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Eric Gitonga Mburugu's Blog
Eric Gitonga Mburugu's Blog


The Global Efforts Initiative Proposed Project on Peace and Reconciliation
Related to country: Kenya



Citizens of humanity,

World Peace is humanity’s oldest dream. Our people have continued to strive to achieve peace not just at an international level but essentially at a community and family level. The presence of peace among our people contributes very significantly towards community and national development.

Kenya’s post election violence in the year 2007/08 left many Kenyans internally displaced, property destroyed, many lives lost and many others left with severe disabling injuries. As a result of the violence, our people have grown increasingly suspicious of each other and this has alarmingly fueled hatred and discord. The sharp divisions among our people have created massive gaps and built walls in our communities and societies.

The Global Efforts Initiative believes that we are way past time in reconciling our people and in healing our land. It is a struggle we have everyday in our homes, work places, in our communities and societies in dealing with the overwhelming situation in our country. It is a struggle of frustration at what we see happening in the country and within the region and a strong desire to save the situation.

Many are the times we are called to leadership in a desperate situation; there is a tendency to believe that we have been called to save our nations; to save our people. This simple yet misleading notion is often taken from the stories of Esther, Nehemiah and perhaps Daniel in the bible. All our creator is asking from us and all that is the expectation of mankind is to reconcile the world.

It is necessary that we play our part and use our positions at various levels to bring about positive influence to the world, thinking that we can use any power, force if necessary, to force man to love thy neighbor as thyself is a fallacy that flies in the face of any theology. Jesus himself, the true saviour of the world, never attempted to substitute love with blackmail, war or force, in a bid to bring salvation. To reconcile the world, we must target souls not nations.

The Global Efforts Initiative proposed project on peace and reconciliation among victims of the post election violence in Kenya and victims of war and conflict within the horn of Africa region, intends to target the souls of all those affected. The old adage, men and women of faith fight on their knees and claim victory on their feet, is as true today as it was in the days of Moses and Joshua and will endeavor to be the quiet force of progress of the Global Efforts Initiative proposed peace project.

As we seek to lead the nation through the various avenues at our disposal, it may just be time to reflect on the call given to us. We are called to reconcile the world, our nations and our people. Reconciliation goes beyond benevolent acts of the Samaritan man on the road to Jericho. Reconciliation goes beyond seeking to fight legislation that we deem to be oppressive to the cause of our belief. It goes beyond fighting vices and religions we believe are an impediment to the gospel. Reconciliation goes to the very heart of our creator. That heart is love for all, not just for those who believe what we believe. That mark will make us pass legislations that will favour all people, social and religious groups who do not share the convictions we have.
Acts or reconciliation requires that we demand responsibility and not attempt to solve moral problems through legislation. Reconciliation means we lead people to the right direction and give them the choice to decide whether or not to follow. Acts of salvation make us believe that all laws we pass must favour our faith and push people to obey. Acts of reconciliation make us know that love, not laws, is what will save our people.

Our governments and leaders have made it their obligation to save our people. They have decided to take on the responsibility of our creator. They forget that ours as human beings is to reconcile people and leave the rest to our creator. The Global Efforts Initiative seeks to reconcile our people by targeting and reaching out to the souls of our people. The proposed project on peace and reconciliation endeavors to involve people and institutions involved in peace and reconciliation in the community in taking stock of the progress made in the peace and reconciliation process and based on the findings seek to drive the process in a fundamentally new direction.

The Global Efforts Initiative calls upon the international community to support its proposed project on peace and reconciliation under its peace, conflict and good governance program ( www.globalefforts.org/programs ) as it seeks to reach out to the souls affected by conflict in Kenya and the horn of Africa. We call upon you and count on your support and partnership in this worthy cause.

Thank you.

Eric Gitonga Mburugu
The Global Efforts Initiative

www.globalefforts.org





October 21, 2009 | 8:38 AM Comments  0 comments

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The Global Efforts Initiative - Get Involved
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The Global Efforts Initiative acknowledges that a lot of progress has been made over the years but a lot more still needs to be done. Developing countries still struggle with background challenges that have continued to pose a major threat to their political, social and economic development. On the other hand, developed countries have continued to demonstrate goodwill and commitment towards aiding in the development of developing countries and thus their efforts need to be applauded.

