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Global peace: How can we bring peace to our planet?

Oxfam is an international development agency that works with others to overcome poverty and suffering. As you read this, there are around 30 wars taking place in the world. In today's conflicts, most of the people killed are civilians, and as many as two-thirds of these may be children. The effects of fighting extend well beyond the immediate deaths and suffering: they also cause environmental damage, the destruction of homes and other infrastructure, long-term mental health problems to civilians and fighters, and poverty.

Oxfam believes that young people can change the world in which they live, which is why we're delighted to be able to help you investigate issues about conflict and peace, and think about how you can help work to bring peace to our planet.

What are the issues?

Why do people fight? There are many reasons for conflicts, and often different people will give different explanations or justifications for the same conflict. Sometimes it can be hard to understand the real reasons behind a conflict – it can seem that there is really no clear reason.

People may fight because they want to capture land that belongs to another country, for example because they want access to resources there, such as oil or diamonds. They might want to remove certain types of people from their country or community, or they may fight to prevent their leaders acting in ways they disagree with.

A country may attack another to prevent what it sees as human rights abuses or genocide (genocide is defined as 'acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group') or a country may attack another to protect its own borders (a pre-emptive attack). People of differing views, whether religious, political or cultural, may fight each other to promote or protect their particular viewpoint.

What reasons can you think of for past or present conflicts?

Can you think of an example of a conflict that started for each of the reasons you have given? Do your friends agree that this was why that conflict started? How can we tell which 'side' is responsible for the outbreak of violence?

Is it more acceptable to use violence in some circumstances than in others? Do you think it would be acceptable to kill one person to prevent the deaths of many others at their hands?

Are there any causes for which you personally would be prepared to fight? And any for which you would be prepared to die?

'The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion but rather by its superiority in applying organised violence. Westerners often forget this fact, non-Westerners never do.' Samuel P. Huntingdon (American political analyst) Do you agree with this statement?

Conflicts are happening now

In 1918, at the end of what we now call World War 1, people called it 'the war to end all wars' in recognition that the horrors experienced should never be allowed to happen again. Yet in 2007, more than 1,000 men women and children are killed every day by arms.

The world's poorest countries spend increasing amounts on buying weapons – money that could be spent helping reduce poverty. In 2002, arms deliveries to Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and Africa (that is, to continents where many of the world's poorest countries are situated) made up 66.7 per cent of the value of all arms deliveries worldwide, costing nearly US$17bn. In 2004, they spent $22.5bn on arms, 32 per cent more than they did in 2002. This sum would have enabled those countries to put every child in school and to reduce child death rates by two-thirds by 2015, fulfilling two of the Millennium Development Goals.

Across these regions:

• more than one billion people had to survive on less than a dollar a day
• one-fifth of all children had to drop out of school before they were 12 years old
• more than 14 million children lost one or both parents to HIV and AIDS in 2001
• nearly 800 million people suffered from chronic hunger
• half a million women died in pregnancy or childbirth.

There are around 639 million guns and other light weapons in the world today. Eight million more are produced every year. From 1998 to 2001, the USA, the UK, and France earned more income from arms sales to developing countries than they gave them in aid.

How has warfare changed over the past 100 years? What are the consequences of these changes?

Do you think that the scarcity of resources (such as oil, water or food) in some countries compared to others might lead to conflict?

Why do you think conflict might lead to increased poverty?

Conflict affects women and children more than men. Why might that be the case?

Did you know there are currently conflicts in Colombia, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo? Why do you think some conflicts seem to be in the news more than others? Find out what you can about these conflicts.

Do you think the 'war on terror' is a conflict? Is the UK at war?

What is peace?

'Peace is more than simply the absence of war, it is the presence of justice.' Martin Luther King

'You will never understand violence or non-violence until you understand the violence to the spirit that happens from watching your children die of malnutrition.' Food First (an organisation working against world poverty)

'There is no way to peace, peace is the way.' Mahatma Gandhi

What would your definition of peace be? What are the key things that would need to exist for there to be peace in a country? And in the world?

Do you agree with Gandhi's statement? Is violence ever justified?

How can the international community bring peace to the world?

