Basque People Conflict Management

Basque Conflict Management Pracitices & the Spanish Notary System

Jose Antonio Azpiazu, Ph.D., is a humble man. He introduced himself to me in February 2014 as an “amateur historian,” but after speaking with him, and learning more about his work, I discover he is the author of numerous books about Basque history and a well-respected Spanish sociologist. I met with Dr. Azpiazu at the Navel Museum located in the Donostia/San Sebastian harbor to interview him about traditional ways Basque people manage conflict in their…

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Conflict Management Restorative Justice

Dominic Barter’s Restorative Justice Work

I had the pleasure of meeting with Dominic Barter in Rio de Janeiro in July 2010. I had heard of his restorative circles work last year and was interested in learning more about it. Dominic is from England and has lived in Rio for about 18 years. His background includes experience with theater and drama. He is a teacher and he said he developed the restorative circle process because, “I had to do something about…

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Conflict Management courts Restorative Justice

Restorative justice considers the merits of cases not just rules…

The disturbing case of Albert Holland whose lawyer failed to adequately represent him points out a growing problem with our traditional courts:  the focus on the law and rules vs. the facts and merits of particular cases in making rulings. Most American legal cases are being decided on procedure and law, “the rules,” and not on equity or the merits of cases. See Michael J. Sandel’s Democracy’s Discontent: America in Search of a Public Philosophy.…

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Conflict Management Inspiration Restorative Justice

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy of Hope

Martin Luther King, Jr. would have been 81 on his birthday January 15, 2010. He received the Nobel Peace Prize at age 35, and although he only lived for 39 years, his impact on the world was immense.  Not only is he a hero for his work to end racial injustice in the United States, but he left a legacy of hope that we can improve our world through non-violent means. When I was a…

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Apology Conflict Management Restorative Justice Victims

Howard Zehr’s List to Apply Restorative Justice in Our Lives

Professor and author Howard Zehr, commonly referred to as the grandfather of the modern restorative justice movement, has written a list of ten ways to live restoratively in his November 27, 2009 blog: http://emu.edu/blog/restorative-justice/2009/11/27/10-ways-to-live-restoratively/ Professor Zehr’s landmark book Changing Lenses is one of the first books I read about restorative justice about 15 years ago.  Since then I have referred it to anyone wanting to learn about restorative justice.  I have also used it as…

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Conflict Management

Preventing agression by feeling our emotions

It takes practice to get in touch with our emotions and if we did more often we could avoid a lot of conflict.  Western culture prefers logic over emotions.  We get a lot of training in logical reasoning and not much training in understanding emotions and how to express our feelings.  We end up with a lot of argument and fighting when we could have had understanding by feeling our emotions.  Check out Debra Tannen’s…

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athletics Conflict Management

Peace Building Through Olympic Programs

“Where are you from?” is the question asked most often during the Sport Management Seminar for Women, organized by the International Academy of Sports Science and Technology (aiSTS) based in Lausanne, Switzerland.  My geographical ignorance is apparent when I hear answers like “Lesotho” “Qatar” and “Belize,” and then must ask, “Where’s that?” Lausanne is located on the North Shore of Lake Geneva.  The lake is surrounded by the jagged Alps winding through France, Germany, Italy…

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