	Global PeaceWorks
	peace among religions is the key to world peace

The World Social Forum

globalization and the world bank I love activism. I love people who want to see changes in the world. I suppose I am such a person myself. I envision the greatness of 80,000 people meeting, hoping, seeking.. Yet, when I read reports of the World Social Forum, I wonder where it is all going.

In my youth (which is always further away than ever before!), I campaigned hard for social change. "Down with America" I shouted (at a rallies throughout the United States!). I voted for the Peace and Freedom Party and sought a revolutionary change. Years ago, I would have been the first in line to join the World Social Forum.

But then something changed within me. I cannot describe it in any other way other than to say it was a spiritual change. I came to know the essence of Gandhi's great statement "Be the change.." I realized that I wanted everyone else to change, but I did not want to change myself. More frighteningly, I realized that I could not make other people change by telling them to change. Gosh for all the screaming I did at my presidents, they never changed. However, I also discovered a secret, I realized that other people might change... if they were loved. As the Dhammapada says, "Hatreds never cease through hatred; Through love alone they cease". Yes, change must come, but it starts with love.

Now back to the WSF. I do really admire that all these people came together with such great hopes. And I suppose there were many good elements of this meeting. There were some great people there, including many of my friends who are doing good works. But there was also much confusion. For example, a common cry was against globalization - yet without globalization, these people from around the world could never get together.

For the next meeting, I am convinced that meetings like the World Social Forum could do remarkable better if people remembered two simple principles.

1 - Focus on an Inner Change first. The inner change in people, will create an outer change in society. Inner Change is necessary to create trust and integrity. Many will have no patience for this, but the reality is, if people are corrupt in their hearts, they will create corrupt institutions. People with integrity and love, create institutions of integrity and love.

2 - Focus on Creating and Serving not destroying. What can we offer the world? How can we make a contribution to help and serve others? Why waste so much energy trying to tear people and things down? Tearing things down is a dark endeavor. Let's work to uplift and love others - even those we despise. Yes, "Love our enemies" as the great teachers have taught.

Combining these elements of Inner Change (Looking Within and Building Trust) and Serving Others calls us to Lead by Example. Then we can Model Peace. These are Global PeaceWorks' Principles of Leadership.

In Global PeaceWorks, we focus on spiritual development as the core of all change and betterment for mankind. We must have a foundation of faith and spirituality, before we venture into the dangerous world of society building. Materialists have tried to discredit religion, and capitalists have often ignored religion. In this new age, we can do neither. Let's honor our spiritual essence and strive for goodness and virtue in all that we do. Then with a loving heart, we can freely create good things to share with all people.

Maybe next time we can have the World Spiritual and Social Forum... For something like that, I might be back at the front of the line!

~ Eric Wenzel
January 2004