When there are disagreements between countries, or groups within countries, the international community can choose to try and make peace in a number of ways. The United Nations is often the organisation through which choices are made about international responses to conflicts.

However, it is also the case that 90% of 2002's arms deliveries to the world's poorest continents came from the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – China, France, Russia, the USA and the UK. The United Nations was set up in 1945, in the aftermath of World War II, when representatives of 50 countries drew up the United Nations Charter. Its purposes are: to maintain international peace and security; to develop friendly relations among nations; to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms; and to be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in attaining these ends.

The UN's Security Council has responsibility for maintaining peace and security.

UN responses to conflicts have included the following:

Economic sanctions. Members of the UN can refuse to trade with a country which is being aggressive or which is perceived to be disregarding the human rights of its citizens (examples include apartheid-era South Africa, and Iraq from 1990 to 2003). Sanctions are intended to damage the economy and encourage the country to cooperate.

Sending peacekeeping forces. Peacekeeping forces (called the Blue Helmets because of their distinctive headgear) are sometimes sent to countries to observe that ceasefires hold (for example there is currently a force in the Democratic Republic of Congo) and to protect civilians. Peacekeepers are sometimes permitted to use force in self-defence.

Sending troops authorised to use force. The UN has occasionally authorised armies to use force. These armies are made up of troops from different countries.

In Kuwait in 1991, a UN force led by the USA removed invading Iraqi troops in what is now called the first Gulf War.

In Korea in the early 1950s, a UN force, also led by the USA, supported South Korea's military effort during the civil war.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1995, the UN authorised air strikes against Bosnian Serb military targets.

The international community can also play an important role in creating global conditions that make it likely that conflicts won't start in the future. International law and co-operation between nations can be used to prevent conflicts starting, and to help resolve disputes peacefully.

The introduction of international agreements such as the Responsibility to Protect – a commitment that all governments have a responsibility to prevent massive human rights abuses, including genocides, wherever they occur in the world – would ensure that governments that commit such abuses know they will be challenged by the international community.

Work is also underway on an international Arms Trade Treaty to prevent irresponsible international arms sales that fuel conflict, poverty and serious human rights violations.

Do you think the international community has a responsibility to try and prevent conflicts? If so, why? If not, who do you think is responsible?

Do you think the use of force against one nation should be authorised by the UN? Are there circumstances where it might be right for one country to take action alone?

Imagine you are a UN peacekeeper on a mission that has not been authorised to use force except in self-defence. You are trying to protect civilians caught in the aftermath of a civil war. What problems do you think you would face, and how might you resolve them?

Do you think companies that make or sell guns, tanks or missiles bear any responsibility for how people use them?

How do economic sanctions work? Do you think they can prevent conflicts?

How can individuals and groups of people help bring peace?

Individuals have brought about huge changes that have resounded around the globe, but often it's when people work together that change happens. Increased access to the internet and other communications channels mean that those in the middle of conflicts can now tell the world about their experiences.

Hearing people's personal stories of what it's like can help others understand how much suffering conflicts cause, and can motivate them to take action. During the invasion of Iraq, for example, the then-anonymous 'Baghdad Blogger' was read by millions of people. Musicians may sing about their experiences, as R'n'B singer Corneille does about losing his family in the Rwandan genocide. Journalists also help bring conflicts to the world's attention, as do charities like Oxfam or Amnesty International.

There are a number of people who are world-renowned for taking extraordinary action during conflicts, and for helping to bring peace. You will have heard of individuals like:

• Nelson Mandela, who resisted apartheid from the 1950s to its collapse in the early 1990s and was imprisoned for his beliefs for 28 years. He helped show its injustice to the world, end the regime and rebuild South Africa, and became its first black President in 1994
• Mahatma Gandhi, who, during the 1940s, peacefully resisted the British invasion and occupation of India and inspired thousands of others to do the same.

In conflicts there are many acts of bravery, resistance and peacebuilding that are never seen by the rest of the world. Others echo around the globe, like the actions of the unknown man who stopped the progress of Chinese tanks across Tiananmen Square in Beijing.

Some individuals advocate the use of violence in order to bring peace. Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador was one such person, when he argued that the poor and oppressed of that country should be entitled to rise up against their oppressors, using force if that was necessary.

