Nobel Principles – introduction

The Nobel Peace Canter’s 8 principles – the power of dialogue

When I was fortunate enough to visit Oslo, I was deeply moved by time spent at the Nobel Peace Center.  Such a sense of history.  Such a chronology of people who have stood up for what they believed and been prepared to be the difference.  Some are household names; Mandela, Dalai Lama, Obama, …  Some maybe not; Mairead Corrigan & Betty Williams (1976).  But they share a commitment that dialogue is how conflict and disagreement should be resolved.  

As I read the words displayed and listened to the recordings at NPC, I was struck by all the parallels for mediation.  Not me stretching a metaphor for a clever strap line, but a core framework; speaking ~ being heard ~ and finding solutions that way.

I resolved not to let that be a fleeting moment.  So I am committing to share with those who are interested through a series of blogs in 2026.  My mediation practice is my own tiny contribution to the power of dialogue.  My belief is that everyone should have a voice and we must strive (hard sometimes) to create the spaces where conversations concerning conflict can safely take place.

2026 will bring a series of blogs, promoted via my newsletters – explaining the Nobel Peace Center’s 8 principles on the power of dialogue, and being curious what we can bring into our homes, schools, workplaces and mediation spaces.

If you want to read ahead/learn more, you can buy the book here (or even better here!).

From “Those Who Listen Change The World”:-