Zones of Peace can exist nationally, internationally and locally. Yugoslavian-born peace activist Ivanka Vana Jakic has worked with international representatives, government officials, and some of the world's most prominent religious leaders in an attempt to designate many of the world's holiest sites as internationally recognized Zones of Peace: places that would be universally recognized as sanctuaries, free from all forms of violence.
The idea was born when she visited Medjugorie, a remote pilgrimage site in the south of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1989, and observed how people from many lands, who shared no common language, were yet able to communicate their desire for peace. How wonderful it would be, she thought, if each zones of peace could be established all over the world.
Her efforts met with success in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1991, when the first eight sacred sites were declared as Zones of Peace from each of the four religions. Sadly, during the later hostilities some of these places were damaged, desecrated or destroyed, but that does not detract from the validity of the idea, or the support she has garnered from people in all walks of Life. She continues to pursue her dream through the Zones of Peace International Foundation, which has its headquarters in Federal Way, Washington.
But her efforts are also aimed at smaller, though not less important, areas. She and her supporters are proposing that each of Seattle's religious communities nominate their most important sacred sites for designation as Zones of Peace.
One church which has already accomplished this is the Auburn First United Methodist Church, a project that started with their Youth Group. Speaking at the University Unitarian Church in Seattle recently, five of the young people, along with their Youth Director Sue Voorhies, told of the difference that Zones of Peace has made in their lives.
It was the young people themselves, said Voorhies, who made the decision that peace was what they wanted, and committed themselves to peace in their church, homes and school. Since then, she said, there has been no fighting within the group, no putdowns, no "ninja kicks.”
As one young women put it, "We all calmed down. We don't fight, we compromise instead, work Things out, sharing.When I am babysitting" she said, "I find I can even stop little kids from fighting."
It hasn't happened overnight. It took work and dedication, training in conflict resolution and a lot of soul searching. Each person had to decide what peace really meant to them, and how to put it into action. Some established special places in their homes for peaceful thoughts and actions, a concept they found that even children as young as three years of age could understand.
They use the acronym S-W-I-M. "S" for stop, think clearly, don't fight; "W" for know what you want, verbalize it; "I" for ideas to brainstorm; "M" for make up. They find now they are acting as role models for other young people, and hope that their example will spread.
They are exemplifying what Jakic teaches. "Even though we cannot create peace and justice throughout the entire planet at once, we can do what is possible in our own community."