Our Vision

Why peace?

Edmund Burke, the famous philosopher and statesman , once said : ‘The only thing necessary for triumph of evil, is for good people to do nothing’ In today’s environment of mistrust, hate, war mongering and violence, we must elevate voices which advocate for peace. Peace is a continuous dialogue and requires our undivided attention. Let’s not hope for peace to prevail. Let us work on it.

why today?

Even though big wars have subsided from the western world, new ones in Middle East and Africa have taken over. Even in the more settled societies, Fissures are getting deeper. Be it between religions, cultural backgrounds or the more palpable economic class differences. Add to that the climate change that is more and more visible and you get a cauldron of uncertainty and strife. People are fatigued and stressed by what the future may hold. Peace is the only step forward that guarantees us coming together to solution those fissures

To salve the old, and not so old wounds. To bond together not just for our survival but to thrive together as one people.

Dr. Peter van den Dungen

In our increasingly small, fragile and interdependent world the need to live together peacefully and non-violently is a condition of survival. Yet, the culture of war and violence is still widespread, causing untold death and destruction. In virtually all societies, the military continue to be regarded as the defenders of peace and prosperity, of freedom and justice, whereas the opposite is often the case. Bloody battles and wars are still the mainstay of history teaching, and glory and heroism continue to be largely associated with them. Countless public monuments and museums reinforce the traditional views.

That there is another, more enlightened and hopeful view of history, is not taught, and not on view. The inspiring and encouraging teachings and lives of peace heroes such as Buddha, Jesus, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela show the power of nonviolence, and the wisdom of the view that ‘there is no way to peace, peace is the way’. Peace museums are ideal instruments to educate a wide public in the necessities and practicalities of non-violent conflict resolution, whether at home, in the community, or globally. Peace museums inform and inspire visitors that there is another way.