The good folks at Nonviolent Peaceforce reached out to me to tell me about something called “Peace Bonds”. These are beautifully designed gift cards with a difference. When you purchase one, the proceeds goes to help fund Nonviolent Peaceforce’s work around the world to prevent violence, promote peace, and protect civilians in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones. The cards come in different denominations from $10 (two hours of peace) to $500 (100 hours of peace).
Nonviolent Peaceforce is an international nonprofit organization with locations in South Sudan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka committed to nonviolent peacemaking in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict areas. They have been endorsed by people from The Dalai Lama to Lech Walesa. Unlike UN and government peacekeepers, they don’t use weapons or armed forces. Typically, they respond to invitations by local governments or credible local organizations committed to nonviolent solutions. Their activities have ranged from entering active conflict zones to remove civilians in the crossfire to providing opposing factions a safe space to negotiate to working in schools and talking to community leaders, to protecting families. Other activities include serving as a communication link between warring factions, securing safe temporary housing for civilians displaced by war, providing violence prevention measures during elections and negotiating the return of kidnapped family members.
After being invited, they meet key players, including commanders from opposing sides, local police, religious, business, and civil society leaders. When violence erupts, civilians under threat often contact them, as they have been living among them. Visibly nonpartisan and unarmed, they arrive in NP uniforms, with NP vehicles, letting their presence be known.