Paulo Coelho

Stories & Reflections

UN: no clash of civilizations

Author: Paulo Coelho

22 December 2010 – United Nations Messenger of Peace Paulo Coelho gives short shrift to those who claim there is a clash of civilizations.

“I don’t believe in it. It’s something some political leaders tried to use, and that the media tried and are still trying to sell us, in order to simplify the world and their work,” the renowned Brazilian author told the UN News Centre in an interview.

“When they talk about a ‘clash of civilizations,’ it’s just a way to separate things but the reality, and what I see, is that we are much closer than we think. I was in China recently. I spoke to normal people and heard the same stories I would hear in Brazil. So where is the clash of civilisations? There is none.”

For Mr. Coelho, who is also a Special Counsellor for Intercultural Dialogues and Spiritual Convergences at the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and a member of the UN “Network of Men Leaders” bringing together political, religious and cultural leaders to combat the pandemic of violence against women, everybody should be focussing on what unites, not on what separates.

To read the interview, CLICK HERE

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