"Nonviolence in Action "

12:30-1:30pm

IPJ Conference Room D

Nick Mele will speak about the nongovernmental organization, Nonviolent Peaceforce, whose mission is to build a trained, international civilian nonviolent peace force.  The Nonviolent Peaceforce will be sent to conflict areas to prevent death and destruction and protect human rights, thus creating the space for local groups to struggle nonviolently, enter into dialogue, and seek peaceful resolution.

Nick Mele, International Director of  Communications for the Nonviolent Peaceforce, helped set up its pilot project in Sri Lanka.  Mr. Mele was a career foreign service officer with the United States Information Agency and Department of State from 1975 until 1999.  He served in Africa and Asia.  Since February 2001, Mr. Mele has been part of an international effort to create a global nonviolent “peace force” made up of civilians committed to nonviolent intervention as an alternative to military missions to areas of conflict such as the former Yugoslavia, Colombia, and Rwanda.  He has written and spoken about foreign affairs, cross-cultural issues and nonviolent alternatives to military force for many audiences in the U.S. and  Asia.