Dear friends

I am writing to you with joy, with excitement. The last few weeks have been incredible, filled with inspiring activities, invaluable time spent with dear friends, enriching academic work and highly rewarding voluntary work.

Non-Violent Communication

My most recent experience, which has filled me with hope and enthusiasm, was the International Intensive Training in Non-Violent Communication (NVC) which I attended in Rinkesta in Sweden on 19-27 May 2005. I was invited with a scholarship by the Centre for Non-Violent Communication to attend the training, as I had earlier met the founder of CNVC, Marshall Rosenberg, at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre, Brazil, in February. NVC is a communication process based on human needs, during which we connect with out needs and our feelings in order to express ourselves in honesty or to connect with others through empathy. It is a very powerful process, and during the training we were told several unbelievable stories of how NVC may work in violence prevention.

One of the stories which had a huge impact on me, was Yvonne's. One day, Yvonne was hitch-hiking along the road in southern Sweden, and a man stopped to give her a ride. All of a sudden, he pulls off the main road onto a smaller road, and Yvonne asks him where they are going. The man stops the car and throws himself over Yvonne to rape her. Yvonne, with amazing power, takes his hand, squeezes it, and tells him he must be in great pain... The man starts crying, and Yvonne embraces him. They start talking, become friends and continue on the road in a strengthened relationship.

I couldn't believe what Yvonne was telling us. It gives me a lot of hope, as NVC has to do with getting through to the humanity in every individual, getting to their heart. We recognise that we all act on our human needs, and if in Yvonne's case the man was needing love, affection and affirmation, she recognised that and got through to his humanity. He was no monster. There are no monsters. NVC believes in human beings and provides ways to satisfy everyone's needs, without using violence.

As you will understand, this has inspired me greatly, and I hope to continue the training process to become a certified trainer. There is a local NVC practice group in Buenos Aires, and I will try to get involved with their work and continue practising.

In the pictures, you will see some of the people I met at the training, Johan (Sweden, at the top), Marianne (one of the trainers, a very good salsa dancer and with the same passion for Colombia as I have), and Bozenna (Polish Swede, with whom I connected profoundly and danced merengue for the No Talent Show (!) on our last night together).

Madrid Reunion

On my way back to Buenos Aires, I had a stop-over in Madrid, where I met up with some dear friends from the United World College in New Mexico, Ana Lydia, Alicia and Ivan. we hadn't seen each other in 7 years, and it was wonderful to spend an evening with them. I hope we can meet again soon. In the photo you will see that we went to a bar, where Alicia and I made sure we did some salsa moves, remembering Christmas 1994, which we spent in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Culture of Peace and Theories of International Relations

Before leaving for Sweden, I was very busy with various pieces of academic work, as many of you know. It was very rewarding finishing them, focussing on my thesis topic, the Culture of Peace. The Culture of Peace is an alternative to the dominating Realist theory in international relations, and speaks of how we can change our cultures of violence on personal, social and international levels to more easily build peace. Ever since I began working on the Culture of Peace, especially with David Adams and the World Report on the Culture of Peace and with UNESCO Brazil, I have been enthusiastic about this approach, and we hope to influence governments for them to discuss civil society initiatives then they gather in the General Assembly in the UN in September.

The work on the Report has been particularly enriching, and I have been helping with the gathering of information from NGOs in Brazil, Scandinavia, Spain (with the help of my dear Sevillan friend, Marķa - mil gracias!), Belgium, Malta and Finland. I have also been helping with translations to Spanish and from Portuguese to English, and with the editing of photos for the Report. The Report which will be sent to Kofi Annan in June is available here.

Democratic Dialogue

Now I am also working in a team of volunteers on a UNDP project called Democratic Dialogue. The aim is to closely follow the socio-economic and political conflicts in several countries in Latin America in order to give certain recommendations to the UNDP on how they can get involved or support the National Dialogue processes in each of those coutries. The work is remarkably interesting, and I am learning a lot. I am following the situation in Nicaragua and Bolivia, and it has been very rewarding being part of the team so far.

World Voices Norway

My work in World Voices Norway also continues. Our dear NGO has been very successful in obtaining funds lately, and we are preparing an international seminar in Oslo this summer with various delegates from youth NGOs in Uganda and Sierra Leone, to support them in establishing an African youth NGO network. In July I will withdraw as Director of WVN, which will be sad and melancholic, but I will continue supporting their work in whatever way I can. We are also about to complete the Colombian project, now that Gerson's song, with music and vocals by the Colombian-Norwegian artist Stig van Eijk about to be launched. The funds we raise with the sale of the CD-single will go to projects for children and youth affected by anti-personnel landmines in Colombia. If you would like to buy a CD, let me know on gert@gertdanielsen.org and I will add your name to the list for when the CD is launched.

Languages, Consistent Consumerism and Peace Forces

Aside from that, I continue learning Portuguese and Arabic at the CUI in Buenos Aires, and I will continue my training as a mediator. I have also dedicated myself to being a contact person for the Boycott Bush campaign in Norway and Argentina, as I feel that it is vital for us to consume according to our principles and the issues we support with our hearts and souls. Read more on  Boycott Bush. And I am planning a meeting in Buenos Aires for NGOs and individiuals who would like to support the work of the Non-Violent Peace Force, which is doing excellent work in Sri Lanka. That is all... As if I had nothing else to do...

That's it, my loved ones... I hope to keep you somewhat updated through my web site. It is important for me to be able to count on your time and dedication, as you help satisfy my needs for affirmation, consideration, connection and affection.

A warm embrace for each one of you,