The knotted gun sculpture was unveiled, under the patronage of the Prime Minister Mr. Saad Hariri represented by the Minister of Culture Mr. Ghattas Khoury, with the participation of officials, ambassadors, artists, students.
The knotted gun sculpture was unveiled, under the patronage of the Prime Minister Mr. Saad Hariri represented by the Minister of Culture Mr. Ghattas Khoury, with the participation of officials, ambassadors, artists, students.

Press release -

Beirut officially unveils the Knotted Gun "Non-Violence" sculpture, in the first Arab capital.

2nd of October - The International Non-Violence Day - Beirut officially unveils a 150cm bronze Knotted Gun "Non-Violence" sculpture placed in the very heart of Beirut, Middle East.

On the occasion of October 2 The International Day of Non-Violence and the Lebanese National Day of Non-Violence, the universal "sculpture of non-violence", by the Swedish artist CARL FREDRIK REUTERSWÄRD has been unveiled, in the first Arab capital, Beirut.

The Knotted Gun sculpture is established on the seafront, just around the corner from the old Holiday Inn building, a concrete tower block deeply scarred by shell and bullet holes from the 1975-90 civil war.

The symbol of Non-Violence is a universal symbol for peace and non-violence without any religious, political or cultural boundaries. It is the symbol of the Swiss based foundation The Non-Violence Project (NVPF) who has since 1993 educated over 8 million young people, teachers and sport coaches globally in how to solve conflicts peacefully through their education programs Schools for Peace and Sports for Peace.

The 2nd of October is also the start off point for a fruitful collaboration with the Academic University for Non-Violence and Human Rights (AUNOHR). Through their pioneering work, the founders of the AUNOHR, Ms. Ogarit Younan and Mr. Walid Slaiby, succeeded in establishing a national day of non-violence in Lebanon, thus institutionalizing the culture of non-violence and human rights through the creation of this unique university in the world.

"This inauguration means a lot to us and we are proud to have succeeded in putting this sculpture in place here, which symbolizes so many things for us. We have been struggling for so long to reduce violence in the region and this new collaboration with the NVPF is very important to us" explains Ogarit Younan, founder of the AUNOHR.

"Beirut is the first Arab city to inaugurate this statement for peace and non-violence. It is indeed impossible to imagine a more emblematic place, Beirut, that has been the scene of so much violence in recent decades. We look forward to sharing our experiences and everything we have with the AUNOHR, in order to continue our struggle together towards the only possible way, that of peace and non-violence. "says Blaise Oberson, CEO, NVPF.

The celebration was a cultural commemoration, under the patronage of the Prime Minister Mr. Saad Hariri who was represented by the Minister of Culture Mr. Ghattas Khoury, with the participation of Arund Gandhi (Mahatma Gandhi's grandson) and official peace figures, ambassadors, artists, intellectuals, media, academics, civil society, international organizations, youth and students from all the country. It was an event broadcasted live on the main Lebanese TV channel (LBCI), and supported by BDL, UNICEF, LACR, NVPF, individuals and many contributions in kind.

----

For more information and contact:

Blaise Oberson CEO, NVPF, Geneva, Switzerland

Email: blaise@nonviolence.com

Maya Abou Khouzam AUNOHR bureau, Beirut, Lebanon

Email: communication@aunohr.edu.lb

Topics

Categories

The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF) is a Swiss non-profit foundation founded in 1993 and based in Geneva. Its mission is to help build a better world by delivering education to young people around the world and to enable them to learn how to act and take responsibility in all situations of conflicts and violence. NVPF has educated more than 8 million young people, teachers, and sports coaches on 5 continents, with a goal of reaching 50 million by the year 2025. www.nonviolence.com 

