Difference between pages "Commit to a meaningful participation process" and "Urban Gardening Peace Project"

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== The ambition ==
The world requires transformation towards a culture of peace, which consist of values, attitudes and behaviours that reflect and inspire social interaction and sharing based on the principles of freedom , justice and democracy, all human rights , tolerance and solidarity , that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation and that guarantee the full exercise of all rights and the means to participate fully in the development process of their society.' https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d94ec670c5b607d9c896795/t/5ef0c35f16217c2827e84d65/1592836959623/For+Peace_UN+Resolution_Establishment+of+Ministries+and+Departments+for+Peace.pdf For such a constructive change the world needs to work together and starts a “peace process” which invites all parties for an international cooperation.Without such a process it may be difficult to strengthen individual and societal freedoms for flourishing, to curb climate change and biodiversity loss, reduce inequalities in income and wealth, end armed conflicts and avoid out-bursts of violence, strengthen the rule of law and accountable and effective public institutions, and shape digitalisation.In this regard, peace science can contribute the world’s transformation process by proving that micro-level peacebuilding methods adequately can tackle injustice and help transformers to find solutions by sharing their knowledge with each other during the dialogue process in an urban just and sustainable transition process.


Meaningful participation means that citizens’ inputs are seriously considered in inclusive design and governance  processes, they visibly shape initiative outcomes, and thus can influence the status quo in urban sustainability and justice. Such a process is also cognisant of who is invited and capable of participating, since otherwise it runs the risk of becoming a further driver of injustice.
Creating Peace Gardens in the Urban Realm: Urban Gardening Peace Project Wuppertal


Based on the sample of cases studied while deriving the enabling governance arrangements, this one usually involves both the municipality and community-led initiatives:
The Urban Gardening Peace Project is located on the grounds of the Alevi community of Wuppertal (AKM) and works closely with several actors in the hearth of the city.As an Avantgardenist thinkers and volunteer transformers we want to be part of collective search for paradigms and pathways towards a world that is sustainable, equitable and just. The community garden invites different cultures and actors to establish a peaceful relationship with each other and at the same time to resume the dialogue with nature. The vision of this scientific project is to create in the sacred place a nature-based conflict transformation model while facilitating intercultural knowledge exchange processes.This space aims to create dialogue in the nature to find sustainable solutions and opens spaces for people to share their needs and hopes. Thus, this creative "Peacebuilding" project has a cultural and social dimension as well as a scientific approach to reduce the power of the drivers of injustice in the context of sustainable urban development.Peacebuilding with its new definition has been implemented in an urban transformation project for taking alternative actions on social inequality and ecological unsustainability in order to create more just and sustainable spaces.As a study it has been realized in Wuppertal in order to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in a real-life laboratory context. It was not only set up to analyse root-cause problems but also sought to propose culturally sensitive solutions.


# On the side of municipalities: Municipal actors need to acknowledge and embrace the value of citizen participation in project development and trust civil-society in visioning and implementing projects. This entails a clear definition of roles and responsibilities and could even mean seeing each other as equally legitimate to engage in the project as partners (e.g. between municipal actors and citizens).  
A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: by Burcu Eke Schneider https://wiki.urban-arena.eu/User:Burcu_Eke-Schneider
#On the side of civil society: Committing to a meaningful participation process can also entail a thoughtful mix of deliberative and practical approaches to citizen participation.


== Check out examples ==
It is an important intervention for preventing violence, it works with inclusiveness to help enable emergence of a common understanding in three main ways:


''1. On the side of municipality''
First, it can support inclusive processes of just urban transition that respect diversity of cultural backgrounds and ethnicity.


''' ''Vauban neighborhood, Freiburg '''
Second, it can promote more environmentally friendly behaviour and attitudes among participants.


The citizen-led Vauban Forum was invited to participate in the “Vauban city planning council” (a consultative committee within the city council) which indicates that the municipality recognizes citizens as legitimate partners in the project development.  
Third, it can convey new meanings of “collective struggle for a common future” in different languages, cultures and sacred places.


