Global Outreach for Students and Youth Against Violence (GOSYAV)

What is violence:

Violence may sound like violent activities or violent outcome of some activities and having some visual images of them. Violence may always not be visible. However, the cause for most of our sufferings is violating the laws of existence and sustenance (Dharma). Violations happen because of our ignorance, apathy to other lives or because we have limited choices. Violence is ultimately the violation of natural order of things, causing harm, suffering and distress to all. Therefore violation = violence.

• Violation of natural laws
• Violation of social laws
• Violation of the rights of others
• Violation of social norms
• Violation of universal human values
• Violation of the most profound spiritual law of interconnectedness

Causes of violence:

In order to have peace & harmony in the world individuals will have to be at peace with themselves, with their family members, the society at large and their environment. The following is a list of causes why harm and disturbance occurs:

• Violation of natural laws
• Ignorance
• Physical and mental imbalance or disorder
• Extreme greed or selfishness
• Extreme desire to acquire power, wealth and other physical and mental needs by any means
• Egotism
• Lack of moral values, love and compassion
• Lack of patience, self-restraint and control

Violence at various levels:

In order to have peace & harmony in the world individuals will have to be at peace with themselves, with their family members, the society at large and their environment. The following is a list of causes why harm and disturbance occurs:

1. Individual/Self:
• Physical —
• Illness
• Lack of rest
• Lack of food
• Substance misuse
• Damaging physical activities (accidents)
• Emotional/Mental — damaging emotional and mental activities; self-abuse, suicide
• Social/Legal — violation of social and legal laws and rules
• Spiritual/Moral — violation of spiritual and moral value system
2. Family:
• Absence of shared responsibility
• Lack of opportunity to develop and grow
• Domestic violence and abuse
3. Society:
• Hatred — Racial, Religious etc.
• Crime — Committed by misguided people or people lacking basic needs for life
  Committed by people in power or authority (Government, Military)
• Death —
• Caused by poverty
• Caused by lack of health care
• Caused by social disorder
4. World:
• Damage to Environment & Natural resources: Soil, Air, Water, Animals, Plants, Forests
• Caused by people due to lack of resources and poverty
• Caused by people due to greed (deforestation)
• Caused by people due to lack of responsibility (uncontrolled industrialization)
• Caused by people in power or authority (war)
• Part of the reason why there is so much distress and suffering in the world is that youth are not only the victims but also are partly responsible for the same. This happens because we do not understand the causes of these sufferings, which could be reduced, avoided and finally prevented, if knowledge is there.

The Purpose:

The purpose of this project is to provide proper information and training to the youth and students starting at a young age:

1. To understand how and why violation and thus violent incidents happen
2. To know how these can be prevented or avoided
3. To figure out what could be done to cure the effects of the incidents and acts of violence and violation
4. To protect themselves from acts of violence
5. To involve and engage young people to find out what role they can play to stop violence

The method:

We want to reach out to the youth and students of the world with a message of cooperation, co-existence, peace and non-violence. We plan to actively teach and train them through various programs and publications on how and why the acts of violence occur and what role one can play.

Next step is to devise methods so that each person can reach out to more people to do the same. This will be done through chapters at various educational institutes — from Elementary schools to Colleges where young people meet:

• Empower themselves through knowledge and understanding
• Speak and create awareness against violence
• Act against violence

The Need:

Constitution, Executive body, Advisory body, Funding, Networking.

Road-map:

Dharma conference Committee will take up this project and be announced during the GDC event in July. An executive committee will be formed with leaders from many different groups, starting with GDC sponsoring organizations and then extend beyond. An advisory council can be formed with many of the spiritual and community leaders from various sectors. Grant proposals will be sent to different foundations.