The Future of Peace

"From some of the most horrendous chapters in human history," writes Scott A. Hunt, "these great leaders have emerged to show us a different path, proving not only that the cessation of war is possible, but that the removal of hatred and violence from our hearts is possible as well . . . they show us that the promise of peace remains intact. It is to these people that we can turn in order to replenish our encouragement, hope, and inspiration." What does it mean to fight for peace today? We all want lasting peace. But is it really possible, and how do we achieve it? Defying military intelligence officers in Burma, secret police in Vietnam, and combatants in the Occupied Territories of Palestine, Scott Hunt spent three years traveling across the globe -- often under arduous conditions -- to seek out the wisdom of the world's leading peacemakers. In intimate conversations with these remarkable leaders, recounting histories that are not taught in school and uncovering important lessons that are often brushed aside, Hunt skillfully coaxes out staggering stories, including those of Burma's legendary pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Tibet's moral authority the Dalai Lama, Vietnam's leading dissident Thich Quang Do, famed primate specialist and humanitarian Dr. Jane Goodall, Cambodia's Supreme Patriarch Maha Ghosananda, Costa Rica's Nobel Peace Laureate Oscar Arias, and other great leaders who have battled to end the brutality against the people and causes they cherish. This extraordinary investigation offers far-ranging insights and invaluable lessons, changing the way we think about the world and our responsibility toward one another. These heroic figures are unwilling to accept that our lives must consist of the tragedy of unremitting conflict and warfare. They explain not only the basis of the conflicts they are working to resolve, but what inspires them to stay resolute in their commitment to peace. Engaging, uplifting, and at times unexpectedly humorous, The Future of Peace conveys both a message of hope and a call to action, revealing what it means to hold an unwavering vision of compassion, to be a leader, and to preserve peace in our own day-to-day lives.