Communicating a Nonviolent Paradigm Through the Arts and Humour

Abstract

Two major and conflicting issues in global society are an environmental crisis of monumental proportions, and an appalling expenditure on militarism. Addressing the environmental issue means reducing military expenditure drastically and quickly. To do so requires an alternative means of conflict resolution to military 'solutions'. Nonviolence is an important element of that alternative, as it has proven ability to achieve equitable outcomes against even the most ruthless of opponents. It is also an evolving praxis, with 'active resistance' being a new and proven element largely pioneered in Australian blockades, and then taken up by activists around the world. However, there is a significant gap between the reality of what nonviolence can achieve, and public perceptions of nonviolence. There is therefore a need to communicate to the governments, businesses and the general public a new paradigm - a) that there is a grave, multi-dimensional environmental crisis (which has many and varied solutions), b) that militarism is unnecessary and unaffordable extravagance in this time of environmental crisis, and c) that nonviolence provides a viable and evolving alternative method of conflict resolution, in all manner of situations.