As individuals in the UK, we have many ways to take action to build peace. Police estimate that 750,000 people protested in February 2003 by marching through cities to show they were against the proposed invasion of Iraq. This is an example of mass protest to try and influence a government. Individuals can also target their elected representatives (MPs) and encourage them to raise issues on their behalf. Others travel to conflict zones to try to protect civilians and work for peace. Starting local campaigning groups or joining national or international campaigns run by other people or organisations is also a way to get your voice heard.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using:

• the internet
• TV/radio/newspapers
• face-to-face meetings

to find out about conflicts taking place in the world?

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using:

• the internet
• TV/radio/newspapers
• face-to-face meetings

to inform other people about your views about conflict or your own experiences of conflict?

Governments don't always listen to protesters. A clear recent example is when the UK and USA decided to attack Iraq. Do you think governments should consult their populations before making a decision about going to war? Should they be obliged to listen to protesters? Should there be a vote in parliament?

Can you think of other people who are famous for being peacemakers? Find out about the very different stories of people who have worked for peace around the world. If you're stuck you could investigate the Nobel Peace Prize-winners website (link below).

'Journalists who take photographs while people are being injured or killed do little to help build peace.' Do you agree with this statement?

Research the work of three organisations campaigning for peace. How are they similar? How are they different? Do you agree with any of them?

After the conflict – healing and reconciliation

The effects of armed conflict are far-reaching and extend well beyond a ceasefire. Depending on the type of conflict, some of the longer-term issues communities and countries can face include:

• the need to repair or rebuild homes, schools, hospitals, and other buildings damaged or destroyed
• the need to repair water and sanitation facilities, where these and other amenities and infrastructure are damaged or destroyed
• internally displaced people – that is, people who have lost their homes or moved out because of fighting. These people need to be rehoused or encouraged to return home
• damaged relationships between communities – particularly where there has been a civil war or fighting within a country. Just because a ceasefire is agreed, long-standing disagreement and distrust is not instantly forgotten

Living in the same community as people with whom you have fought isn't easy. Countries coming out of conflicts have dealt with this problem in different ways.

Northern Ireland. Education for Mutual Understanding became part of the school curriculum in 1992. EMU lessons are designed specifically to help young people growing up in a divided society, and to try and minimise tensions between children of Catholic and Protestant backgrounds, and hopefully prevent further conflict.

Rwanda. A system of local gacaca courts (so-named after the lawn on which elders gather to resolve disputes) is being used to allow victims to confront alleged perpetrators, who must defend themselves against their accusers. Those found guilty of the most serious crimes will be sent before the International Criminal Court to be tried. The International Criminal Court is an independent court that was set up with the agreement of 104 countries, and which tries those accused of international crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

South Africa. The 'Truth and Reconciliation Commission' was set up in 1995 after the collapse of apartheid. This was a ground-breaking attempt to allow both victims and perpetrators to respectively recount and face the crimes and violence committed under apartheid. Some criminals were granted amnesty by the Commission – that is, they were not formally punished for their crimes. The Commission sought to bring justice to victims, punishment to those responsible for the worst atrocities, and to allow the nation to move forward together.

Why do roads, hospitals, sewage works and other pieces of a country's infrastructure get targeted in conflicts? Do you think this is fair?

Can education help children grow up to be less likely to start conflicts or allow them to happen?

A number of countries, including the USA, China, and India, oppose the International Criminal Court. Why might this be? Do you think the International Criminal Court is necessary?

Why might it be difficult to live alongside people who have previously been your enemies? What might help people cope with this?

'There is no future without forgiveness.' Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
Do you agree with this statement?

Sources of information

Please note – because of the nature of this topic, some of these links may contain images, footage or information showing violence and the consequences of violence that may be upsetting to some people.

Why do people fight?

Imperial War Museum archives – a huge amount of artefacts, images and information about war and conflict around the world

The changing face of war – a renowned historian looks at how the past 100 years have changed the face of war, and the prospects for peace. From The Guardian newspaper.