It is an important and significant milestone that has been realized over the years and it is imperative that the leadership be applauded for their contributions in one way or the other. International organizations and institutions like the United Nations, World Bank, International Monetary Fund have continued to come to the aid of the less privileged and have continued to come up with policies, strategies and goals that clearly demonstrate their determination and commitment towards alleviating human suffering in many ways and fostering human development in all sectors. It is noteworthy that the international community has adopted regular practices of convening conferences and forums in an aim to bring together ideas, evaluate progress and come up with better strategies to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

The culture of such high profiled gatherings has been characteristic of the international community since time immemorial and such has served its purpose for as long as it has. The world today faces difficult challenges and with every passing day we seek unity, forge partnerships and form strategic alliances to continue to rise above these challenges. Among the fundamental lessons that we have learnt in the past, if history counts, is we have the power to make the work that we seek, but only if we have the courage to make a new beginning.

Indeed faith should bring us together and for this the Global Efforts 360 Initiative seeks to reaffirm this fundamental human principle. We recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not with soldiers and armies, but with sturdy alliances, partnerships and enduring convictions. They understood that power alone cannot protect us neither are our boundaries nor civilizations. They understood that our power grows through its prudent use, our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more we can meet new threats that demand even greater effort, greater cooperation and greater understanding among the community of nations. Our success depends on the reach of our prosperity and on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart, not out of charity but because it is the only route to our common good. The Global Efforts 360 Initiative calls for humanity to embrace united efforts and collective responsibility not just for the benefit of a brighter tomorrow but also that of a better today.

THE GLOBAL EFFORTS 360 INITIATIVE
The Global Efforts Initiative seeks to introduce a new strategy that defines an era of new responsibility. Behold the old has gone and the new has come. This is the defining moment that reawakens the culture of pulling together for the common good and for the betterment of the human race. Our humanity has been defined by the challenges of poverty, disease, desperation, homelessness and thus has culminated to a state of uncertainty and hopelessness widely shared.

Our faith in the ability to forge our communities and nations ahead has fast ran out and the bonds that tie us together are memories frozen in time. The unity that was characterized of the early church and that which was held in the highest regard by our forefathers and ancestors has been replaced with disunity, mistrust and suspicion for one another. The words we sing in our national anthems and recite in our loyalty pledges have lacked to instill the much needed sense of belonging and patriotism. Many are the times that we sing the anthems but fail to reflect on the significance and magnitude of the messages they seek to pass.

The Global Efforts Initiative uniquely endeavors to lead humanity in reconciling with its past and opening a new window of hope and faith in the efforts of each other. We seek in the end, the prosperity and the success of all humanity in their uniqueness in culture, religion, ethnic backgrounds, race and color. We seek to reaffirm the simple concept of E pluribus Unum; Out of Many, We are One. A simple concept to which we all subscribe. So long as our relationship with each other is defined by our differences, we will continue to empower those who sow hatred rather than peace and those who promote conflict rather than the co-operation that can help all of our people achieve justice and prosperity. This cycle of suspicion and discord must end.

The Global Efforts Initiative recognizes that change cannot happen overnight. No policy, strategy or even agenda can eradicate years of mistrust nor can this initiative seek to answer the complex questions that have brought us to this point. But we are convinced in order to move forward, we must say openly the things we hold in our hearts and minds. There must be a sustained and united effort to listen to each other, to learn from each other, to respect one another and to seek common ground. As an initiative we are humbled by the task before us and firm in our belief that the interests we share as human beings are far more powerful than the forces that drive us apart.

Recognizing our common humanity is only the beginning of our task. Words alone cannot meet the needs of our people. These needs will only be met if we act boldly in the years ahead and if we understand that the challenges we face are shared and that our failure to meet them will cripple us all. So whatever we think of our past, we must not be prisoners of it. Our problems must be dealt with through partnership and that progress must be shared.
This initiative seeks to forge partnerships with all individuals, groups, institutions and organizations that have an interest in partnering with communities to empower their livelihoods.

THE GLOBAL EFFORTS INITIATIVE OBJECTIVES
The fundamental objective of this initiative is to ensure that the people have an opportunity to directly participate in decision making forums taking place in any corner of the world. It is important that people are aware of how decisions are reached and make a contribution on how they would want their livelihoods influenced.

It is important that we introduce new ideas and opinions that would go a long way in ushering in a new perspective on how we approach the challenges that we face as a global community. New ideas will impact our world with new understanding and introduce a new approach on how we handle issues on human development.

This initiative will strengthen the prospects of the realization of the much envisioned global village and will play a pivotal role in strengthening global partnerships for global development.

