Building a Culture of Peace For the Children of the World This exhibit brings together the ideas of hundreds of people and organizations dedicated to finding a path to lasting peace. We hope that you will leave with renewed confidence that a culture of peace is possible— and a necessity for life on earth. Everything that is needed to build a culture of peace already exists in each of our hearts. As stated in the United Nations definition, a Culture of Peace is a set of values, attitudes, modes of behavior and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes and solving problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations. Barriers to Peace Environmental Isolationism “It is not the violence of a few Irresponsibility People can become frightened by the rising tide of internationalism. Some retreat to that scares me, Pollution and the destruction of the familiar places and customs and avoid natural environment require solutions encounters with “foreigners.” that go beyond national boundaries. it is the silence of the many.” Ignorance of other cultures and countries creates Global warming could cause 40 to 50 a narrow, distorted view of life and the world. percent of the world’s population to be Education is key to fostering global-minded —Martin Luther King, Jr. affected by insect-transmitted diseases individuals. such as malaria and dengue fever. Poverty Need is the root cause of many of the conflicts in the world. Where children are hungry, there can be no peace. 78% of Sub-Saharan Africans and 84% of South Asians live on less than $2 a day. Of the world’s 1.3 billion poor people, it is estimated that nearly 70 % are women. Greed A struggle between powers for territorial dominance led to two World Wars and the Cold War. The struggle now is for economic domination. Europe consumes roughly 14 times the resources it contains. The United States, with just over 4 % of the world’s people, consumes 28% of world resources. Japan, with about 2% of the world population, is the world’s 4th largest energy consumer. More than 80% of Japan’s energy is imported. Prejudice and Stereotyping Nuclear Threat To motivate people to make war, the enemy must be a recognizable evil—a stereotype. Nuclear weapons are the ultimate Prejudice and hate are fueled by ignorance. embodiment of human negativity. A balance of nuclear power is impossible. “All war is based on deception.”—The Art of War, by Sun Tzu, circa 500 BCE There are enough nuclear weapons The Illusion of stockpiled to devastate the Earth and kill every person on the planet several “Efficiency” times over. In the technocratic view that places the utmost value on technological progress, efficiency and expediency, human beings are reduced to things. This dehumanizing tendency is starkly evident in the language of war planning where the death of innocent people becomes “collateral damage,” attacks become “strikes,” and “liquidation” and “neutralize” become euphemisms for killing. The United Nations and the Culture of Peace As defined by the United 1989 A “culture of peace” was first expressed officially at the Nations, the Culture of Peace International Congress on Peace is a set of values, attitudes, in the Minds of People held in Ivory Coast, Africa. modes of behavior and ways of life that reject violence 1997 UN designated the year 2000 the “International Year for the Culture and prevent conflicts by of Peace.” tackling their root causes 1999 On September 13, the UN to solve problems through General Assembly adopted the dialogue and negotiation “Declaration on a Culture of Peace” and the “Programme of among individuals, groups Action on a Culture of Peace.” and nations. 2000 “International Year for a Culture of Peace” UNESCO supported the Manifesto 2000 signature- collecting campaign. 2001 Start of the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non- Violence for the Children of the World.” The Pattern of Peace “A peace culture ... can be defined as a mosaic of The Culture of Peace identities, attitudes, values, beliefs, and patterns that is made up of an leads people to live nurturingly with one another and the earth itself without the aid of structured power infinite number of differentials, to deal creatively with their differences, interlocking pieces. and to share their resources. Violence is more visible and gets more attention in our history books and in our Each of us has media than peace does. But peace culture will take us a part to play in where we want to go.” the pattern of peace. —Elise Boulding, Women’s Views on the Earth Charter Toward a Global Culture of Peace Change begins with individuals who work to make their dreams come true. We begin by believing that a Culture of Violence can change to a Culture of Peace. Culture of Violence/War Culture of Peace What are the differences Violence Nonviolence between a Culture of Hierarchical, vertical authority Democratic, participative Violence and a Culture Rules, orders Dialogue, communication of Peace? Exploitative of people and Respect