IT initiative helps bring peace to Mindanao

Recognizing both the importance of technology and youth’s role in peace building, PeaceTech, a non-governmental organization, facilitated on Tuesday a videoconference between Manila and General Santos City in support with the resumption of peace talks this month between the Philippine government and Muslim forces.

The event was the latest initiative of the organization to help bridge the cultural gap between Muslims and non-Muslims students. Prior to the said event, Peacetech had conducted 2 videoconferences between Manila and Zamboanga, and Iligan City. While technology is giving way to protest, even revolution, in some parts of the world, PeaceTech believe in the power of technology to bring peace and understanding between communities of students in the country. “The power of the internet can be abused. But if used responsibly, it can be a significant force for good – in education, democracy and in conflict reduction," said Robin Pettyfer, PeaceTech founder. Collectively, the goal of the mass conferences is to let young people understand that they might have more in common than what they are being told. Pettyfer said that by opening the lines of communication, young people are encouraged to embrace diversity, thereby reducing the chances of conflict based on prejudice. According to Jay Vincent Ong, PeaceTech Program Manager, technology ushers in peace through making instant dialogue available. Ong said “conflict arises when people cannot communicate with each other. Technology allows the opportunity for people to discuss things better when media presents its own point of view. They get to question what is being in media and clarify things better. In the case of Manila and Mindanao, kids through our programs can ask questions directly about realities that they see in TV and challenge it to seek the truth." Also, in a demonstration of how technology can be a force of good, singer and UN Peace Ambassador Gary Valenciano told the thousands of participants in GenSan and Manila of his personal battle against diabetes. “It is a different kind of war, yet technology, because of people know how to use technlogy the right way, I have been able to find this insulin pump that keeps pumping blood into my stomach two to three times everyday," said Valenciano. As told by his doctors, Valenciano said, three days without the insulin, he can be dead. “You don’t have to be in physical war to experience peacetech. All you have to do is to stay where you are and you can be a source of inspiration to others," the singer added. The videoconferences were just among the many PeaceTech programs under its “Building Understanding through Technology" initiative. Through its many advocacies, PeaceTech aims to bring students of different backgrounds separated by distances to build more knowledge, more understanding and trust among students across the country. Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa and Lagao Gymnasium in GenSan served as venues to the said event. Tv reporter Atom Araullo and UN Ambassador Baicon Macaraya hosted Manila and General Santos respectively. — GMA News