It may
never have occurred to you when you were kind to someone who was
different or when you took a time out so that you wouldn't hit your
brother or sister that you were working for world peace.
But
guess what -- that's just what you were doing. Because every time we
make a choice that creates more peace in our own life....we are
practicing a way of being, a way of doing that can stick with us our
whole life long and have huge consequences, for ourselves, for our
families, and for many others who touch our lives.
Perhaps
no one can say where the little choices we make in our lives will
lead, nor what big choices we may have to make later in our lives.
But one
things for sure, the people you see or hear about who do things that
really hurt people (sometimes large numbers of people) almost
certainly did
not
get enough practice making peaceful choices -- before
their
lives took them to them moment where they began doing serious harm
to themselves and to others.
If they
had been practicing the art of choosing peace long before that
moment, then they would have known the right thing to do when the
time came.
So now is
the time to begin asking yourself, "What can I do to create more
peace, in my own life... and in the world?" Look over the links
below for more information on how you can help create peace in the
world. Then talk it over with your family, your friends, and your
teacher. Make a plan for what action you can begin taking, right now.
Did you know that kids have written letters to
leaders of other countries to get other kids freed from prison and
from forced military duty? Yes, they have. And you can too. Contact
Amnesty International to find out what you can do to help.
A listing of groups with great information
about helping kids learn to work things out peacefully. Some groups
can be contacted via email or website, others by phone or letter writing.
The Red Cross does more than give out bandages
and blankets in times of disaster. In countries torn apart by war,
members of the Red Cross have taken an active role in trying to
negotiate peace between warring groups. They also work to convince
people to respect humanitarian law [to lessen the cruelty inflicted],
help reconnect families torn apart by war and disaster, and provide
information about crisis situations in other countries long after our
own news media has grown bored and stopped talking about it.
To make a donation or to learn more about
what's going on in the world, check them out!
This Swedish based organization has contacts in
60 countries around the world. It "aims to promote contact and
cooperation between young people around the world and their schools,
through active participation in shared projects, vital for our time
(e.g. Environment, Human Rights, Conflict Resolution and Constructive
Collaboration)." Check it out and learn how you can take action
for Peace.
This is a great site for kids! Learn how to
start a Peace Club in your school or neighborhood, how to write
letters to promote peace, how to work your problems out peacefully,
and much more. Features songs, online stories, a peace play, quotes
from famous leaders about world peace and information on topics
related to peace -- such as world hunger, the environment, and the
rights of children.
Creating a more peaceful world begins in your
home, school, and neighborhood. Check this site for some great ideas
on how to get involved working for peace! Features
posters
to print and color.