International Red Cross website – masses of information about conflicts around the world

Oxfam website – information about Oxfam's work in conflict zones

Just war – the ethics of warfare. Link to the BBC website exploring the moral questions behind going to war

Terrorism or fighting for freedom? – Four scenarios to stimulate discussion. Taken from Making Sense of World Conflicts: activities and source materials for teaching English, Citizenship and PSE, published by Oxfam

Conflicts are happening now

Map of how poverty and conflicts are related around the world kindly reproduced with permission from Myriad Editions, producers of The Atlas of War and Peace

The Atlas of War and Peace – this excellent atlas takes a look behind the headlines to provide a global overview of the causes and consequences of war today, and the dynamics of peace-making

Control Arms – the campaign to control the global arms trade. Find out more about the issues and take action

Oxfam website – information about Oxfam's work in conflict zones

Fleeing the Fighting: How conflict drives the search for asylum – A report from the Refugee Council that shows that 3 out of 4 applications for asylum in the UK in 2004 came from people fleeing countries in conflict

How much do you know about the arms trade? Take the Control Arms quiz on Generation Why – Oxfam's site for young people

A boy called 'Grenade' (part 1 - part 2) – an extract from Fergal Keane's account of his meeting with a young survivor of the Rwanda massacres. Taken from Making Sense of World Conflicts: activities and source materials for teaching English, Citizenship and PSE, published by Oxfam

What is peace?

Peace Pledge Union - The Peace Pledge Union is the oldest secular pacifist organisation in Britain.
Since 1934 it has been campaigning for a world free of war

How can the international community bring peace to the world?

The rules of war – taken from Making Sense of World Conflicts: activities and source materials for teaching English, Citizenship and PSE, published by Oxfam

Peace Child International – Peace Child International empowers young people to take responsibility for peace, human rights and the environment through education, leadership development and direct participation in the events that shape our world community

Sanctions – a stimulus document about economic sanctions and their effectiveness from The Library of Economics and Liberty

UN fact-sheet – taken from Making Sense of World Conflicts: activities and source materials for teaching English, Citizenship and PSE, published by Oxfam

UN Security Council – Wikipedia entry and official website

UN Security Council – Official website

MONUC: the official website of the UN Mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo – Information about how a UN peacekeeping mission works

A Responsibility to Protect consultation website that includes education tools and information about the way the responsibility to protect can and should be adopted by the UN

Control Arms – Oxfam, Amnesty International and IANSA's campaign to control the global arms trade. Find out more about the issues behind the arms trade and how you can take action

The Arms Trade Treaty – the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Committee's commitment to an international Arms Trade Treaty

How can individuals and groups of people help bring peace?

Generation Why – Oxfam's website for young people. Discuss the issues that matter to you, have fun, and change the world while you're doing it

Peace Child International – Peace Child International empowers young people to take responsibility for peace, human rights and the environment through education, leadership development and direct participation in the events that shape our world community

Nobel Peace Prize winners website – list of prize winners and information about their lives

Control Arms – the campaign to control the global arms trade. Find out more about the issues and take action

Corneille is the French rap star who is a survivor of the genocide in Rwanda and sings about his experiences in this clip of his song, Seul au Monde (Alone in the World) NB this clip is in French – see below for an English translation

Read Corneille's story and an English translation of his song, Seul au Monde – taken from Making Sense of World Conflicts: activities and source materials for teaching English, Citizenship and PSE, published by Oxfam

Juma's Story is a moving account of the experiences of a twelve-year old boy in Afghanistan in 2002 – taken from Making Sense of World Conflicts: activities and source materials for teaching English, Citizenship and PSE, published by Oxfam

The Baghdad Blogger's 'Where's Raed?' site – it was last updated in 2004 but contains a valuable insight into the experiences of a civilian caught in a conflict zone

After the conflict – healing and reconciliation

Gacaca courts in Rwanda – information about the local justice system set up to try genocide participants in Rwanda. Includes links to BBC footage and reports about the genocide and post-conflict reconstruction

Truth and Reconciliation Commission final report – the outcomes of South Africa's post-apartheid

Health problems caused by conflict – a BBC article about health problems faced by soldiers returning from Iraq

Children in war – resources from War Child International about the long-term effects of war on children caught in conflict zones