Conference Inspires With a Call to Activating Nonviolence
The conference may have closed, but the attendees of the recent ALDE conference, Activating Nonviolence will take away valuable lessons and advice from some of the leading figures in the world of nonviolent civil resistance.
(Friday 15 May 2008, Brussels) – Ledum Mitee Esq., and Mr. Michael Van Walt Van Praag came before an international audience today representing the millions of people who live as minorities in countries throughout the world from Australia to Zanzibar.
The audience, many of whom had come to Brussels to attend the conference organized by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO), were drawn from a variety of backgrounds which encouraged a lively and insightful question and answer session at the close of each speaker’s presentation.
Also in attendance were representatives of the ALDE group, including Mr. Marco Pannella, a leading figure in the nonviolent civil resistance movement with a long and highly prolific experience of peaceful protest. Other key figures included Ms. Rebiye Kadeer, President of the World Uyghur Congress and the Venerable U. Uttara, Abbot Secretary of the International Burmese Monks Organization. Both were able to draw upon personal experiences of civil resistance and relate the current efforts in China and Burma to make peaceful political change a reality.
Ledum Mitee Esq., President of the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) and President of the UNPO General Assembly led with the talks with the topic of Ghandian Nonviolent Civil Resistance. A central tenet to the work of the UNPO, Ghandian nonviolent civil resistance was also very close to the hearts of UNPO Members, many of whom attended the event.
Mr. Michael Van Walt Van Praag followed Ledum Mitee’s lead by discussing Regional Autonomies and Federalism in the Context of Internal Self-Determination. The audience, for whom the topic had a special resonance, listened intently as Mr. Van Walt discussed the options open to those seeking greater representation and respect for their rights. In the question and answer session that followed his speech, Mr. Van Walt was able to impress upon the audience the need to look for individual solutions to their situations. There could be no uniform path in the search for greater representation Mr. Van Walt concluded.
