The ideal of world peace

Brittany
St Clare's College
Australia

World peace is an ideal held by many people. As global citizens, it is possible to do much to help make it a reality. Actions, which can be taken, revolve around several key notions, including communication, respect and negotiation. When these are not a reality, there is no chance at all of finding a viable and peaceful solution to a dispute.

Communication is vital to creating world peace. Citizens everywhere use various means of communication every day, from email and other electronic resources to just simply talking or writing a letter. The world relies on communication to function as a society. There is no way world peace could even begin without adequate communication skills. International communication is a valuable resource, and can be used at any age. Organisations, courses and programs, such as 'sister schools', encourage young people to communicate with international friends and develop lifelong values. However, this is not the only age group that can benefit from this type of learning. Imagine what the world would be like if politicians and world leaders had regular meetings, even when there are no immediate issues to discuss. They would have more opportunities to communicate, and this could be very beneficial to the global community. It would even have the potential to prevent war, by preventing issues from arising in the first place.

Respect is another important aspect of world peace. The people of the world come from various races, religious faiths and cultural backgrounds. Each different group is entitled to respect from all people, regardless of whether one has the same beliefs, participates in the same ceremonies, comes from a different country or is of the opposite gender. Some wars are started because one group cannot accept another group's customs. This seems to be a very weak reason for a war, especially when most outcomes result in neither group changing their customs anyway. Instead of going to war the parties should agree to disagree, and respect each other's choice peacefully. Learning to appreciate different cultures is another important step. There are positive points in every culture, whether it is their music, their dance, their art or their folk stories passed down through the generations. These qualities are what global citizens should see when they encounter another culture, and what they should encourage others to find in their own culture.

Negotiation and compromising are skills that often allow for peaceful resolutions. By negotiating and compromising, two or more parties can find a suitable arrangement that contains what both parties are trying to achieve. However, these skills are not something that people are born with. These are skills that must be learnt, and there are courses available to teach individuals and groups alike. These are good skills for everyone to learn, but, in particular, politicians and world leaders should be able to adequately utilize them. There are too many situations in which negotiation and compromise are the only solution, but the people involved in the issue do not have the necessary skills. Wars could be ended or avoided altogether if leaders discussed issues first and then agreed on a negotiated or compromised decision. A few simple skills could save so many innocent lives and avoid so much destruction.

Communication, respect and negotiation are important concepts relating to how world peace can become a reality. Ensuring that global citizens can talk with each other encourages respect and the chance for negotiation to find the best solution. With these ideas in mind, it is possible for global citizens to take action and lead the way to a better world.

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