BUILDING PEACE IN THE COMMUNITY CANADIAN CENTRES FOR TEACHING PEACE

DEFINITIONS PEACE, IN THE COMMUNITY CONTEXT = THE ABSENCE OF VIOLENCE

OUR MISSION TO HELP BUILD A BETTER WORLD FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ADVANCE PEACE IN THE WORLD

OUR COMMUNITIES NEED OUR HELP VIOLENCE IS OUR MOST PRESSING PROBLEM TODAY NO PERSON ANYWHERE CAN TRUTHFULLY SAY THAT SOLVING THE VIOLENCE PROBLEM MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO THEIR OWN LIVES

WHY ME? YOU ASK YOUR PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMUNITY SERVICE INTEREST & COMMITMENT SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE SPHERE OF INFLUENCE IT AFFECTS YOU DIRECTLY YOU WANT TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR LIFE

WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? WHY IS VIOLENCE WINNING? LACK OF AWARENESS/CULTURE LACK OF FOCUS AND VISION LACK OF COMMUNICATION LACK OF INFORMATION SUMMARY LACK OF UNDERSTANDING LACK OF CENTRAL DATA BASE LACK OF CENTRAL NETWORK LACK OF RECRUITS

ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE TODAY: INCREASES IN OPPRESSIVE SOCIAL PROBLEMS, SUCH AS: –ECONOMIC DISTRESS –FAMILY DYSFUNCTION –RACIAL TENSIONS –TEENAGE PREGNANCY –ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE AS A RESULT, PEOPLE FEEL THAT EVERYTHING IS OUT OF CONTROL

THEY TURN TO VIOLENCE TO GET WHAT THEY WANT MONEY POWER SELF-ESTEEM RESPECT

HOW DO WE SOLVE THE VIOLENCE PROBLEM? THE PROCESS: CLARIFY WHAT THE PROBLEM IS GATHER INFORMATION EVALUATE CAUSES OBSERVE PRESENT SITUATION IN MORE DETAIL CONSIDER PROPOSALS ACTION

WHAT CAN WE DO? MICRO LEVEL: TALK IT UP RAISE AWARENESS (COMMUNICATION PLAN) DEVELOP NETWORK ORGANIZE A CONFERENCE ORGANIZE STUDENT CONTESTS MEDIA RECOGNITION AWARD

WHAT CAN WE DO? MACRO LEVEL: COMMUNITY SAFETY/PEACE COMMITTEE COMMUNITY SAFETY/PEACE PLAN REFORM THE ATTITUDES OF INDIVIDUALS INSTITUTIONALIZE PEACE IN OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM

WHAT CAN WE DO? MORE MACRO LEVEL: MUNICIPAL COUNCIL DECLARE YOUR COMMUNITY A PEACE CITY OR TOWN INITIATE A JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT PEACE PROGRAM DEVEOP AN INTERNET SITE - A VIRTUAL CANADIAN CENTRE FOR TEACHING PEACE DEVELOP PEACE RESEARCH DEVELOP SAFETY PARTNER PROGRAM

WHAT CAN WE DO? EVEN MORE: ADDRESS ROOT CAUSES OF VIOLENCE –ECONOMIC DISTRESS –FAMILY DYSFUNCTION –RACIAL TENSIONS –TEENAGE PREGNANCY –ALCOHOL & DRUG ABUSE –OTHER PEOPLE MUST FEEL IN CONTROL OF THEIR LIVES - EMPOWERED

OUR GOAL - MEASURABLE RESULTS MINIMIZE VIOLENCE IN ALL AREAS OF THE COMMUNITY YOUR COMMUNITY - A SAFE CITY OR TOWN YOUR PROVINCE - A SAFE PROVINCE CANADA - A SAFE COUNTRY THE WORLD - A SAFE WORLD

BUILDING PEACE IN THE WORLD THE WORLD IS DANGEROUS NOT BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO DO HARM, BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING.THE WORLD IS DANGEROUS NOT BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO DO HARM, BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE WHO LOOK AT IT WITHOUT DOING ANYTHING.