Learn more about this intervention:
* Take a look at the detailed [[Co-creation of a sustainable neighborhood in Freiburg]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Envisioning and co-creating sustainable urban neighborhoods by reaching across institutional boundaries]]


''' ''Superblocks'', Barcelona'''
https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f


While establishing Superblocks, the municipality of Barcelona developed a standard procedure for participation in each block. Over the course of the project, this procedure became increasingly open putting responsibilities and decisions into the hand of formalised local working groups consisting of diverse local stakeholders  (e.g. local businesses and residents).
Additionally, sharing resources and knowledge with the communities and inviting them into process to find solutions for their own communities by themselves about sustainable consumption behaviour and attitudes for human-wellbeing or finding local just solutions to address the growing issue of food waste, food affordability and its impact on the climate. Learning from one another and coming into contact with one another are clearly in the foreground, whereby the peace garden should not only be a utensil for social purposes, but also a place for communicating sustainable consumer behaviour.


Learn more about this intervention:
✌️🌱☮️We are a group of peace thinkers..
* Take a look at the detailed [[Dealing flexibly with and learning from resistance in Barcelona]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Inviting citizens to a transformation of street space - flexibly dealing with resistance]]


''2. On the side of civil society''
  Inclusivity


''' ''Brixton Energy'', London'''
We cordially invite everyone to participate in our peace project, regardless of age, gender, political views or origin. Previous knowledge of gardening or peace work is not required.


Consultation with local residents informed the initiative’s problem definition (deliberative approach), and hands-on involvement (practical approach) in the creation of solar panels and internships led to increased interest and participation.
  Strengthening of women


Learn more about this intervention:
We would like to encourage women in particular to participate in the project and further strengthen their social significance. It is important to us to include their creativity and their great collective knowledge about plants and seeds, medicinal properties etc.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Inner-city community energy in London]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[From electricity to empowerment, community energy growing out of the inner-city]]


''' ''Community Land Trust'', Brussels'''
  Peace


Future building residents are essential actors in the planning process.  
We are determined to create and maintain peace. The framework we have created should be understood as a protected space. We do not tolerate defamation or violence towards other people, neither in language nor in behaviour.


Learn more about this intervention:
  Climate Justice
* Take a look at the detailed [[Community led affordable housing in Brussels]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[A new take on affordable housing through community owned and developed dwellings]]


''' ''Carnisse neighborhood'', Rotterdam'''
In our peace project we feel obliged to contribute to more climate justice in an urban environment. We would like to contribute to the reflection on a more sustainable and just life and to a more conscious behaviour.


To make the project more inclusive, project proponents developed two types of participation methods and invited residents to engage in a more deliberative one (e.g. visioning the district) and more practical one (e.g. developing activities in the community center and community garden).
  Biodiversity


Learn more about this intervention:
The Peace Garden is intended to contribute to the greatest possible biodiversity in urban areas. Nature is a network of the most diverse forms of life, everything is connected with everything else. With the Peace Garden, we respect the dependence of humans on nature as part of nature.One of the study's result is: “an alternative educational model emerged: ‘Out of School Space’ for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the nature.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Regeneration of a deprived neighborhood in Rotterdam]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Trusting civil society and residents to co-shape regeneration projects in deprived neighborhoods]]


''' ''Büger Energie Berlin'', Berlin'''
Feedback from a teacher after their school visit:


BEB would not have been able to establish and grow the way it did without the contribution of volunteersMost of them are students, mainly graduates from the field of renewable energies but there are also retired people who want to use their free time to help the cooperative.
“It is a nice idea to come again with our class or with a part of the class to your garden(s) in spring, when the weather is suitable, to build something and / or to plant somethingWe could also very well imagine coming on other dates with other classes. We would also be very happy to plan such a visit together beforehand in terms of methods and activities.  Peace Garden's works and ideas are very impressive and have also given me personally new impulses, for example on the transformation of spaces and old objects. The idea of intercultural and interreligious cooperation in such very concrete joint projects like the “Peace Garden” is very nice anyway.” Gesamtschule Barmen Teacher
According to an interviewee:
''“Among the most important factors for the cooperative being alive and working to realize its goals is that we have a lot of people as volunteers giving their time and putting in their efforts for instance, myself and other team members, although, their duties  are being managed paid positions - two general managers – in BEB. The two general managers are essentially doing what needs to be done from coordinating all the activities to implementing new ideas and doing all the nitty gritty and everything. However, that wouldn’t have been possible without the larger membership base that is gradually increasing”.''


