OPINIONS
OPINIONS
"There must be specific commitment to education for
Peace.
Children need to learn peace. It is their right, and one which cannot be
disregarded."
--Pope John Paul II, World Peace Day, 1996.
"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
GLOBAL CAMPAIGN FOR PEACE EDUCATION
By Amb. Robert Stewart, C.A., C.M.C.
Rotary Club of Okotoks
Calgary, Alberta, Canada
I just returned from a two day Strategy Session of The Global Campaign for Peace
Education in New York City (November 23-24, 2002), which I would like to share
with you. I was one of 90 participants from around the world, where I
represented Canadian peace educators. Coincidentally, I was also the only
Rotarian and wore my Rotary pin proudly. The Global Campaign for Peace Education
has a very important task to undertake, and I think it is important that we
Rotarian Peace builders actively support peace education throughout the world.
Peace Education is fundamental to Rotary's mission, and peace educators need our
business and other skills to successfully implement it. The following
information was adapted from the Global Campaign for Peace Education brochure.
Hague Appeal for Peace
The Hague Appeal for Peace is an international network of organizations and
individuals dedicated to the abolition of war and making peace a human right.
The Global Campaign for Peace Education was launched at the Hague Appeal for
Peace conference in May 1999 (at which Rotary International participated). After
the conference, the Hague Appeal for Peace New York and Geneva offices took the
responsibility for coordinating the Campaign.
The Vision
A culture of peace will be achieved when citizens of the world understand global
problems; have the skills to resolve conflicts constructively; know and live by
international standards of human rights, gender and racial equality; appreciate
cultural diversity; and respect the integrity of the Earth. Such learning can
not be achieved without intentional, sustained and systematic education for
peace.
The urgency and necessity of such education was acknowledged by the member
states of UNESCO in 1974 http://www.peace.ca/unesco1974recommendation.htm
and reaffirmed in 1995 http://www.peace.ca/unesco1994declaration.htm
. (In other words, your country made commitments to integrate peace education
into your education system.) It is time to call upon ministries of education,
educational institutions and policy makers to fulfill the commitments.
The goal of the Global Campaign for Peace Education is to assure that all
educational systems throughout the world will educate for a culture of peace.
The Need
The Global Campaign for Peace Education seeks to develop the capacities, in
teachers and learners, to face challenges of unprecedented proportion: the
continued development of weapons of mass destruction, armed conflicts between
states and ethnic groups, the spread of racism, gender inequality, community
violence, the huge and widening gap between the rich and the poor throughout the
globalized economy, massive violations of human rights and the degradation of
the environment.
Peace Education
In order to meet the challenges posed by these interwoven problems, the coming
generation deserves a radically different education. People need the skills and
knowledge to create and maintain peace. Peace Education is a holistic,
participatory process that includes teaching for and about human rights,
justice, gender equality, environmental sustainability, disarmament, and human
security. The methodology of peace education encourages reflection, critical
thinking, cooperation, and responsible action. It promotes multiculturalism, and
is based on values of dignity, equality, and respect. Peace education is
intended to prepare students for democratic participation in school and society.
How Does the Campaign Work?
The Global Campaign for Peace Education has two goals:
a.. To build public awareness and political support for the introduction of
peace education into all spheres of education, including non-formal education,
throughout the world;
b.. To promote the education of all teachers to teach for peace.
To accomplish these tasks, the Campaign works in a networking style and depends
on the support and collaboration of local and international educators,
organizations, researchers, youth activists, and policy-makers committed to
Campaign goals. Those active in the Campaign design and share curricula relating
to local and international issues; organize workshops and conferences; train and
inspire youth to educate for peace in their schools and communities; create
forums, working groups and delegations to meet with government and education
officials; develop peace education resource centers; train teachers to teach for
peace; and participate in international networks to advocate for the inclusion
of peace education into schools and communities.
Suggested Action
a.. Visit the Campaign web site http://www.haguepeace.org
b.. Endorse the Global Campaign for Peace Education personally (and encourage
your organizations to endorse it)
c.. Connect with and support the Youth Program http://sajo.itu.int/hapyouth/
d.. Find out who, if anyone, is participating in a Campaign for Peace Education
in your country
e.. Organize or join local Campaign events
f.. Subscribe to Peace Matters, the newsletter of the Hague Appeal for Peace
g.. Advocate for peace education (postcards are available from HAP)
h.. Read "Learning to Abolish War" (available from the HAP web site)
and other peace education resources http://www.peace.ca
Inspired by the ROTARY PEACE CITY PROJECT, Canada is developing an active peace program through the magnificent work of Rotarian RPCP Special Ambassador Robert Stewart of the Rotary Club of Okotoks, Calgary, Alberta. He is the founding director of the Canadian Centers for Teaching Peace whose website PEACE.CA and can be reached at: stewartr@peace.ca.