IN CONCLUSION
Now, there are some who will question the scale of our ambitions. Some who will suggest that our innovation and system cannot tolerate too many big plans. Their memories are short, for they have forgotten what humanity has already achieved. What empowered men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose and necessity joined to courage.

Many of us are skeptical that real change can occur. There is so much fear, so much mistrust. But if we choose to be bound by the past, we will never move forward. The Global Efforts Initiative seeks to say to every single human being on the face of this earth that, you, more than anyone, has the ability and ultimate responsibility to remake this world.

Our challenges may be new and the instruments with which we meet them may be new. But those values upon which our success depends, honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism, these things are surely old. These things are surely true. They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history. What the Global Efforts Initiative demands is a return to these truths. What is required of us now is a new era of collective responsibility. A recognition on the part of every human being that we have duties to ourselves, our communities, our nations and most importantly to humanity. Duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task.

Finally, all of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart or whether we commit ourselves to a sustained effort to seek common ground, to focus on the future we envision for future generations and to respect the dignity of all human beings.

Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the Global Efforts Initiative, Vision 360.

Thank you.

Eric Gitonga Mburugu
President, Global Efforts Initiative


July 23, 2009 | 2:10 AM Comments  0 comments

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The Global Efforts Initiative
Related to country: Kenya


My fellow Taking it Global Partners,

My name is Eric Gitonga Mburugu, 19 years old. Towards the end of last year 2006, I came up with a new concept aimed at reaching out and empowering people to participate and be more proactive in the process of finding solutions and possible explanations to their very existing and very own background challenges. Over the years, I realized that society has not fully utilized the potentials and given much opportunity to the ideologies of its people and this trend is infact making us loose a lot of great minds and talents. I strongly feel that by addressing this issue we will manage to gain a lot of ground as far as uniting the efforts of all citizens and cultivating a deep sense of collective responsibility is concerned for the benefit of overall nation building and peaceful coexistence.

The Global Efforts Initiative is a people driven, people motivated and people centered framework. This initiative seeks to go out and meet the people from their own backgrounds and surroundings in an effort of getting them to identify their problems and get them involved as the primary in coming up with possible solutions to those problems. Part of our larger strategy is identifying, mobilizing and fully utilizing the existing local resources for the benefit of addressing the challenges. I believe its time all communities around the world take centre stage in identifying, planning, strategizing and implementing programs and activities that will foster unity and collective responsibility.

The Global Efforts Initiative through a wider strategy reached out to the international community in a bid to try and see how responsive and in touch the initiative is to the lives of the millions out there. So far 11 countries have responded with great anticipation and are looking forward to the initiative taking effect in their backgrounds. I am keen on starting the Global Efforts Initiative – Kenyan Chapter, so as to set the example and standard upon which other Chapters / Countries will follow. It is my steadfast conviction that the Global Efforts Initiative will run programs and activities for the people in all countries around the globe.

The greatest challenge facing the Global Efforts Initiative is fundraising for capacity building or rather development of its infrastructure. For the Kenyan Chapter to take off with full throttle there is need to develop enough capacity and raise adequate funds so as to further champion this initiative and avoid as much as possible compromising the standards that we set. An equally greater challenge is getting an opportunity to address the nation and make known of the existence of the initiative. Since the beginning of the year, I have tried to rise above these challenges without much success but I am optimistic now more than ever that everyday we inch closer to the solution. At this point in time Media publicity is absolutely critical and significant as it will inform the masses and present opportunities for partnerships, strategic alliances and collaborations that will go a long way in aiding our fundraising and community mobilization efforts.

The initiative has a website purely designed to educate and inform on the various structures the initiative will endeavor to champion in all its chapters. Needless to say all chapters will have their website links where they will inform others on their community progress. The website is www.globalefforts.org. Due to lack of funds I have not been able to get the site updated relevantly so kindly bear with me on this shortcoming but I can assure you that every effort is being made to this effect. I believe that the Global Efforts Initiative will achieve great heights both locally and internationally. I therefore appeal to you to assist in everyway you can so as to further champion this course. Your contribution, partnership and support towards the Global Efforts Initiative will be highly regarded and appreciated. Help us reach out and empower the masses around the globe by further disseminating this information. I look forward to your response on the same and working with you in further advancing this agenda.

My name is Eric Gitonga Mburugu and I am the President of the Global Efforts.





July 18, 2007 | 3:30 AM Comments  1 comments

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