International Symposium on Peace Education – Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
an article by Luiza Maria Gerhardt (member of the Peace Studies Group)

An International Symposium on Peace Education was held in Porto Alegre, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (South of Brazil), April 22 through 24 2008, by the Peace Studies Group, a Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul´ research group founded in 2004.

The main purposes of the event were (a) promote interchange of information, experiences and reflections among groups and persons who study, research and develop actions related to peace education and violence prevention and (b) prepare a document on peace education and violence prevention. Among guests participants were Alicia Cabezudo (Argentina), David Adams (USA), Magnus Haavelsrud (Norway) and Víctor Brindisi (Uruguay), internationally well known for their expertise and work in the field of culture of peace.

Symposium participants were educators, psychologists, social workers, jurists, lawyers, theologians, health workers, architects, engineers, students and researchers from Argentina, Norway, Uruguay, United States and Brazil.

They discussed research reports, experiences and reflections on the issues of peace education and violence prevention, non-violent conflict resolution, restorative justice, peace as a social construction, peace education and environment, culture of peace and education, culture of peace and religions, culture of peace and human relationships: family, school, work and community.

At the end, participants approved the international Symposium on Peace Education Declaration, a document divided in the following sections: introduction, the reality of violence in its multiple forms, the possibility of peace, the urgency of peace education, the personal and social task towards peace and a statement of commitments. A Symposium highlight was the participation of most guest participants in all activities, including the declaration writing, giving to attendance invaluable opportunities of interaction.

DISCUSSION

Question(s) related to this article:

How do we promote a human rights, peace based education


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SCHOOLS AND PEACE EDUCATION

LATEST READER COMMENT:

I can relate to Anna's school experience.  In America children are taught by society at a very young age that a sports/art/musical based talent will make you wealthy and powerful.  But usually the words talent and intelligence are not placed hand in hand.  The American education system emphasizes that education will give a person upward mobility. In turn the opportunity for a more prestigious job, which will enable someone to become wealthy and powerful?  However the education system does not teach us that education for the sake of learning is a gift and a reward in itself.  
It is important for adults to encourage today's children to use their intelligence as their talent and consider education a gift... . ...more.

This report was posted on July 21, 2008. The moderator is CPNN Administrator.

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