The Vision: 

A thriving, just, fulfilling, sustainable world that works for all—a world beyond war.

The Mission:

To explore, model and promote the MEANS for humanity to live beyond war.

The Work:

To build a grass roots presence of people - everyday peacebuilders everywhere - who are congruent with the Beyond War principles.

In the past few decades, the common challenges faced by humanity have changed completely.

• Never before in history has war contained the potential for planetary destruction. All war has become civil war.
• Never before have we been so conscious that we all breathe the same air and drink the same water.
• My security depends on yours and yours on mine.

Old ways of thinking, "us and them" thinking, are completely inadequate to new realities. War has become obsolete. Our species must learn to think and act in a new way.  Even if we live in different nations or adhere to different beliefs, we all share the same planet and a common future. Our fates are interdependent with each other and the living system that supports us.

The Beyond War DNA

Three guiding principles will help us orient ourselves as we work to create a world where war is no longer needed to resolve our inevitable conflicts:

WAR IS OBSOLETE

WE ARE ALL ONE

THE MEANS DETERMINE THE ENDS

These deep principles are equally true on every scale from the personal to the global. But they surely contain far-reaching personal implications. We cannot advocate for a world beyond war yet still continue to war in our individual lives with families or co-workers. Three core practice I-statements are the gymnasium for learning how to actually live beyond war right now:

I will resolve conflict. I will not use violence.

I will maintain an attitude of goodwill. I will not pose enemies.

I will work with others to create a world beyond war.

These simple statements—when explored and embodied through dialogue with others—lead to profound transformation of both individuals and institutions.

What Nations Can Do Instead of War

Instead of bombs and threats of war, nations can act decisively and effectively to build a world in which conflicts are resolved nonviolently by emphasizing four types of actions:

• Use nonviolent conflict resolution processes, such as diplomacy and practices like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa. 
• Contribute appropriate foreign aid to build friendships with people in poorer nations, through organizations like the Peace Corps, Heifer International, The Central Asia Project.
• Support international law, as in signing the Antiballistic Missile Treaty and participating in the International Criminal Court.
• Cooperate with other nations. Greater support for the United Nations, and for international efforts like the eradication of polio, smallpox and AIDS.

THE BW BLOG

The National Beyond War Blog contains opinion-editorial pieces applying the Beyond War principles to current events. The most recent blogs are on the Home Page. Please click here for an archive of past blog entries.

BEYOND WAR BOOK

This book applies Beyond War principles to our contemporary world. Click to order from Amazon.

THE BEYOND WAR AWARD

Click here to see more about the Award