I’ve had this question asked of me a few times from compassionate, intelligent souls wanting to know how they can help to make peace happen in our world, especially after they read my article, “Hate to Say I Told You So, But…”

My answer is this--there’s only one way to end war on Earth. Change yourself.

By this, I don’t mean that we are flawed. Many of us see the problems of the world and feel absolutely powerless. I used to share that feeling myself.

Instead, I suggest that peace has to become important to us, as important as feeding our children, having a dwelling to live in…and, believing that if we do nothing the problem will not resolve itself.

First, let me say that I am only one voice. And, I would never preach or demand certain actions in this cause. My words are meant as kind suggestions, but it is most important to follow your soul, because that’s where your conscience resides. Most of us already know what we should do—we’re just looking for a bit of encouragement and support.

Here’s my thoughts…

Why do people become terrorists? There are a number of reasons, but they generally funnel down into one large category--because of the injustices they’ve seen or endured. They see unfairness, oppression, and cruelty, and they become aware that they are being treated unfairly.

I want to stress here that awareness is a key attribute. For example, if all of the little girls in a village are being raped, it will seem normal to them. In most cases, it’s not until they become aware that most little girls don’t endure rape, that they rebel against it. That’s a key reason why most oppressive, warring cultures do not encourage education, or if they do, they maintain strict control over it.

In any case, once these future terrorists become aware that they are suffering injustices, their emotions ignite and they begin to want change.

What happens then?

First, they try peaceful methods. Their oppressors generally ignore them, usually because they have the power to, and because they have no interest in changing the status quo--it’s benefiting them. So, our budding terrorists go out and try to find others to help—correctly assuming that there is strength in numbers.

Mostly, they find that others are sympathetic, but unwilling to do very much. It may cause trouble in their own lives.

The oppression continues.

Next, they get angry—not a momentary anger that might cause a one-time lashing, but a deep seated anger—one that sows the seeds of hatred and bitterness.

Still, the oppression continues.

Finally, someone who seems to have some power approaches them. They empathize with their situation and they ‘enlighten’ them as to what the real cause of the suffering is. Our budding terrorists listen, and confide in them. At every turn, they understand and befriend.

Then they ask them to join their organization. And, the world has its next generation of terrorists.

We learned with street gangs in the United States that it was almost impossible to stop the gangs without addressing the issues that caused them in the first place—poverty, instability at home, little love or support, and lack of other viable opportunities. And that, if we didn’t address those issues, we were facing a losing battle.

So we acknowledged one thing that humans share in common--the need to belong. Volumes were written on the impacts of isolation and its result, ignorance. They confirmed that belonging makes us feel whole, connected, and reaffirms the value of our very existence. All of us need someone who we think of as family, friend, or confidant.

Public opinion began to support economic development in gang-infested areas, and government listened. So, as banks and commerce moved into these areas, we saw two things develop. The peripheral gang members—those who never really wanted to be in a gang in the first place—got out and got jobs. And, police presence increased, resulting in more arrests and convictions.

As public opinion continued to turn, support structures in these neighborhoods grew. Local churches got involved and social services agencies, including drug rehab facilities, health care clinics and job training programs sprung up. Existing support agencies started to receive more funding. In Los Angeles, for example, even celebrities got involved, volunteering to teach performance arts, or sponsoring fundraisers. Law enforcement grew, because for the first time in a long time, police were getting needed help in stagnating gang growth.

Eventually, the kingpins of the gangs were arrested and jailed—for life.

I realize that this is a convoluted description of the solution we ultimately enacted, but it’s enough of a snapshot to be able to make my point—we can never have peace on the planet as long as there are gross economic inequities in the world. You see, when there is a chicken in your pot every night, and too many others only have broth, there’s going to be trouble—no matter how honestly you worked to earn your chicken.

We’ve even accepted this as a strategy for war. Remember in the Kuwait conflict how the Coalition Forces dropped notes from the air to the Iraqi people, letting them know that our beef was not with them, but with Saddam? And, how they airlifted food and water in to let them know that the West was not their enemy?

This is an extension of what I am speaking about here. We cannot have BMWs in our driveways, while little girls are being sold into slavery in Afghanistan, and hope for peace in our world. Eventually someone will recruit them, and use their hatred against us.

I know I’ve lost some of you now (because you love your material possessions!), but I dare to continue. No man on this planet is an island, not even Bill Gates or the richest oil sheik in the Middle East. At some point, we all need someone. And, it’s been true since human life began—you reap what you sow—eventually. Sometimes, you reap what you didn’t sow; meaning that you suffer for a problem you didn’t even create. And that’s the situation most of us find ourselves in now in bringing peace to our planet. We had nothing to do—directly that is—with most of the wars on the planet. For the largest wars, most of us weren’t even alive.

But, we’re left with the problem to fix, whether we like it or not. And, if we don’t fix it, we are simply passing it along to our children and grandchildren. It’s just that simple.

Now, with that said, let’s talk about what we CAN do.

First, believe that economic impoverishment in the world is a BIG problem, no matter what its cause. Then, you can develop an action plan.

