This text is based on remarks by Javier Tolcachier, an Argentinian co-editor of Pressenza, during the discussion “Challenges of Nonviolent Journalism” at the Faculty of Communication and Human Sciences, San Marcos University, Lima, Peru, on November 22, 2024.
We have many needs. We need wealth redistribution and guarantees for a dignified life for everyone. We need a new political approach, one that goes beyond empty rhetoric, deceitful promises, betrayal of the people’s will, and the exploitation of representation for petty purposes.
We need sovereignty—political and cultural sovereignty—that allows us to develop without external impositions disconnected from our well-being. We need and demand freedom from discrimination based on our origin, skin color, gender, or beliefs.
We need knowledge, solidarity, and connection with one another. Yet amidst all these needs and shortcomings, there is one that is fundamental and often overlooked: the need for solid references in a volatile and ever-changing world. A horizon to aim for, a cornerstone to rely on—both personally and socially.
In the face of instability, millions around the world deeply feel this need. Confronted with an uncertain and blurred future, unable to identify new alternatives, many turn to the past, searching for references in a world that no longer exists.
In this way, large groups suffocated by current circumstances take refuge in reactionary, conservative, denialist, and ultimately violent proposals—options that may seem appealing at times but fail to provide true salvation or refuge.
We humanists believe that Active Nonviolence can serve as the reference we so desperately need. A reference of great value to all human beings, regardless of their condition, culture, or personal situation.
However, it is necessary to deepen our understanding of Active Nonviolence. This begins with broadening our perception of violence. Violence is not limited to the physical—expressed in wars and conflicts that divide and destroy us while filling the coffers of arms manufacturers. Violence is also economic, where exploitation thrives. It is racial, where exclusion is based on cultural differences rooted in lingering imperialism and its painful legacy.
There is religious violence, which arises when multiple forms of spirituality are not accepted, and individuals are persecuted for their faith or lack thereof. Psychological violence occurs when someone imposes their lifestyle on others, denying their intentionality and freedom to choose their path. Gender violence needs no further explanation, though it demands immediate and decisive action.
Even environmental destruction and ecological degradation stem from the violence of irrational accumulation, attempting to mask an existential void with absurd and excessive consumption.
All these forms of violence are not only external; they are fueled by resentment, despair, a desire for revenge, blame, and the growing disconnection we experience from others and ourselves. Violence will not disappear if we continue to sow resentment or fail to understand the inherited system of values that normalizes, accepts, and justifies violence. Violence cannot be resolved through violence.
In the face of these varied forms of violence, both social and personal, we propose moving forward—toward the future, toward a new life, and a new human being—through Active Nonviolence.
As its name implies, Active Nonviolence is an attitude to cultivate. It rejects all forms of violence and, far from remaining passive, invites collective action toward a society of collaboration and cooperation, free from exploitation. It envisions an inclusive society with equal opportunities for all, entirely distant from any form of discrimination.
Active Nonviolence has deep roots in the collective struggles of our people and manifests daily—not only in protests but in the construction of new realities at the grassroots level when people unite in common, positive actions.
Above all, Active Nonviolence is an internal sensitivity, a way of living that strives to identify the roots of violence within us. It sharpens our awareness to avoid falling into acquired habits that perpetuate social violence in an endless vicious cycle. This way of life leads us to live coherently and foster empathy and community ties.
Violence, dear comrades, friends, and companions, is the hallmark of prehistory. The world of the future—true Human History, with a capital “H”—will begin to flourish by adopting Active Nonviolence as the new foundation of personal and social existence. We call on you to join us in this liberating utopia.
