Peace Education and Building Communities

Study Notes

Peace building is a long-term objective aimed at creating peaceful communities.
Holistic understanding includes the absence of war and physical violence as the simplest definition of peace.

Structural Violence: Causes suffering and death from systemic issues like:
- Extreme Poverty
- Starvation
- Preventable Diseases
- Discrimination against minorities
- Denial of Human Rights
Direct Violence: Includes war, torture, and abuse.
Socio-cultural Violence: Encompasses racism, sexism, and religious intolerance.
Ecological Violence: Involves pollution and the consequences of overconsumption.

Negative Peace: Defined as the absence of war or physical violence.
Positive Peace: Involves the presence of just, non-exploitative relationships and well-being across social, economic, political, and ecological dimensions.

Personal Peace: Self-respect, love, hope, and inner resources.
Interpersonal Peace: Respect, justice, tolerance, and cooperation among individuals.
Intergroup/National Social Peace: Justice and tolerance among different groups within nations.
Global Peace: Respect for nations and concern for the human community.
Harmony with the Earth: Sustainable living practices and respect for the environment.

Direct Violence: Includes personal harm such as suicide and drug abuse; community violence like domestic abuse and violent crimes; national issues such as civil wars and human rights abuses; and global conflicts like conventional and nuclear wars.
Structural Violence: Issues of powerlessness, local and national inequalities, and global disparities concerning poverty and prejudice.
Socio-cultural/Psychological Violence: Personal alienation, low self-esteem, cultural dominance, and discrimination; affects societal harmony at all levels.
Ecological Violence: Linked to overconsumption and pollution, impacting local and global conditions.

Aims to transform societal structures and thoughts that perpetuate conflict, according to Betty Reardon.
Focuses on abolishing war, social justice, and non-violence.

Dismantling a Culture of War: Aims to overcome militarization and resolve violent conflicts, addressing micro-level violence such as bullying.
Living with Justice and Compassion: Seeks to eliminate structural violence and challenge harmful paradigms.
Promoting Human Rights: Upholds all rights for every individual and group while recognizing human responsibilities.
Building Intercultural Respect: Fosters dialogue and understanding to combat discrimination and foster reconciliation.
Living in Harmony with the Earth: Advocates for sustainable living and the prevention of environmental degradation.