It’s easy to read the newspaper each morning and despair. Headlines inform that there is no lack of wars, poverty and suffering around the world.
It’s easy to lose hope if you focus on the problems. And when a new way of looking at those problems emerges, it can be downright exciting.
This week I learned about the birth of the International Coalition of Concerned Mediators (ICCM) through a Mediator Statement that was recently crafted by 75 of the worlds leading mediators at a conference in Keystone, Colorado. Here’s their statement:
Given that the world is confronted with real and perceived threats from several international arenas we, the undersigned, urge that citizens of our nations insist their elected and appointed government officials immediately engage in honest, direct and unconditional negotiations with all authorities and powers who can resolve these pending crises in ways that are equitable and practical for all concerned without sacrifice to national sovereignty or security. As citizens of the world and as professional negotiators and mediators we urge that proven conflict resolution processes be employed now.
They are calling on people around the world to learn a new approach. To think not only of individual needs, but to consider the needs of people with whom we are in conflict. And not to settle for compromise, but to actively engage in understanding and transforming conflict to serve all needs better.
William Lincoln, the initiative’s executive director, stated in a press release, "Permitting the spirit of compromise to be the motivating force for coming to the table is the wrong impetus. Converting real and potential conflict into mutual challenges is the correct and most productive mindset. A constructive negotiation attitude is more important than tricks and tactics and certainly a better approach than war.”
According to Lincoln, the ICCM "emphasizes constructive negotiation and mediation approaches that demand candor, humanity and creativity. Our joint survival demands no less.”
I’ve signed on to support this initiative. I encourage you to do the same. You don’t have to be a mediator to get involved and begin the transformation.
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