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	The Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence by Sciences Po Paris Center for International Research and Studies France   The Online Encyclopedia of Mass Violence (OEMV) is a regularly updated electronic database focusing on massacres and genocides of the 20th century. Currently, there is no tool available that documents and classifies knowledge by continent, country and historical period.   The objective of the project is to offer reliable historical and interdisciplinary analysis of both well-documented and less well-known 20th century massacres. Resources provided include chronological indexes, case studies, contributions on socio-political violence in countries, a glossary of the terms most often used in the field of genocide studies as well as papers written by the most representative authors in the field.   Such a unique database will not only be valuable to scholars, but also to the NGO community, international legal experts, policy makers and journalists. The aim is to bring together the highest quality scholarship in the field.   This project was initiated by Sciences Po Paris (Center for International Research and Studies). At the core of the project is collective research that involves the most prestigious scholars in the field of mass violence from all over the world. The knowledge produced seeks to offer an understanding of the similarities and the specifics of extreme violence perpetrated during the 20th century.   The innovative aspect of this project is multidisciplinary focus. Incidents and acts of mass violence are so complex that they necessarily require a multidisciplinary approach: not only that of the historian, but also of the anthropologist, the political scientist and other specialists. Multiple angles of analysis are offered in order to better understand the destructive conducts that can seem so hard to comprehend.   The project works vigilantly against any attempt to manipulate or exploit the work for political or ideological purposes. Building peace requires an understanding of the legacy of violence, the dark side of peace. Visit the related web page
	Global financial crisis has made the world less peaceful by Reuters & agencies   June 2010   The global financial crisis has made the world less peaceful by fuelling crime and civil unrest, a worldwide study claims, but the risk of outright armed conflict appears to be falling according to the report.   The 2010 Global Peace Index — which examines several dozen indicators from the crime rate to defense spending, conflicts with neighboring states and respect for human rights — showed an overall reduction in the level of peacefulness.   The key drivers were a five percent rise in homicide, more violent demonstrations and a perceived greater fear of crime.   “We have seen what looks like a direct impact from the crisis,” Steve Killelea, the founder of the index, told Reuters. “At least some unrest is probably unavoidable but the important thing is to target measures to keep it to a minimum.”   That could mean ensuring any economic pain was equitably shared across society, he said, to maintain social cohesion.   The index is compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace based on data From the Economist Intelligence Unit. They estimate violence costs the global economy $7 trillion a year.   A 25 percent reduction in violence would save about $1.7 trillion a year, enough to pay for the United Nations millennium development goals and global action to address climate change.   “There are such clear economic benefits to peace and it is something investors are now looking at much more closely,” Mr Killelea said, adding that some were using the index alongside the World Bank governance indicators and other key rating systems to inform their investment decisions.   Africa had seen a fall in the number of armed conflicts and an improvement in relations between neighbors, he said, overshadowing the impact of greater crime. Better ratings for the Middle East and North Africa came primarily from improving relations between nations.   The picture was still mixed for both regions. Ethiopia topped the list of “most improved” countries in 2010 while the world’s least peaceful countries were listed as Iraq, Somalia, Afghanistan and Sudan.   New Zealand was listed as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Iceland and Japan. The worst performing region since 2007 has been South Asia, with conflict in Sri Lanka, Pakistan and India hitting ratings.   Russia’s rating was reduced by ongoing tensions with Georgia after their short war in 2008, while China was undermined by a rising risk of social unrest and increased defense spending, up some 15 percent in the last year.   The United States accounted for 54 percent of global military spending, he said, with its conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere a potentially damaging distraction.   “You can easily make a case that if the United States had not been so be occupied with war in recent years they could have put much more energy and thought into the economy,” Killelea said.” Then we might not be where we are today.”   "We are in an epoch different to any other epoch in human history. The problems we are facing are global in nature. They include climate change, ever decreasing biodiversity, diminishing supplies of fresh water on the planet and overpopulation. Without peace we will be unable to achieve the levels of cooperation, inclusiveness and social equity required to begin solving these challenges, let alone empower the international institutions needed to regulate them.   It is impossible to accurately portray the devastating effects that global challenges will have on us all unless unified global action is taken. Our shared challenges call for global solutions, and these solutions will require cooperation on a global scale unparalleled in human history". Visit the related web page
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