What is peace? Well, it is at least the presence of connections. The food web of life is rich and varied. Energy and structure are moved and created, transformed and broken down, renewed and extended.
The web of a thriving economy is subtle, laced with trust and contracts, protected by the strong hand of the law–especially contract law and other “everyday laws” we sometimes take for granted.
The web of society is deep, rich and robust, when the peace has held and human creativity and commerce and care has been free to thrive.
War tears up connections. Sometimes, like surgery, war may be unavoidable. But ask those who actually fight wars what is involved. They, like surgeons, hesitate to offer their services unless truly needed. Tearing up the fabric of life is a tragic remedy.
Peacemakers make connections.
People want to make their own connections across the web. They want direct access to the gems and jewels distributed there. Teams and groups want to assemble libraries and the digital equivalent of card catalogues of the material most relevant to themselves. They don’t necessarily want to access the most popular, the most linked-to material on the web. Indeed, they want to establish their own special sources, they want to make and share discoveries. This sort of activity is not encouraged by general-purpose search systems. The world needs DIY intelligence. Open, plain connections. Unlimited in scope and scale.
