Peace is Every Laugh: The role of laughter & humor on the path to peaceStephanie Knox CubbonSan Diego City CollegeMetta Center for NonviolenceAATH Peace LunchMay 28, 2015

What did the Dalai Lama say to the hot dog vendor?

My path to peace

I am my mother’s daughter – Peace Clown

Intentions for my talk

•Deeper understanding of peace•Negative & positive peace•Direct, structural & cultural violence• Culture of peace•Nonviolence•Connections Between

humor/laughter & peace•What you can do to promote peace

"We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that

created them.” –Albert Einstein

7

“Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men than defenses of peace must be

constructed."- UNESCO Constitution, 1945

What is peace?

What is peace?

Earth Charter definition

Peace is the “wholeness created by right relationships to oneself, other persons, other cultures, other life, Earth, and the larger whole of which all are a part.”

What is violence?“An avoidable insult to human needs” Johan Galtung, 1969“…actions, words, attitudes, structures or systems that cause physical, psychological, social or environmental damage and/or prevent people from reaching their full human potential.” Fisher et al., 2000

Key characteristics:Dehumanization,Separation

Direct:Physical violence,

war

Cultural:Beliefs, values

Types of Violence

Structural:Racism, poverty

Negative and positive peace• Negative peace – the absence of direct (physical) violence • Positive peace – the absence of structural (& direct) violence

and the presence of human rights, equality, social justice, dignity, ecological sustainability

Negative Peace

Culture

Positive Peace

Structure

What is a culture of peace?

“The Culture of Peace is a set of values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root

causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations."

UN Resolutions A/RES/52/13: Culture of Peace, and A/RES/53/243, Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace

Culture of War vs. Culture of Peace – Adams/UNESCO

What do you call a food fight with Gandhi?

Naan-violence ;)

Nonviolence as our greatest potential as human beings

“Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of humanity.”-Gandhi

What is nonviolence? Etymology• From the original Sanskrit, ahimsa: अहिं��सा�

a = nonhimsa = the desire to harmahimsa = the absence of the desire to harmpositive = love-in-action

(Principled) Nonviolence

“Nonviolence means avoiding not only the external physical violence, but also the internal violence of the spirit. You not only refuse to shoot a man, but you refuse to hate him.” –MLK Jr.

Constructive & Obstructive

From the Metta Center for Nonviolence: www.mettacenter.org

Conflict escalation curve

www.mettacenter.org

Gandhi on humor

Making the connection…• Inner peace• Interpersonal peace • Intercultural understanding• Conflict resolution• Nonviolent resistance• Challenges

Laughter & Inner Peace

Laughter and Interpersonal Peace

Laughter and Intercultural Peace: “If we

can laugh together, we can live together.”-Ray Hanania, Israeli/Palestinian comedy tour

Humor as Nonviolent ResistanceOtpor! Serbian movement to overthrow Slobodan Milosevic, 2000

Humor as conflict resolution• Conflict generator• Process tool (dialogue, mediation, negotiation)• Healing• Relationship building• Social protest

Zelizer, Craig (2010). “Laughing Our Way to Peace or War: Humor and Peacebuilding” [online article] Journal of Conflictology. Vol. 1, Iss. 2. Campus for Peace, UOC.

But…humor can fan the flames of conflictCharlie Hebdo memorial,Paris, January 2015

Kenyan election violence, 2007

How can YOU promote peace through laughter and humor?

Thank you!

Contact:stephknox24@gmail.comeducation@mettacenter.orgfacebook.com/stephanie.cubbon@stephaniecubbon

Metta Center for Nonviolencewww.mettacenter.org