Message for Nonviolence Month 2017 – 2-31 October

We at the International Centre of Nonviolence Australia have been observing Nonviolence Month starting 2 October in commemoration of the birth anniversary of the greatest proponent of nonviolence in action, since Buddha 2500 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi.
This is our fourth Nonviolence Month 2-31 October. In the past we hosted a variety of events including organising visiting speeches in various Australian cities by Dr Ela Gandhi (granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi) from South Africa and Australia-wide university lectures on nonviolence by Emeritus Professor Magnus Haavelsrud from Norway and Nonviolence concerts.

This year we are requesting every University and educational institution and peace promoting organisations to dedicate some of the activities during the month to dedicate to fostering nonviolence in everyday action.

“Every year on 2 October, on what would have been Indian civil rights leader Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday, the world celebrates the International Day of Nonviolence. It is, the United Nations writes, an opportunity to “disseminate the message of non-violence” with the goal of “securing a culture of peace, tolerance and understanding”.
Gandhi, who led his country’s battle for independence, is perhaps the best-known practitioner of non-violence. He inspired countless others with his philosophy, including Nobel Prize-winning scientist Albert Einstein.
“Gandhi’s views were the most enlightened of all the political men of our time. We should strive to do things in his spirit: not to use violence in fighting for our cause, but by non-participation in anything you believe is evil,” Einstein wrote.

“When it gets down to having to use violence, then you are playing the system’s game. The establishment will irritate you – pull your beard, flick your face – to make you fight. Because once they’ve got you violent, then they know how to handle you. The only thing they don’t know how to handle is non-violence and humour.”
John Lennon, musician

“Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.”
Thomas Edison, Inventor