Hyunjin Kang-Graham(Korean)
I conducted e-mail interviews with twenty-five Asians from August 18 through September 29, 2006. The interviewees included people from China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, and Uzbekistan. I asked for their ideas about reaching reconciliation and peace in Asia. One common suggestion was to enhance the trust and understanding between people in different parts of the world by expanding chances to have intercultural contacts. In turn, mutual understanding and mutual trust will contribute to building a community for peace and a culture of peace. That is, these ideas implied a need for a People to People network that allows people to communicate with each other, learn about each other? culture and build trust and friendship. The interviewees shared the idea that a people to people network will be a cornerstone for Paths to Peace. Now, let me show you some of the great ideas about peace that I received from the interviewees.

Build a community for peace among Asians - Kathy, Malaysian
Most countries in Asia have strong connections and beliefs in a certain religion. However, a reconciliation between different religions has not seemed to progress even in the past two centuries. We need to learn about other people? cultures and religions so that we can be more sensitive and more aware of others?concerns in their lives. I also wish that most of us would not have any wars and violent conflicts. Asians should be united into a community for peace.

Establish a network of peace groups and activists - Fenny Yeow, Indonesian
Establish a network of peace groups and activists in Asia. Recognize and understand that the problems of a conflict or a war not only affect some parts, but are also related to the peace and prosperity of all of the neighboring nations. Therefore we should see the need to extend opportunities for reconciliation and cooperation through the participation of neighboring countries. Involve more of the international conference movements and initiatives, which will pave the way for conflict nations to participate together in establishing a peace network and will allow neighboring countries to make joint efforts for peace.
Fenny Yeow, Indonesian

Build peace through a global network of peace - Srikanth Sreenivasan Thaliyakattil, Indian
Normally the term ?eace?means an absence of conflict, chaos and man-made social disturbances that harm the life of human beings or make it difficult. However, to understand the term peace, one must go deep into the causes of conflict. In the current global situation where conflict in one region is highly probable to disturb the peaceful existence of humans in the other regions, finding solutions to conflict or initiatives to construct and keep peace should be on a global scale. This warrants the involvement of people from all parts of the globe.

Peaceful existence involves one fundamental quality that makes a person a ?uman being.?It is the liberal outlook and the greater understanding of other fellow beings. The roots of most of the current conflicts can be traced to the rigid thinking of individuals, groups, social elites (who control the ruling class), or sometimes societies as a whole, especially because of the long tradition of living in a closed society that is immune to the understanding of other cultures. In the long run, these societies or groups develop a sense of superiority and arrogance marked with uncompromising and rigid attitudes towards other societies and cultures.

One of the greatest examples is the current conflict between Islam and the Christian west. Extremist segments of both these cultures are often based on medieval values, judgments and thought processes. These groups are fighting modern wars that are highly destructive to the peaceful existence of humanity. Peace can only be established by propagating a greater understanding of different cultures, educating the emerging generation in the value of a liberal outlook, and arming them with reason and rationale.

To overcome the mistrust caused by a lack of understanding of differences is a prerequisite for peace. Mutual mistrust is often exploited by outside powers, contributing to the increasing mistrust between countries. A solution to mistrust can be the founding of an Asian University that runs on a non-profit basis with funds contributed by countries according to their economic strength. This will contribute to building pan-Asian institutions, which over time can produce capable candidates who have a greater understanding of other cultures, and will provide Asia with an intellectual leadership able to contribute to peaceful co-existence.

 Messages from Paths to Peace reporters

Peace should be based on humanity and justice - Kim Yang-eun(Korean)
Dear my fellow Asians,
We live in the largest continent in the world. This is one of the reasons Asia takes an important position in today? global society. Among many changes in the 20th century, the development of the Internet brought us to a global space beyond national borders. Even though we do not live in the same country, we still can meet each other online. We are given an opportunity to take a crucial role in making a better world.

Have you ever heard about ?sian Values? The core of Asian values is community life. Community life can be a key to solve many social problems resulting from egoistic individualism or chauvinistic nationalism. Now it is time for us to work together to make a peaceful Asia and a peaceful world.

Then, what is peace? Some people may define ?eace?as a situation in which there is no war. However, this definition does not seem to contain the whole meaning of peace. Imagine there are two countries and no war is happening between them. Does this situation look peaceful to you? Yes, they can look peaceful. However, I think this situation shows just a half of the meaning of peace because we just look at the surface of the situation. Peace shouldn't be just a quiet state not interrupted by external forces.

Peace should be based not only on humanity, but also on justice and rightness. Some countries are waging or engaging in war while justifying the cause of the war as keeping world peace. However, this cause can hardly be justified. Peace should be protected only by peaceful means. We, Asians, should work together to enhance our understanding of each other and reach harmony among differences. A peaceful Asia and a peaceful world will come through our efforts.

Why don't we find ways to live in harmony? - Kown Jae-young(Korean)
Hello, my fellow Asians,
As an Asian student in Canada, I sometimes feel a profound separation and division among people from the same country, region or even family. One time, my Chinese friend told me that he hung out with people only from his region, mainland China, but did not make any friends with people from Hong Kong. This portrays a deep-rooted segregation that exists among Asians even in schools.

For me, peace does not merely mean an absence of war, but the state of people living in harmony with caring minds about others. My Canadian friend, Anda, also said that the past definition of peace was not having war or violence, but the meaning of peace is now changing to being more than just that. The present meaning of peace is a state of people living together harmoniously with physical, mental and social well-being.

To make a real peace, we first should overcome prejudice and stereotypes about others and seek understanding of differences. I heard that an Australian man going around with a sign saying ?ree Hugs?made international headlines. This news story exemplifies how people desperately seek mental warmth and caring from others. A peaceful world will be made when we try to understand and care about each other regardless of differences. Further, with the onset of globalization where countries are forming alliances such as the European Union (EU), we Asians should make an alliance of peace to thrive in this competitive world.

Start with small things - Choi Jee-seun(Korean)
Dear my fellow Asians
You may think that peace in Asia can be achieved by getting rid of terrorists and destructive weapons. For me, this idea seems too ideal and impractical. It just makes us feel helpless, and in turn misleads us into believing that only politicians or rich people can do something for peace.

I think there are small things we can do that can bring us to peace. For example, we can read articles about other Asian countries to improve our understanding of each other. Small changes can make big changes. It is like Nike? founder who started his business from selling sneakers in the trunk of his car. Remember that peacemaking is not just the business of a couple of people in a couple of countries, but of all the people in Asia. Let? show the world a peaceful Asia!!