1. Nonviolence

We believe that peace is an indispensable unity between social justice and human liberty. Therefore, peace should be the fundamental purpose of all form of social organization. We are convinced that love and truth are the most important forces for social change and the establishment of peace.

Injustice, be it against a person or against a group, should be confronted with firmness, with priority being given to methods of nonviolence. For this to occur it is crucial to create and/or maintain a foundation of love toward those around us. Those actions that in the name of justice come from a base of hate and vengeance, often give rise to more violence and injustice. We have faith in the intrinsic value of each human being and we resort to such faith within the framework of a humanistic ethic, even among those that may be classified and accused as oppressors.

Physical, psychological and/or spiritual violence is a violation of the inalienable rights of human beings. We study and we understand the roots of individual and social violence; and considering these, our historic and human responsibility is to work for their elimination, having as a fundamental principle, methods of nonviolence (dialogue, negotiation, mediation, etc.). Likewise, we must contribute prosperity and human happiness to all those areas that in turn, contribute to social change.

 

2. Social Justice

We believe that peace is possible and that it has as a fundamental prerequisite, social justice. It is essential to construct forms of social organization which guarantee the complete recognition of the capabilities, concerns and needs of all its members. Social justice involves the physical, psychological and spiritual growth of each of the individuals who make up the social fabric of any given society.

 

3. Inalienable Rights and Liberties

Throughout their history, humans have fought to obtain a diverse selection of rights, which contribute to their full potential and to the elimination of oppressive and elitist forms of organization. These rights have accumulated, becoming a part of human heritage.

These rights are for all human beings, without distinction of race, nationality, religion, ideology, social class, age or sex; and they are expressed in different declarations such as the Universal Declaration of the Child.

We believe that these rights should be respected and perfected as a contribution from us to future generations. It is the duty of everyone to support communication which favors human rights and to work persistently for its respective expansion and refinement. Ultimately, peace surges from the ability of people to meet their basic needs which include not only physical needs, but also the need for autonomy, celebration, integrity, interdependence, play and spiritual communion.

 

4. Knowledge as a source of Truth

With the just purpose of constructing justice and peace, it is necessary to turn to the knowledge of truth. Knowledge is a human process, dynamic and historical, which parts from the fact that there is always a diversity of perspectives about occurrences, events and their meanings, which are in conflict in particular historical moments.

These perspectives require assessment criteria, that is, ethical definitions which permit the evaluation of correspondences, especially those which contain contradictions. They also require the achievement of a common understanding and agreement, which involves the acknowledgement of the validity and importance of diverse points of view.

We believe that this process is a source of truth and that the best form to seek out the truth of a set of events is when the ethical definitions, which serve as the foundation, establish the need for integral human development and when the objective of the search contributes to the undertaking of the principles planted in this declaration. In these terms, the exchange of ideas has the potential to permit understanding between societies and the construction of a more just and harmonic world.

 

5. Simplicity

We believe in the importance of simplicity in our lives at work and in our interactions with others. Through carefully ordering our priorities, we endeavor to satisfy our basic material needs and leave aside the superfluous. Simplicity should not be reached through the imposition of rigid and uniform norms, but instead through liberty and the responsibility of each person, to determine from the foundations of their own experience or personal reflection, that which promotes or hinders the collective and individual search for peace.

That which is superfluous begins from the moment and the place in which the individual consumes goods or services which mainly satisfy unjustified caprices. On a world level, this superfluity involves both directly and indirectly, the theft of vital goods and services which should be used for the wellbeing and development of large groups of dispossessed humans. In this sense, material consumption without limits creates an inequality so large between humans, that it becomes a major obstacle for attaining important, high level human principles (peace, justice, solidarity, etc) and is a waste of finite resources which should be conserved and shared with more equality among all. The existence of structures and processes of social exploitation, establishes too much inequality in the ability to access society’s material goods; and likewise, this penetrates social subjectivity, promoting competition for resources, guided by an excessive desire for consumption and profit.

Simplicity is a process of discovery of how we can channel our energies toward the attainment of justice and peace. We search to simplify our communication with others. We make an effort to explain our ideas in a respectful, careful and truthful manner, such as they arise in our convictions. We believe that sincerity and honesty can remove the barriers that impede and confuse us, and that they manage to reduce and resolve human tensions and conflicts.

 

6. Responsibility

We believe that all humans are responsible for their lives as well as the development and wellbeing of those who surround them. In this sense, people should take consciousness, in agreement with their abilities, of the structures that hinder justice, understanding and peace between peoples, be it at a personal, communal, regional or global level. They should also encourage such consciousness among others. It is necessary to reflect upon these obstacles and collaborate with others in the search for fair, creative and permanent solutions to these human problems.

 

7. Agreement between principles and behavior

The results of our actions depend upon our principles and objectives and how consistent we are in our execution of these. With this in mind, we remain conscience of our promise to make both our principles and duties in daily life coincide harmoniously. At the Friends Peace Center, we work by consensus, we respect the facts and opinions of others, and we value the opinions and feelings of minorities just as we do majorities. We try to avoid rigid and authoritarian structures which are based upon conceptions of superiority/inferiority, of strength and of intolerance. Instead, we base our work in mutual respect and collaboration, remaining conscious and respectful of the differences in thought and conduct of those around us.

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