The U.S. Surgeon General’s office used a novel concept that can be applied here with respect to cigarette smoking. They reasoned that nicotine was so addictive that it would be a waste to target anti-smoking campaigns at existing smokers. So, they targeted youth. As a result, in schools, cigarettes are classified as a drug, and children are taught about it in anti-drug programs. They are also educated about the hazards of second-hand smoke. Finally, they are encouraged to nag their parents to quit.

It’s working, too. Almost a decade later, studies have shown that cigarette consumption in the U.S. has decreased. As a result of the decreased demand, and increased taxation, smokers are sometimes paying as much as $8.00 per pack of cigarettes (up from about $1.20 per pack a decade ago).

Let’s assume that we can start with this same technique for an end to war. What is it that we want our children to believe most about their future? That they will have opportunities equal to, or better than, what we had. I think that parents in other parts of the world want the same for their children.

So, no matter what else you opt to do, target youth. Find an organization that increases quality of life for children worldwide, and donate. Don’t stop, no matter what. Encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do the same.

If we save just 20 children via this method, we might just be responsible for preventing 100 new terrorists from developing on our planet. Why?

Remember I said that we have a human need for belonging? Well, terrorists recruit other terrorists via acceptance. They become their new family. So, when we tackle economic impoverishment we address one of the key underlying causes for terrorism, now and in the future. That means we will eliminate one of the best reasons youth are open to a terrorist option. What do most youth do almost by instinct? Fit in. So, when they see others going to college, making money (legally), and getting out of the poverty cycle, you can bet that others will follow their lead.

Let's face it--very few people will choose war when they know they have the freedom to achieve without it.

By giving these youth choices, and targeting enough of them, they will know that they don’t have to end their lives prematurely by piloting planes into buildings, or driving vehicles loaded with explosives into a crowded area. It’s just our nature as human beings to want to survive and prosper.

Another positive side effect of this tactic highlights a second tenet of humanity--people are much more likely to forgive past transgressions if it’s visible to them that the effort is being put forth to correct those errors NOW, as best we can. When you have a comfortable home, employment and hope about the future, it’s difficult to hold a grudge-- or to support those who do--especially when those grudges are decades or centuries old.

My next suggestion is--use the power of the Internet. Start a blog that is only devoted to ways to encourage peace on our planet, educating people about injustices that could lead to war, opportunities to end economic impoverishment, or situations that you think are hindrances to peace. If 100 people read it, you might just convince 10 of them that peace is a cause worth supporting.

And those 10 will find an organization and donate, thus saving more children and preventing more warmongers—all because you took the time to write about it, and encouraged them to act.

You see, I believe that most people do not actively support peace because they just don’t know enough about war’s true impact on their households. Let your voice be heard, and be patient. You’ll touch someone who can move the cause further.

Finally, let your soul be your guide. Remember that every human deserves an equal opportunity to survive and prosper. We cannot control how they will use the life they’ve been given, but we can assure that they have a chance to be productive world citizens. And, this doesn’t mean that you’ll lose your chance to achieve your dreams, due to increased competition, etc. Think of it this way—how sweet is a victory, when it really wasn’t a fair contest? We get bored even at sporting events where one team is much more talented than the other. It becomes torture to watch the losing team try and try, but get nowhere. We want to tell them to go home and practice more.

It’s the same with the human race. None of us can ever achieve our best if the game is not fair. I know that some of you will be hard to convince on this point, so let me give you an example.

Let’s say that you are currently employed in a job you hate. You’ve looked and looked but you can’t find anything else that you qualify for that pays as well. Consider this--maybe the industry you’d enjoy working in hasn’t been created yet.

“What?” you say. “This is nonsense.”

No, it’s not. It just might be that funds that could have supported research for that industry, e.g., a new technology, are currently being diverted to defense.

Still don’t believe it’s true ? Ok. Answer this question--how many of us had cell phones 25 years ago?

Believe it or not, there are others who’d appreciate the work you find distasteful--it’s a step up for them. But they can’t get your job, until opportunities open up for you to find a better job.

See what I mean?

By ‘follow your soul’ I am simply trying to say that we should use our natural gifts and interests. So, if you are politically inclined, then use that as your platform. Find a lobby that works for peaceful resolutions to worldwide conflicts and support it. If you are interested in healthcare, find an organization that improves healthcare worldwide, and support it. If you’re interested in women’s rights, find a global women’s rights organization and support it. If you’re more hands on, use one weekend or one week of your next vacation to work with an organization that builds homes for the underprivileged or works to rebuild housing in areas devastated by natural disasters.

No matter what you choose to do, don't forget to target youth, and open yourself up to the possibilities of life without war--even embrace them. As I indicated in “Hate to say I told you so, but…”, the best reason to become interested is to save humanity. And, I hope that if you’re reading this, you are a human being.

Nothing we have now will mean anything in the long run if we can’t unite to end war on this planet. And, the beauty of it is, most of us will never have to leave our households to help the effort.

We just have to offer our support; because there are other humans on this planet for whom the right job is being on the front lines, fighting for peace.

Ain’t life grand?

See you at the top!
Wendi