As the International Day of Peace is observed around the World on the 21^st of September, we look back at the role Strategic Foresight Group (SFG) has played in achieving this year�€™s theme of �€œRight of People�€™s to Peace�€.

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The organization, Strategic Foresight Group, as it stands today evolved from a small non-governmental organization called Peace Initiatives which was formed in 2002. Peace Initiatives worked specifically in the area of resolving current conflicts. As we transformed into present day Strategic Foresight Group, our approach to conflict resolution grew to incorporate an anticipatory outlook of the world. The nature of our research became more forward looking: we began to look at the application of existing mechanism, taking lessons from around the world, to apply to regions of conflict as well as regions where we felt the prevailing conditions could lead to future conflict.

In the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Strategic Foresight Group initiated a series of discussions aimed at bridging the divide between West -Islam relations. Through this effort we sought to control the damage being done to West �€“Islam relations as a direct outcome of the 9/11 attacks. Between 2004 and 2006 we organized three International Roundtables on Constructing Peace Deconstructing Terror, which brought to the discussion table leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. These meetings proved to be strong confidence building measures which helped form a common understanding between countries, on the changing face of terror.

An important outcome of the International Roundtables was the Brussels Consensus, agreed upon by a group of 35 eminent leaders from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and North America. The Brussels Consensus outlines seven principles of sustainable global security for constructing peace such as, the principle of just means, common standards and religious sanctity. It also mentions five policies for a safer world for deconstructing terror such as, zero tolerance for terrorist acts and Intra- and inter-faith dialogues to promote understanding of all religions with regards to the means to achieve justice. In 2008 Strategic Foresight Group also published an important report �€œInclusive Semi-Permanent Conference for the Middle East�€, which was a result of our research and many deliberations. The publication explores the concept of an inclusive and semi-permanent mechanism for comprehensive peace in the Middle East based on lessons and experiences from around the world.

Since 2011 Strategic Foresight Group has spearheaded the Blue Peace process: an endeavour to transform conflict over trans- boundary waters, into a tool for peace and socioeconomic development. Through the past four years we have brought together a diverse group of stakeholders including leaders, academics and media from the Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa to share best practices on water management and collaborate on mechanisms that would promote dialogue between countries over shared water resources. The outcomes of our research and deliberations have been published in various reports on the Himalayan region, Nile and the Middle East. The Blue Peace is an on-going process and we continue to engage various stakeholders through conferences that take place all over the world.  As I write this article, a High Level Forum on the Blue Peace, organized by Strategic Foresight Group is taking place in Istanbul, Turkey.

Thus the International Day of Peace marks an important day as we commemorate the tremendous efforts taken every day to promote the people�€™s right to peace.  We take great pride in contributing to the ocean of peace related initiatives taking place in the world today, which provide some respite to our troubled world, through a strange chaotic harmony.