ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE EDUCATION CENTER (ANEC)

The Active Nonviolence Education Center (ANEC) is an NGO registered under the Societies Registration Act of 2006. The Centre was established on the 10th of Sept 2007 and is a non-profit educational organisation dedicated to the promotion of peace and nonviolence. The Active Nonviolence Education Center was established in order to further the message of nonviolence as taught by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for the purpose of helping people learn the practicalities of nonviolent living and nonviolent struggle. We provide a comprehensive educational program for the Tibetan community that increases and strengthens the message of nonviolence as the appropriate path for the Tibetan struggle. We believe that active nonviolence is the very foundation of our struggle for the restoration of human dignity and justice for Tibet and other oppressed and marginalized communities.

The Need for Active Nonviolence

The need to settle disputes and to challenge oppressive power has never been greater in our world. Despite impressive advances in education, health and science, human beings are more than ever resorting to violence to settle their disagreements and problems. The twentieth century has proven itself as the most violent in history with tens of millions of people killed as the result of war. This is genuine cause for concern, and we must seek means to de-escalate the pattern that has been set in motion. In history, the examples set by Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. have shown the world that active nonviolent demonstration is a highly successful form of protest that yields victory for oppressed people. His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is the primary voice in the world today advocating nonviolence for the Tibetan people’s just struggle. In loyalty to His Holiness and to Buddhist teachings, Tibetan people worldwide have chosen to follow his example in resisting oppression due to Chinese occupation of Tibet. Indeed, there has been remarkably little violence in the 50 years since His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama was forced to flee Tibet. He and the Tibetan people have done wonderful work in preserving Tibetan culture and tradition while in exile, as well as generating awareness and support regarding the plight of Tibetan people.