Related media Download images for media use

October 2nd Non-Violence Day Celebration - Founders Dr. Ogarit Younan and Dr. Walid Slaybi with Mr Arun Gandhi and Mr Blaise Oberson CEO NVPF.
  • October 2nd Non-Violence Day Celebration - Founders Dr. Ogarit Younan and Dr. Walid Slaybi with Mr Arun Gandhi and Mr Blaise Oberson CEO NVPF.
  • License: Media Use
    The content may be downloaded by journalists, bloggers, columnists, creators of public opinion, etc. It can be used and shared in different media channels to convey, narrate, and comment on your press releases, posts, or information, provided that the content is unmodified. The author or creator shall be attributed to the extent and in the manner required by good practice (this means, for example, that photographers should be attributed).
  • By: AUNOHR
  • File format: .jpg
  • Size: 1024 x 683, 276 KB
Download
The unveiling of the knotted gun sculpture "Non-Violence" in the presence of many youth and students from schools and educational institutions in Lebanon.
  • The unveiling of the knotted gun sculpture "Non-Violence" in the presence of many youth and students from schools and educational institutions in Lebanon.
  • License: Media Use
    The content may be downloaded by journalists, bloggers, columnists, creators of public opinion, etc. It can be used and shared in different media channels to convey, narrate, and comment on your press releases, posts, or information, provided that the content is unmodified. The author or creator shall be attributed to the extent and in the manner required by good practice (this means, for example, that photographers should be attributed).
  • By: AUNOHR
  • File format: .jpg
  • Size: 1024 x 683, 361 KB
Download
Oct 2nd Non-Violence Day Celebration - Founders Dr. Ogarit Younan and Dr. Walid Slaybi with Arun Gandhi in front of the unveiled knotted gun sculpture Non-Violence.
  • Oct 2nd Non-Violence Day Celebration - Founders Dr. Ogarit Younan and Dr. Walid Slaybi with Arun Gandhi in front of the unveiled knotted gun sculpture Non-Violence.
  • License: Media Use
    The content may be downloaded by journalists, bloggers, columnists, creators of public opinion, etc. It can be used and shared in different media channels to convey, narrate, and comment on your press releases, posts, or information, provided that the content is unmodified. The author or creator shall be attributed to the extent and in the manner required by good practice (this means, for example, that photographers should be attributed).
  • By: AUNOHR
  • File format: .jpg
  • Size: 1024 x 683, 271 KB
Download
  • Beirut officially unveils the Knotted Gun "Non-Violence" sculpture, in the first Arab capital.
  • License: Media Use
    The content may be downloaded by journalists, bloggers, columnists, creators of public opinion, etc. It can be used and shared in different media channels to convey, narrate, and comment on your press releases, posts, or information, provided that the content is unmodified. The author or creator shall be attributed to the extent and in the manner required by good practice (this means, for example, that photographers should be attributed).
  • File format: .docx
Download
Beirut officially unveils the Knotted Gun "Non-Violence" sculpture, in the first Arab capital.
  • Beirut officially unveils the Knotted Gun "Non-Violence" sculpture, in the first Arab capital.
  • License: Media Use
    The content may be downloaded by journalists, bloggers, columnists, creators of public opinion, etc. It can be used and shared in different media channels to convey, narrate, and comment on your press releases, posts, or information, provided that the content is unmodified. The author or creator shall be attributed to the extent and in the manner required by good practice (this means, for example, that photographers should be attributed).
  • File format: .pdf
Download

Related content

20 NVPF Master Trainers are this week being educated by Ivana Busljeta, Global Director of Education NVPF.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF) launches an important 3-year project to reduce youth violence in Uganda.

250 schools, 2500 teachers, 25 000 students with a total of 250 000 people in communities will be engaged in The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF)'s educational project in Uganda, thanks to the financial support from the City and the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation opens India office.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF), based in Geneva, opens office in India.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation has just officially launched the NVP India office in the presence of local authorities. India is the 31st country in which NVPF is active. Birenda Kumar, the local director, is now now starting to implement the NVP educational programs in schools around the country. The objective is to educate 3 million young people by the year 2025.