for human rights and dignity. the natural environment Sustainable development. Male-dominated Power sharing between men and women. Empowerment of women. Secretive (information is controlled) Open sharing of information Demonizing “other” or enemy Tolerance and respect for diversity Division Unity and cooperation Responding to conflict Negotiation, mediation. Search for with violent suppression nonviolent solutions to causes of conflict. Adapted from “UNESCO’s Culture of Peace Programme: An Introduction” by David Adams and Michael True, in International Peace Research Newsletter, Vol XXXV No. 1. March 1997 The United Nations’ 8 Action Areas for Peace The General Assembly of the United Nations has designated 2001-2010 as the International Promoting Decade for a Culture of Peace Fostering and Non-Violence for the a culture of sustainable Children of the World. peace through economic What is a Culture of Peace? education and social A Culture of Peace consists of values, attitudes and by promoting education development behaviors that reject violence. for all, focusing especially by targeting the In a peaceful world, we solve on girls; revising curricula eradication of poverty; problems through dialogue and to promote the qualitative focusing on the special negotiation. values, attitudes and needs of children What can we do to create a behavior inherent in a and women; working Culture of Peace? culture of peace; training towards environmental In 1999, the United Nations for conflict prevention sustainability; fostering defined eight action areas that and resolution, dialogue, national and international you see pictured here. As you consensus-building and visit this exhibition, think about co-operation to reduce actions that you can take in your active non-violence... economic and social school, home or community. inequalities... Is there a conflict prevention and resolution training program at What steps can you start your school? Can you start or join one? taking today to help safeguard the future of our planet? Do you know what the Earth Charter is? Can you find out? Promoting Ensuring Fostering respect for all equality democratic human rights between participation by distributing the women by educating responsible Universal Declaration and men citizens; reinforcing of Human Rights actions to promote by integrating a gender at all levels and democratic principles and perspective and promoting fully implementing practices; establishing and equality in economic, international instruments strengthening national social and political on human rights... institutions and processes decision-making; that promote and sustain eliminating all forms democracy... Do you think violence in of discrimination and movies and television affects violence against women; children? Is there anything you Do schools in your area teach supporting and aiding can do about violence in the democratic citizenship? What media? women in crisis situations can you do to help children learn resulting from war and all responsibility? other forms of violence... What are some examples in your community of ways that women are not equal to men? Do you believe that women have a special role in creating a culture of peace? Why? Advancing Supporting Promoting understanding, participatory international tolerance and communication peace and solidarity and the security by promoting a dialogue free flow of through action such as the among civilizations; actions promotion of general and in favor of vulnerable information complete disarmament; groups; respect for and knowledge greater involvement of difference and cultural by means of such actions women in prevention and diversity... as support for independent resolution of conflicts and media in the promotion of in promoting a culture a culture of peace; effective of peace in post-conflict Do you have friends from other countries or cultures? What are use of media and mass situations; initiatives you doing to fight prejudice and communications; measures in conflict situations; stereotyping? to address the issue of encouraging confidence- violence in the media; building measures and knowledge and information efforts for negotiating sharing through new peaceful settlements... technologies... What are you doing to promote Do you know how to access the peace? UNESCO has educational Internet on a computer? What could resources for many of these action you do to help people in poorer areas. Visit www.unesco.org countries get the equipment and the knowledge that you have? “It isn’t enough to “If we have no peace, “Imagine all the talk about peace. it is because we have people living life One must believe in forgotten that in peace. You may it. And it isn’t enough we belong to each say i’m a dreamer, to believe in it. One other.” But i’m not the must work at it.” only one. I hope Mother Teresa someday you’ll join Eleanor Roosevelt us, and the world “Heroism has nothing will be as one.” “The life of active to do with skin color John Lennon nonviolence is or social status.