NEW YORK | Seeds of Peace graduates from around the world gathered to kick off a conference on Uprooting Hatred and Terror, beginning on Saturday, November 10, and ending Thursday, November 15. The conference, coinciding with the United Nations’ General Assembly meetings, represents the first time that Seeds will interject their voice into the debate over violence and terrorism.
Twenty-two delegations from regions of conflict such as the Middle East, South Asia, the Balkans, and Cyprus will exchange perspectives on the root causes of hatred and violence in and across communities, with particular focus on the role of the media, pop culture, education, economic disparity, safety and security, religion, principles of government, and guiding principles.
John Wallach, President and Founder of Seeds of Peace, kicked off the conference by reminding the participants of the special opportunity that lay before them, as they considered the very issues that world leaders were grappling with only feet away at the United Nations. Wallach delivered a stirring charge that encouraged these unique youth to reflect critically on the factors contributing to violence in their own societies. He reminded the delegates not to get into the blame game, as he cautioned that if you go down that road, you will go down a road that has resulted in the failure of every conference that the world leaders have tried to put together.
Wallach concluded his remarks by urging the youth delegates not to reflect the conflict that already exists, but rather to seek to solve it.
Bobbie Gottschalk, Seeds of Peace Executive Vice President, echoed Wallach’s remarks, reminding delegates not to forget to think with their hearts as they considered these difficult issues.
Tim Wilson, Camp Director at Seeds of Peace, stressed the opportunity that the delegates had been given. He reminded all that the voice of youth does matter, and this conference was their chance to be heard.
Introductory committee meetings followed the opening session, as delegates were divided into eight committees. The committees, examining the role of the media, pop culture, education, economic disparity, safety and security, religion, principles of government, and guiding principles, were led by Seeds of Peace facilitators. An engaging panel discussion was the highlight of the afternoon, as the youth delegates heard from experts in various fields relating to the focuses of the various committees.
Dr. James Gilligan, a distinguished member of the faculty of the department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School for the past 30 years, cited poverty and economic disparity as the greatest underlying causes for epidemics of violence. He told the delegates that the most powerful predictor of the murder rate, internationally and cross-culturally, is the gap between the rich and the poor. It is this relative poverty—manifested in palaces beside slums—that engenders feelings of shame that act as the recipe for mass violence. He specifically highlighted the United States as a country that could handle its wealth and power better. Gilligan concluded that all countries could benefit from taking each other as role models in some way.
New York Times pop music critic Ann Powers considered the role that pop culture plays in encouraging or responding to conditions that promote violence. Powers explained that most of today’s music is not connected to a larger political purpose or movement, yet she cited the opportunity for artists to respond to the international crisis much like they have responded to crises in the past.
Former CBS newsman Bill McLaughlin focused his remarks on the impact of media on the conditions for hatred and terror. He discussed the large gap between the print and the television news media, suggesting that print media is much more suited to the layers of complexity surrounding the current political situation. He specifically cited the New York Times‘ thoughtful, in-depth coverage in its daily section A Nation Challenged, which reverses the trend that atrocities make victims nameless and criminals famous.
Roger Deitz, a lawyer specializing in dispute resolution, outlined key principles for conflict resolution that will help guide conference participants in their discussions in the days that follow.
After a full day of speakers and committee meetings, youth delegates at the International Youth Conference have much to think about as they work towards creating a consensus to address the root causes of hatred and terror.