From Tulsa to Hiroshima and from Auschwitz to the Trail of Tears and downwards throughout human history, the scenes of death and destruction are the same. The root causes of these atrocities are the same too: cultures of violence, fueling systems of oppression. 

What can the people do to reclaim their rightful democratic power when corrupt governments fail to honor the contracts that ensure we live in a civil society with a sustainable future?

This action-driven conversation, co-sponsored by PEAC Institute, General Board of Church & Society with support from Every Woman Matrix, NGO Committee on Financing for Development Working Group on Climate Finance, will explore the challenge of dismantling oppressive and systemic cultures of violence.

Through both historical and contemporary lenses, we will highlight some of the terrifying consequences we're facing due to failed and incomplete remediations of the imperial colonialist culture of violence, while also offering examples of nature-based solutions that people are successfully implementing today.

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are officially out of reach, and our window of opportunity to switch from war economies that prioritize money to peace economies that prioritize people and the planet is closing. Join us now for the first part of this crucial dialogue.

There’s Still Hope and Here’s Why — Part 2 will broadcast live on MIDHEAVEN Network 10 December 2020, for the International Day of Human Rights.

FEATURED PANELISTS

CARMEN ATZERT, Watershed Foundation — With a background in engineering, I recently joined the humanitarian sector with the goal of working toward sustainable humanitarian aid work in the MENA countries. For the last nine months, I have been volunteering in Camp Moria, Greece, one of Europe’s most challenging refugee camps. After a tragic fire following a COVID-19 outbreak, I was part of the collaborative effort to distribute food to the thousands of displaced refugees. I have been continuing my work as a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) technician within the compounds of the new emergency camp. I am also studying for a Master’s of Science in Humanitarian Action in the School of Oriental and Asian Studies at the University of London, one of the world's leading universities in Development Studies.

LEON KAULAHAO SIU, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Hawaii — H.E. Leon Kaulahao Siu, is the Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Hawaiian Kingdom and prominent strategist and advocate for Hawaii’s independence and is thus engaged in normalizing relations between the Hawaiian Kingdom and other sovereign states. Minister Siu is a founder of the Decolonization Alliance based in New York City, a co-author of the book, “Modus Vivendi Situation of West Papua”, and was nominated for the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

QUINN WONDERLING, General Board of Church and Society, UMC — Quinn Wonderling serves as Senior Coordinator of United Nations and International Affairs for the General Board of Church and Society. She's an active member of the NGO Committee on Financing for Development, CoNGO, and the Every Woman Matrix. Quinn's early career as a journalist allowed her to cover global issues including democratic elections, LGBT civil & human rights, gender justice, addiction, fossil fuels and biofuels, and poverty. She holds an MPAP from American University and believes every member state should divert its entire military budget into the green climate fund immediately.

AIMEE H. HONG, General Board of Church & Society, UMC — Senior Executive Director of Education & Engagement, General Board of Church & Society, UMC. Aimee facilitates and custom designs seminars for diverse groups on issues of justice and peace. She loves working with students of all ages but has a soft spot for engaging with young people. 

REBECCA IRBY, PEAC Institute — Rebecca Irby is the Founding Partner and President of PEAC Institute. Over the last ten years, Rebecca has served as an education and technology consultant on diversity and cultural awareness initiatives with the NJ Department of Education, Rutgers University, the National Liberty Museum, Nagoya University, and many others. Rebecca also sits on an advisory board incorporating social skills training into the core programs of schools around the United States. PEAC has organized, trained, and facilitated youth forum to the NPT PrepCom in 2018, 2019, and 2020 as well as a High-Level forum in conjunction with the New Zealand Foreign ministry. Rebecca has spoken about nuclear abolition and heart-centered leadership at Harvard Law School, the Yale Policy Conference, The PyeongChang Global Peace Forum; the Free Minds Free People; Busan Democracy; and will be at Barger Leadership Institute (BLI) at the University of Michigan in 2021.