Sustainable Societies
Justice and Peace
Peace can mean the absence of war, known as "negative peace", as well as a way of living that nurtures life not only by eliminating war, but also by eliminating exploitation in order to achieve a just and sustainable civilization, known as "positive peace." Despite the widespread nature of exploitation, positive peace is closely associated with the ideals of many cultural traditions and is a more complete vision for a world of which we can be proud.
If violence is to be avoided and peace is to last, we must deal with the deeper and more pervasive issues of social and economic justice that cause dissatisfaction, aggression, and often war. The violence of war brings about immense human suffering not only for its casualties, but for society as a whole by destroying normal social and economic life and by threatening international peace and security. Since the end of World War II about 20 million people have been killed in over 100 major conflicts around the world. Meanwhile17 million refugees, 20 million displaced persons, and massive migrations both within and beyond national borders are created from the poverty, underdevelopment, inequalities, human rights violations, weak governments, disease and famine that are both the sources and consequences of conflict. War is now waged with all kinds of easily accessible weapons, many of which have no limit to their destructive capacity, thus threatening the very existence of human civilization and all life on earth. Other consequences of violent conflicts and war such as illegal arms and drugs trade, refugees, terrorism, and environmental destruction are also felt around the globe, making international cooperation in the prevention and resolution of conflict vital.
Promoting sustainable social and economic development that allows for wider prosperity, as well as human rights and better governance, will help provide the social stability needed for peace, but these steps require many resources that poorer countries cannot afford, making it harder for them to avoid conflict and build peace. By recognizing our shared interest in world peace and by cooperation among governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses, the media, and the public to improve and maintain societal conditions, peace is possible.