and paradigm shifts. Paradigm Shift Imperative!

Paradigm Shift Imperative ! Paradigm frames help us to escape the boundaries and constraints of paradigms & paradigm paralysis, to see the whole, to see the big picture to understand, and engage in systemic paradigm shifts. BOX CIRCLE Mechanistic Paradigm (Clock/Box) Paradigm Systemic Paradigm (Network/Web) How big is your umbrella?

Frameworks Important for Shifting Paradigms • Important for getting out of the old mind sets which have shaped us and for seeing other frames. • Coming to grips with our value systems and importance of principle-centred decision-making ! • Help us to become systemic thinkers ! • Help us to understand where and how so-called ‘progress’ – has gone awry ! • Help us in shifting our life styles and policies !! • Help us in making imperative and important changes from the personal to the political. • Helps everyone to see the role of women as an evolution of the Western Mind – See Tarnas

Sustainable Development Frameworks "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.“ _____________________ - Brundtland Report, Our Common Future , 1986 World Commission on Environment and Development Dr. Gro Brundtland Dr. Gro Brundtland headed up this landmark commission that still informs the world today !

Wangari’s - 3 Legged StoolFramework Wangari recognized the importance of systemic change with implementation of her Green Belt Movement based on women’s participation, democracy, ecological sustainability without which she knew that peace will not be possible. “So, together, we have planted over 30 million trees that provide fuel, food, shelter, and income to support the children's education and household needs. The activity also creates employment and improves soils and watersheds. Through their involvement, women gain some degree of power over their lives, especially their social and economic position and relevance in the family.” _____________________________________________________________________________________________________ - Wangari Matthai, March 2005. Speaking at the UN CSW meetings. Prof. Wangari Matthai

The Great Turning Framework: Joanna Macy The Great Turning is happening in three dimensions that are simultaneous and mutually reinforcing 1. Actions to slow the damage to Earth and its beings –Protests, Peace Movement, Global Democracy Movement, WSF, etc. 2. Analysis of structural causes and the creation of structural alternatives 3. Shift in consciousness _____________________________ ONLINE: www.joannamacy.net/html/great.html Joanna Macy

Ecological Literacy • Knowledge of the principles of ecology • Systems thinking • The practice of ecological values NEW VALUES Ecology today isn't only a field of study but also needs to become a way of life grounded in certain values, which we may call ecological values, since they derive from the principles of ecology . They are values of sustainability, cooperation, conservation, diversity, quality, partnership. Ecoliteracy Framework Fritjof Capra

The Natural Step (TNS) Framework System Conditions TheFunnel 5 LEVEL MODEL LEVEL 1: The System LEVEL 2: Principles LEVEL 3: Strategic LEVEL 4: Actions LEVEL 5: Tools A B C D Process TNS Primer: Janet Eaton & Peter Eaton 2007. ONLINE: www.gpiatlantic.org/pdf/TNS/TNS_Primer.pdf

Peak OilResource Constraint Framework We have only a dwindling amount of time to build lifeboats to get us to an alternative economy which needs to be: • organic • small-scale • local • convivial • cooperative • slower paced • human-oriented rather than machine-oriented • agrarian • diverse • participatory • culturally rich • ecologically sustainable We have known for a long time that the status quo, A SOCIETY THAT IS • machine-oriented • competitive • inequitable • fast-paced • globalized • monocultural and • corporate-dominated IS DEADING TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT AND ECOLOGICALLY UNSUSTAINABLE. Professor Richard Heinberg “Beyond the Peak – Peak Oil & Community Solution” Closing Address, First US Conference on Peak Oil. ONLINE:www.museletter.com/archive/152.html

Connecting to the Power of Women Wise Women’s Participation Requisite Because • Compassion from caring for children, their communities, elders, etc. transforms perspective • Multitasking comes with the role of managing households & work • Relationship leadership paradigm comes naturally to women • Women run communities, NGO’s in peace and in war • New growing awareness and articulation of the interconnectedness of all the issues - and problems of the disconnect - stemming from dualism, mechanistic paradigm, capitalism, patriarchy • UN SC Resolution 1325 and the research in the run up to its landmark passing in year 2000 showed that women are naturals in conflict resolution in their communities, natural peace makers, peace builders and play important roles as peace keepers as well. • Women are emerging as leaders in parliaments across the land from war torn failed states to emergence of social democratic states in South America

Connecting to the Power of Women

Connecting to the Power of Women VOW PIONEERS Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW)

Connecting to the Power of Women VOW PIONEERS When the Paris summit on disarmament broke up without solutions in 1960, Toronto Star journalist Lotta Dempseywrote a column calling on women to do something about the threat of imminent nuclear war. Thousands of women responded. A few of them met with Dempsey and from that meeting came a new group called Voice of Women (VOW). Within months, five thousand women across Canada had joined. ____________________________________________ VOW’S ONLINE HISTORY: www.vowpeace.org

Connecting to the Power of Women VOW PIONEERS VOW’s members had much in common politically with first-wave feminists, who had fought for women’s suffrage. But Voice of Women was also, as pioneer feminist and scientist Ursula Franklin points out, “the seedbed for the second wave of feminism.” Organizing in the middle of the Cold War, the group courageously stood up to the anti-Soviet hysteria of the time, insisting that women from the Soviet Union and Canada could get together to talk about peace. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ – Judy Rebick, 2005. Ten thousand Roses. Penguin. ONLINE: www.penguin.ca/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780143015444,00.html?sym=EXC

