Conflict Prevention on the Internet
The dynamic expansion of the Internet has spurred considerable changes in every corner of the globe. JCCP has been working actively to become one of the frontline organizations in utilizing the Internet in the field of conflict prevention. Since its inauguration, JCCP has not only continually updated and extended its own homepage (www.earthhotel.jp), but also established a number of sister websites. The first was the Directory of Organizations for Conflict Prevention in Asia and the Pacific Website. In addition to this, JCCP has also developed the Dialogue Webpage for Conflicts Worldwide and the e-Symposium on Conflict Prevention Series, both of which focus specifically on global online dialogue concerning conflict prevention issues.

(1) Dialogue Webpage for Conflict Worldwide (DWCW)
In most of the conflicts endemic today, whether they are in Palestine, Iraq or Sri Lanka, a major hindrance to resolution is the lack of open, constructive dialogue between opposing sides. The role of JCCP is to initiate a comprehensive dialogue and to restore mutual confidence between the parties to the conflict.

Therefore, in addition to JCCP’s own website, on 1st April 2000, JCCP inaugurated the “Dialogue Webpage for Conflicts Worldwide” (DWCW). DWCW provides a neutral online conflict dialogue forum at www.dwcw.org and thereby encourages mutual correspondence and understanding, thereby leading to the abatement of tensions and the prevention of conflict through ongoing, open discussions where everyone interested can freely discuss their opinions on conflict in each part of the world.

Everyone is invited to DWCW to read or contribute views, proposals and/or reports on any of the following disputes: (1) Northern Territories, (2) Korean Peninsular, (3) Taiwan Straits, (4) Spratley Islands, (5) Mindanao, (6) South Pacific, (7) East Timor, (8) Indonesia, (9) Myanmar, (10) Sri Lanka, (11) Kashmir, (12) Central Asia, (13) Chechnya, (14) Balkans, (15) Palestine, (16) Africa, (17) Iraq, (18) US Under Terrorist Attack, (19) Other Conflicts, (20) Summarization and Evaluation.


(2) The e-symposium on Conflict Prevention Series (e-Symposium website)
As part of the Dialogue Webpage for Conflicts Worldwide, JCCP has hosted three e-Symposia on Conflict Prevention. The topics to date have been Lessons Learnt from Recent Experience on Conflict Prevention (First e-Symposium; July, 2001); The Future of Conflict Prevention in the Post September 11 World (Second e-Symposium; February, 2002), and Terrorists or Freedom Fighters? How Can Peace Be Achieved in Palestine, Chechnya and Other Conflict Zones? (May 2003).

Along with other world-renowned authorities and experts active in the field of conflict prevention, The third and most recent e-Symposium on Conflict Prevention drew Panelists from 15 differernt countries and included the Minister of Defense of Romania, Mr Ioan Pascu, and the former First Deputy Prime Minister of the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria, Mr Hoj-Ahmed Noukhaev. A total of 333 participants from 79 different countries registered for and participated in the Third e-Symposium online in real-time in animated, interactive dialogue 24-hours a day over 9 days, making it a truly global conflict prevention event.

Third e-Symposium Participant Feedback

“Congratulations for what was the symposium. I have learnt a lot on how approach depends on people’s background, history and the institutions they are defending.”

Jean Pierre Nziya, Peace Forum Director, Maktaba Afrika, Kenya

“I thought it was wonderful, the speakers were great and there was a great deal of hot debate, which really captures the essence of such divisive conflicts in real life. I also learned so much from this. I think it is very important for people all over the world to have such an open forum to discuss these issues.”

Alina Zagaytova, Student at the University of California, Berkeley, USA

“Thank you for your great job and creating a good opportunity to listen to various opinions in this e-Symposium. I really enjoyed it and found new ideas from different commentators.”

Makoto Ujino, Postgraduate Student, University of Ulster, Northern Ireland, UK (originally from Japan)

"It has been enriching for the fact that people were able to express their views freely and frankly, a phenomenon usually not experienced in such live conferences for various political and other constraints."

Arjimand Hussain, Editor/Columnist, Daily Greater Kashmir, India

(3) Resource Pack for Conflict Transformation
‘Conflict Prevention’ is still a very unfamiliar concept for most Japanese people. If we asked them how to prevent conflicts in practice (e.g., how to manage an on-site conflict prevention workshop), most Japanese would be perplexed.

Therefore, for widespread educational purposes, JCCP translated into Japanese the “Resource Pack for Conflict Transformation”, a collection of know-how techniques for conflict prevention. International Alert (NGO) published the original version. The Japanese version is accessible at http://www.earthhotel.jp/jpn/pro/pub/r_pack/index.htm. This translation assembles meaningful and precious information on conflict prevention. For the original English version, please click

Homepage
/text/respack.htm.

UPDATE:2003/8/3