Hearing each other, Hearing ourselves: The need for 'Radio-Forums’ to create an ongoing Space for Peace
(Original)

Sara J Wolcott
(Age 25, USA)

Mt Elgon in western Kenya is currently erupting in violence. At the base of the mountain, close to the Uganda border, the local tribes and government 'security’ officials are killing one another. In one of the largest outbreaks of violence since 'peaceful Kenya’s’ independence, over forty thousand people have lost their homes and have fled to other parts of Kenya and Uganda while hundreds of women and children have been raped and molested. When I spoke to local peace keepers and community leaders, they told me that while the stated cause is 'land disputes,’ decades of being marginalized by the government was also a principle root cause. Marginalization, in this context, can be interpreted as another phrase for 'poor governance.’

The community leaders in Mt Elgon repeatedly told me of their desperation that the government did not give them attention. There was no space for their voices to be heard by their leaders or fellow countrymen.  When I was living in Kenya, I saw this kind of marginalization everywhere I went. People were crying out for the space to be heard – and to hear one another. This is true not only in Kenya but around the world. Frequently, marginalization becomes a principal source of conflict.  Thus, working for peace necessitates actively creating processes for greater inclusion of all people – from commoners to presidents – in the decision-making processes that influence their lives.

Peace must be understood not only as an absence of violent conflict but as ongoing, committed and respectful relationships between diverse people. Peace is a process, not a result; or, as the Dalai Lama said, 'there is no way to peace; peace is the way.’ Communication is one of the most essential aspects of building long lasting relationships. Creating a space for that communication to occur on an ongoing basis is vitally important.

I propose creating world-wide Radio Forums: weekly national radio shows where people can engage in conversations with governments, corporations and other powerful entities about the common good – especially the use and treatment of natural resources. These forums would not only give marginalized people a space to be heard, it would give policy makers and corporate leaders the opportunity to explore how their actions really do influence the lives of people they might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear from. The current lack of communication between those on the edges and those in the 'center’ of our system harms everyone; finding ways for them to listen to one another – not only to yell or complain but to actually talk and listen – would be a gift to everyone’s humanity. Doing it on the air, with a public audience, is an opportunity for stronger accountability, and will help people be more informed about what is going on.  It is also a way to ensure that these conversations remain in the public sphere without being dominated by politics or corporate interests.  The financing of these shows could come from both the national governments and an international body to help ensure that they would remain independent from the mood swings of national politics.

These weekly shows could take place in every country, hosted by skilled facilitators who have a passion for radio as a tool for reaching everyone from Senators and corporate leaders to peasants and internally displaced people.  

All national conversations would be streamed online. Using a common website, each country and show could have its own accompanying online forums to provide the opportunity to articulate, bring to the fore and find commonality on concerns for the state of individuals, communities and their habitats. Such global reflection would show how all parties might be called to respond to these concerns.  While online forums are important, attention should not be diverted from the role of radio shows itself, as most people in the global South do not have unlimited access to the Internet in a way that would encourage participation in online forums. 

The producers of these shows would have their own online forum where they could be in regular communication with their 'colleagues’ in other parts of the world to learn from their experiences.

I do not suggest that this will on its own be enough to prevent or resolve violent conflict. But the conversations that would be nurtured would contribute to the healing of the separations that are at the source of so many conflicts.