Peace is a universal aspiration, yet seemingly elusive in a world that appears more polarized over time. As global citizens striving for a peaceful future, we have articulated our aspiration in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Goal 16 emphasizes peace, justice, and strong institutions. Professor Tim Fort, in his enlightening vlog series, introduces a unique perspective on this goal, highlighting the role cultural artifacts can play in fostering peace.
Cultural artifacts, as per Professor Fort, are not limited to tangible objects but extend to shared aspects of our lives such as music, sports, literature, film, cuisine, business, and even our pets. He suggests that these shared experiences can serve as bridges toward peace and platforms for constructive dialogue.
Professor Fort shares brief yet powerful narratives in his vlog series. For example, he tells of post-genocide Rwandan women who built peace by forming a drumming group and later an ice cream business. He recounts the World War I Christmas Eve truce, where enemies found common ground through song, sport, and a shared pet. These impactful anecdotes encapsulate the transformative potential of cultural artifacts in fostering peace. He encourages us to look beyond narrow political and social labels, using shared experiences as a springboard for connecting on a deeper, human level.
Cultural artifacts, according to Professor Fort, can serve as our ‘nudges’ and ‘bridges’ towards peace.
They can guide us in making decisions that promote understanding and dialogue, moving towards more peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development.
Professor Fort’s vlog series is more than an academic discourse. It is a call to action, urging us to harness our shared human experiences in a concerted effort towards peace.
Join Professor Tim Fort’s vlog for a fascinating exploration of peace-building through cultural artifacts. Indeed, if peace could be forged amidst the ruins of genocide or the trenches of a battlefield, it’s possible to attain and sustain it in our world today.
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Karya Bintang Abadi