The Nonviolent Life

A recent report from the Institute for Economics and Peace defines violence containment spending as economic activity that is related to the consequences or prevention of violence where the violence is directed against people or property. IEP estimates that the cost to the global economy is 9.46 trillion USD. Add to that the loss of life, the anguish of those who have been bereaved, the suffering of people unjustly imprisoned, tortured and raped and of those made homeless by war and forced to flee their homelands and one sees how crucial is the practice of nonviolence.Today the USA and its allies, heirs of the Judeo- Christian tradition, still believe that peace may be achieved though violence and this attitude is mythologized in films and cartoons about super-heroes; but, as John Dear points out in this excellent book, violence breeds more, and more extreme, violence. The only way to achieve lasting peace is through nonviolence. I mention the Judeo-Christian tradition because Dear is a Christian and this book is a very timely reminder to Christians that Jesus taught and practised non-violence! But recourse to violence pre-dominates in the world amongst adherents of all religious faiths so this book will be a useful to all.As the Dalai Lama frequently reminds us only non-violence can promote peace.John Dear is a seasoned campaigner for nonviolence and his short book is a treasure trove of sound ideas about how we as individuals can learn to become nonviolent. But, of course, we have to do the homework!