peace theme no. 4

Engaging the Youth in Justice and Peace Advocacy

Mirma Tica Pax Christi – Miriam College, Moderator

Pax Christi Metro Manila Youth, Coordinator

YOUTH 26.4 million 30 %

15-19 years old: 36% 20-24 years old: 32% 25-30 years old: 32%

Male: 50.1% Female: 49.9%

88 M

Total population

Youth constitute almost 30% or 26.4 million of the estimated total population of 88 million. This figure of young people has a significant impact on the size, health, and general quality of life of the country’s future population through their conditions, behavior and decisions.

National Youth Commission, 2010

Who are the youth?

1.  Apolitical /Apathetic

2.  Violent/ in conflict with the law

1.  Peacebuilders

Why engage the youth in peace and justice advocacy?

The youth can be…  perpetrators of violence   victims of violence   agents of change, just looking for space   leaders of the ‘now’ and the future

 Because being a peacemaker is a call of the Catholic Faith.

Jesus said: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be

called the children of God.” Matthew 5:9

How do we engage them

Building Awareness 1. Situation/Forms of violence 2. Roots of conflict and violence 3. Alternatives to violence

Building concern 1. Empathy and compassion 2. Positive vision of the future 3. Social responsibility (Use ideas and lives of peace

and justice advocates)

Encouraging action 1. Personal change-own mindset, attitudes, behavior/lifestyle 2. Social action and advocacy

Brief History of Pax Christi Miriam College

1998- The Center for Peace Education helped a group of interested students to establish the Pax Christi student org

Objective: Aims to heighten the consciousness and awareness of students about peace issues/concerns such as non-violence, conflict resolution and total human development. Aims to encourage the students to live out their spirituality through justice and peace advocacy.

Pax Christi Now

Peace Theme No. 1: Upholding Human Dignity

Peace Theme No. 2: Challenging Prejudice and Discrimination

To highlight the importance of tolerance and to promote unity in

diversity.

Peace Theme No. 3: Promoting Nonviolence

To share with students alternatives to violence and to encourage them to use these alternatives to promote peace.

Peace Theme No. 4: Challenging the War System “If wars begin in the minds of men (and women), then it is in the minds of men (and women) that the defenses of peace must be

constructed.” –UNESCO Preamble

Students should know: 1. The importance of the oneness of the human

family. 2. The causes and effects of war. 3. Strategies to challenge the war system.

Peace Theme No. 4: Challenging the War System

Cheer dance in front of the DFA to “cheer” the Philippines to sign the

Arms Trade Treaty.

Students went out to the streets to raise awareness about the humanitarian threats of cluster munitions.


Poster making against the use of Nuclear Weapons

Women in black goes to the Congress to

encourage Representatives to

support the signing of the Arms Trade Treaty.

Forum on the Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear

Weapons

Peace Theme No. 5: Resolving and Transforming Conflict

  To share with students practical options (collaborative problem-solving or negotiation, dialogue and mediation) in dealing with conflict.

  To encourage them to use these options to promoting peace.

Peace Theme No. 6: Sharing the Earth’s Resources   To encourage students to help our partner school in

need of equipment and improvement of their facilities.

  To highlight the value of compassion and care for those in need.

Peace Theme No. 6: Sharing the Earth’s Resources

Peace Theme No. 7: Caring for the Earth

•  To raise awareness about the environmental effects of weapons

• Nuclear Weapons (radiation effects are long lasting and poses threats to future generation) • Agent Orange or Herbicide Orange (water, air and soil pollution) • Landmines and cluster munitions (agricultural degradation, land erosion, animal extinction and deforestation)

Peace Theme No. 8: Cultivating Inner Peace “Inner and outer transformations are inseparable parts

of one whole.” – Patricia Mische, 2000

“All works of love are works of peace.” – Mother Teresa

The youth is not just our future generation but more importantly our now.

We must engage, capacitate and empower them to achieve holistic peace.

peace theme no. 4

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