A MILLION SIGNATURES for PEACE IN MINDANAO!

A Million Signatures for
"Yes! We Unite in Sowing Peace for Mindanao"
 
We, people for peace of diverse cultures and beliefs from different walks of life in the Philippines, unite in the endeavor to support our brothers and sisters who are being adversely affected by the escalation of conflict in Mindanao.
 
We unite because we are concerned that the renewed fighting between the renegade factions of the MILF and government troops is awakening old fears and attitudes of mistrust, and fomenting division among peace-loving Muslims, Christians and Lumads in the war-torn grassroots communities in central Mindanao. This is polarizing our people and creating huge obstacles to our path to peace.
 
We unite because we are tired of the fighting and weary of the pain that we are inflicting on each other and on ourselves. As of September 10 hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians, mostly women and children, in over 66 municipalities in 11 provinces across Central Mindanao have been reported to have fled their homes and are now living in evacuation centers or makeshift evacuation sites. Homes, schools, mosques and chapels in those areas have been burned. We must stop the war, end the hurting, and begin to sow seeds of lasting peace.
 
We unite in the belief that peace is possible. But peace can only come about if we look at one another anew as brothers and sisters and see the same hopes, dreams and aspirations reflected in each other's eyes; and if we begin to listen more deeply to each other and hear our pain echoed in each other's heart.
 
We unite in our appeal to all those who are concerned for the peace and wellbeing of our country%u2014our leaders of government, the military and armed forces, the rebel groups, and the various sectors of our society including the media, and the religious and academic institutions%u2014to join us in sowing peace for Mindanao.
 
1.    Let us accept that we are a country of diverse people%u2014people of different cultures, beliefs, interests, values, and needs%u2014and that our differences in positions relating to the various issues that impact our lives must be taken as opportunities for growth and a strength for unity rather than as a weakness in our system that must be fortified with aggression and violence.  
 
2.    Let us lay down the guns and give peace a chance by engaging each other in various forms of dialogue and heart listening.
 
Let us engage in various dialogues of life in grassroots communities everywhere and live harmoniously as neighbors in the spirit of kinship and love.
 
Let us engage in dialogue of collaborative action to creatively and lovingly restore peace and justice in the midst of injustice, corruption, and violent situations of conflict.
 
Let us engage in dialogue of interfaith theological discourse in order to understand each other's culture and beliefs and to see how, at the heart of the teachings and ideals of our respective faith traditions, we share common hopes and aspirations and realize that we are interconnected in the deep levels of our faith.
 
Let us%u2014Christians, Muslims and peoples of diverse religions, spiritual expressions  and indigenous traditions in the country%u2014engage in dialogue of worship by expressing our solidarity and kinship with those who differ from us in our beliefs and respecting their unique ways of practicing their faith.
 
3.    Let us be the peace that we wish to see in our country by contributing our talents, energies and resources in manifesting peace in our relationships with our God, with our selves, and with one another.
 
We unite in the endeavor to sow the seeds of peace, justice, and healing for our ailing brothers and sisters in Mindanao and to tend to the wounds that are alienating us from each other in our country. 
 
We unite with all individuals, groups and organizations in the country whose efforts for peace are in keeping with the spirit of mutual respect, understanding and cooperation.