Peace is a difficult concept to define, yet through our project, we have been able to explore the different levels of what constitutes peace.  We have decided that peace through collaboration exists for us on three levels: our individual definitions, our collective group reflection and society at large.  Our conclusion is subdivided into these three categories, and we have described each in detail. 

Individual

Our views of peace prior to and after working on our project differ greatly. It was important that we write about how our definitions changed, and what we now believe to be true.

Mary: Nobody truly knows peace until they know war or constant terror. This was evident to me before our project began. However, through researching and applying different organizations, concepts, and countries and their actions towards peace, I've learned that peace can only truly be attained through cooperation. Yet, what has also become apparent to me is that individuals can have a great impact upon their surroundings, and when individuals come together, peace will eventually emerge.

Florence: When I think of the word "peace", several ideas come my mind. I don't think that "peace" can be described in just a few words; it's a massive topic that has a never-ending explanation. One of the images that pops up is equality between all races; where skin color, or nationality doesn't matter; where rich or poor means nothing and all human beings are free to mingle with each other; where everyone respects each other and their differences without discrimination. Another is the successful growth of children who grow up to become people who have a barrier against war, drugs, terrorism, and hate. What is it that we can do to bring peace throughout the world? I believe that it starts very small, from an individual and how he deals with his own soul. When that one person is confident that he can make a change, he spreads it; to his family; to his friends; to his partners; to his rivals. He breaks down any wall that was built between himself and another person and builds a bridge of unity to replace it. Then, I believe, from there, it grows from those influenced by him to their relatives and friends, like a chain. Yet, the hardship about this is that there will always be one person who looks with a different view, and a conflict builds up and they ignore each other, and the one spreading peace will leave that one out of the chain. This one outcast can be dangerous and if he means to, he can easily break the chain. So how do we bring peace to the world? My answer is, don’t leave that one out. Don’t build a wall between anyone. Be a sturdy and resolute bridge that goes to all directions.

Yuhki:  Through my research on peace and democracy, I learned about the various aspects of the world that have an influence upon peace today.  Having done so, my definition of peace has changed significantly.  From my previous definition of "the absence of war", I am now aware of the role that countries, organizations, governments, and individuals have in the making of peace.  Therefore, my new definition would be "a state in which all citizens of the world are content and tranquil, resulting from cooperation between all individuals."

Nana:  I believe that peace is not only the absence of war, also the absence of conflict.  In a state of peace each person lives in harmony and friendship with one another.  Before I was part of this project I was not very aware of what peace was or how it was achieved and maintained.  I had never studied a specific group/country and how they kept peace within their nation.  In South Africa peace was achieved after apartheid ended and the government created a document called the Freedom Charter to make South Africa a better place.  Also education is a key factor, because children who will soon grow up and help achieve peace should be educated properly to understand the world well. 

Nathan:  I believe peace is everyone having the ability to accept any kind of perspective. If you think about it, conflict has always been created when people see the same thing differently and start to argue about it. Then they start to fight about what they believe, bringing bloodshed and suffering.  This has been my view of what peace is for a while but it has changed slightly. Now I realize that perspective has brought inequality as well as conflict. This happens when one race believes that they are superior to another, like what happened during apartheid and in the United States. Israelis and Palestinians are fighting because of their views on who owns the West Bank.  Despite this, perspective is inevitable. As human beings we will see things differently. We need to be able to see another person's viewpoint. Once humans can see and accept another perspective other than their own, the human race will be one step closer to world peace.

Team Reflection

A single individual cannot attain world peace.  It results in cooperation and the international efforts of organizations, groups, and national governments. As a team, we have focused mainly on the cooperation between these people, as well as their background and history, to determine what our current world needs to achieve peace.

For the world to be a place of harmony, the wish of peace must rest in the individual. The individual must be compassionate, inquisitive, and prepared for global responsibility, with the goal to make a peaceful difference in the world, because determined individuals form determined groups. The individual is the driving force of groups, and the ideas that form in the heart and mind of an individual are applied to the group when collaboration occurs.

Society

The individual is powerful, yet two minds are better than one, and a group of people will always have more of an impact on something than a single person. In the same way, a group of teams is more effective than a single team. This group of teams can also be called society.

