Building A Culture Of Peace & Nonviolence: What You Can Do

Be Creative: Think of ideas that will awaken the imagination of your community.

AS A STUDENT... Connect with other students interested in social justice. Research and do a presentation in your class about a specific case of nonviolence in history. Start a peace studies program on your campus.

AS A PARENT... Learn constructive ways to deal with anger and pass this gift on to your kids. Make a family pledge to express feelings and resolve conflict creatively. Urge your school to teach nonviolence and conflict resolution at every level.

AS A TEACHER ...Teach nonviolence in your classes through studying the Nobel Laureates' lives, a book on Gandhi, King, or Dorothy Day. Have interactive workshops on conflict resolution. Meet with other teachers who have the same interests and share your resources.

AS A SCHOOL ... Organize a Month of Nonviolence to learn about alternatives to violence, to address recent violent events in the community, to brainstorm nonviolent solutions, and to celebrate positive efforts that have succeeded. Schedule a series of videos on social justice issues such as militarism, racism, hate crimes, economic justice, youth empowerment, women's rights, and indigenous people's rights.

AS A CONGREGATION... Start a study circle in your congregation to explore nonviolence, racism, youth empowerment, the growing economic disparity, or homophobia. Join a Religious Peace Fellowship. Explore the spiritual dimensions of nonviolence in your tradition. Sponsor interfaith gatherings so congregations of differing faiths can learn about each other. Sponsor conflict resolution trainings for the congregation. Be an active voice against injustices in your congregation.

AS A LOCAL COMMUNITY MEMBER ... Form a coalition of local leaders from schools, religious institutions, local businesses, police departments, and interest groups to learn about nonviolence through workshops, videos, forums, nonviolence trainings, speakers. Meet with the town council to organize a town meeting to discuss problems relating to violence in schools and neighborhoods, and possible nonviolent solutions. Be sure to include individuals who represent the diversity of your community in planning, implementing, participating, and evaluating the event.

AS A PEACEMAKER ... Urge your groups to endorse the Decade of Nonviolence. Join the Abolition 2000 campaign to promote total nuclear disarmament. Join the Jubilee 2000 campaign and call for the cancellation of the Third World debt. Join Moratorium 2000, the movement to abolish the death penalty. Join efforts to lift economic sanctions on Iraq and to stop war and genocide in the Balkans.
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