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Just got back from New Zealand, the home of the Lord
of the Rings trilogy (the travel agents use the acronym LOTR).
Although I did not have the chance to do any of the LOTR tours, I
was awestruck by the beauty around me in Auckland and in Wellington.
For the first time in 10 years, I saw a glorious rainbow! Both
cities have bustling harbors and I spent hours walking around,
mesmerized by the clear blue and green waters of New Zealand’s
industrial harbors. My guide told me that the Kiwis (that’s what
the new Zealanders call themselves) swim and fish in those clear
waters, in the same vicinity as huge container ships. I have never
been to any city which could boast the same. Definitely, not Manila
Bay.
New Zealand Ambassador David Pine
had invited me to participate in the High Level Symposium on the
Alliance of Civilizations (AOC) on May 24. Prime Minister Helen
Clark herself chaired the whole day meeting which included Asia
Pacific leaders from government, civil society, academe and the
faiths. A note on PM Clark. Undefeated for almost eight years, she
has transformed the New Zealand political landscape. Her government
has improved the living standards of the Kiwis. New Zealand has a
low crime rate and is one of the top 10 noncorrupt governments of
the world.
The United Nations launched the
initiative to establish the AOC in 2005, co-sponsored by the Prime
Ministers of Spain and Turkey. Triggered by the fear that a Clash of
Civilizations had indeed arrived post 9/11, the AOC initiative
“responds to a broad consensus across nations, cultures and
religions that all societies are interdependent, bound together in
their development and security, and in their environmental, economic
and financial well-being.”
Many leaders have been skeptical
about the AOC, seeing it as just another UN-sponsored talkfest which
will sound good but lead to nowhere. Which is why the AOC symposium
in Auckland could be a major step forward. The main goals were to
raise awareness in the Asia-Pacific region of the need to bridge the
divide separating Muslim communities and the “West” and to look
into practical recommendations which could be implemented in the
region.
The Auckland Symposium brought
out practical proposals in the fields of education, media, youth and
migration. The government leaders present agreed to support such
initiatives as could build on the multicultural and pluralistic
societies of the Asia Pacific countries. Makes absolute sense. We in
this region have lived in multiethnic communities. We have had our
share of conflicts. However, we also have had much success in
overcoming these conflicts. The problem lies in the fast changing
world order shaping our region.
Today, as world capital, trade,
finance become integrated, local identities tend to resist these
homogenizing processes. This seems to be one of the paradoxes of
globalization.
It is in this context that we
should address the issues of democratization and radicalization of
our Muslim communities. I note that radical Islam has been fuelled
principally by the negative impacts of globalization. A global
military war on terror is not sufficient to eradicate terror
threats. I suggest the same globalization forces that may provide
the key to addressing this problem. I refer to the global wave of
democratization, genuine democratization. Genuine democracy, which
will provide more space for the marginalized will be able to temper
this inclination towards extremist advocacies.
MJ Akbar, distinguished author
and editor-in-chief of The Asian Age, summed up what needs to be
done. He said that an Axis of Evil cannot be defeated by an Axis of
Good. Both are judgmental. What is “good” for one society may
not necessarily be accepted as such by another. However, equality
and justice are values that put all men and women and youth on the
same footing, allowing all of us to find our way to mutual
acceptance. To me, that is what democracy is all about.
Today, the only way to neutralize
radicalization and defeat terrorism is to make both irrelevant to
the ummah. Terrorism can be made irrelevant through democracy based
on equality, justice, security and prosperity for all members of
society. Further, the struggle for democracy must be a collaboration
between and among Muslims and non-Muslims, minority or majority
groups, men and women, young and old, among all advocates of the
politics of inclusion and living in open societies.
Becoming equal stakeholders will
galvanize us to come together across geographical boundaries and
religious beliefs. Perhaps a true Alliance of Civilizations will
come true once we focus on becoming part of the Axis of Equality.
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