Collaborative groups develop and may represent the world as one entity. The various ideals that each group possesses become known to other groups, often capable of persevering through chaos and disorganization. Through communication, the opinions are passed on into society, mixing with the diversity of opinions, thoughts, and actions. Powerful opinions can lead to action, which has the potential to change the world.

Groups, countries and organizations have strived to create a society in which harmony and happiness mingle with equality and freedom. Various declarations and constitutions incorporating freedom and equality have been created, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (by the UN) and the US Constitution. In order to maintain a peaceful state, countries trade, negotiate, and ally. However, it seems that, in many instances, no matter what action a country takes, it may eventually end up going to war. How can the world become a peaceful place when countries resort to war to settle conflicts?

To answer this seems an impossible task. In order to create peace in the world, countries must never use force against each other. Instead, a country should;

• Educate
• Cooperate
• Communicate
• Strive for equality within the countries
• Be constantly trying to overcome diseases and health hazards

The government of a country has a great responsibility in overseeing the activities of the people. It must protect the human and civil rights of the citizens and residents of the country while preserving freedom and liberty for all.

Democracy can be a vital part in the government's contributions to the country. As stated in the democracy pages, and exemplified by the Japan, South Africa and US case studies, democracy has been an important government system in many countries. Other systems of government have played a great role in the evolution of society, yet some fail to respect the freedom and rights of the people. However, the country does not perfect the system; instead, the system must be used to improve the country.

What can middle school students do to achieve and maintain peace?

We middle school students are constantly under the rules of society. Therefore, it is a common mistake for us to think that we are powerless to take any form of action. However, in conclusion to our project, we have developed several ways in which YOU as an individual can work to achieve and keep peace. Only through the cooperation of both individuals and government can peace ever be attained.

Peace within a family is the first step. Spending time with the members of your family and to respect every member is very important. Since your family is usually the closest connection around you, being able to live freely among them will give you a stable and firm start.

The next layer outside of your family is your community - for the most part, your school. Volunteer and participate in activities that help the underprivileged, or support countries who need outside help. Donate goods or money to help poor children around the world.  It is amazing how a little amount of money can help buy medication or food for families who cannot afford these necessities.  If you are in the position to do so, suggest to teachers and peers various actions that can be taken for peace to be achieved in the world.

Communication is an important factor in your efforts as an individual. The easiest way is the Internet. Actively work on sites supporting peace - look through ideas for your school to do! Suggest to your community what you as a school can do. Our school, through various student leadership teams and organizations, has developed clubs that support peace. Some of these clubs help the poor in the Philippines, and others help the homeless in Japan. When all citizens are content in a country, it contributes to the maintaining of a peaceful environment.

Awareness is another element that will affect your thinking, and eventually, your actions. Be watching your environment for negative or positive events, and visit sites of organizations to attain knowledge of the world around you. An awareness of other cultures is a means of international connection. By communicating and accepting lifestyles of various cultures, you will be able to hold a more international perspective. Obviously, your own lifestyle - for example, your everyday language should reflect tolerance and be inoffensive to others, so as to be a role model. Also, you should be aware of your own views upon racism and war. Are they positive or negative? Determine this, and consider how this is possibly affecting how you think and act.

Education will help you change your views, and will help you realize the most positive and influential way of treating people.  Education will also help you determine the flaws of the logic behind your own way of thinking.  Education is a key factor in peace keeping.  If a student/person is taught false facts about other countries, he/she would most probably grow up believing what they learned as students.  It is up to each individual to search for the truth and work towards peace. 

Racism has been a part of world history - Africans, Jews, African Americans, Ainu, and many other races have been victim to it. As seen in the Civil Rights Movement, and with Rosa Parks' refusal to give up a chair, a single individual can spark a significant event in history. As Clyde W. Ford writes in "We Can All Get Along"*, individuals should "think globally, act locally". The Little Rock Nine during segregation sacrificed their teenage lives for the future of African Americans.

If we can all get along - peace can easily be achieved. Each member of society must contribute to this, and this will then begin to rise into the global level. It is important to keep in mind that we can make a difference in the world.

Illustrated by Yuhki

Background graphic designed by Yuhki

*Ford, C. W, "We Can All Get Along", Dell Publishing, New York, 1994