|
|
|
| Educating Cities - peace
education and Argentina's youth |
In the face of all the global challenges the 21st
century has brought with it, the decade from 2001 until 2010 was declared
the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non Violence for
the Children of the World by the UNESCO.
Everywhere around the world and often unnoticed by the mainstream
media, which generally seems more interested in reporting wars and
disasters, there are countless people working hard to create a more
peaceful and tolerant world for our children.
Particularly in South America, with its fairly recent history of military
dictatorships, there seems to be a strong will among many people to
create fairer and more democratic societies.
On our visit to Buenos Aires we were introduced to introduced to C.A.D.D.A.N
(Centro Argentino para el Desarrollo y Difusion del Autor Novel),
an organisation involved in grassroots democracy building and peace
education in Argentina.
Apart from offering literary and art workshops, the office is also
used as a base for the Argentine branch of 'Educating Cities', a rapidly
growing international network of schools, NGOs, universities and various
other bodies including Peace Boat, which was established to promote
human rights within an international culture of peace.
Through Professor Alicia Cabezudo, who holds chairs at both Rosario
and Buenos Aires Universities, various projects have been co-ordinated
in recent years, including international exchange programs between
schools, study programs and various human rights campaigns.
Projects include a campaign against violent toys, the issuing of urban
transport tickets bearing quotes from the declaration of human rights
and cultural as well as educational exchanges between cities. Often
using public spaces in urban environments, the projects aim to raise
people's awareness of human rights and facilitate an understanding
of concepts and values relating to co-operation, solidarity and tolerance.
A quote by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former Prime Minister of
Canada, Lester B. Pearson on one of the organisation's press releases,
sums up the aims of their activities: "How can there be peace if we
do not understand each other? And how can this be if we don't know
each other?" |
|
| Rio de Janeiro-Ushaia
/ Peace Boat's 36th Voyage |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
PEACE BOAT is an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
