Recalling the words of a Leonard Cohen song "There is a crack in everything, that is how the light gets in", there is now a two-week crack in the war on Iran with the possibilities of negotiations led by Pakistan with the active support of the Chinese government.
Non-governmental organizations must use this two-week period for intensive efforts for a permanent end to the armed conflict.
Within Iran, there has been mobilization on the part of people, some of whom are opposed to the basic policies of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. People have created "human chains" around buildings and residential areas hopefully to protect them from bombing.
These public "sitins" were especially strong when there was a fear of "Back to the Stone Age" attacks from U.S.A. military forces.
Within the U.S.A. there has been increasing protests both in public demonstrations and voices in Congress on the war on Iran. There is a need both within the United Nations and within national governments for a group of persons with a long-range holistic vision, who are able to see trends and the possibility of positive action. For NGOs, there is a need to use the existing U.N. system and at the same time find new avenues for action. The pain and suffering already undergone should be a motivation for strong efforts for peace and justice.
The crack in the violence may not last beyond the two weeks of the cease-fire. Thus we must act creatively now.
René Wadlow, Association of World Citizens
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