Form Coalitions for Peace by Queen Noor

Queen Noor - Jordan

There are infinite ways that together we can contribute to coalitions to create a more stable, secure and equitable world. We live in a time when it is critically important to build such coalitions. My late husband, King Hussein, believed that peace resides ultimately not in the hands of governments, but in the hands of people. He said that real victories are those that protect human life, not those that result from its destruction or emerge from its ashes.

Education is the single most effective tool in our peace arsenal. It can provide techniques for resolving differences without conflict, broader perspectives for looking at the world from others’ points of view, and the resources, skills and new thinking that are the currency of the global information economy. Successful coalitions cannot be simply temporary alliances of like-minded nations, determined to achieve their own ends. They need to encompass a wealth of enduring, committed partnerships – among governments, business, and civil society, and above all, among all kinds of people.

You can add your voice to the many other voices around the world calling for peace, justice and tolerance. Thanks to the power of technology in the service of democratic principles; never before in human history have ordinary people had so much opportunity to do good.

Yes, now, more than ever, is the time for true coalitions – for webs, for networks of people reaching out to each other. If we break down the walls of misperception and mistrust, we will achieve our radically new definition of security – not a fortress for the few, but a safety net for all.