Events

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7th Annual Youth Peace Education Conference

The most effective way of producing positive results in any society is education. This year’s 7th Annual Youth Peace Education Conference was a reinforcement of this concept. From the beginning and onto the end of the day’s festivities at McMaster University, students from across Hamilton engaged in activities, workshops, presentations and collaborative discussion. The main theme was of course, peace.

While many of us consider peace to simply be non-violence, as a facilitator and observer of the event, I was surprised by how in depth peace studies actually are. Those living in North America rarely fully comprehend the dynamics of what peace truly embodies. It can be difficult to acknowledge exactly what peace stands for, especially when living in a country where domestic conflict hasn’t arose since the war of 1812. We’re not forced to think about the value of peace, and as unfortunate as it may be, we rarely contemplate the meaning of peace on a personal level.

Peace studies deals with many issues. Many of the concepts discussed at the conference were certainly new to me and I would assume to others as well. I learned surprisingly that malnutrition and poverty is a form of violence. More accurately categorized as “structural violence,” it pertains to harm or death occurring from reasons that can be avoided. Under this assertion, Canada is far from a peaceful nation, with thousands of people dying from malnutrition and poverty every year. Every time you see a homeless person roaming the streets, this can be categorized as structural violence.

Now, imagine as you walk down the street, this economically depraved individual asks you for some change to buy food. You immediately snub them, appalled at their request, and continue to walk on your way. This can be categorized as “cultural violence.” Cultural violence adheres to the social implications that blind citizens to structural violence. Whenever you see a news story that says: “city looking to clean up pan handlers for the Pan Am games,” this directly perpetuates cultural violence. This crass mindset is evident all over our country. Every time we refuse to help someone in poverty, or refuse to make a difference in our community, we are directly engaging in cultural violence.

Of course, looking directly into the mirror of our own derelict can prove to be difficult. No one wants to be reminded that they are partially responsible for the ongoing struggles of millions of people around this world. This is why educating our youth on the importance of peace is so critical. I would like to personally thank Julia Riddell, the volunteer coordinator involved in organizing the 7th Annual Peace Education Conference, the facilitators, guest speakers, and of course, the students that attended. The event was truly inspiring, not only for myself, but also for the youth that learned the importance of mitigating indifference, and supporting peace for all of mankind.

Always remember that you can make a difference every day. It can be as simple as talking to your friends and family about the importance of working together, and bringing about a closer community. You can produce positive results in many ways by donating to a food bank, supplying winter jackets to the homeless, or by getting to know the people on the street who struggle to survive. Never ignore those in need, for I guarantee you, if you reach out to them, it will provide you with happiness that no material possession could ever offer.

Go save the world.