- The Peace Workshop



Peace Is “I believe it is absolutely necessary for each human being to work toward the prevention of war and establishment of peace. The power of an individual is small, yet we believe in the strength of collective human energy, just as we know a drop of water is the source of a great river.”
-Chiekio Akiyama – Radio and television commentator – Tokyo, 1988

My country is a country of teachers. It is therefore a country of peace. We discuss our successes and failures in complete freedom. Because our country is a country of teachers, we closed the army camps, and our children go about with books under their arms, not rifles on their shoulders. We believe in dialogue, in agreement, in reaching a consensus.
-Oscar Arias Sanchez – President of Costa Rica elected 1986 – Noble Peace Prize 1987

This workshop is designed as a journey to awareness of the importance of peace and how each person can be a peacemaker.

Peace WorkshopPart One: focuses on the feelings of each student, what they love, what they fear and connection to the earth.

Part Two: introduces the concept of conflict as a normal part of life and ways of solving conflicts creatively. Students provide examples of conflict in their daily lives and begin to see themselves as peacemakers.

Part Three: is a student participatory roleplay of the Great Haudenoshonee Peace Council in a time of warfare amongst the tribes when The Peacemaker came to the people and planted the Tree of Peace. Each student can beat on the peace drum and say why peace is important.

Peace WorkshopPart Four: continues the journey to the United Nations Peace Keeping Forces and a re-definition of what makes a hero. Students again come to the drum to talk about their heroes.

Part Five: is a role-play exercise that demonstrates the deadly development of weapons and culminates in the awareness of atom bombs.

Part Six: involves the students taking the point of view of the trees and animals.

Part Seven: recognizes that many people are sad about the weapons and words of war.

Part Eight: replaces words of war with words of peace as the students walk the path to peace and together solve the puzzle of peace as each student has a ‘piece of peace’.

The students respond very positively to the workshop in spite of the difficult subject matter. One young girl at the Haudenoshonee Peace Council drum summed up the teaching beautifully when she said “peace is healing the wounds of the world.” Another child said “peace is important so we can find forgiveness.”

Student Responses:

Peace WorkshopThis is what I learned:

to be kind and

be nice to the

world
___________________________________________________________
Peace is something that everyone holds

something as precious as silver and gold
___________________________________________________________

Peace is good but war is

bad War is dying war is

crying, But…peace is good

peace is laughter. So be

a…

Peace Macker!
___________________________________________________________

Sometimes you have so much fun you forget that your

learning. the peacemaker, Sam
___________________________________________________________

I learned not to fight or hurt.
___________________________________________________________

We learned that you can solve problems. Now our class knows a lot of peace

things and to solve fights.
___________________________________________________________

We even talked about peace, joy, love, friends, justice, laughter, learn,

understanding, freedom, share, harmony, healthy, confidence.
___________________________________________________________

It’s a word of happiness, joy and

beauty, not to fight, and scold, but do your duty. Peace means everything you

love, not war, and bomes and bad things to think of. So be a peace maker by

helping others, treat them like your sisters and brothers.
___________________________________________________________

Voices are ringing. Peace peace no killing!

So take up the torch hold it high!

Do not forget the people that die!
___________________________________________________________

A Song For Peace

If all the people everywhere

were kind to all the others

A happy home this world would seem

for all be like brothers.
___________________________________________________________

The Golden Rule

Baha’I Faith
“He should not wish for others that which he doth not wish for himself, nor promise that which he doth not fulfill.”
Gleanings

Buddhism
“Hurt not others with that which pains yourself.”
Udana-Varqa

Christianity
“All things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them:
for this is the law and the prophets.”
The Gospel of Matthew

Hinduism
“This is the sum of duty: do naught to others which if done to thee would cause the pain.”
The Mahabharata

Islam
“No one of you is a believer until he desires for his brother
that which he desires for himself”.
Hadith

Judaism
“What is hateful to you, do not to your fellow men.
That is the entire Law, all the rest is commentary.”
The Talmud

Zoroastrianism
“That nature only is good when it shall not do unto another
whatever is not good for its own self.”
Dadistan-i-Dinik

Foundation for EducationMade possible through the Foundation for Enriching Education Perth-Huron.