Peace

1. Peace

2. What is peace? • Peace is a state of harmony where there is no violent conflict. • There is also equality and tolerance for all people, regardless of gender, age or race. • Peace opposes war or violence as a way of settling disputes. • There is law and order.

3. Mahatma Gandhi • Mahatma Gandhi (October 2nd 1869 – January 30th 1948) was the leader of the Indian independence movement. • His tool to fight for civil rights was through non-violent actions. • He led India to independence and inspired non-violent civil rights and freedom movements worldwide.

4. He is internationally renowned for total non-violence. • His birthday is also commemorated as World Non-Violence Day. • He once famously said “An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.” • This suggests that a common idea that violence should be used to counter violence is wrong.

5. School Day of Non-Violence and Peace • The School Day of Non-Violence and Peace is every year on 30th of January. • The 30th of January is important because it is the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi. • It is observed by schools all over the world but was founded in 1964 by Spanish poet, Llorenc Vidal Vidal.

6. Peace can be on a worldwide scale, a countrywide scale or a much smaller scale. • It is important to learn the values of peace and non-violence at school. • For example, everyone in a school should show tolerance to their class mates and be friendly to others. • It should not matter what race, creedor gender anyone is, everyone should respect each other.

7. International Day of Peace • As well as School Day of Non-Violence and Peace there is also an International Day of Peace on the 21st of September. • It was first celebrated in 1981 and normally sees a ceasefire during any ongoing war. • To start the day the ‘Peace Bell’ is rung at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. • The bell was a gift from Japan to the United Nations.

8. This bell is made from coins donated by children from all the continents except Africa. • It is a reminder of the human cost of war and the inscription on it reads, “Long live absolute world peace.” • There is also a Japanese Peace Bell in Madrid.

9. The Nobel Peace Prize • The Nobel Peace Prize is one of five Nobel Prizes as left by Alfred Nobel, a Swedish inventor. • The winner, according to Alfred Nobel, “...shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”

10. Notable winners of the Peace prize are – Nelson Mandela, the 14th Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu, Mother Theresa and Martin Luther King.

11. Peace Symbols • The olive branch is one of the most prominent symbols of peace. It was used by the ancient Greeks as a peace symbol as early as 5BC. • Later a white dove carrying an olive branch also became symbolic of peace. • There is also a peace sign which originally started as a sign for nuclear disarmament but became so popular that it became known as a sign for peace.

13. Peace Quotes • “There is no path to peace. Peace is the path.” – Gandhi • “Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace.” – Dalai Lama • “Peace begins with a smile.” – Mother Theresa • “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.” – Jimi Hendrix

14. “Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be obtained through understanding.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson • “Forgiveness is not always easy. At times, it feels more painful than the wound we suffered, to forgive the one that inflicted it. And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.” – Marianne Williamson • “There never was a good war, or a bad peace.” – Benjamin Franklin