Full interview with Dr. Amit Goswami, founder of the Center for Quantum Activism and former professor at the University of Oregon. Amit talks to Stephanie and Michael about the relationship between quantum physics and nonviolence. One of the basic ideas he puts forth as essential to quantum physics is the notion that the universe, at its core and most fundamental, is immaterial consciousness. This challenges the basic tenets of materialism (the theory underlying much contemporary science), which posits that ultimately, the universe is made up of physical stuff and is governed by universal natural laws. If we accept (or at least consider) the principles of quantum physics, genuine choice and agency become possibilities, We are not reduced to being human machines, compelled by external forces (the laws of nature) to react – often violently – to those around us. Instead we can act creatively, spontaneously and nonviolently.

This episode of Nonviolence Radio features Dr. Amit Goswani, founder of the Center for Quantum Activism and former professor at the University of Oregon. Amit talks to Stephanie and Michael about the relationship between quantum physics and nonviolence. One of the basic ideas he puts forth as essential to quantum physics is the notion that the universe, at its core and most fundamental, is immaterial consciousness. This challenges the basic tenets of materialism (the theory underlying much contemporary science), which posits that ultimately, the universe is made up of physical stuff and is governed by universal natural laws. If we accept (or at least consider) the principles of quantum physics, genuine choice and agency become possibilities, We are not reduced to being human machines, compelled by external forces (the laws of nature) to react – often violently – to those around us. Instead we can act creatively, spontaneously and nonviolently.

…in quantum physics, forces, which is the way that we change people, subjugate people to our way of thinking, by applying a force, that's Newtonian. But in quantum physics, forces can only give you possibilities to choose from, and you don't have to choose that one [the violent one]. You can choose also persuasion.

So, in quantum physics, force is a place by choice. The other is choosing the violent way. So, you can change your choice by being humble, by being persuasive, by being straightforward, by being authentic, by exemplifying what you are saying, not using violence.

Rabbi Lynn Gottlieb is one of the first women to become a rabbi in Jewish history. She’s a storyteller, artist, and community educator. Listen in as she takes us on an inner pilgrimage of revolutionary nonviolence. Rabbi Lynn’s experiences paint a picture of a world where diverse identities intersect, find, and strengthen one another. Her vision and experiences call toward a world of unity-in-diversity, a shared World House, as Dr King called it, where we all need one another to be who we are; a house of creativity, of love, compassion, and peace that we actively build across our divides, and is one where our hearts rejoice in healing. Her chapbook, Shomeret Shalom: Replanting the Seeds of Jewish Revolutionary Nonviolence – after October 7th is for anyone who wants to help live into this more realistic and necessary vision of the world as it can be.

This episode of Nonviolence Radio welcomes Mel Duncan, the founding director of Nonviolent Peaceforce and longtime peace activist. Mel talks to Michael and Stephanie about a proposal to bring unarmed civilian protectors to Gaza. Unarmed civilian protection (UCP) – the practice of protecting vulnerable groups by having well trained unarmed people accompany them in areas of danger – has been shown to be extremely effective, even in places entrenched in violent conflict. Too often we are told by conventional history and mainstream media that the appropriate, and indeed, only ‘realistic’ response to violence is yet more violence. Mel encourages us to question this assumption:

When we're presented with these kinds of situations [of violent conflict], we have been fed, so often, that the only way to deal with that is by bringing in the drones and the jets and the 2,000-pound bombs, that we see what is counterintuitive. When we see entire neighborhoods blown up, and blown up, and blown up and the response by policymakers is, let's do it more, that's counterintuitive. And so, what we're doing is rational and intuitive and speaks to the core of the human spirit.

UCP, already practiced (though rarely reported) by organizations and individuals all over the world, has been successful in Sudan, in the Philippines, in Colombia – even in parts of Palestine – to name only a few places. UCP meets violence with the courage to create a different path, and in this reminds us of our core decency, kindness and the incredible strength we show when we choose to act from love.

Tim Chapman, restorative justice practitioner, trainer and former chairperson and board member of the European Forum for Restorative Justice, comes to talk with Stephanie on this episode of Nonviolence Radio. Together, they explore the practice of and principles behind restorative justice, the ways in which it is able to offer a kind of lasting resolution to all parties involved in a conflict – including the larger community in which it happened. Restorative justice is a way to ‘to move out of that sense of antagonism’, often cultivated in traditional legal systems, and instead into a place where everyone listens, everyone is acknowledged and everyone tries hard to understand the stories of others.

"I think in listening to somebody who you believe was your enemy and listening to his story, not necessarily saying it's all true, I don’t agree with everything, but really trying to understand how they've come to that position that made them – is the beginning of a transformation away from that sort of simple label of ‘you are my enemy’, towards you are a human being."

It is only with a renewed sense that we are all human – albeit, with very different backgrounds and experiences – that we can act decently, hold ourselves and others accountable and truly forgive.

Topic Scans and Links:

Mel Duncan has written an excellent article on the possibilities of inserting peace teams into the West Bank in Israel-Palestine.

Educational institutions have agreed to divest from investments that go to Israel.

In Central India, 90 villages have formed Maha Gramsabha.

Gandhi Research Foundation is offering a postgraduate diploma in Sustainable Rural Reconstruction from a Gandhian perspective.

Operazione Colomba, active in Colombia, Albania, and Gaza to guarantee unarmed civilian protection to war victims.

World BEYOND War, is offering a six-week online course on unarmed civilian defense.

International Peace Training Institute is doing projects in 33 countries, training hundreds of women in civilian-based defense.

Unarmed Civilian Defense course by Eli McCarthy.

International Institute for Strategic Studies has documented the highest number of armed conflict that they've been able to document in three decades. “This all makes this one of the most perilous moments for global geopolitics.”

The IDF has made allowance for 100 civilian deaths in Gaza for every Hamas official that they are targeting by an error-prone AI system.

The International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice have issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister and military chief of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

Residents in a Tibetan threatened mountain community are showing the world through videos their resistance to the building of a Chinese dam.

Time to Let Youth Lead

Nonviolence News

In this episode, we delve into the heart of campus activism sweeping across the United States, spotlighting the recent student protests in support of Gaza and calls to end violence. We connect with a faculty member from Yale to discuss the nuances of the current movement, and journey back to the spirited 1960s with a professor from Berkeley who once walked in similar protests. Join us as we explore how today's demonstrations resonate with the past, uncovering the threads that link generations of students in their pursuit of justice and peace.

Part of the fun of nonviolence is showing where alternative practices and systems already exist and to lift them up to inspire more of us to explore and adapt them to our own time, cultures and needs. Take mediation: We know that when practiced with the intent of healing divides, de-escalting violence, and restoring relationships, it works (and “works” if you know Michael Nagler’s “work” vs. work concept), and we don’t hear enough about it in the news. Everyday mediators across the world are building peace in families, communities, and working to heal even our political divides. That’s something hopeful to remember! And the skills of mediation are also something each one of us can learn and adapt for our own needs as they are life skills and benefit those who use them as well as those who are on the receiving end. Sounds a lot like nonviolence to us.

In this episode of Nonviolence Radio we speak with Mike Fraidenburg who is a mediator and co-author of The Art of Mediation about how this work has changed him, and how it can change the world if we do more of it.