Reason #9 To Fly A Peace Globe ~ Insurgency In The Philippines

There are more than thirty ongoing violent conflicts waging right now around the globe. The United Nations defines Major Wars as military conflict inflicting 1,000 battlefield deaths per year. Wikipedia expands that definition to include wars that cause destruction and humanitarian crisis of outstanding severity." Ongoing civil wars fueled by racial, ethnic, or religious differences come with a new twist that distinguishes them from wars in previous generations - civilian casualties. During World War I non-combatants made up less than 5% of casualties. Today, the number is a staggering 75% civilians killed or wounded.
Less than thirty days from now we will engage in another BlogBlast For Peace. By my research and estimation, there are at LEAST 30 very good reasons to fly a peace globe. To begin your activism. To increase our awareness of the suffering of others. To talk about peace. To write about peace. To be part of a larger voice for peace. To invoke peace. To pray for peace. To focus on peace.
To wage peace.

Need a reason to fly a globe?
Here's Reason #9
Insurgency in the Philippines

Began in 1969

Where? Mindanao, Philippines and the Sulu Sea
Who is fighting?
The national government and 3 factions: Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), the Abu Sayyaf (an Islamic militant separatist group based in the southern islands of the Philippines) and Jemaah Islamiyah.

Why are they fighting?

It is now considered part of The War On Terrorism with origins that go back to the Spanish Colonization and the Philippine-American War.

Casualties estimate: 160,000 people

Background: Religious and ethnic differences are a huge part of this equation - predominately between Islam and Roman Catholic Filipinos. In the late 60's the MNLF began fighting for a Moro Muslim homeland. To add to the complicated venue, imagine the task of preserving the rights and dignities of diverse indigenous groups, the nationalities of hundreds of languages and cultures who seek to maintain the proud origins of their people. Cultural and traditional divisions abound.

Now, let's complicate that further with the presence of the pervasive and unsteady fear that terrorism provides.

At right: Special US Operation Forces work with Philippines soldiers in Operation Enduring Freedom in the southern islands of this beautiful part of the world.

I can't conclude this article today without acknowledging the special people who inhabit this archipelagic nation with its more than 7,000 islands in the western Pacific Ocean nor blogging voices from the southeast Asian countries of Indonesia, Malaysia....Singapore.....who've become my far-flung friends in the past two years. They are a beautiful and loving people. Suddenly, this conflict - this fight - took on a new meaning for me.

Their hearts have always been large and open to me and my part of the blogworld in incredibly supportive ways - whether they are flying peace globes, writing warm emails (you know who you are), or connecting with me via social networking and the lovely bloggy cul-de-sacs we make,as we learn to appreciate and love each other in the very real world of cyberspace friendships.

I won't forget where I stand in the world.

I won't forget where they are either.

My world just got a little smaller.

Did yours?Filipino and American forces in a mock operation 2001 ~ Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines

Come on. Join the Revolution.
How To Get Your Peace Globe