Special Events

SOWING THE SEEDS OF A CULTURE OF PEACE
10 December

 

In 2002 ACPP produced for the first time an Action Resource for the celebration of Human Rights Day. It focused on discrimination. The Action Resource was so well received that the International Advisory Committee for the Hotline Asia project requested that ACPP once again produce an ACPP Action Resource for the celebration of Human Rights Day. The theme sowing the seeds of a culture of peace was suggested.

The quest for peace is multi-faceted: the peace issues experienced in the region range from militarism to communal violence. Almost all of the Urgent Appeals that ACPP has issued through the Hotline Asia project during the past two years can be seen as relating to peace issues. Without respect for human rights, there can be no peace. Urgent Appeals can play a role in addressing some of the manifestations of these issues but letter writing alone will not resolve their underlying causes. This ACPP Action Resource is intended to complement and extend the Urgent Appeal's efforts on peace issues.
This ACPP Action Resource is made up of four modules that can be adapted for use in different contexts. The modules can either be used individually or as a set.

Module 1: The United Nations' Decade for Building a Culture of Peace.
This module explains what prompted the UN to proclaim the Decade, who has been invited to be involved, and sets out the structure of the UN Program of Action for the Decade. It also includes links to source documents for further information, and ideas for action.

Module 2: The World Council of Churches' Decade to Overcome Violence.
This module provides information about the aims of the Decade, the framework for action over the Decade, and the WCC's thinking on the concept of violence. It includes links to source documents for further information, and ideas for action.

Module 3: Seeds of Peace in Asian Cultures.
The module provides information about the concept of culture and examples of different forms of cultural heritage. It encourages the exploration of Asian cultural heritage that promotes or supports peace. Some examples of such heritage, and related action ideas are offered.

Module 4: Seeds of Peace in Catholic Social Teaching.
The module introduces to the Catholic peace tradition, provides a summary and discussion guide for the Pope's World Day of Peace Message 2003, and commentary on and a discussion guide for the encyclical Pacem in Terris (peace on earth). It gives links to the full texts of key documents and other sources.

We hope that this material helps you to identify and reflect on seeds of a culture of peace, and encourages you to nurture those seeds through your actions. Please feel free to copy or use material from this Action Resource with appropriate acknowledgement of ACPP. We would welcome your feedback as it helps us to track how our materials are used, and how we can improve them.

Next Page
Back to Contents