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Founder’s Report on Speaking Tour in Japan My trip to Japan (Nov. 15-20) was an intense journey that led to greater clarity about the gift that Costa Rica has to give to the world. When I arrived, I read an English version of a Japanese newspaper. There were several issues that grabbed my attention:
As I began to connect with the people, I soon realized that the possibility of a North Korean attack is motivating Japan’s government to prepare for war. Despite the fact that Article 9 of their constitution abolished the army, their Self Defense Force is one of the largest in the world. It seems that my visit couldn’t have been timelier… I spoke six times in three cities, reaching about 750 people. I shared Costa Rica’s peaceful history, the current Ministry of Justice and Peace bill and the Rasur Foundation’s National Center for Social and Emotional Learning, including the Peace Army. The audience asked questions that indicated they were inspired by Costa Rica’s example and wanted to emulate it. When they asked me how to turn the tide of fear in Japan, I suggested that they invite great peacemakers in such as Oscar Arias and Marshall Rosenberg. I also suggested making a movie to spell out the likely consequences of the path toward war and the path toward peace. Since Japan is the only country in the world to have suffered from an atomic bomb, the negative consequences are in the national memory. But what is missing is as deep a connection with the positive consequences of peace. This is why the model that Costa Rica is working to build is so essential; people hold on to the fear that leads to war until they can see, with their own eyes, that peace is possible and practical. Supporting the development of this model is a powerful act that helps awaken the masses to a higher way. The greatest hope for peace on earth, between human beings and with the environment, is in each individual seeing a splendorous picture of how peace is lived out and then working to actualize it everywhere. Now I see more clearly than ever before that Costa Rica has a special gift to give the world and many are working together in fresh attempts to give that gift. Let us work each day as if it is the last day we have to offer the “greatest hope for peace on earth”. Update on Rasur Foundation Activities Something is happening in Costa Rica that you need to know about. Nobel Peace Prize winner, Oscar Arias, was inaugurated as President of Costa Rica in May, 2006. This event opened a phenomenal window of opportunity for further development of Costa Rica as a model of peace. Why is this important to every person who yearns to see peace on earth? Because it is doubtful that people will let go of violent strategies until they can see with their own eyes that peace is the most practical and prosperous way to live. Building the first national culture of peace may be the most powerful act possible for turning the world’s attention and resources from what doesn’t work to what does work. This vision is realistic in Costa Rica and the Rasur Foundation is bent on achieving it. However, time is of the essence in order to permanently establish this model during President Arias’ term. Costa Rica has been building this model since 1948 when the army was abolished. The history of progress since then is too lengthy to share here and is not without setbacks. Like many countries, Costa Rica has a problem with increasing violence. However, Costa Ricans have a deep love for peace. By counting on this national identity with peace, the Rasur Foundation has taken significant steps in supporting Costa Rica to model peace to the world. The two most outstanding achievements are:
In November, 2006 a bill to add the name and the function of a “national system for the promotion of peace” to the Ministry of Justice was presented to the Legislative Assembly. It was signed by 19 of the 57 congressmen, has the support of both major political parties and is expected to pass in mid 2007. The bill includes a provision for this Ministry to collaborate with nonprofit organizations to establish a culture of peace.
A National Center for Social and Emotional Learning has been established with headquarters just 25 minutes west of the capital. The Center’s training program, the Peace Army, is teaching the skills of “feeling peace” and “speaking peace” to citizens, especially teachers and students in public schools. The Peace Army Way, a combination of HeartMath and Nonviolent Communication which develops social and emotional intelligence, is used to teach these skills. In 2005, the Peace Army won first prize, out of 79 projects from 32 countries, for the Changemakers Innovation Award: Building a More Ethical Society. In 2007, the Peace Army will work in 13 schools in its advance to the national level. Now the Rasur Foundation is poised to move this model to the next level but requests the support of peacemakers everywhere to pull it off in the next 3 ½ years. The primary need to is expand the National Center for Social and Emotional Learning (NACSEL) so that it can train all public and private school teachers, groups on the frontline of violence such as policemen and prison guards, and all other citizens who are willing to learn peace skills. NACSEL and other nonprofits will work with the new Ministry for Justice and Peace to target areas where violence is increasing in Costa Rica. In this way, we will demonstrate how government and nonprofits can work together so that a culture of peace is created at both the top and grassroots levels of society. Just imagine:
But these ideas are not imaginary – they are already happening in Costa Rica. We just need to complete the grounding of the national model and then communicate its value to the rest of the world. To do this, we ask that peacemakers proactively unite around establishing one country in the world where peace is the priority and donate to this cause. Dollars go much further in Costa Rica than in a developed country, so the cost of building a model is very reasonable. In addition, Costa Rica’s small geographic size, and population of about 4 ½ million people, makes it easier to build a model culture of peace. Friends, we can do this if we pull together… So I invite you to join us, please, join us in this endeavor. We are stretching every day to keep this work moving forward. Our goal is to raise $150,000 this year in order to upscale our success to the national level. You can help right now by sending a donation to: The Rasur Foundation, SJO-401, PO Box 025216, Miami, FL 33102-5216 or go to the home page and donate electronically. You can be sure that this gift will count toward peace on earth! With gratitude, Rita Marie Rasur Foundation Achievements in 2006 • According to the teachers and director of Escuela Honduras, there was a significant positive shift in the social and emotional environment of the school as a result of the Peace Army training. In addition, the new student mediation program is proving to be successful.
• The Omar Dengo Foundation CADE program, the English Teachers Conference and the Red de Violencia Intrafamiliar received Peace Army Way workshops.
Radio UPE achievements:
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