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Dimapur, March 9 (EMN): Members of the Peace Channel organised its monthly forum at Rezeu Residency guest house in Peren town on March 6 during which the members discussed what updates informed was the ‘traditional way of communicating’ themed on peace-building.
The organisers issued a press release on Monday informing about the programme.
The resource persons were 80 years old Namsi, 76 years old Pauhiale, and 63 years old Pauciamle from Puilwa village in Peren district, the press release stated. They spoke to the small group about poetry and human stories and using music as a medium to communicate with one another in the olden days.
‘The lyrics of the songs carried dialogues that were communicated to one another and the ability to listen sincerely and respond diligently. During the course of the demonstration, the participants witnessed how the four members responded to each other because of the commitment to engage with their heart and soul and in due time, they were in sync with each other through the process,’ the press release stated.
Vitono Haralu, the Peace Channel’s project coordinator, was stated to have spoken about the concept of ‘people’s forum’ where likeminded individuals from all walks of life come together to share their experiences and build a space for thinking and build a community of understanding and resilience about issues impacting the society. This they do by working on personal change and behavioural attitude that have long-term benefits for all, the organisers stated.
For the month of March, the theme focused on how traditional communication systems in the olden days had its own limitations and challenges. Yet, the organisers stated, they were much simpler and clear about what it took to sustain dialogue between two people and its impact on the community as a whole.
'This led to an understanding how dialogue, as an important means to peace-building, is an inclusive process, entails learning, not just talking, and changes the way people talk and think and communicate with each other.'
Dialogue recognises people's humanity where participants must be willing to show empathy to one another. It recognises differences as well as areas of common grounds and demonstrates a capacity to change, the press release stated.
“To foster this kind of human interaction, a respectful and neutral setting or in other words, safe space, is created.”
It does not heal a crisis overnight but it does help relieve tensions, develop a set of social reform options and prepare a culture of communication and cooperation, the organisation stated. In today’s modern day communication, ‘we witness everyday how difficult it is becoming to communicate in spite of having unlimited technologies available to reach out to one another and how it has replaced traditional means to dialogue and have a decent conversation with trust.’
Some of the participants at the event spoke about what they had learned, the organisers stated. Pastor Haiku Nza blessed the forum with a prayer, the press release stated. He was stated to have explained how individual experience-sharing can work effectively and how two-way dialogue to understand and feel a belonging can solve many issues.