Millions of people all over the world have strongly rejected the wars in Iraq and Afganistan as well as terrorism. It seems that a new sensibility is developing which refuses to accept that violence is the preferred way to resolve conflicts. The evidence is however that there exists a growing distance between the choices and aspirations of people and the decisions of governments.

From 1945 to the present time there have been 27 millions of deaths as a consequence of armed conflicts and 45 millions of refugees. Today 34 countries are in a state of war.

The rethoric of our politicians makes us suspect very strongly that the situation will deteriorate even further.

War and terrorism are not the only form of physical violence people are worried about: a sense of insecurity due to violent crime and domestic violence is also growing. Moreover violence is not only physical. In fact more people die in the world due to economic violence in the form of poverty that denies access to healthcare, clean water and nourishment. For example two babies die of malaria every minute and HIV is threatening to destroy the population of a whole continent.

Economic violence is also exploitation and the distruction of hard earned workers' rights by the free market.

The well known racial and religious forms of violence increase as a consequence of huge migrations of people fleeing wars or poverty.

Sexual discrimination is still widespread creating untold suffering regardless of class, culture or education.

Perhaps the most insidious but most difficult to recognize in its long term damaging effects is the psychological violence that dehumanizes individuals making them think themselves worthless, disposable and permanently under attack.

Psychological violence is the preferred tool of the system in its quest to keep people afraid, isolated, passive, resigned and even in collusion with such violence.

Often we also feel the violence inside us, repeatedly undermining our aspirations and sinking many into depression, loneliness and frustration.

“The WHO has produced a report which states that the level of violence that exists today has become a major threat to the health of population”

An entire system based on all these forms of violence cannot be improved, it is not perfectible, it is simply wrong. This system cannot be changed through partial reforms but rather we need a radical and profound transformation of its values and its entire social, political and economic organization.

Those who dispair of their condition but attempt to escape through the road of violence must be aware that the system will utilize their struggle to justify further violent oppression. In this way they are helping to reinforce the system they pretend to be fighting against.

On the other hand those who expect its transformation through institutions like goverments, banks and multinationals should realize they are the ones which produced the situation and have a strong interest in maintaining it.

Only people can solve the people's problems organizing themselves on the basis of active non-violence as a methodology.

Active non-violence is a strategy for struggle, which consists of the systematic denunciation of all forms of violence exercised by the System. It is also, a tactic for struggle applied in specific situations in which discrimination of any type is occurring. Non-violence is based on a choice that opens the future. Violence is prehistoric while non violence is an evolutionary attitude.

Non-violence implies creativity, research of new solutions, questioning old habits and beliefs. Peace is more than the absence of war.

It happens that the concept of non-violence is often misunderstood as a weak and cowardly attitude.

Examples of non-violent actions are:

Non-violence is the ultimate form of couragious rebellion away from a vision of the human being as naturally violent.

That's why we say that active non-violence is actually the only practicable and real revolutionary methodology.