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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

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




7 comments:

Lizza said...

To say the situation sucks is an understatement. Where I live is far, far away from Mindanao, but sometimes terrorism strikes near my area too.

Oh, to have peace from terrorism. I usually like crazy, but this kind of crazy I (and many others) can do without.

Hope you're having a good week, Mims.

Lizza said...

BTW, I got to meet a few of your American soldiers, and they were really nice. Cute, too. :-)

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

How about a series on where there is PEACE in the world?

Or do they not exist?

Carver said...

Hi Mimi, I know what you mean about the world getting smaller and the very real love of cyberspace friendships. I've been reading all of your reasons to fly a peace globe posts and keep thinking I'll pop over and comment. I will proudly fly my peace globe and I applaud you for these intelligent thoughtful posts leading up to June 4 but I'm having trouble thinking of an intelligent comment to leave in the face of these posts. I guess I mostly want to thank you for what you are doing.

Patti said...

I also have trouble saying much, like Carver.

Sorry I'm not very articulate on such serious matters.

Mimi Lenox said...

Lizza - I'm sorry to hear that you are affected by this plague where you are. To be free from terrorism.....I pray soon.

Bond - Perhaps after I finish this. Had to take a hard look. Every post is depressing, I must admit.

Carver - That means a lot. People really are not commenting on them much. I understand why. What can you say? I do feel, however, that I should do them.
Humbling.

Patti - You do not need to apologize. I appreciate your comments always. You know that.

Tinggay said...

Hi Mimi!
Thank you. our country needs peace as well. too many people are dying.

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