Advancing Nonviolence: A Practical Philosophy for a War-Free World

• Nonviolence is defined not as passivity but as an active, transformative philosophy that combats physical, psychological, and systemic violence.
• The core principle, championed by figures like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr., asserts that conflict can only be overcome through creative, nonviolent means.
• Collective global efforts, including the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, aim to build a society where human life is held as the supreme value.

Philosophical Foundations

• Nonviolence requires recognizing that causing harm to others is ethically unacceptable.
• Martin Luther King Jr. emphasized that darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light possesses that power.

Silo’s Humanist Perspective

• Argentine philosopher Mario Luis Rodríguez Cobos, known as 'Silo,' positioned the human being as the supreme value, prioritizing human existence over ideologies, states, or religions.
• Two levels of nonviolence are essential:
  • Internal: Achieving peace within the mind by eliminating hatred and resolving psychological conflicts.
  • External: Practicing nonviolent behavior toward others and seeking justice through peaceful means.
• These principles align with the 'Golden Rule': treating others exactly as one would wish to be treated.

Global and Local Advocacy

• Partner organizations like the Humanist Movement and World Without Wars and Without Violence coordinate international initiatives.
• In Bangladesh, the Humanist Society leads peace advocacy, including:
  • Hosting seminars, rallies, and cultural events at institutions like Dhaka University.
  • Organizing International Triangular University Football Tournaments with participants from Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
  • Implementing the '4th World March for Peace and Nonviolence: In My City - 2026' to localize the call for a war-free world.

Shifting Toward a Balance of Justice

• International relations must transition from a 'Balance of Power' framework to a 'Balance of Justice.'
• Future generations must be educated in nonviolence and human rights to prevent the repetition of historical catastrophes.
• If society internalizes the belief that human life is the supreme value, a war-free world transitions from a dream to a reality.