Preaching to polarized congregations: A responsibility and a challenge, clergy say

Since 2003, the Dublin Protocol has stopped migrants from traveling through Europe to auspicious countries before claiming asylum. However, many migrants travel by sea—which is more perilous and has led to high rates of death. Germany is the first country European country to break from the Dublin Protocol by letting in Syrian refugees.

The ability of social media and online civic participation to impact law and politics is still developing, but one social media tool - Friendfactor - was used successfully in New York to help bring about the passage of Gay Marriage Equality. It may be an indicator for how powerful platforms like this one will continue to play a role in societal growth and change.

Retreat programs can improve self-awareness and understanding of others. The Center for Courage & Renewal creates safe environments for people to speak honestly with each other, something Parker J. Palmer says is needed to de-polarize society.

Arab governments have expended a lot of energy keeping politics of any stripe out of the public sphere. With a few hundred volunteers and hardly any money, an upstart campaign called Beirut Madinati — “Beirut Is My City” — is challenging the status quo, displaying the kind of savvy civic politics promised by the Arab Spring.

The Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies provides a "blueprint" for peaceful and democratic revolution, busting myths about the process of nonviolent revolt and helping dissidents in countries around the world to accomplish political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.

Territorial conflicts in neighboring countries can spur bloody battles.The discovery of a headless corpse in the Netherlands helped Belgium and its bigger Dutch neighbor resolve a property squabble that began in 1961, showing that land disputes can be settled peacefully.

Ljubljana was once a highly crowded city but since the election of its mayor, the city has become far more green due to a clear strategic plan and efficient mayoral office. The largest impact change was making the downtown core largely car free, other changes such as reducing waste and creating urban gardens have also had an impact.

In Turkey there has been a long lasting dispute between the Tukish government and the Kurds that are often violent. AKP the leading political party has won elections in 2015 and may open the gate for transparent and democratic negotiations where the different ethnicities are recognized by the constitution. This is a solution because both the government and the PKK are conducting violent acts against each other.

Antanas Mockus, former mayor of Bogotá, uses art to cultivate what he calls a "citizenship culture." During Colombia's peace negotiations, Mockus emphasized the importance of valuing life after so many years of killing and death with the slogan "Life is Sacred."

The refugee crisis in Syria is one of modern society's greatest diasporas. Syria's refugee children are not a lost generation, but the country's next generation, according to volunteers who want to prepare them for the future.