Innovation and technology for peace and conflict prevention, Carlos Sentís (WIA) for the Government of Liberia

 Peace starts within

Thanks to the Government of Liberia for the invitation to share my recommendations on how to leverage technology and innovation for peace.

Despite how far away the idea of war may seem to many of you, there are currently more than 40 wars being fought around the world, and we are all under the permanent threat of armed conflict.

Between 1989 and 2003, Liberia lost the lives of more than 250.000 people, and displacing 1 million more, in two devastating civil wars. Liberia is one of the poorest countries in the world, and, like many other countries in Africa, Asia and Latin América, lives under extremely fragile conditions.

Without peace, there is no hope for development, no possibility of growth, no chance for health. Happiness is not even a dream.

We must never underestimate the potential of humans for evil under the wrong circumstances and recognize that genocide, war and murder start within each and everyone of us when we do not stop ourselves from hating others, when we engage in violent speech, when we do not restraint agressive impulses, when we just follow the herd in pacific protests that turn into riots, even in the most advanced of the economies and most educated of societies.

It is hard to imagine the amount of crimes, human rights violations, rape, pain and damage inflicted during the course of war, and yet most of us, lucky citizens in peaceful and prosperous nations, complain about the most shallow and insignificant discomforts. Past and present history teaches us how much worse everything can be, even when you think you are miserable, regardless of your actual life conditions. Even during a devastating global pandemic.

Innovation, education and economic prosperity can help to prevent and stop violence, but it always starts within.

Never engage in a violent act, never say anything that can lead to violence, never threaten anyone with violence, never think of acting in a violent and aggressive manner.

We get it. You are mad, and you probably have reasons to. You are strong, or so you think. But there are better ways to prove it. You want to be respected, but you will gain more respect and admiration than you ever thought possible if you chose to help your community instead of destroying it.

Thank you to the Hon. Dester ZeogarWilson, Minister for Youth & Sports of Liberia,

Edwin C Simpson Sr.

the Montserrado Peace Committee, the Youth Peace Festival and Liberian TV for allowing me to share my ideas on how we can use the resources we have to realistically avoid more tragedies.