Peace Theme

Prof P.
 Peace Theme 1: Upholding Human Dignity 

The Six Peace Theme 2: Challenging Prejudice and Building Tolerance

Peace Peace Theme 3: Promoting Non-Violence  

Themes in Peace Theme 4: A Pathway to Culture of Peace 

Peace Peace Theme 5: Sharing the Earth’s Resources 

Education
Peace Theme 6: Resolving and Transforming Conflicts
 “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.

PEACE THEM
E 1: UPHOLDI
NG HUMAN D
IGNITY
 • The Universal declaration of Human
Rights
• The Convention on the Elimination of all
The Principle of forms of Discrimination Against Women
Human Dignity • Convention on the Rights of the Child

is enshrined in “The achievements of positive conditions

the teaching of of human rights provide the foundation
of a nonviolent social order and greatly
major faiths. reduce the causes of armed conflict and
war.”
 • 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
PEACE THEM tolerance and respect for diversity
E 2: CHALLE becomes an imperative in a world
NGING PREJU where intolerance for differences has
DICE AND BU become a justification for violence.
ILDING TOLE
RANCE
Types of Prejudice
Racism The belief that one’s own cultural or racial heritage is innately •Racism
superior –toThe belief that one’s own cultural or racial heritage is innately superior
to that
that of others, hence, the lack of respect or appreciation for those whoof others, hence, the lack of respect or appreciation for those who belong
belong to a “different race” to a “different race”
•Sexism – A system of attitudes, actions, and structures that subordinates others
Sexism A system of attitudes, actions, and structures that subordinates others on
on the basis of their sex where the usual victims are women.
the basis of their sex where the usual victims are women.
•Heterosexism – Negative attitudes toward lesbians and gay men

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.
Classism Distancing from and perceiving the poor as “the other”
•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.
Linguicism Negative attitudes which members of dominant language groups.
•Religious Intolerance – Prejudice against those who are followers of religious
other than one’s own.

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 Prejudice against those who are followers of religious other than one’s own.
Intolerance
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
 Nonviolence is the refusal to do harm to
PEACE THEME other humans as life is sacred and is an
absolute value. It is anchored on the belief
3: PROMOTING that humans have the potential to change.
NONVIOLENC
E
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.
• It is both ethical and moral choice. WHY
• Destruction is not the law of
humans (Gandhi, 1935) NONVI
• Nonviolence is a practical choice.
Tools and effects of violence are
OLENC
costly. E?
• Nonviolence works.
PEACE THEME 4: CHALL
ENGING THE WAR SYSTE
M
“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
- ideological 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 now 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: SHARING THE EART
H’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
 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.
PEACE THEM
E 6: RESOLVIN Conflicts can happen on a personal up to the
G AND TRANS national level. When you turn on your television
FORMING CO sets, or look up the news on the internet, you
NFLICT will see different forms of conflict. Like here in
the Philippines, there is an ongoing conflict
S between our country and China due to territorial
disputes, specifically the Scarborough Shoal.
When there is conflict, anger is the
emotion we usually feel. 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 in unnecessary fights.
What you can do however is learn to
control anger.