Learn more about this intervention:
The group members – mainly women – began to be part of change for a constructive future and the community they live in. New spaces can encourage the young generation, especially women, to be part of a positive change.
* Take a look at the detailed [[Citizens share in Berlin Energy Grid for sustainable energy]]
* Check out the brief governance scenario called [[Making local energy systems inclusively sustainable - by ourselves, with a little help by friends]]


== Relation to previous work in UrbanA ==
One of the young women members of this peace project says:


This enabling governance arrangement addresses the following '''drivers of injustice''':  
"I think the loss of identity and being out of touch with nature is an increasing issue, especially for people around my age and the following generations. I feel like people lose their awareness for how this world was developed and what we as humans need to do, to keep this planet safe for any living creature. Being caught up in the busy city life makes you forget what the essentials for a functioning and healthy world are. Being out of touch with nature makes you disconnected to the most natural thing you can actually experience".
* [[Limited citizen participation in urban planning]]. It refers to the limited involvement and engagement of citizens and citizens’ initiatives in decision-making around the planning, design, implementation and/or evaluation of urban sustainability-oriented interventions.
 
 
Mehtap Çıplak’s quote, one of the culture and religious centre’s director where Peace Garden created, may serve as another constructive example:
 
“We (Alevi women) have to explain and open ourselves to the society and take more responsibilities where we live. We have a collective centre of faith and culture, yes that is true, but there are conflicts between nature and us. We need to share and teach our nature-based literature and culture, as well as our nature-based art background with the next generation. We have noticed that many other actors and artists in our city have begun to inspire themselves on the work of the Peace Garden, we are happy to be a pioneer community while hosting them in our culture center and peace garden”.
 
 
Publication links:
 
http://www.wuppertals-urbane-gaerten.de/gaerten-zum-mitmachen/urban-gardening-friedensprojekt/?fbclid=IwAR1__YTm-0mpCkyCl3xjBpurjypkqjc4uH2VwfU9lQjW_Jw6JO3LRoZGtNI
 
  Map Overview:https://anstiftung.de/urbane-gaerten/gaerten-im-ueberblick?view=map
  Deutsche Welle Article: https://www.dw.com/de/wuppertal-permakultur-einwanderung-perspektive-gesellschaft-schrebergarten-klimawandel-natur-polen/a-53898345
  Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/491783505092197
  Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/urbangardening_friedensprojekt/
  An Avantgardenist Approach: https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f
  Art and Peace-building : https://under-construction-wuppertal.de/media?fbclid=IwAR0nxzedr8MXJrOokd8SWWTcd8TQyB21rMSMvIXT9_YdKANg_QX8_CKlfig#type,archiv-der-traeume,1 (Here you can find how we contributed to the art scene for Pina Bausch centre’s under construction work with our creativity.. Pls follow the link on: “Büro für künstlerische Praxis” - Archiv der Träume Mansa Sabaghian (0:10:12) und Burcu Eke-Schneider (0:54:15)..)
  Essay by Burcu Eke-Schneider 'Der Sand' Vielleicht - page 11 https://die-wueste-lebt.org/der-sand/
  WZ Article : All people are equal in our peace garden https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/im-wuppertaler-friedensgarten-sind-alle-menschen-gleich_aid-62830993
 
 
Upcoming Presentations:
 
    2021 Swiss Sociological Association Congress Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty : "A Micro-level Peacebuilding Method for Sustainable and Just Cities" Geneva.(28-30 June)
    2021 International Degrowth Conference 'Caring Communities for Radical Change "Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods for Sustainable and Just Cities:Alternative Food Practices" Hague. (24-28 August)
    2021 Georg Arnhold Summer Conference "Environmental Crisis and Education" - Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods (23-27 August)
    2021 UrbanA Policy Action ICLEI (30 September- 01 October)
    2021 Peace Garden nominated and selected as a new eco-education model at NECE Campus "Networking European Citizenship Education" Platform which will be transferred to the NECE Conference 2021 in Brussels.https://www.nece.eu/campus/
    2021 Nominated as one of 3 finalist the category Social Innovation at the German Volunteer Awards 2021 https://volunteerawards.de/finalistinnen-und-jury/burcu-eke-schneider-setzt-sich-fuer-gerechtigkeit-ein/
    2022 Wupper:TEIL Interreligious Dialogue for a Sustainable Future Workshop in Wuppertal
    2022 Ecocity World Summit 2021 "Science to Practice : Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods" Rotterdam. (22-24 February 2022)
 
