 March/April 2000 (XXXVIII 2) |
riends will rejoice that the international community has recognized the value of the work Friends have always pursued to build peace through valuing the dignity of all persons, respectful listening, nonviolent conflict resolution, pursuit of justice and equality, and proper use of our environment and resources. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the year 2000 the International Year for the Culture of Peace and the period from 2001-2010 the International Decade for the Promotion of a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World.
The General Assembly's initiative is an endorsement of a campaign created by UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. Governments, institutions, communities, organizations, and individuals throughout the world are given official encouragement and resources to implement The Culture of Peace. UNESCO's vision is that it will promote "a grand movement of existing movements" and thereby create a greatly enhanced global movement toward peace at every level, including in each individual heart.
On Martin Luther King Day in January, 16 PYM Friends from eight Meetings attended the first major conference at the United Nations in honor of this new international year. It was titled Educating For The Culture Of Peace In The New Millennium. Friends joined more than 250 community workers and educators of early childhood through postgraduate levels to hear an eminent roster of peace educators share their experience and enthusiasm about institutionalizing peace education at all levels of teaching. Educators and other interested persons can learn about free materials and resources for educating for The Culture of Peace at www.un.org/CyberSchoolBus
Gail Newbold of London Grove Meeting (PA), Youth Secretary of Western Quarterly Meeting and a member of PYM's Abolition 2000 Working Group, requested admittance to the conference for seven youth participants. There were only two groups of young people in attendance. Along with Helen Fields, Youth and Outreach Coordinator for the Brandywine Region of Friends, Gail planned a van trip for 14 of the attendees. They had to rise at 4 a.m. to be at the United Nations at the appointed hour. Their time together in transit provided the opportunity for them to converse about their impressions and inspiration of the day. As Gail observed, "The real story, as ever, is the growth of the Spirit while Friends have shared together."
Since many Monthly Meetings already are among those whose work promotes The Culture of Peace, Meetings may wish to communicate some aspects of this work during Yearly Meeting in March at their Quarterly Meeting's table display in the Holiday Inn.
Also, Friends might wish to endorse the Manifesto 2000 For A Culture Of Peace And Nonviolence. UNESCO hopes to present 100 million signatures to the Millennium Assembly of the United Nations in September 2000. You may sign on the World Wide Web at www.Unesco.org/manifesto2000 or at Yearly Meeting in March when the PYM United Nations Working Group will provide associated materials.
To learn more about The Culture of Peace, visit the United Nations Working Group at www.pym.org or phone Susan Campbell at 610-664-7578.
Youth attenders at the education conference were Morgan Wajda (Goshen MM), Ian Jones (Hockessin MM), Karen Abbott Frederick (Goshen MM), Emily Thomforde (London Grove MM), Lindsey Newbold (London Grove MM), Amelia Hatchard (West Chester MM), and Michelle Freeman (Wilmington MM).
Adults traveling in the van in addition to facilitators Gail Newbold and Helen Fields were Steven Greene (Willistown MM), Susan Rhodewalt (London Grove MM), Rosalind Freeman (Wilmington MM), Van Temple (Goshen MM), and Eva Abbott (Goshen MM).
Traveling independently were Margaret W. Lippincott, WE THE PEOPLES 2000 and the UN Working Group, and Susan Campbell, UN Working Group and Abolition 2000 Working Group. Peg felt a strong affirmation because much of what the conference presenters encouraged has been the emphasis of Peg's work with teachers and students during the last two decades.
Following the conference, Rosalind Freeman and Susan Rhodewalt, classroom educators, immediately began to integrate the information of the day into their work. Susan, who gathered an armful of posters and materials for her school, discussed the introduction of the Help Increase the Peace (HIP) program and associated resources into her school with school administrators the day after her return. With increased information and inspiration for their long term plans, the youth and all present gained in understanding of the importance of integrating peace into active lives and practicing a strong global perspective.
The young people were thoughtful about their experiences. Ian Jones shared a text he has written and engaged others in a discussion of different peaceful and less peaceful alternatives for a story set in the Age of Chivalry. Morgan's written evaluation demonstrated his interest and attention during the day. Amelia, current youth clerk of the Brandywine Region Youth Subcommittee, is expanding her global awareness. Emily, who will begin college next fall, valued her time at the UN as she plans to study international relations. Lindsey, who just completed Denis Halliday's course on the UN at Swarthmore College, found her day a valuable complement to her present studies: Introduction to Teaching, International Politics, and Linguistics/World Languages. Michelle Freeman, who just completed her college senior thesis on teaching peace through dance at the elementary school age, continues to deepen her awareness of this pursuit.
Kim Phuc, UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador for the Culture of Peace, was an especially moving presence of the day. Looking back to the Vietnam War, many will remember the photograph of the little girl doused with napalm who ran screaming on a road toward the camera. This picture, which appeared on every newscast and many magazines, was the image which transformed people's concept of war. Kim Phuc was this little girl. She showed the film of that happening, a film the camera man couldn't bare to take but acquiesced only because of his imperative to reveal the truth of war. Today after 17 surgical procedures, years of confinement as useful war propaganda, denial of education, and physical and psychological agony, she stands as an eloquent advocate for peace and the protection of children from the ravages of war. Kim was graced by a spiritual transformation which restored her well being. Since that time she has met the pilots who dropped the napalm on her village and has expressed her forgiveness to them. Watch for a book to be published by Kim Phuc in which she shares her history.
Gail Newbold
London Grove Meeting (PA)
Youth Secretary for Western Quarterly MeetingSusan Campbell
Merion Meeting (PA)
PYM United Nations Working Group
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM