Opinions

Peace is a bargain at a fraction of the cost of war

This is the season when we look more deeply at our hopes for peace. But we don't just hope -- we give more to charities, we get together with our families, send cards, share food and sing songs about peace on Earth and good will toward all. The spirit of the season transcends differing religious affiliations and beliefs. It's like we're trying to realize our common dreams of a more peaceful world.

Sometimes building this spirit can feel as easy as sharing a song, but at other times, when we see the violence in our communities and around the world, it can seem like the impossible dream.

In my work with The Peace Alliance, I get to bridge the gap between our dreams of "Peace on Earth," and the practical steps that are available to help us create it.

The federal government has to establish a budget each year and when it comes to real peacebuilding, the budget process can seem like an exercise in futility. But there are programs we can invest in that will help to bring more lasting peace to this embattled planet.

In recent years, the incessant drums of war seem to have become the background music of our lives -- making it seem that increased military action is the only available response to conflict. But there are some small international programs in the federal government that have shown that real peacebuilding can be done even on a shoestring budget, and our lawmakers need to know that we are paying attention and that we care. Our federal budget totals some $3.5 trillion dollars each year while three peacebuilding initiatives total only $110 million combined. At just .003 percent of our budget they deserve our vocal support and the support of the U.S. Congress.

Here are the three examples, two of them less than five years old, and all three showing formidable results:

The Bureau of Conflict Stabilization Operations, or CSO, is a part of the U.S. Department of State. It was created in 2011, and has had operations in 44 countries. For example, CSO worked with local groups during Kenya's elections in 2013 -- where violence during the previous elections had resulted in more than 1,300 deaths and more than 350,000 displaced persons. This time around, Kenyans did lose 20 citizens, but with CSO's help in engaging a broad coalition of local stakeholders, the 2013 elections were otherwise largely peaceful.

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Another initiative still in its infancy, the Complex Crises Fund, or CCF, is managed by the U.S. Agency for International Development. CCF provides violence-prevention and post-conflict support in countries and regions at high risk of conflict. The CCF funds civilian solutions rather than military intervention in times when humanitarian and diplomatic assistance are needed to prevent escalating violence. For example, in Tunisia, after economic inequality, corruption, and political repression led to the ousting of President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali, the CCF supported a peaceful transition process. It also aided local organizations to conduct outreach and awareness activities to broaden and increase citizen participation in the new government, thereby reducing the risk of armed conflict.

A third example is the Office of Conflict Management and Mitigation, or CMM, founded in 2002. CMM works within USAID's Bureau for Democracy, Conflict, and Humanitarian Assistance. Their "People-to-People Reconciliation Fund" brings together individuals of different ethnic, religious or political backgrounds from areas of civil conflict and war.

These programs provide opportunities for adversaries to resolve conflicts, reconcile differences, promote greater understanding and mutual trust, and work on common goals toward reducing conflict.

CMM has supported more than 135 peace-building projects in 35 countries and awarded over $115 million in grants for "people-to-people" conciliation programs. CMM has also trained more than 500 U.S. government and non-government partners in tools that ensure a peace-building approach in conflict-affected environments.

When you share peace this holiday season with those you love, please call your members of Congress and share your commitment to building peace on Earth.

Lori Draper is assistant national field director for The Peace Alliance, a nonprofit group dedicated to citizen activism toward a culture of peace. She is a 37-year resident of Seward.

The views expressed here are the writer's own and are not necessarily endorsed by Alaska Dispatch News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a piece for consideration, email commentary(at)alaskadispatch.com.

Lori Draper

Lori Draper is assistant national director of the nonprofit Peace Alliance. She lives in Seward. 

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