“Imagine all the people, living life in peace. You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one I hope someday you’ll join us… and the world will be as one,” John Lennon famously sang in his 1971 hit “Imagine.”
Decades later, his wise words continue to be relevant. With rampant violence and the rise of various global humanitarian crises, it has become harder to believe that we can all live in peace.
All the violence you hear about every day might make you want to live on another planet, but every once in a while, you’ll get to hear stories of hope that will help restore your faith in humanity. World peace is such a big and abstract concept but it’s always inspiring to hear about people who are committed to spreading the message of non-violence in their own unique way.
Where does the journey to peace all start?
Simple as it may sound, communication and intercultural dialogue are the crucial first steps in achieving freedom, peace, and happiness in all parts of the world. Mutual understanding and genuine human connection in spite of our differences can help us figure out what’s going wrong and what can be done to make things right.
It makes sense, doesn’t it?
So much of the violence happening in the world nowadays is caused by miscommunication and misunderstanding. Considering that we all come from different cultural, political, and economic backgrounds, we don’t fully comprehend and appreciate what other people are saying.
This is why it’s important to take time to pause and think of ways to initiate dialogue in spite of differences. A little change in perspective can make a huge difference.
Here’s where the work of public relations strategist, international scholar, and cultural analyst Linjie Chou Zanadu comes in. He worked with famous figures such as American singer-songwriter, Bertie Higgins and Canadian-American actress Pamela Anderson. But in addition to his work in image management, he also has a very strong desire to promote a better world through dialogue and cultural exchange.
Having traveled, lived, and worked in different countries, Zanadu has developed a special talent in cross-cultural communication. This allows him to work with decision-makers from various fields and backgrounds. He has extensive experience as an advisor to royalties, governments, and organizations in promoting peace.
Zanadu has always been interested in history and knowing the changes of different civilizations. In late 2012, he was brought by the representative of a Vatican representative to promote the interest of a Prince in Europe and the rest is history
“I focus on philanthropic work and reconciliation of differences can meet. China and Russia are the countries which have a lot to bring to the world as their vision of peace comes from respect to their families and especially to children and elderly people,” Zanadu explained.
At the heart of Zanadu’s peace-building activities are human connection, communication, and culture. In his own unique way, he is looking for ways to make the world a better place.
Communicating authenticity
Effective communication is one of the keys to successful relationships – this rings true for individuals, organizations, companies, public figures, and even countries. Unfortunately, creating a genuine connection rarely comes naturally.
It’s easy to get misunderstood. It’s easy for an idea to get lost in translation. Social networks, blogs, and the complexities of the online world make it even more challenging. We may seem more connected now but miscommunication is still a common problem. It’s unbelievably easy to send the wrong idea with just a few clicks.
Now more than ever, it’s important to learn how to communicate with caution, precision, and, authenticity.
For Zanadu, communicating effectively and diplomatically can help promote a better world.
He believes that people from different backgrounds should first come together, create a connection and share an enjoyable experience to encourage them to work together and achieve a common good. His platforms of choice are culture and art. He believes that these are effective tools in bringing peace.
Zanadu’s projects focus on creating rich aesthetic experiences that have the power to engage and connect people from different backgrounds. This kind of common appreciation for beauty helps pave the way for a brighter future for all.
“Good cultural artifacts and art pieces’ can inspire the fundamental similarities of common roots. The inner calling and appreciation for beauty is something we can be related to,” Zanadu shared.
Bringing people together through culture and arts
While working with goodwill ambassadors Princess Olga Romanoff and Prince Emmanuel Filiberto di Savoia in 2015, Zanadu established the Imperial Order of Culture and Peace. Its projects include an Annual Gala, which creates a space for people from all walks of life to unite and support efforts for peace.
The recent Gala is attended by an interesting mix of people – from royals to humanitarians, from singers to cultural icons, from business leaders to artists. It is precisely the kind of event that brings together a diverse crowd in an effort to promote peace and harmony amidst all the violence happening in the world During the event, various artwork was auctioned off and the proceeds were given to St. John Kronstadt’s Home for the Elderly.
Education is also one of Zanadu’s advocacies.
“This year together with John of Kronstadt (USA) Foundation and Princess Karina Bagration, Ph.D. (Princess Carina Organization President, Swiss Charity and United Nations Global Compact Partner) we had a successful lifelong educational project. It is called “ From 5 till 105”. The youngest one she met was 5 years old and the oldest was 105! We also had an amazing experience while bringing social leaders, Chinese government representatives, international diplomats, Hollywood stars to the Premier Edition Peace and Culture Gala which took place in Pasadena, USA,” Zanadu shared.
Achieving peace
“The biggest challenge is that in today’s world, politicians and business leaders all try to bring humanities together under one form of global consensus. But in reality, we can certainly create a unified material world. But they don’t understand that spiritually we still don’t use the same language, it is not about the religion, but the realization and awareness of the consciousness,” Zanadu says.
We haven’t created the peaceful world that John Lennon imagined quite yet. To be honest, it seems like we’re quite far from it, aren’t we? But it’s always inspiring to hear stories about men like Zanadu, who take initiative and promote ways for us
To know more about his work, check out his Instagram account.