Obstacles for world peace

Kon
Princes Hill Primary School
Australia

Peace will always be something that people strive for, but I do not believe that world peace can be achieved. What can be achieved, however, are the cultural and civic teaching of what peace is. If people know what peace is they might try and strive for it, and in doing so, move closer to a state of harmony. Donating goods and funds and doing other charitable acts will help greatly in achieving peace. Governments can then continue to legislate for the equal distribution of resources, an end to poverty and establishing war-free zones. Sadly, these things exist today although they do not help awfully much. And, then unfortunately there is the issue of money.

The issue of money will always make it difficult to achieve peace. If poor countries fight they will just use up what little money they have and will damage their chances of establishing a stable economy. It is sad that in some countries one must carry a gun in one's pocket when walking to the local grocery and smell the stench of dead bodies and look at the carcass of an old friend on the way there. Upon returning home, you might find your children kidnapped, and this is where I will make a point. If on returning home and finding your partner dead and your children kidnapped you will think, 'what is the point of life?' and then kill yourself. You could be the only mercer, that is, a fabric weaver and seller, for miles around and your loss would be a huge economic blow for the village and would help create poverty.

Poverty makes war and war makes poverty and that is a very sad thing. You cannot have peace or even start it if there are snipers waiting for you to come out of your house. Then there is the problem of making peace in that area, where you either send in the troops or you pack up and evacuate and this, my friend, is one of the most crucial parts.

Sending in the troops could do two things. It could either provoke the militia and make them dig in and fight a long war, or it could overwhelm the militia and force them to surrender or flee. Personally, I think the first is more likely, especially in the case of the Iraq war where things have gone completely out of control.

In the case of evacuating it could go well or it could become a horrible bloodbath of attacks and suicide bombers killing themselves, thinking it is the right thing according to their religion. For example, a recent evacuation of civilians had to cross a river of crocodiles while running and dodging bullets in the shallow water. Only one out of every ten people survived the incident.

Another solution would be to send in helicopters and silently evacuate people right from their doorstep to a safe and secure zone.

People are the most important things in what we call peace. They can change a government, change a law, destroy cities horribly and split whole nations into two with a bloodthirsty and greedy motive of money and power. In these wars it is often the civilians who suffer the most.

Despite all this, people still have the wonderful role of teaching: we can teach people about peace and happiness. For example, the Dean Dr Peter Tregear of Trinity College works until two in the morning and he is often very tired and sleepy in conversations. I saw him in complete peace and happiness when I went to the Membra Jesu Nostri concert that he was conducting and his grin was from ear to ear with happiness. In fact, with anything to do with music he smiles because he did his PhD in music at Cambridge and he loves it! What I am trying to point out is, don't do what you don't want to and don't work overtime and then you'll find peace and happiness. And if everybody does this we will be closer to world peace!

I will finish with an experience of mine of total peace. It was a lovely day with a radiant sun shining. I sat on my bed with my window wide open, while I listened to the birds chatter and the sound of waves on the beach and I sighed deeply with the utmost content. I moved to turn on the Bach Partita No.3 for violin and in so doing I shivered with the wonder of the moment. Like a light shining from above, it was peace.

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