viewpoints. For example, the female peddler from Wisma Atlit who reopened trading between the people of Mardika and Batu Merah or the health worker who distributed aid to refugees from all religious backgrounds. The process of compiling history brings about hope, renewal, openness and aims at regaining the humanitarian heritage of ‘basudara’ which has been swallowed by the vicious appetite of unfeeling ruthlessness. Experiences in Maluku can become a mirror into which we can look for lessons in preventing violent conflict and strengthening peace in other parts of the world. For those of us who do not live in areas of violent conflict, our experience of war is via the media – in stark newspaper headlines and conflict reporting, in Twitter timelines and blogs, in magazines and television images and in the sounds of voices and gunfire on the radio. But still the coverage we consume shapes our collective understanding of what can be done – what should be done. Stories can influence peace processes, sway the escalation or reduction of conflict, and undermine – or enhance – the confidence, trust and expectations of the parties involved. Stories have real power. Basudara Stories of Peace from Maluku asks us all to think about how we deploy it. Basudara Stories of Peace from Maluku is affecting, instructive with an emancipatory intent and sheds a unique light on the world of Indonesia’s Maluku Islands. The contributors of the book speak from their consciences, from myriad cultural, religious, humanitarian and nationalistic dimensions, telling stories filled with indignation, tears, sadness and regret. All of the personal stories in this book have been conveyed with amazing honesty. Careful editorial work has ensured a smooth dovetailing of the contributions so that the book is more than simply the sum of its parts. This book offers a panoramic and creative view of how stories can be used as a vehicle of peace education and therein lies the pedagogical genius of this volume: it practices what it preaches. In offering such a wide conceptual view; the volume simultaneously challenges you to engage its text critically and to subsequently embark upon an expedition to seek out further answers.

This chapter functions as a conclusion to this volume of studies of peacebuilding and the rights of Indigenous Peoples. It reviews major developments in global institutions, centred around the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and consequent academic scholarship in the various fields of Indigeous Studies. In particular, this chapter examines the synergy between these achievements in international policy and scholarship in respect to the rights of Indigenous Peoples with key principles and discourse in peace studies, specifically the interrelated concepts of peacebuilding and nonviolence. The chapter reviews the contents and approaches of the wide-ranging studies presented in the book, identifying important cohesions and insights across the different nations and cultures researched in this set of studies. It reviews the four interlinked themes that provide an organisational pathway for the chapters and concludes with some considerations of methodology, emphasising the value of emerging distinctive Indigenous approaches to contemporary research.

This chapter introduces the background and contemporary contexts for this book on peacebuilding and the experiences of Indigenous Peoples as they pursue their rights in the early decades of the 21st century. The trends of this century are being shaped by the 2007 pronouncement of the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by the General Assembly of the United Nations. I review this declaration in the context of the earlier Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and how Indigenous Peoples worldwide were neglected in the international adoption of the human rights agenda. The chapter examines the implications of this neglect and subsequent international developments, including the Cold War and the modern drive towards economic development and exploitation of Indigenous People, their lands and resources. The discussion reviews recent policies towards intercultural dialogue and the possibilities of this process towards advancing the rights of Indigenous Peoples. The analysis locates key themes of the chapters of the book and their significance as cases of Indigenous People pursuing their rights within the possibilities of local and international principles and frameworks.

Challenges for the future The social momentum of growing populations underscores the significance of demographic trends in shaping emerging political and social landscapes. Thus, relevant information for those who seek to understand and engage with these phenomena and their impacts must be available. Laurie Mazur’s anthology A Pivotal Moment: Population, Justice, and the Environmental Challenge, is such a resource. It is organized around four key themes: The Numbers, dealing with trends in population numbers; The Impact covers issues of environment, health, and economics, and case studies on the USA and Africa; Looking Back, Moving Forward focuses on policy areas, family planning, women’s issues including reproductive rights, and the challenge of encompassing population within the holistic framework of sustainability; and Thoughts For The Journey that presents different perspectives on immigration policy, human rights, religion, and ecomorality. The anthology provides a macro perspective on population growth, the chapters in the first section presenting an overview of population trends worldwide and in specific sectors. The discussion of migration and urbanization contextualizes the youthfulness of the merging population, with 3 billion people under the age of 25. Examples abound, from the challenges facing Japan with its declining, ageing population, to the impacts of growing life expectancy across Eastern Europe, and the distortion rendered to high fertility-driven population growth by the impacts of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Such cases highlight the role local, national, and cultural contexts and conditions play in escalating population growth.

