I recently took down the talismanic tetrahedron design I had for world peace (and others), as white supremacists have subverted a number of symbols to their evil ideology, just as the nazis did. I've commenced work on a new design - one that will, I consider, be better as it will:
(a) be more nuanced and cover better factors;
(b) also replace the Seals of Solomon, which have some concerning aspects (e.g., the seal for invisibility include a verse from the neochristian bible calling on the eyes of enemies to be ripped out).
That will take some time to complete (owing to Life, the Universe, and Everything [a phrase made famous by this irreverent fiction book] - including the pandemic, family duties, and the effects of age), an, in the meantime, I am doing some reading - e.g., I read the European Convention of Human Rights this evening 😊.
One of the other things I'm reading is a book titled "The Trial of the Kaiser", by William A. Schabas. This basically provides a fascinating insight into the attempts to hold various people in Germany accountable for a range of crimes after World War One. The effects of people on both sides having committed crimes (e.g., both sides used poison gas) is illustrated, as well as the arguments of nations and their representatives for and against (the USA and its representatives were being obstructionist IPOCs even back then - which was actually contrary to what the racist / white supremacist Woodrow Wilson's Fourteen Points were trying to achieve [1] ).
This was, as the book explains, the start of the modern approach to international law and human rights: this and the Paris Peace Pact would play key roles in the deliberations before the Nuremberg trials.
I find such matters fascinating and inspiring - and a source to use to critique anything I am doing for peace, including an submissions I write.
On that, knowing that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was made enforceable by a series of international covenants collectively (sometimes including the UDHR) referred to as the "International Bill of Rights" is important, as is Dr. Gene Sharp's 198 methods of non-violent action.
The number was, as Dr. Sharp conceded at the time, probably low: now that the Internet has been developed and become widely used, it is even lower - but the list provides a source of inspiration and a framework for starting the think about ways to use the possibilities of the Internet.
One other author I consider all peace activists should study - not just read, is Paul K Chappell.
Similarly, the concept behind and application of "Cure Violence" should be studied.
Here are a few other links that may be of interest or even use:
- another very informative book on the events around the Versailles treaty (particularly Wilson's shortcoming): "1919 Versailles: The End of the War to End All Wars", by Charles L Mee, Jr.;
- posts from this blog with the tag "peace";
- posts from my political blog related to "peace and international human rights" and "human rights", and other relevant posts here, here, here, here, here, and - relevant to the books mentioned above - here; and
- here.
And don't forget that this blog advocates for magickal (or psychic or spiritual if you prefer) activism towards achieving a better world - which includes genuine, constructive BPM peace.
[1] Another example of the deeply flawed and irrational influence of the strange thinking of people in the USA is the ludicrous claim that the victim-blaming term "adjustment disorder" is better than "depression". As I wrote here:
"Here's another example of arrogance: out of touch IPOCs in the medical profession who think the victim-blaming term "adjustment disorder" is non-stigmatising. Are you insane???!!!!"
