THEMES in PEACE EDUCATION

Peace Theme 1: Upholding Human DIgnity

“The human aspiration for dignity and freedom belongs to women and men alike, young and old – it is
universal.”

Upholding Human Dignity is the center of the values system that we associate with social peace.

Human Dignity defined as the fundamental innate worth of a human being, a principle that is now
universally accepted but has not taken root in the actual practices of many governments, communities
and other non-state actors.

The Principle of Human Dignity is enshrined in the teaching of major faiths.

 The universal declaration of Human Rights

 The Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women
 Convention on the Rights of the Child

“The achievements of positive conditions of human rights provide the foundation of a nonviolent
social order and greatly reduce the causes of armed conflict and war.”

Peace Theme 2: Challenging Prejudice and Building Tolerance

=Challenging Prejudice and Building Tolerance=

Prejudice is the negative feeling or attitude towards a person or a group even if it lacks basis.
Hence, building tolerance and respect for diversity becomes an imperative in a world where
intolerance for differences has become a justification for violence.

•Types of Prejudice:

•Racism – The belief that one’s own cultural or racial heritage is innately superior to that of
others, hence, the lack of respect or appreciation for those who belong to a “different race”

•Sexism – A system of attitudes, actions, and structures that subordinates others on the basis
of their sex where the usual victims are women.

•Heterosexism – Negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay men

•Classism – Distancing from and perceiving the poor as “the other”

•Linguicism – Negative attitudes which members of dominant language groups.

•Ageism – negative attitudes held against the young or the elderly.

•Lookism – prejudice against those who do not measure up to set standards of beauty. The
usual victims are the over weight, the undersized, and the dark skinned.

•Religious Intolerance – Prejudice against those who are followers of religious other than one’s
own.

Education for Tolerance and Respect

•One effective way to challenge prejudice is by teaching tolerance. Education for tolerance
aims to counter influences that lead to fear, discrimination and exclusion of others.

Why teach Tolerance and Respect?

There is a need for schools to educate citizens not to accept hateful propaganda about the
“different other” and instead appreciate other cultures and respect cultural differences.
Educating for tolerance is a practical alternative. Intolerance has given rise to violence,
terrorism, and discrimination within the societies.

Teaching for tolerance will aid in protecting human rights and in saving lives.

Peace Theme 3: Promoting NONVIOLENCE

Nonviolence is the refusal to do harm to other humans as life is sacred and is an absolute value.
It is anchored on the belief that humans have the potential to change.

MOHANDAS "Mahatma" GANDHI, the man who led people of India out of British subjugation
held the following beliefs about nonviolence:

As long as people accept exploitation, both exploiter and exploited will be entangled in injustice
but once the exploited refuse to accept the relationship, refuse to cooperate with it, they are
already free.

Nonviolence and cowardice do not got together. Possession of arms implies an element of fear,
if not cowardice.

A person and his/her deeds are two distinct things. Hate the sin but not the sinner.

If we fight back (in a violent way), we will become the vandal and they (oppressors) will become
the law.

An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind.

Nonviolence is more powerful for converting the opponent and opening his ears which are
otherwise shut to the voice of reason.

Nonviolence demands that the means used should be as pure as the ends sought. Two wrongs
will not make one right. "If the end is good the means must also be good."

MARTIN LUTHER KING, Jr., believed in the same principles Gandhi hold on to:

 Nonviolence does not seek to defeat or humiliate the opponent but to win his friendship
and understanding.
 Nonviolence seeks to defeat injustice, not people.
 Nonviolence thrives on love rather than hatred.
  Nonviolence requires willingness to suffer and amazing discipline in the midst of
provocation.
 Nonviolence holds that suffering can educate and transform.

Peace Theme 4: Challenging the War System

"If wars begin in the minds of men (and women), then it is in the minds of men (and women)
that the defenses of peace must be constructed." -- UNESCO Preamble

REASONS AND CAUSES OF WAR

 territorial disputes

 lack of tolerance for difference

 ieological or power struggles

 competition for resources

 desire of leaders to stay in power Effects of War

 massive death

 commitment of atrocities

 loss of investments

 create fear or trauma

All of us should know :

1. The importance of the oneness of the human family.
that it is one way of avoiding war. Peace. Peace should start at home; there can be peace if
there is oneness in all of us.

2. The causes and effects of war.

It is important to know the effect and causes of war, by this we are able to analyze and balance
the things we must do to avoid any conflicts. If conflicts occur it is easy to analyze where it
started and what are the things needs to do to resolve it.

3. Strategies to challenge the war system.

To know the strategies of challenging war system is one way of promoting the peace in all of us,
in the way that it is by then to handle such any war system if there will be.

Peace theme 5: Resolving and Transforming Conflict

What is Conflict?

Conflict happens when two or more parties disagree with a certain topic. You have probably
argued with someone may it be your teacher, your boss, your spouse, or even your family. It is
somehow a normal occurrence but it can be avoided.

Conflicts can happen on a personal up to the national level. When you turn on your television
sets, or look up the news on the internet, you will see different forms of conflict. Like here in
the Philippines, there is an ongoing conflict between our country and China due to territorial
disputes, specifically the Scarborough Shoal.

When there is conflict, anger is the emotion we usually feel. Like the picture above, Anger is a
strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence aroused by a wrong or simply just wrath. When
people are angry, it usually clouds their better judgment. You lash out, you say hurtful words,
even though they you never meant it. It is somewhat destructive when left onits own devices

Anger is an emotion, therefore it is irrational. When you let anger control you, it will do
irrational things like break the objects around you, or shout at your loved ones, even resulting
into unnecessary fights. What you can do however is learn to control anger.
Peace Theme 6: Sharing the Earth’s Resources

The highly uneven distribution of wealth and resources is a situation of violence

known as Structural Violence(- This violence refers to the system, institutions, and
policies that meet some people’s human needs, rights or wants at the expense of
others.) Hunger and poverty are symptoms of this violence.

Other causes of poverty:

 War and armed conflicts disrupt the people’s livelihood and all productive activities.
 Political system created by local political elite that have combined with profit-motivated
economic systems that reduce opportunities for most people to earn enough to meet
their basic needs.
 Inequitable distribution of wealth and resources much of which has begun in colonial
history.
 Lack of opportunities such as employment.
 Lack of education
 Corruption
 Over consumption
 Greed