Memo

To: 1311 Students

From: Cj M.

Date: 2/14/11

Re: The Center for Nonviolent Communication

In today’s world vitriol and animosity are becoming more rampant than ever. The tone in everyday media has become increasingly fiercer. Even mediums which are supposed to be subjective and professional are becoming very opinionative and emotional. Nowadays in our society people side with anger and violence more often when engaging each other. They are more willing to encounter people and start arguments or fights instead of working things out clearly. This goes from everyday people to high profiles such as the media and members of Congress.

The Center for Nonviolent Communication is an international organization the focuses on reversing this trend around the world. The main focus of the center is to teach people how to use careful conversation to resolve conflicts and other matters. They believe that people are naturally compassionate and share the same basic needs, along with the idea that violence is learned through culture. The CNVC is active in 65 countries teaching people how to be understanding and authentic in conflict resolve. Founder Marshall B. Rosenberg, PhD boils down the organizations cause in one simple sentence “When our communication supports compassionate giving and receiving, happiness replaces violence and grieving”.

The Center for Nonviolent Communication as you would imagine communicates in many ways due to its numerous locations. First of all it communicates with non-members through some advertising and a website. Although the site is also used to keep members informed it is mostly organized in an interesting manner to gain new members. Mail and E-mail are also popular tools used to communicate with members. The center also provides a library full of reading materials for members to learn about the principles and practices of the organization. Because the Center for Nonviolent Communication is very volunteer-oriented there are also many ways that members can communicate with others on your own, including blogs and practice groups.

The Center for Nonviolent Communication is an interesting and innovative group that most people would agree with despite their background. It’s a great way to provide awareness and help for a common bad habit that societies not only in America, but in societies around the world. The CVNC is also volunteer based and does not profit other than donations so if you are interested you can help the organization very easily. They provide many reading materials and services for people to become members and also you can be trained to start your own practice group for your community as well.

On Educating Girls

   The Central Asia Institute is a school in Pakistan that strives to teach young children who are very poor, even including young girls. It was founded by Greg Mortensen who after meeting the native people on a trip promised to eventually come back and build a school for their children.  Today the school is thriving with numerous students and teachers working to better the quality of life in the region. Children from areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan come to the school to gain a basic education.
                In the video Greg says something that is very true, that no matter what else we try to do education is what helps change people for the better. Instead of trying to fight fire with fire in war, trying to install certain ideas, or donating things instead of trying to get to the root of the problem trying to educate the people will improve things over time for years to come. Without education the quality of living lowers and many people suffer when they don’t have to. Even if some men are educated it helps even probably twice as much if women are also allowed to learn as well. One thing that is good about education also is that it can be passed down to others, so in a way it can be infectious and spread into the population somewhat.
                Education is the key to fighting problems in many countries such as poverty, war and hostility, lack of government, and disease to some degree. In third world countries it is proven that educating some of the populations girls greatly affects GDP and population growth. Imagine if most or all of the worlds girls were given educations, the quality of many countries in the world would be tremendously better. Hopefully this is an issue that is looked into in the future because investing in the education of girls has already had surprising results in small areas.