International Festival on "Peace and Justice"
1st – 3rd December 2006
Dear Friends,

The quest for peace is an eternal pursuit for human fulfilment. Human beings can become human and humane only in conditions of peace. Creativity, spirituality, individual and collective achievements attain grandeur and glory only when there is amity. Qualities of compassion, forgiveness, love, sharing and universal solidarity become cherished and sought after virtuous attributes only when a community, society or nation is at peace – within and without. War on the other hand, internal or external, civil or military, declared or undeclared valorises bravery – the capacity to kill or be killed – the destruction of human life and accomplishments; it mocks compassion and conscience. Economic, social and cultural rights are necessary pre-conditions for the realisation of an effective, egalitarian and non-discriminatory civil and political order.

Peace Festival on the theme "Peace and Justice" aims to address the importance of justice and peace issues and raise public awareness using innovative and alternative means of communication– video films, street theatre, poster exhibitions, literature, etc. The thrust of the Festival will be based on perspectives and worldviews of rural and urban communities – Dalits, Adivasis, Women and minorities. At the close of the Festival there will an attempt to formulate a perspective and establish linkages with various groups working towards strengthening peace and justice.

Mumbai based organisations* under the banner of "Forum for Peace and Justice" in collaboration with Peace for Life – a Philippines based global solidarity network have taken the initiative to organise a International Festival on the theme ‘Peace and Justice’. The significance of this theme is very relevant especially in the context of war, conflict and crime against humanity. In this context there is an urgent need to uphold the desirability and principle of peace that can only be realised through the actualisation of justice with democracy, equality and strengthening the principles of secularism.

We invite you on behalf of "Forum for Peace and Justice" to participate in the Peace Festival and you are welcome to present any cultural items giving expression to Peace and Justice. Please confirm your participation at the earliest to the addresses given below:

Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (VAK)
D-1, Shivdham,
62 Link Road,
Malad (West)
Mumbai 400 064
Email: vak@bom3.vsnl.net.in
Tel: 2882 2850

* Center for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Vikas Adhyayan Kendra (VAK), Federation of Center for Community Organizations (FCCO) Mumbai, Movement for Peace and Justice (MPJ), Focus of the Global South, Pakistan India Forum for Peace and Democracy, Peoples India Initiative, CNDP, Muslim Intellectual Forum, EKTA.