A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: Peace Garden
 
 
Contact Info : wuppertalforpeace@gmail.com

Revision as of 17:59, 7 January 2022

The world requires transformation towards a culture of peace, which consist of values, attitudes and behaviours that reflect and inspire social interaction and sharing based on the principles of freedom , justice and democracy, all human rights , tolerance and solidarity , that reject violence and endeavour to prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation and that guarantee the full exercise of all rights and the means to participate fully in the development process of their society.' https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d94ec670c5b607d9c896795/t/5ef0c35f16217c2827e84d65/1592836959623/For+Peace_UN+Resolution_Establishment+of+Ministries+and+Departments+for+Peace.pdf For such a constructive change the world needs to work together and starts a “peace process” which invites all parties for an international cooperation.Without such a process it may be difficult to strengthen individual and societal freedoms for flourishing, to curb climate change and biodiversity loss, reduce inequalities in income and wealth, end armed conflicts and avoid out-bursts of violence, strengthen the rule of law and accountable and effective public institutions, and shape digitalisation.In this regard, peace science can contribute the world’s transformation process by proving that micro-level peacebuilding methods adequately can tackle injustice and help transformers to find solutions by sharing their knowledge with each other during the dialogue process in an urban just and sustainable transition process.

Creating Peace Gardens in the Urban Realm: Urban Gardening Peace Project Wuppertal

The Urban Gardening Peace Project is located on the grounds of the Alevi community of Wuppertal (AKM) and works closely with several actors in the hearth of the city.As an Avantgardenist thinkers and volunteer transformers we want to be part of collective search for paradigms and pathways towards a world that is sustainable, equitable and just. The community garden invites different cultures and actors to establish a peaceful relationship with each other and at the same time to resume the dialogue with nature. The vision of this scientific project is to create in the sacred place a nature-based conflict transformation model while facilitating intercultural knowledge exchange processes.This space aims to create dialogue in the nature to find sustainable solutions and opens spaces for people to share their needs and hopes. Thus, this creative "Peacebuilding" project has a cultural and social dimension as well as a scientific approach to reduce the power of the drivers of injustice in the context of sustainable urban development.Peacebuilding with its new definition has been implemented in an urban transformation project for taking alternative actions on social inequality and ecological unsustainability in order to create more just and sustainable spaces.As a study it has been realized in Wuppertal in order to generate an in-depth, multi-faceted understanding of a complex issue in a real-life laboratory context. It was not only set up to analyse root-cause problems but also sought to propose culturally sensitive solutions.

A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: by Burcu Eke Schneider https://wiki.urban-arena.eu/User:Burcu_Eke-Schneider

It is an important intervention for preventing violence, it works with inclusiveness to help enable emergence of a common understanding in three main ways:

First, it can support inclusive processes of just urban transition that respect diversity of cultural backgrounds and ethnicity.

Second, it can promote more environmentally friendly behaviour and attitudes among participants.

Third, it can convey new meanings of “collective struggle for a common future” in different languages, cultures and sacred places.


https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f

Additionally, sharing resources and knowledge with the communities and inviting them into process to find solutions for their own communities by themselves about sustainable consumption behaviour and attitudes for human-wellbeing or finding local just solutions to address the growing issue of food waste, food affordability and its impact on the climate. Learning from one another and coming into contact with one another are clearly in the foreground, whereby the peace garden should not only be a utensil for social purposes, but also a place for communicating sustainable consumer behaviour.

✌️🌱☮️We are a group of peace thinkers..

 Inclusivity

We cordially invite everyone to participate in our peace project, regardless of age, gender, political views or origin. Previous knowledge of gardening or peace work is not required.

 Strengthening of women

We would like to encourage women in particular to participate in the project and further strengthen their social significance. It is important to us to include their creativity and their great collective knowledge about plants and seeds, medicinal properties etc.

 Peace

We are determined to create and maintain peace. The framework we have created should be understood as a protected space. We do not tolerate defamation or violence towards other people, neither in language nor in behaviour.

 Climate Justice

In our peace project we feel obliged to contribute to more climate justice in an urban environment. We would like to contribute to the reflection on a more sustainable and just life and to a more conscious behaviour.

 Biodiversity

The Peace Garden is intended to contribute to the greatest possible biodiversity in urban areas. Nature is a network of the most diverse forms of life, everything is connected with everything else. With the Peace Garden, we respect the dependence of humans on nature as part of nature.One of the study's result is: “an alternative educational model emerged: ‘Out of School Space’ for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in the nature.

