A new news and information feed (in English) on peace processes

This is new source of news and information about peacebuilding, mediation and peace processes around the world. This app (designed by the good people at Factr.com) has enabled our Co-Curators to draw on more than 500 sources (and growing) of published news and create this customised filter. It is available free, just follow Peace Talks on your browser, or download app (Factr) if you have an iPhone. This is a resource for anyone engaged or interested in the practical work of mediation and peacebuilding. It is premised on the idea that relevant comparative experiences are a rich source of ideas and inspiration – and this provides a steady flow of both. Normally buried in the relative obscurity particular geographies and under the preponderance of news on violence and war, these selected articles make the case for the collective and cumulative value of efforts to prevent, resolve and transform organised armed conflicts. Unlike other related sites, Peace Talks is focussed on news and information on how people are building peace by peaceful means.

 

What is in and what is out (*and why)

Using a selection criteria of 150 words (and growing *see below), we have sought to create a broad and inclusive filter that broadly captures applied peacebuilding. It is a list of words used to describe all kinds of interventions (by many people and many types of organisations) that are purposefully designed to sustain peace.

Of course there are no clear boundaries. Editorially we are seeking to prioritise deliberate interventions and significant that lead to positive changes in conflict contexts while at the same time excluding most diplomatic statements, visits and handshakes (articles about which are large in number) and also more indirect educational events like workshops and publications. Here is the list of search terms we are using: Peace_Talks_Search_Criteria. While we have not listed it here, we also have an even larger number of exclusion terms that help the stream run clean, mostly relating to violence, sport and commerce.

We are very eager to have feedback on whether we should include additional search terms (please send them in to the email below), and your views on whether this focus is a legitimate and useful one.

Where are the stories of civil society/NGO/community peacebuilding?

As we have a special interest in uncovering experiences and perspectives that are otherwise hard to find, we are proactive in our approach to ensuring diversity of both sources and subjects. We are aware of the vital and creative roles in mediation and peacebuilding played by community leaders and local and international organisations, but we struggle to ensure their fair representation in this stream. We are actively looking for new websites – as close as possible to their sources, and would appreciate the suggestion of our readers. Of course, there are many reasons why many intervenors make an active choice to keep their stories out of the media, but if people and policy makers are going to better understand and value the interventions of peacebuilders more of these stories will need to be made public.

Sign-up as a Contributor

While anyone can have the access of a Viewer, if you would like to be a Contributor (with permissions that enable to you to post up new materials or highlight articles at any time), just send an email to andy@peacebuilding.co.uk

Join us as a Co-curator

Our goal is that this resource will flow as a reader co-curated stream.  We aim to have a minim of ten Co-curators, with the full access privileges to post new content, add new (RSS) sources, add new filter (inclusion/exclusion) terms, and to generally help keep the stream running focussed and relevant by ‘hiding’ (with a click) irrelevant stories. This requires a commitment to visit the site at least one or more times a week. Would you like to join us?

Researchers

While the site has a search function, if you have a particular geographic or thematic interest, articles can be tagged and the App has a great facility for generating bespoke and shareable reports. The site would make a very useful data source for students and researchers with an interest in peacebuilding and peace journalism.

Please take a minute to give us feedback

Peace Talks is still in development stage so we need to know if you are encountering any glitches of finding anything difficult to navigate or whether you are finding it useful. (please send an email to andy@peacebuilding.co.uk)

Spread the word!

Please help us to promote the availability of the site through your networks and social media contacts. It was made to be used. The designers at Factr have also created a widget, so if you would be interested in adding this feed to your website please get in touch.

Thank you and we hope you find it useful,

Andy Carl on behalf of all the Co-Curators