write an article on ways to promote peace
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During this time, Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) was having one of their Congresses in Los Angeles— after hearing about it though my school I decided to attend. Since I was majoring in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, & Peace building, I thought it might be a great way to meet others in my field and network. At the congress, not only did I join the local MBBI chapter/regional group I also volunteered to run the group. In addition to be president of the regional group, I also volunteered to be on the Rwanda Assessment Team, the Chapter’s Committee Team, and eventually was the liaison for university chapters.
During this time, Mediators Beyond Borders International (MBBI) was having one of their Congresses in Los Angeles— after hearing about it though my school I decided to attend. Since I was majoring in Negotiation, Conflict Resolution, & Peace building, I thought it might be a great way to meet others in my field and network. At the congress, not only did I join the local MBBI chapter/regional group I also volunteered to run the group. In addition to be president of the regional group, I also volunteered to be on the Rwanda Assessment Team, the Chapter’s Committee Team, and eventually was the liaison for university chapters.In addition to running and attending monthly meetings and teleconferences for MBBI, I also hosted fundraisers for Rwanda (Bill Nye the Science Guy attended and donated)! Fast forwarding, I continued on to Florida where I earned my Ph.D. in Conflict Resolution and Analysis and since then have moved back to my hometown, Cincinnati. I recently started a nonprofit conflict resolution practice (Lotus Resolutions) where I offer conflict coaching, mediation, and workshops. Also, I teach criminal justice and sociology. In addition to being a conflict resolution specialist and faculty member, I am also on MBBI’s Membership Committee. I hope my story gives you inspiration for your peace journey and welcome the opportunity to meet and discuss making the world more “peace able”.
Answer:
After the Connecticut shooting tragedy on Friday, December 14, it is difficult to think of much else besides desperate thoughts about how to protect our world’s children and how to make our society a more peaceful, less violent place. Enough has been written about the event itself that I don’t feel the need to rehash the horrific details or postulate what could have driven a human being to do such a thing (whether or not in light of mental illness, albeit that the presence or absence of such an illness plays a large role in how this event is interpreted).
After the Connecticut shooting tragedy on Friday, December 14, it is difficult to think of much else besides desperate thoughts about how to protect our world’s children and how to make our society a more peaceful, less violent place. Enough has been written about the event itself that I don’t feel the need to rehash the horrific details or postulate what could have driven a human being to do such a thing (whether or not in light of mental illness, albeit that the presence or absence of such an illness plays a large role in how this event is interpreted).Instead, I want to focus on some positive ways to promote peace in our badly broken world. Here are twenty ideas – some of which originated in my own brain, while others were culled from organizations (and credit is given where it is due). I would love to hear your thoughts regarding what else we can do to try to prevent violence and cultivate peace in our fragile world.
1. Make a personal commitment to nonviolence.
2. When you see someone in trouble, whether he or she is lost, confused, upset, or has fallen, don’t act like you don’t see the person – provide some help.
3. Show a child how to achieve calmness through deep breathing.
4. Show a child how to be kind to animals.
5. Show a child how to be kind to vulnerable people – the homeless, those with physical or cognitive disabilities, older people, and anyone else that appears different to the child.
6. Speak out against prejudice and discrimination when you see it.
7. When you feel angry, count to ten before saying anything. Then, ask yourself what response will be best for the greater good.
8. When you feel slighted, ask yourself if what happened was really about you or if it was about the other person.
9. When you realize that it was about the other person, find in your heart some compassion for that person, realizing that he or she is most surely struggling.
10. Regard people who hurt your feelings as your personal teachers of how to maintain a peaceful nature.