RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

 1) The Prayer of Saint Francis is a prayer for Peace widely attributed to the 13th-century Saint Francis of Assisi . Read the prayer below and select one line to comment on. Why is this prayer still relevant to life today?

Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

2) For an adaptation of this prayer see: www.caritas.org.au/emergencies/MiddleEast_
resources.htm and select: “Reflection and solidarity powerpoint”

3) Go to www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/peaceday/
poem/poem.asp and view the Peace Prayer. The Peace poem has been written by school children from around the world. If we believe that we need peace for our true selves to come out, then it is up to each person to try and achieve peace in their personal life so that this can spread into the community and across the globe.

• Read through some of the prayers from children around the world and use it as stimulus to create a class peace prayer where each student writes a short prayer.
• Display the poem, or parts of it, around the room or use it as the basis for a prayer service.

4) Go to www.cafod.org.uk/where_we_work/asia/east
_timor/creating_a_peaceful_future and read “Creating a peaceful future”

• Working with the “grassroots communities” is important in establishing peace in East Timor . Why do you think it is important to ask the locals how they think peace should be attained?
• “Peace is freedom from poverty.” What do you think this means? Discuss.

5) Use the following links to see past OzSpirit issues on peace.

• www.ozspirit.info/2004/71bg.html
• www.ozspirit.info/2004/75bg.html
• www.ozspirit.info/2005/123b.html

6) Go to nobelprize.org/educational_games/peace/
nuclear_weapons/ and play the ‘Peace Doves Game' to return peace to the world and disarm it of nuclear weapons.

HSIE/SOSE

Geography

1) Go to search.abc.net.au/search/search.cgi?
query=peace+activities&sort=&collection=
abcall&form=simple and select one of the articles about trying to achieve peace in the world.

• What country did you choose?
• Where is it located?
• What are the issues underlying the unrest?
• How can people around the world try and help those affected?

Civics

1) The following extract is from the Hague Appeal for Peace, and makes up part of the statement for the Global Campaign for Peace.

“ A culture of peace will be achieved when citizens of
the world understand global problems, have the skills
to resolve conflicts and struggle for justice non-violently,
live by international standards of human rights and
equity, appreciate cultural diversity, and respect the
Earth and each other .”

Use this statement, or part of it, to write an essay about how universal peace can be achieved.

2) Go to www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/globaled
/go/pid/554 and read the facts on peace.

3) The Charter of the United Nations calls upon the peoples of the world "to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security". How could we achieve this goal? Use the following sites to help with background reading.

• www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/
  globaled/go/pid/554
• www.icbl.org

4) Go to www.un.org/cyberschoolbus/
peaceday/facts.asp and answer the following questions:

• How does the amount of money needed to increase resources for majority world (developing countries) compare with the world budget for military spending?
• Why do we spend so much money on the military?
• How do you think the military money could be redistributed?

Nobel Peace Prize

1) For information about the Nobel Peace Prize read our past OzSpirit issue: www.ozspirit.com/2003/70bg.html

2) Go to nobelprize.org/educational_games/
peace/conflictmap/ and click on ‘Conflict Map' to participate in an interactive activity looking at the winners of the Nobel Peace Prizes since 1901.

3) Go to nobelprize.org/educational_games/
peace/nuclear_weapons/ and play the ‘Peace Doves Game' to return peace to the world and disarm it of nuclear weapons.

ENGLISH

1) Go to nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/
laureates/index.html and click on one of the Nobel Peace Prize winners. Once you have selected your person, answer the following questions:

• Name and country of residence.
• Year the award was won.
• Reasons for the award.
• How has the person helped make the world a more peaceful place?
• What is their lasting legacy or lesson?

2a) The passage below comes from the Peace Corps. Use it as stimulus to write a speech on the topic “How far would I go… for peace?” Consider the audience and purpose before writing your speech.

How far would you go to help someone?
Would you go to the end of your driveway? Would you cross a street?
Would you cross an ocean? To a place 6,000 kilometres from home?
And how long would you go…?
Would you go for a week? A month? A year? Would you go for two years?

OR

2b) Write a speech to be delivered at a meeting of Government Education Ministers on the topic “ To reach real peace in the world, we shall have to begin with the children.” (M. K. Ghandi)

3) Go to www.abc.net.au/heywire/stories/2004/
act/petermonaghan.htm and listen to the story by Peter Monaghan – Traumas of war seen from place of peace. If you do not have Real Player, you can simply read the text.

• As you are listening to the story, compile a list of the sounds you hear and comment on how they make you feel.
• Discuss the stark contrast between each of the environments mentioned.
• Comment on the following extract:

“He didn't care to understand the reasons behind the conflicts. His question was different. Why he could experience the beauty of the country, the beauty of the pale blue sky and the gently swaying trees, yet those children could not? Would he ever go through what they had? Would they ever experience what he took for granted?”

4) Go to www.globaleducation.edna.edu.au/
globaled/go/pid/564 and read the “Children as Peace Builders” section.

• What do these children identify as the factors in achieving peace?
• How might their writing contribute to peace?

Creative and Performing Arts

1) Design an artwork or drama piece that represents your thoughts about peace in our world today.

PARISH/COMMUNITY/SOCIAL JUSTICE GROUPS

1) Go to www.caritas.org.au/events/
festivalGlobalConcern.htm to read about Caritas Australia 's Festival of Global Concern taking place in April next year.