"Today, in every single country throughout the world, there are many children silently suffering the effects and consequences of violence." This is the opening sentence of the message (produced elsewhere in this issue) which the Nobel Peace Laureates addressed to all Heads of State which are members of the UN. The message asks all UN member countries to proclaim the first decade in the new millennium as the Decade for a Culture of Nonviolence for the Children of the World and to make the year 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace.

The message goes on to say that "many children¾too many children¾live a culture of violence."

This last statement is certainly true of Kenya, the country of which I am a citizen, the country which I love and know best. In Kenya, a child is caned in school for the simple fact that it has lost its cardigan and its mother has not yet found the money to replace it. In Kenya, a child watches helplessly as its mother is beaten by a father, who on coming home late and drunk, does not find his supper hot on the table. In Kenya, many children see suspected thieves beaten senseless while onlookers are encouraging this mob "justice" smilingly. In addition, all children are witnesses to the numerous forms of psychological, socio-economic, environmental and political violence in our country, examples of which are too numerous to mention.

This year is supposed to be one where we start teaching our children the culture of non-violence. What do we teach them? When we see violence increasing all around us, do we throw up our hands in despair, turn off the TV, mouth another "the Government should" or blame our violence-prone politicians?

Or do we teach them that every single one of us is able to turn around the tide of violence in our country by practicing active nonviolence?

Active nonviolence presupposes, first of all, that we ourselves learn to become people of peace. We can scrutinise our own personal tendency to violence and learn to know its causes. We can try to find out why we find it necessary to shout at our children or threaten them with beatings if they don't do what we say "this very moment." We can also join groups that promote active nonviolence. (Read the article about Promoting a culture of nonviolence in Kenya which talks about one such group).

We can examine whether we are serious about practicing the teaching on non-violence found in the Bible, the Qu'ran and other holy books. The article on "Jesus, the Pacifist" is meant to enlighten us on the Christian teaching in this respect.

Becoming saturated with the spirit on nonviolence does not mean, however, that we close our eyes to injustice in whatever form. After all, even Jesus (as a priest I know remarked some time ago) did not turn the other cheek when a temple guard struck him during his trial. Instead, he asked the question: "If I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?" (John 18:23).

In other words, even as we adopt the methods of nonviolence, we must always remember that justice requires us not to let the perpetrator of violence, in whatever form, off the hook. Forgiving the doer of evil, which nonviolence requires of us, does not mean that the unjust person has no need of asking for forgiveness or of repairing the evil he or she has done.

In our country we have a long way to go before violence, wherever it is perpetrated and in whatever form it occurs, is no longer the norm but the exception. Active nonviolence must become a way of life for all of us if our children and grandchildren are to be people of peace living in a peaceful country. There is no alternative if Kenya as a country is to have a future at all.

G. Wakuraya Wanjohi

P.S. A sad footnote The evening after preparing this Editorial, we got a message that our nephew, shot by thugs five weeks ago, had died in the hospital. We had discussed the escalating violence in our country with him on the very eve of this Year for a culture of nonviolence. How many more victims will be claimed by violence before we learn sense?

"We are commemorating today the tragic demise of Mahatma Gandhi and we celebrate his contribution onto only to the liberation of India but also to the progress of humanism throughout the world. The message of Mahatma lives on and is more relevant than ever. It is universal. Through his wonderful example, Mahatma Gandhi showed that it is possible to fight injustice while respecting the life, rights, integrity and dignity of the adversary. He showed that this concept of Non-Violence does not imply passivity and indifference¾far from it¾ but actions that are powerful, creative and brave, a daily radical engagement in the struggle against the ills besetting the human community.

Today still, Mahatma Gandhi teaches us that tolerance is consonant with the highest aspirations of humanity. No submissiveness, nor violence or terror. Accepting the diversity which is our main richness means accepting reality. Sharing the same intrinsic values is our future. Humanity is manifold by nature, and if it wishes to survive and develop, we must learn to live together, in Nonviolence.

On January 30 as we celebrate the memory of Mahatma Gandhi, apostle of Nonviolence, our thoughts also go to two other great figures of our century, Dr. Martin Luther King and Mother Teresa. By virtue of our specific mandate in the UN system, UNESCO is actively involved in today' s commemoration and my presence at Mahatma Gandhi's Samadhi in New Delhi testifies to the importance of this involvement. On this occasion, to show our attachment to Mahatma Gandhi's ideals, and to continue contributing to the transition of humanity from a culture of war to a culture of Peace and Non-Violence, I am happy to announce that from now on UNESCO' s 'Culture of Peace' program will be known as the Programme for a ' Culture of Peace and Non-Violence.'

The UN General Assembly declared the year 2000 the International Year for a Culture of Peace. We hope that the first decade of the next millennium will be devoted for peace and Non-Violence, thus tying in with the proposal made by the Nobel Peace Prize laureates with the support of UNESCO, hundreds of NGOs and thousands of people worldwide. We hope that in the third millennium the wisdom of Nonviolence and love, which is at the heart of all religions, will prevail over the world."

ABOUT OUR CONTRIBUTORS

Babu Ayindo is research director of Amani People's Theater, Nairobi. He is responsible for research, publications and training design for peacebuilding programs. He has extensive experience in integrating educational drama and interactive theater with peacebuilding. Babu is a fellow of Eastern Mennonite University, Virginia and the Caux Scholars Program. He holds a B. .Ed from Kenyatta University and an M.A in conflict transformation from Eastern Mennonite University, USA.

Otieno Ombok is a trained journalist as well as a peace activist and perfoming artist. He uses theatre as a tool .for development and also as a participatory methodology. He is currently the training coordinator at Chemichemi ya Ukweli.

Fr. Renato Kizito Sesana needs little introduction to people living in Kenya, many of whom are familiar with "Fr. Kizito's notebook" in the Sunday Nation. In spite of his African name Fr. Kizito hails from Italy. He is a priest by vocation and a journalist by avocation. He has lived in Africa for many years and has been involved with youth activities for most of those years. He is a former editor of New People.

Mumbi Muchira has been an Educationist for the last 26 years. She has been involved in the development of creative talents among the youth for most of these years. She is a trainer in creative writing. She is also a counsellor and is active in the development of sustainable income generation projects. She has been involved in community development since 1996 and is a member of the International Association of Community Development.