Connecting to the Power of Women VOW PIONEERS According to VOW founding member Muriel Duckworth: Voice of Women founders had the idea of women as life-givers. That was the basis on which a lot of women joined: accepting that women are life-givers and therefore we cannot go out there killing people. Voice of Women had our first international conference of women for peace in 1962. Almost as soon as we were founded, we began connecting with women all over the world. One of the chief underlying principles of VOW was that thewomen of the world were not our enemies, and we were not going to behave as if they were. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ONLINE: www.penguin.ca/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780143015444,00.html?sym=EXC

Connecting to the Power of Women “As the time nears for my departure from the Senate, I have been reflecting on the most important political developments during the 33 years I have been in public life and what it is that gives me the most hope for the future. The increasingly important role of women in the great issues of our time - peace, security, sustainable development - stands out.” ______________________________________ • Senator Douglas Roach, March 30, 2004.Brother of another VOW pioneer, Marion Kerans. __________________________________________________________ ONLINE: http://home.ca.inter.net/~vow/senRoche.htm

Connecting to the Power of Women SG Kofi Annan said in his opening address to the UN Beijing + 5 Conference in year 2000: “If we are to survive in the 21st century it will be imperative to have women in positions of leadership.”

Connecting to the Power of Women Johan Galtung, in his opening address at the recent Ottawa conference for training peace professionals, stated also that the world needs women in equal numbers in leadership positions now if we are ever to achieve peace.

Connecting to the Power of Women The Nobel committee recognized the role of women in sustainability, peace and security in 2005 when they awarded Wangari Matthai the Nobel Peace Prize .

Connecting to the Power of Women “I feel very strongly that as women we have been challenged to provide the leadership .. that is visionary; to provide the leadership that is going to see the linkage between democracy, peace, and the environment. To see the need to share our resources equitably. To see the need to manage our resources responsibly. I believe that the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and the world through that committee, expects us women to provide that vision, because we have demonstrated it in all these years of our struggle.” ___________________________________________________________ - Wangari Matthai, March 2005

Connecting to the Power of Women 1000 WOMEN for the NOBEL PEACE PRIZE Canadian women, including VOW women were chosen including: • Muriel Duckworth • Maude Barlow • Akua Benjamin • Marjorie Phyllis Hodgeson • Julia Morton-Marr • Landon Pearson • Doreen Spence • Kama Steliga

Connecting to the Power of Women VOW praised the organizers of “The Association for 1000 PeaceWomen” for the Nobel Peace Prize 2005, for their foresight and dedication to this lengthy and highly significant joint nomination process of peace women, each worthy of the honour in their own right, while symbolically representing millions of women worldwide who are beacons of hope for their local people and the world.

Connecting to the Power of Women The UN under SG Kofi Annan acknowledged that women are essential for peace, security & sustainability!

The Power of Women is Emergent • It is reflected in UN Security Council Resolution 1325 • It is written in the ancient prophecies of our aboriginal, indigenous and first nation sisters. • It is reflected in the new third wave of the women’s movement emerging women as peacemakers. • It is reflected in the emergence of this new awareness in the psyche of humankind !

UN Security Council Resolution 1325 Women, Peace and Security “…women, who know the price of conflict so well, are also often better equipped than men to prevent or resolve it. For generations, women have served as peace educators, both in their families and in their societies. They have proved instrumental in building bridges rather than walls. They have been crucial in preserving social order when communities have collapsed. __________________________ -Kofi Annan, SG United Nations Kofi Annan, SG, UN

UN Security Council Resolution 1325Women, Peace and Security Historic resolution with critical implications: Protection of women in armed conflict; Participation of women and civil society in conflict prevention, resolution and reconstruction. UN Security Council

UN Security Council Resolution 1325Women, Peace and Security WILPF NGO’s WORKING ON 1325 UN Security Council IWTC

UN Security Council Resolution 1325Women, Peace and Security

Women & Peace Process Landmark Actions: Year 2000 March, 2000: UN Security Council Statement 6816 on International Women’s Day acknowledging that peace is inextricably linked to equality between men and women; May 31, 2000: Windhoek Declaration and Namibian Plan of Action on Mainstreaming Gender; June, 2000: UN Beijing + 5 Conference (SG Chair). Major focus on Women and Armed Conflict with emphasis on women, peace and security as well;

Women & Peace Process Landmark Actions: Year 2000 August 23, 2000: Release of Brahimi Report; September, 2000: DPO / DAW /Angela King's Office Report "Mainstreaming A Gender Perspective in Multidimensional PKO; October 24, 2000: UN Security Council Discussion on Women, Peace and Security; October 31, 2000: UN Security Council Resolution Discussion on Women, Peace and Security.

Women & Peace Process Landmark Actions: Year 2000 ANGELA KING: Women encouraged local women to become involved in the peace process; Women were found to be less hierarchical in dealing with local communities; Women were more likely to confide in women peacekeepers about emotional and social issues. Angela King: “Mainstreaming a Gender Perspective in Multidimensional Peace Operations“.

Connecting to the Power of Women “When it comes to the involvement of women, I must say that it took several years of robust debate, resistance and determination by women themselves, before they were included in the peace process. Oppressor and oppressed had to sit and look each other in the eye and move beyond anger, fears, bitterness, frustration. We had to do this in order to negotiate on behalf of the people of South Africa.” _________________________________________________________________ - Baleka Mbete, Deputy Speaker of the South African Parliament, address to the 19 negotiating parties of the Burundi Peace Process, Arusha, 23 June 2000. Baleka Mbete, Deputy Speaker South African Parliament .

Connecting to the Power of Women: Urgency of Nuclear Disarmament