For Pinoys, an award for non-violence

President Arroyo and Vice President Teofisto Guingona received on behalf of the Filipino people yesterday the first "Global Non-Violence Award" in recognition of the two popular uprisings that toppled two widely perceived corrupt regimes.

The award was conferred by international organizations Center for Global Non-Violence and the Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Foundation for the Filipinos’ achievement in "creating a culture of peace and non-violence through a non-violent revolution against two tyrants."

"This is the only unique place on earth where a person can be trained to active non-violence at the global level," said Center for Global Non-Violence vice president Lou Ann Guanson, also president of the Martin Luther King Foundation.

Guanson said Filipinos are now facing two challenges which include continuously training people in active non-violence and producing leaders who can transform the world in a non-violent manner.

"We confer this award to the Filipino on behalf of the global community for your courageous active non-violence as you embark in this new avenue. For this historic non-violence, you have a historic role in the history of the world," Guanson said.

Nobel Peace Prize Laureates Foundation chairman Pierre Marchand, for his part, read an appeal from all Nobel Peace Prize winners for governments to abandon the way of war and violence and adopt the culture of peace and non-violence.

"The world is sick and tired of war and violence," said Marchand, who offered thanks in seven languages, then kissed the ground.

"You have been given the gift in a world that only knows force and violence – of effecting radical change without firing a shot, without creating new enemies... You were able to prove that a human being is above all systems and laws," Marchand said.

He likewise urged Filipinos to share their experiences with other nations in an effort to help promote a global culture of peace.

"You cannot lie content upon your laurels that you have indeed so richly won. The world awaits you. The world needs your experience," Marchand said.