ICON: Continuity and change in nonviolence

Crispin HemsonDirector, International Centre of Nonviolence,

Durban

AimTo locate our work on nonviolence in relation

to global and South African developmentsTo set out the ways in which structural

violence continues, and the ways in which those committed to nonviolence need to respond

To locate the work of the International Centre of Nonviolence within such responses

2006 conference resolution:We pledge to take forward the struggle for nonviolence and the

peaceful resolution of conflict whether in our own lives, or in our organizations, locally, nationally or internationally by uniting together to work together as participants at this conference to:-

Establish Centres for Non-Violence based on the principles of Satyagraha and Ubuntu;

Lobby for the inclusion of the basic principles of Satyagraha within local regional and international fora such as the World Social Forum

Continue our dialogueBroaden our engagement with organs of civil society to create a

global movement for peace and non-violence through Satyagraha, and to work to end injustice, dehumanizing violence, destruction and economic exploitation and oppression of a large section of society.

Since 2006The destructive nature of the global financial

system is more visibleThe accelerating decline in the health of the

world’s ecosystems is more visibleWe see violence being constantly reproduced,

including by those who have themselves been the victims of violence

We also see movements to assert humanity, often faltering and uneven

The nature of structural violence‘Social structures – economic, political, legal,

religious, and cultural – that stop individuals, groups, and societies from reaching their full potential.’

What we usually mean by the term ‘violence’ can be defined as ‘personal violence’

Helpful to keep both concepts together as ways of thinking about the why and the how of violence

Violence in South AfricaDecember 2010: JOHANNESBURG

(miningweekly.com) – Embattled Aurora Empowerment Systems, owners of Grootvlei [‘large wetland’] mine, said on Wednesday that it was being held under siege by illegal miners plundering the mine, east of Johannesburg.

Aurora GM Louis Lamsley said that the “extremely violent” illegal miners had been stripping unused shafts of metal and other valuables since the mine went onto care and maintenance in March.

Rhetoric of violence, criminality and dishonesty.

Grootvlei Mine was bought by Aurora Empowerment Systems in late 2009 from liquidators of previous owner..

Closure of mines raises major concerns because of the permanent damage caused by mining: underground water becomes contaminated through chemical reactions with exposed rock, and requires ongoing treatment.

Directors of Aurora include Khulubuse Zuma (President Jacob Zuma's nephew, on left), Zondwa Mandela (Nelson Mandela's grandson, on right) and Michael Hulley (legal adviser to the President)

The new owners stopped paying wages in February 2010, while gold was removed from the mine and equipment stripped

The mine stopped treating contaminated water, which began to flow into the wetland

Acid mine water flowing into local streamMarch 2010The Blesbokspruit flows into a Ramsar site (a wetland of recognised international significance).

April 2010; Workers protest at non-payment. Tear gas and rubber bullets are used to disperse them. August 2010: Security chief (‘Bad Brad’) at mine shoots dead four illegal miners

January 2011Pumps were removed from the flooded Aurora owned mine for repair, leading to flooding of the eastern mining basin, east of Johannesburg. According to liquidator, Enver Motala, the switch off was planned. “The water pumps were removed and have to be repaired. It’s a normal routine. In one or two months the situation will be returned to normal.” He said that the flooding could be contained for up to six months before it would be a crisis.

September 2011Enver Motala no longer allowed to practise as a liquidator as a result of having lied about his previous convictions for fraud under his previous name, Enver Dawood. New liquidators appointed.

November 2011Paddy Harper miningmx.com Sun:In papers filed in the Pretoria High  Court this week,

liquidators said the Master of the High Court inquiry into the Aurora deal had heard evidence of how the money was illegally diverted into an account controlled by Aurora.

Aurora‘s directors and managers sold R122m worth of gold from the mines and paid themselves and their families with the proceeds instead of paying running costs and staff.

The money was then paid to directors, managers and their family members instead of being used to pay creditors – as was agreed with the liquidation team headed by Motala.

December 2011: Khulubuse Zuma

purchases Maserati for R1 million

March 201220 miners died in

illegal mining April 2012Gold One buys

GrootvleiWorkers are hopeful

that at least some will get jobs

What we see in the case studyHow those who acted as agents of the oppression

tried to portray those who suffered most directly – miners –as violent and dishonest

How closely related violence against people is related to violence against the environment

How quickly people with a history of struggle against oppression can become agents of oppression. ‘The enemy’ is not one group, but relationships of power, domination and violence

The possibility of new forms of collaboration and unity across groups divided through history, such as white and black miners

What does this tell us about structural violence?Structural violence sets up a situation in which the

exercise of personal violence becomes more likely. Structural violence also enables the normalisation of personal violence against certain groups.

We can have major political change, but unless we face up to the role of structural and personal violence, long-term positive change is not possible

Violence is linked to corruption and secrecy. When the justice system and the media carry out their professional work, they are a force for nonviolence.

What response is needed?The need to keep hope and build confidence

that we can bring changeDeveloping ways of resisting structural

violence – education, developing alliances across difference, modelling alternatives

Strengthening the ability of institutions such as the law and media as forces for democracy and truth

Creating spaces within society in which nonviolence is modelled and hope restored

Implications for the work of an International Centre of NonviolenceICON is a non-profit organisation based at, and

linked to, Durban University of TechnologyAfter a recent evaluation process, we agreed

that our focus is specifically structural violence‘Strategic interventions in education related to

nonviolence’Crucially, our educational work needs to model

nonviolence and be a force for a change in consciousness

Building a network of those who can work for nonviolence through and within education

Specific areas of action: - higher education, especially teacher education- developing nonviolent ways of working with teachers at all levels- research that leads into action- popular dissemination of ideas- developing a core of people with the understanding and skill to work with nonviolence

Developing a model for nonviolent practice within development projects

Immensity of task; this takes time, but even the smallest step forward matters.