Things for individuals to do
Help to tone down an argument at home or at school
* Say hi to people you wouldn't usually talk to
* Put litter in the trash; recycle when you can!
* Share with your siblings and with your friends
* Help people in the neighborhood with yard work or grocery shopping, if they need help
* Watch or read the news to stay up to date on important issues
* Talk to your family and to your classmates about global issues that matter to you
* Wear your button so people know you care about building peace
* Write a letter of thanks/encouragement to our troops (for example via: http://www.operationgratitude.com/get-involved/write-letters/)
* Write a letter of thanks/encouragement to other peacebuilders, for example Peace Corps volunteers, leaders at the U.S. Institute of Peace, leaders in our government, etc.
* Say hi to people you wouldn't usually talk to
* Put litter in the trash; recycle when you can!
* Share with your siblings and with your friends
* Help people in the neighborhood with yard work or grocery shopping, if they need help
* Watch or read the news to stay up to date on important issues
* Talk to your family and to your classmates about global issues that matter to you
* Wear your button so people know you care about building peace
* Write a letter of thanks/encouragement to our troops (for example via: http://www.operationgratitude.com/get-involved/write-letters/)
* Write a letter of thanks/encouragement to other peacebuilders, for example Peace Corps volunteers, leaders at the U.S. Institute of Peace, leaders in our government, etc.
Things a peacebuilding club can do
Things the class/club can do together to build peace (special projects):
* Plant or tend a community garden
* Hold a bake sale or other event to raise money for a charity that works on issues that are important to you
* Raise awareness about an important global issue through a movie screening or a play or a display of art work at the school
* Find volunteer opportunities in the local community, or projects that can have a global reach, like preparing care packages for troops overseas, etc.
* Link up with Kids for Peace, iEarn, or other organizations that are also working with young peacebuilders around the U.S. and around the world
* Connect with a school in another country to learn more about that culture and to help provide support if there's a need
* Take part in a Model UN initiative, and learn about global issues and about negotiation skills that are important in peacebuilding
* Host a series of guest speakers at the school and then write a short book (or a speech) about what you learned, and share it with others
* Make a poster about peacebuilding and share it throughout the community
* Do a project to research a range of peacebuilders from the present and the past, and have a "social" where each person dresses and acts like their selected peacebuilder, to learn about each other
* Sponsor a Mine Detection Dog (more on that above)
* Plant or tend a community garden
* Hold a bake sale or other event to raise money for a charity that works on issues that are important to you
* Raise awareness about an important global issue through a movie screening or a play or a display of art work at the school
* Find volunteer opportunities in the local community, or projects that can have a global reach, like preparing care packages for troops overseas, etc.
* Link up with Kids for Peace, iEarn, or other organizations that are also working with young peacebuilders around the U.S. and around the world
* Connect with a school in another country to learn more about that culture and to help provide support if there's a need
* Take part in a Model UN initiative, and learn about global issues and about negotiation skills that are important in peacebuilding
* Host a series of guest speakers at the school and then write a short book (or a speech) about what you learned, and share it with others
* Make a poster about peacebuilding and share it throughout the community
* Do a project to research a range of peacebuilders from the present and the past, and have a "social" where each person dresses and acts like their selected peacebuilder, to learn about each other
* Sponsor a Mine Detection Dog (more on that above)
Golden Rule - Peace Requires Action! Make Peace (Not War)
Keeping the Peace is really about knowing how to do with conflict, because conflict is constant in our world. Learn the principles of nonviolence that have been taught by some of the great thinkers like Gandi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
If someone needs help, give it to them.
All people need other people to help them. In fact, people who are thought of as powerful actually need many, many people to help them with all kinds of chores, duties, and tasks.
Look around at the people in your lives. Try to figure out what they may be struggling with, and help them with whatever it is without judging them or making fun of the situation. You'll have a friend for life!
Look around at the people in your lives. Try to figure out what they may be struggling with, and help them with whatever it is without judging them or making fun of the situation. You'll have a friend for life!
Never pick a fight with your friends. Stop fights between others.
Friends are special people in your lives. Try not to get into fights with them and your relationship will last a long time.
If you do happen to quarrel, which happens, apologize quickly and move on.
If you do happen to quarrel, which happens, apologize quickly and move on.
Manners
The January 2013 Scholastic Storyworks magazine shared some interesting information about manners and stated that "your good manners will make the world a happier, safer, and more peaceful place." The article also said that America has become a ruder place in the past few decades and that it can go to extremes, citing the incident at a New York Walmart when shoppers broke in and stampeded in order to access the sale items. "One man was killed and no one stopped to help."
How can you improve your manners? Please visit the Dialogue tab and share your thoughts.
How can you improve your manners? Please visit the Dialogue tab and share your thoughts.