Feedback from a teacher after their school visit:

“It is a nice idea to come again with our class or with a part of the class to your garden(s) in spring, when the weather is suitable, to build something and / or to plant something. We could also very well imagine coming on other dates with other classes. We would also be very happy to plan such a visit together beforehand in terms of methods and activities. Peace Garden's works and ideas are very impressive and have also given me personally new impulses, for example on the transformation of spaces and old objects. The idea of intercultural and interreligious cooperation in such very concrete joint projects like the “Peace Garden” is very nice anyway.” Gesamtschule Barmen Teacher

The group members – mainly women – began to be part of change for a constructive future and the community they live in. New spaces can encourage the young generation, especially women, to be part of a positive change.

One of the young women members of this peace project says:

"I think the loss of identity and being out of touch with nature is an increasing issue, especially for people around my age and the following generations. I feel like people lose their awareness for how this world was developed and what we as humans need to do, to keep this planet safe for any living creature. Being caught up in the busy city life makes you forget what the essentials for a functioning and healthy world are. Being out of touch with nature makes you disconnected to the most natural thing you can actually experience".


Mehtap Çıplak’s quote, one of the culture and religious centre’s director where Peace Garden created, may serve as another constructive example:

“We (Alevi women) have to explain and open ourselves to the society and take more responsibilities where we live. We have a collective centre of faith and culture, yes that is true, but there are conflicts between nature and us. We need to share and teach our nature-based literature and culture, as well as our nature-based art background with the next generation. We have noticed that many other actors and artists in our city have begun to inspire themselves on the work of the Peace Garden, we are happy to be a pioneer community while hosting them in our culture center and peace garden”.


Publication links:

http://www.wuppertals-urbane-gaerten.de/gaerten-zum-mitmachen/urban-gardening-friedensprojekt/?fbclid=IwAR1__YTm-0mpCkyCl3xjBpurjypkqjc4uH2VwfU9lQjW_Jw6JO3LRoZGtNI

 Map Overview:https://anstiftung.de/urbane-gaerten/gaerten-im-ueberblick?view=map
 Deutsche Welle Article: https://www.dw.com/de/wuppertal-permakultur-einwanderung-perspektive-gesellschaft-schrebergarten-klimawandel-natur-polen/a-53898345
 Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/groups/491783505092197
 Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/urbangardening_friedensprojekt/
 An Avantgardenist Approach: https://medium.com/urban-arenas-for-sustainable-and-just-cities/an-avantgardenist-approach-creating-peace-gardens-in-the-urban-realm-17f8aaddaa9f
 Art and Peace-building : https://under-construction-wuppertal.de/media?fbclid=IwAR0nxzedr8MXJrOokd8SWWTcd8TQyB21rMSMvIXT9_YdKANg_QX8_CKlfig#type,archiv-der-traeume,1 (Here you can find how we contributed to the art scene for Pina Bausch centre’s under construction work with our creativity.. Pls follow the link on: “Büro für künstlerische Praxis” - Archiv der Träume Mansa Sabaghian (0:10:12) und Burcu Eke-Schneider (0:54:15)..)
 Essay by Burcu Eke-Schneider 'Der Sand' Vielleicht - page 11 https://die-wueste-lebt.org/der-sand/
 WZ Article : All people are equal in our peace garden https://www.wz.de/nrw/wuppertal/im-wuppertaler-friedensgarten-sind-alle-menschen-gleich_aid-62830993


Upcoming Presentations:

   2021 Swiss Sociological Association Congress Social Justice in Times of Uncertainty : "A Micro-level Peacebuilding Method for Sustainable and Just Cities" Geneva.(28-30 June)
   2021 International Degrowth Conference 'Caring Communities for Radical Change "Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods for Sustainable and Just Cities:Alternative Food Practices" Hague. (24-28 August)
   2021 Georg Arnhold Summer Conference "Environmental Crisis and Education" - Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods (23-27 August)
   2021 UrbanA Policy Action ICLEI (30 September- 01 October)
   2021 Peace Garden nominated and selected as a new eco-education model at NECE Campus "Networking European Citizenship Education" Platform which will be transferred to the NECE Conference 2021 in Brussels.https://www.nece.eu/campus/
   2021 Nominated as one of 3 finalist the category Social Innovation at the German Volunteer Awards 2021 https://volunteerawards.de/finalistinnen-und-jury/burcu-eke-schneider-setzt-sich-fuer-gerechtigkeit-ein/
   2022 Wupper:TEIL Interreligious Dialogue for a Sustainable Future Workshop in Wuppertal
   2022 Ecocity World Summit 2021 "Science to Practice : Micro-level Peacebuilding Methods" Rotterdam. (22-24 February 2022)

A micro-level Peacebuilding Method: Peace Garden


Contact Info : wuppertalforpeace@gmail.com