Editors' IntroductionThis issue of Social Alternatives is devoted to ending war and other related forms of violence and to building structures and values that will strengthen peace. Its major theme embraces the notion of declaring Day, April 25th, 2015, the beginning of a 'Year of Peace'. The idea took root in the Day address delivered in 2014 by the late Governor Peter Underwood of Tasmania. His message was that 'until we find the truth (of what causes wars), we cannot begin to pay proper homage and respect to those who fought in that terrible conflict 100 years ago and to the many others who have subsequently fought in other wars.' Instead of glorifying war with the deeds of our soldiers 'enthusiastically and unflinchingly carrying the torch of freedom in the face of murderous enemy fire', we can best honour their sacrifices by embarking on studies to eliminate the custom of war and its practice of killing and being killed.The full address of the Governor, delivered from Hobart's cenotaph at last year's Day ceremony, appears as this issue's first article. It inspired a group of five former academics who have continued our long commitment to peace studies and action to respond to the Governor's call to be among those offering more than just 'remembrance and honour'. Two of us opted to focus on peace action at the community level. The other three turned to the Social Alternatives Collective with a proposal to edit a special peace issue in accordance with the spirit and process set out in the Governor's speech. Our proposal was supported enthusiastically by the Collective, so we contacted the Governor for his endorsement to publish the entire speech. He pointed out that his permission was not required since the address had become part of the public domain but he considered it thoughtful to have been asked. He said he was unfamiliar with the journal, so we told him it is widely available in university and government libraries. In a second exchange he indicated that he had found a copy and would now like to take out a yearly subscription.Sadly, that was the last time we had the opportunity to talk with this delightful and very approachable man. He died suddenly on 7 July, a month after surgery to remove a tumour. He had wanted the centenary year of the beginning of World War I in August 2014 to coincide with the launching of a Year of Peace. However, Social Alternatives was committed for the next two issues, so we prepared for a late January 2015 publication date. Supporting Governor Underwood's proposal for the Year of Peace we focused the publication of this issue towards the centenary of the landing at Cove on 25th April, 1915.Governor Underwood called for the establishment of an ANZAC 'centre for the study of peace, conflict and war'. Along the same lines, he declared that 'some of the millions of dollars that will be spent on the Anzac Festival should be diverted to support for the University of Sydney's Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies'. He clearly recognised the value of strengthening existing peace centres, establishing new ones, and introducing peace studies in universities and schools as well as peace methods in the communities. These comprise long-term and effective ways to create the peaceful society he envisaged as the true outcome of national sacrifice in World War I and subsequent wars.There are also a host of critical immediate issues to be dealt with. These include the impacts of fundamentalist-inspired terrorist acts such as the lone-wolf murders in Sydney's Martin Place on 16 December, 2014, the expansion of the arms trade, the rising of the mean world temperature toward the critical tipping point of a 3.6 degrees increase and the ongoing violence and discrimination against women around the world. It is sobering to bear in mind the imminent dangers of nuclear war that can end all human hopes of survival. The symbolic indicator of the Doomsday Clock was set by the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on 14 January, 2014 at three minutes to midnight suggesting, according to the Board, that 'the risk of civilisation-threatening technological catastrophe remains high'. …

Editors' IntroductionThis issue of Social Alternatives is devoted to ending war and other related forms of violence and to building structures and values that will strengthen peace. Its major theme embraces the notion of declaring Day, April 25th, 2015, the beginning of a 'Year of Peace'. The idea took root in the Day address delivered in 2014 by the late Governor Peter Underwood of Tasmania. His message was that 'until we find the truth (of what causes wars), we cannot begin to pay proper homage and respect to those who fought in that terrible conflict 100 years ago and to the many others who have subsequently fought in other wars.' Instead of glorifying war with the deeds of our soldiers 'enthusiastically and unflinchingly carrying the torch of freedom in the face of murderous enemy fire', we can best honour their sacrifices by embarking on studies to eliminate the custom of war and its practice of killing and being killed.The full address of the Governor, delivered from Hobart's cenotaph at last year's Day ceremony, appears as this issue's first article. It inspired a group of five former academics who have continued our long commitment to peace studies and action to respond to the Governor's call to be among those offering more than just 'remembrance and honour'. Two of us opted to focus on peace action at the community level. The other three turned to the Social Alternatives Collective with a proposal to edit a special peace issue in accordance with the spirit and process set out in the Governor's speech. Our proposal was supported enthusiastically by the Collective, so we contacted the Governor for his endorsement to publish the entire speech. He pointed out that his permission was not required since the address had become part of the public domain but he considered it thoughtful to have been asked. He said he was unfamiliar with the journal, so we told him it is widely available in university and government libraries. In a second exchange he indicated that he had found a copy and would now like to take out a yearly subscription.Sadly, that was the last time we had the opportunity to talk with this delightful and very approachable man. He died suddenly on 7 July, a month after surgery to remove a tumour. He had wanted the centenary year of the beginning of World War I in August 2014 to coincide with the launching of a Year of Peace. However, Social Alternatives was committed for the next two issues, so we prepared for a late January 2015 publication date. Supporting Governor Underwood's proposal for the Year of Peace we focused the publication of this issue towards the centenary of the landing at Cove on 25th April, 1915.Governor Underwood called for the establishment of an ANZAC 'centre for the study of peace, conflict and war'. Along the same lines, he declared that 'some of the millions of dollars that will be spent on the Anzac Festival should be diverted to support for the University of Sydney's Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies'. He clearly recognised the value of strengthening existing peace centres, establishing new ones, and introducing peace studies in universities and schools as well as peace methods in the communities. These comprise long-term and effective ways to create the peaceful society he envisaged as the true outcome of national sacrifice in World War I and subsequent wars.There are also a host of critical immediate issues to be dealt with. These include the impacts of fundamentalist-inspired terrorist acts such as the lone-wolf murders in Sydney's Martin Place on 16 December, 2014, the expansion of the arms trade, the rising of the mean world temperature toward the critical tipping point of a 3.6 degrees increase and the ongoing violence and discrimination against women around the world. It is sobering to bear in mind the imminent dangers of nuclear war that can end all human hopes of survival. The symbolic indicator of the Doomsday Clock was set by the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists on 14 January, 2014 at three minutes to midnight suggesting, according to the Board, that 'the risk of civilisation-threatening technological catastrophe remains high'. …