…At the social and political level, non-violence means opposition to institutional and structural violence. I learned from Gandhi not to be shy of engaging in constructive criticism but to approach opponents in person or in writing with a kind heart, because the aim is always to bring about a change of heart and mind in the person or society. The technique continues to impress me deeply, especially when I see much of the media engaged in inciting violence between politicians, nations, and ethnic or religious groups. We have to learn to live with people and nature non-violently, which means giving up the desire to impose our will, to subjugate, to dominate and to control other people, animals and the natural world for the fulfilment of our own ambitions and our own egos. The more I have seen and thought, the more I have realised that non-violence is the essential ground on which a sustainable future for humanity as well as for the earth can be envisioned and built…

…Without inner peace, no other peace can be realised. If I have achieved a degree of peace of mind within myself, then I will not fear others. But if I have not been able to overcome my personal fears, then it is easy for political and military leaders to create in me fear of an external enemy. So unless I start with myself and make peace with myself, I cannot achieve peace in the world. This inner peace should be translated into world peace. I cannot retire into the serene space of my inner peace and leave the world as it is. I cannot sit calmly meditating while nuclear weapons pile up. So non-violent action to bring peace in the world is a natural consequence of inner peace.

World peace is a building block to making peace with nature. When nations fight, when bombs are dropped, it is not only human beings who are killed; natural habitats are also destroyed. But no one counts the cost of nature's demise. Making peace with nature is important even if there is no war, because war with nature leads to war between nations. Most wars are fought over resources and to protect markets. Wars are less and less political and more and more economic. All wars are wars against nature since they involve a tremendous amount of air pollution, sea pollution and land pollution; land mines are a case in point. So the nations of the world have to agree unanimously that, whatever their dispute, diplomatic and non-violent methods will be the only course they will follow; under no circumstances will violence be used.

Of course, this will not happen over night, but if this could be a new resolution and if, step-by-step, the world could work towards this goal, then one day we might establish a non-violent social order. In the wake of nuclear, biological and chemical warfare, and in the wake of global warming, ozone depletion and world hunger, the stark choice is between non-violence and non-existence.