New Global Non-Violence Ambassador Johan Ernst Nilson and his knotted gun sculpture One World - to unite the world in peace.

New Global Non-Violence Ambassador Johan Ernst Nilson and his knotted gun sculpture One World - to unite the world in peace.

Swedish explorer, philanthropist and adventure activist Johan Ernst Nilson becomes Global Non-Violence Ambassador thanks to his strong engagement in The Non-Violence Project Foundations work globally.

​World Masters Games 2021, Japan in collaboration with NVPF

​World Masters Games 2021, Japan in collaboration with NVPF

The World Masters Games 2021 Kansai Organising Committee (hereinafter referred to as "WMG 2021") and the Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF), have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate during the 2021 Master Games in Kansai, Japan.

The bronze sculpture has been gifted to Belfast by the Olsson Family from Sweden and was accepted on behalf of the City by Lord Mayor John Finucane with presence of NVPF Co-Founder Jan Hellman at a ceremony held at Girdwood in North Belfast.

Belfast City joins international family of non-violence and peace

The City of Belfast has been warmly welcomed into an illustrious group of locations around the world that have embraced The Knotted Gun sculpture and its supporting organisation, the Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF).

Students from our educational activities in NVP India.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF) trained over 23,000 people in 2019 to prevent and reduce violence

The Non-Violence Project Foundation (NVPF), whose mission is to prevent and reduce violence around the world, has today released its 2019 Evaluation Report outlining the foundation’s contribution to the global effort to stem violence across the globe. In 2019, NVPF trained 23,778 students, 1,587 teachers/trainers and 7,500 volunteers, on four continents.

The project aims to stem the escalation of youth violence in the country — Photo credit: NVPF

Non-violence project to help thousands of school students in Uganda

More than 25,000 pupils are to benefit from a new project to combat violence in schools in eastern Uganda The Non-Violence Project Foundation’s (NVPF) education project was launched this month with the aim of stopping youth violence in the country and more students being murdered in schools. Article by Billy Briggs for Their World, April 05 2018

Blaise Oberson, CEO of The Non-Violence Project Foundation, together with a designed version of the knotted gun sculpture

"Geneva has a role to play in promoting non-violence"

Blaise Oberson heads a foundation recently established in Geneva, which educates young people to eradicate violence.

The Non-Violence collection by Smarteyes X Non-Violence

Smarteyes donates SEK 5 million to non-violence organization

Since 2016, the optical company Smarteyes has collaborated with the non-violence organisation The Non-Violence Project. The collaboration has resulted in four eyewear collections, about 100,000 pairs of glasses sold and SEK 5 million to The Non-Violence Projects work.

We inspire, motivate and engage people to learn how to solve conflicts peacefully through raising awareness and education.

The Non-Violence Project Foundation empowers people with creative tools and skills to cultivate awareness and understanding of non-violence, enabling them to overcome violence, leading to a virtuous cycle of positive impact. We believe that knowledge is power, and that creativity can help unlock the full potential of this power through skill-based learning and learning tools that are more engaging, impactful, and relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow.

We have educated more than 9 million people on five continents since the organisation was founded in 1993 in Switzerland. Our education programs and outreach initiatives have won several awards for best practise. President Obama awarded NVP the ”President’s Call to Service Award” in 2011. Other awards include the Presidential Daily Light Award, received by President Bill Clinton, the Paul Harris Fellow Award given by Rotary International, the American National Safety Council Award for best practise and the Weed & Seed Award given by US Justice Department in 2009.

It is thanks to our 30-year legacy, symbol of the Knotted Gun, innovative methods, and a growing community of change advocates like you that we can shape a more peaceful and non-violent world.

We are a non-profit based in Geneva, Switzerland, but operating globally, which means you can join us wherever you are.

For more information about us and our initiatives please visit www.nonviolence.com or contact us at admin@nonviolence.com

The Non-Violence Project Foundation
Avenue Louis Casaï 18
1209 Geneva
Switzerland
Non-Violence Project Foundation