CDLS 2015: Relationships and how to build trust

The focus of the fourth day of the 2015 Caux Dialogue on Land and Security was on the theme of “Building trust for collaboration – a precondition for scaling up land restoration.” The main question addressed during the plenary was “What can be achieved in strengthening relationships essential for governance and peace-building?” The plenary speaker and panelists shone the spotlight on the social dimension of the issues of land restoration and sustainable land management.

The keynote speaker was Joseph Montville, Director of the Program on Healing Historical Memory at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University. He spoke on the uses of political psychology in dealing with relationship questions in land and security issues. He stated that “one of the great advantages for different groups who have a history of loss is that by working collaboratively on land, water, and food projects that have clear material benefits for all the people, including their children, they have a real incentive to succeed, psychologically, spiritually, and financially.” (Joseph Montville's speech can be downloaded here.)

The keynote was followed by a panel discussion. Youssif El Tayib, Executive Director of the Darfur Development and Reconstruction Agency (DDRA) shared how in Darfur, “many communities formed local environmental committees. They built support for their role and they are now moving beyond environmental affairs.” Daphrose Ntaratazi of Creators of Peace International, and Jeremy Ive, Church of England Pastor, meanwhile shared examples of community centered peacebuilding initiatives in Burundi and in South Africa. Suhas Wani, Director of the ICRISAT Development Centre concluded the panel discussion by emphasizing that trust needs to be built up between all areas.

The morning plenary was concluded with a book launch. Ilan Chabay from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies, Potsdam, presented a new book entitled Land Restoration: Reclaiming Landscapes for a Sustainable Future. The book was born out of discussions from previous Caux Dialogue on Land and Security conferences, and members of the organizing team contributed to the editing of this volume.

The evening program was a double bill. The Caux Dialogue on Land and Security and the Caux Artists Program staged a musical The Apple Tree, which was a humorous retelling of the story of Adam and Eve that ended on a sentimental note. The musical was followed by the world premiere of the film Ethiopia Rising. The screening coincided with the 30^th anniversary of the Live Aid concert to raise funds for the Ethiopian famine relief. The film was well received by the audience, which was demonstrated by the enthusiasm for the DVD sales to show support to the filmmakers.