Achieving World Peace Using the Media
The Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Sudan, Cote d'Ivoire, Iraq, Sri Lanka, Somalia, Afghanistan, Northern Ireland, Jammu and Kashmir, the Basque region (Spain) are all located in different continents and climes where different languages are spoken.
However, one bloody thread links them together- conflict.
One language pervades these areas and many more all over the world- the language of war.
Recently, our world has been witnessing a disturbing upsurge in the rate of conflicts, wars, terrorism, anarchy and other civil upheavals in various forms and dimensions.
Conversely, the world is also experiencing a dramatic increase in the spread and importance of the media, information and communication technologies.
News and information now flow faster than ever.
Eye-popping headlines get global attention in a matter of seconds.
But, this has not had any palpable effect on making the world a peaceful haven.
Various factors are behind the current and messy global state of affairs.
Some are psychological, spiritual or physical.
Hatred, religious fanaticism, ethnic and tribal bigotry, racism, injustice, corruption, hunger, border disputes, trade competition and fight over natural resources are behind some of the most protracted and ruthless conflicts on the planet.
But, it is an indisputable fact that the media (of communication) has a profound influence and powerful grip on the people's minds.
Countries have declared war on one another because of news and others have stopped long-standing rivalry because of what they read on newspaper pages.
In the light of this, the media has very pivotal roles to play in the achievement, sustenance and maintenance of the much-needed world peace.
Firstly, the media can act in this regard by calling for strict arms ban and exposing the brains behind the surreptitious world arms trade.
This trade today, is one of the most lucrative and a most reliable source of arms and ammunition to troubled spots.
The media can beam its searchlight on this dark trade.
This can be done by soliciting strong support from governments (through legislation), peace organisations and the global populace.
Widespread conflicts are aided by the profuse and almost unimpeded flow of cheap tools of destruction- like the Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK-47).
Also, the media can push for a halt in nuclear weapons proliferation, disarming, rehabilitation and re-absorption of rebels, militias or guerrilla fighters.
Many governments are facing serious and unrelenting opposition from insurgent forces (Colombia, Sri Lanka).
Another role of the media in this case is to serve as a watchdog for dictators in totalitarian regimes.
Autocrats do virtually anything to cling to power, including fomenting national chaos and fuelling regional instability.
The media can condemn such regimes by calling for the adoption of democratic values in such societies.
This can be done over the Internet, radio, television and other media.
Furthermore, intolerance is a major cause of disagreements and conflicts which flare up as a result of the inability to stomach the views and opinions of the other party.
In such circumstances, the media can help preach the message of hope, peace, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
Our world is one full of diversity with different peoples speaking about 6000 languages.
Diversity should be a source of cohesion and not division.
The media should focus and highlight the positive sides of human existence and not the gory parts always.
The media can put pressure on or convince warring factions to drop their arms- 'jaw-jaw' is certainly better than 'war-war'.
This can be made possible when the media helps to broker peace, ceasefire agreements and other forms of pacific negotiations.
In addition, the media can help in rallying international intervention in war-zones.
In many instances, slow international response has led to continued killings and unrest.
This is very obvious in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and the current Darfur crisis in Sudan.
Alternatively, the media can persistently agitate for an international security agreement that provides joint security network for all countries-especially those with weak armies.
In such a situation, mischievous regimes will find it extremely difficult to invade a weaker neighbour since an attack on one will be an attack on all.
Also, the media can advocate and champion the causes of democracy, human rights and good governance.
It can also make governments accountable in order to promote justice, prevent corrupt practices which breed instability, mediate in border disputes (Nagorno-Karabakh, the Horn of Africa) or by supporting arbitration panels.
But, for all these measures to work, active steps must be taken to expose and address the evils of hunger, poverty and disease.
When all these are done, the gentle and soothing breeze of peace will blow all over the world.
Then, news will bring us doves- symbols of peace.
However, one bloody thread links them together- conflict.
One language pervades these areas and many more all over the world- the language of war.
Recently, our world has been witnessing a disturbing upsurge in the rate of conflicts, wars, terrorism, anarchy and other civil upheavals in various forms and dimensions.
Conversely, the world is also experiencing a dramatic increase in the spread and importance of the media, information and communication technologies.
News and information now flow faster than ever.
Eye-popping headlines get global attention in a matter of seconds.
But, this has not had any palpable effect on making the world a peaceful haven.
Various factors are behind the current and messy global state of affairs.
Some are psychological, spiritual or physical.
Hatred, religious fanaticism, ethnic and tribal bigotry, racism, injustice, corruption, hunger, border disputes, trade competition and fight over natural resources are behind some of the most protracted and ruthless conflicts on the planet.
But, it is an indisputable fact that the media (of communication) has a profound influence and powerful grip on the people's minds.
Countries have declared war on one another because of news and others have stopped long-standing rivalry because of what they read on newspaper pages.
In the light of this, the media has very pivotal roles to play in the achievement, sustenance and maintenance of the much-needed world peace.
Firstly, the media can act in this regard by calling for strict arms ban and exposing the brains behind the surreptitious world arms trade.
This trade today, is one of the most lucrative and a most reliable source of arms and ammunition to troubled spots.
The media can beam its searchlight on this dark trade.
This can be done by soliciting strong support from governments (through legislation), peace organisations and the global populace.
Widespread conflicts are aided by the profuse and almost unimpeded flow of cheap tools of destruction- like the Avtomat Kalashnikova (AK-47).
Also, the media can push for a halt in nuclear weapons proliferation, disarming, rehabilitation and re-absorption of rebels, militias or guerrilla fighters.
Many governments are facing serious and unrelenting opposition from insurgent forces (Colombia, Sri Lanka).
Another role of the media in this case is to serve as a watchdog for dictators in totalitarian regimes.
Autocrats do virtually anything to cling to power, including fomenting national chaos and fuelling regional instability.
The media can condemn such regimes by calling for the adoption of democratic values in such societies.
This can be done over the Internet, radio, television and other media.
Furthermore, intolerance is a major cause of disagreements and conflicts which flare up as a result of the inability to stomach the views and opinions of the other party.
In such circumstances, the media can help preach the message of hope, peace, tolerance and universal brotherhood.
Our world is one full of diversity with different peoples speaking about 6000 languages.
Diversity should be a source of cohesion and not division.
The media should focus and highlight the positive sides of human existence and not the gory parts always.
The media can put pressure on or convince warring factions to drop their arms- 'jaw-jaw' is certainly better than 'war-war'.
This can be made possible when the media helps to broker peace, ceasefire agreements and other forms of pacific negotiations.
In addition, the media can help in rallying international intervention in war-zones.
In many instances, slow international response has led to continued killings and unrest.
This is very obvious in the Rwandan genocide of 1994 and the current Darfur crisis in Sudan.
Alternatively, the media can persistently agitate for an international security agreement that provides joint security network for all countries-especially those with weak armies.
In such a situation, mischievous regimes will find it extremely difficult to invade a weaker neighbour since an attack on one will be an attack on all.
Also, the media can advocate and champion the causes of democracy, human rights and good governance.
It can also make governments accountable in order to promote justice, prevent corrupt practices which breed instability, mediate in border disputes (Nagorno-Karabakh, the Horn of Africa) or by supporting arbitration panels.
But, for all these measures to work, active steps must be taken to expose and address the evils of hunger, poverty and disease.
When all these are done, the gentle and soothing breeze of peace will blow all over the world.
Then, news will bring us doves- symbols of peace.
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