Gandhi on nonviolence

"Nonviolence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man."

"Peace will not come out of a clash of arms but out of justice lived and done by unarmed nations in the face of odds."

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."

Mohandas K. Gandhi

"Gandhi was inevitable. If humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable. He lived, thought and acted, inspired by the vision of humanity evolving toward a world of peace and harmony. We may ignore Gandhi at our own risk."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Read more about Gandhi at:

http://www.gandhiinstitute.org
&
http://www.sfheart.com/Ghandi.html

Moondance promotes, encourages, educates and rewards non-violent conflict resolution in the arts & film. Our much-coveted Columbine Awards are given to the film-makers &/or writers who best depict alternatives to violence as a method of dealing with conflicts, whether personal, local, national or international, and/or show why violence as a solution to conflict is ultimately counter-productive and inhumane. Our mission is to present a vibrant and growing collection of films and writings, which is an ideal means for communication across perceived boundaries of race, culture, age and gender.

Our objective is to identify and address the root causes of violence and contribute to the just and peaceful transformation of violent conflict resolution. The core of conflict transformation work is the building of a sustainable peace between all people. This involves a process of profound change in attitude, transforming situations characterized by fear and killing into environments in which reconciliation, respect for other people, social justice and participatory democracy can take root.

The creation of the Moondance Columbine Award is a response to the rise in violent conflict between individuals, neighborhoods, in schools, different cultures and genders, within countries and the subsequent abuse of individual and collective human rights in minor and major conflict situations. Today there is an evermore pressing need for conflict resolution and peace-building
efforts.

Moondance, via the Columbine Award project, has as its goal:

• Facilitating dialogue at different levels and sectors of society in conflict.

• Encouraging and motivating the international community to address the structural causes of conflict.

• Generating international awareness for the issues and concerns arising out of our work and through the written works and films honored at Moondance, and created by young people, men and women

• Opening up an on-going dialogue with creative people on how non-violent conflict resolution can be accomplished and promoted throughout the international entertainment industry.

• Cultivating an awareness of solutions to violent conflict resolution, honoring creative diversity, developing an intercultural dialogue, and stimulating this creative resource.

Internationally generated feature, short, documentary & animation films, TV programs, stageplays, musical videos & song lyrics, puppetry theatre, short stories, radioplays and screenplays can give voice to critical problems of violence raised by world, regional and local issues and experiences, and point to the root causes of conflict. These creative endeavors can educate and motivate the public audience, can teach alternatives to violence, and can address issues relating to the deep-seated causes of conflict. Promoting non-violent conflict resolution within the entertainment industry does not mean stifling some voices so that others may be heard. We ask only that OUR voice be heard, also.

Women filmmakers and women writers are vocal and active participants in the social forces that shape our culture. The natural role of women in peace-building and non-violent conflict resolution at the local, national, regional and international levels is a vital component of our program. More and more women are caught at the center of violent conflict. In ethnic, religious, gender and identity wars, women and girls are becoming the direct and deliberate victims of killing, sexual assault and rape. But women are not just victims. They have taken the initiative to reach across the conflict divide and seek peace.

We seek to identify and encourage these women and men and the existing or potential opportunities for peacemaking, as well as to identify possible approaches able to create conditions for viable and less violent processes. We believe that genuine conflict transformation can be achieved by those directly affected by the conflict. Our task is to motivate and support those young people, and women and men who are committed to forging initiatives for peace and non-violence; exploring paths toward healing and reconciliation, and creating an atmosphere encouraging dialogue within their families, neighborhoods, towns, cities and their countries, thus enabling people's participation in the entire process of learning viable methods of non-violent conflict resolution.

The Moondance Columbine Award project proposes to:

• Raise global awareness of women's experiences and perspectives of peace and conflict.

• Help women better realize their potential as peace-builders, from the village to the national and international level.

• Affect the international film and television industry, as well as the music industry, specifically targeting those entities to motivate them to fund and produce films and shows which depict viable alternatives to violent conflict resolution.

• Acknowledge the potentially powerful roles writers and filmmakers can play in securing peace.

• Gain a greater commitment by the international film community toward depictions of non-violent conflict resolutions.

* Please contact Elizabeth English to make a donation, for further information, or any questions you may have regarding individual or corporate sponsorship of the Moondance International Film Festival and/or the Moondance Columbine Awards and Film Fund.

Elizabeth English
director@moondancefilmfestival.com