ACTIVISTS OR LOBBYISTS?
We have highly positioned bureaucrats, Celebrities, ‘brand managers’ etc. Who call themselves or are called activists, when they are obviously promoting the evil system some of us are trying to fight against, their benefits packages look like those of corrupt Senators in Nigeria, and their social impact is zero. Their actions are counter-productive. Activists must be real rather than be the None Principled Activist who is cosmetically involved in activism.Social action entails seeking truth and speaking truth. That means being honest to the facts, finding out realities; being open to inquiry into the facts; challenging and speaking truth to power. Real activists are always striving for lasting change through a heart-felt, holistic framework of hard work, dedication, empathy and love. Working for good entails integrity, a commitment to the process, interconnectedness, and a love for all beings. Activists have a unique and powerful role to play in the unfolding of peace and justice.
BECOMING WHOLE
We all know the countries, corporations and political leaders that need war to stay united, in power and in profit. These war profiteers seek to propagate fear and perpetuate an existential threat, so that we support the proliferation of ever more weapons to protect us from a permanent, ever-present enemy. Given my specific life circumstances; I often ask myself, what meaningful actions can I take to make the biggest impact on peace in the world? Therefore, what is my role? thumbs up to pacifist A.J. Muste’s well-known quote, “There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.” What this means to me is that peace activism entails looking inward. If there’s a war going on inside of you — addiction, depression, or self-loathing et al — you must fight back your inner conflict first before you’re truly in a position to spread peace to others. Real peace will come only when we all find peace within ourselves and we conquer hatred. I discover for myself the true nature of war and peace in the world.
Peace activism today goes beyond taking to the streets in anger to rage against the system, it’s about finding peace from within and then sharing that peace with others through inspired action that is meaningful to you.
As a 21st century peace activist i search beyond how others construe the current state of the world, and define it for myself. It’s an authentic path of inner growth and discovery where i hold in my heart that if i choose peace in my life, the world will follow. I choose to live my mission, and to achieve the most within that mission. Importantly, my work is to further humanity’s evolution in the direction of progressive values of peace, love and harmony; to create more of the values, including justice, equality and freedom, which make life worth living. Nature gifts me with light every day in bright and shining love, a service my soul is searching for- to give birth to the great things and let them grow for humanity is my sun.
PEACE & GOVERNANCE IN AFRICA
I would love for the poverty, war and oppression to end in Africa. The real solution will come from Africans. Let’s have selfless service from leaders in Africa, not rulers who are looters, liars, oppressors with no purpose and who lack vision or mission in life. Let us have political, social and economic justice. Let citizens be patriotic and unified, let us all GROWINTOPEACE. Let the oppressive and mischievous policy of plunder in Africa pursued so long by so called Super powers, interfering unnecessarily with the internal affairs of other countries, and thereby leading to disputes, and often to disastrous wars- war and armaments are good for their economy. For instance, the interventions in Somalia, Libya and Mali are deeply problematic.That’s the only way that pattern of oppression and poverty can be stopped. — That’s the real revolution. Let our lives hold hope and possibility for Africa. No person or nation is great except that person or nation’s life is based upon morality. All authentic religions have morality infused in their teachings- we must care for the condition of humanity. What we attend to we become, where we place our attention shapes our world.
-Ayo Ayoola-Amale
