INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: INCULCATING A CULTURE AMONGST THE YOUNGER GENERATION TOWARDS A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

�World peace day is a beautiful concept� � Gupta, R (2016)

Nigeria on the 21st day of September, celebrated with the rest of the world in marking the �International day of peace�, the day we celebrate the complete opposite of war, violence, destruction, conflict and death� (Gupta, 2016).The theme for this year�s celebration is aptly titled �The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace.� Unfortunately, the mindset of most global leaders have been fixated with the philosophy that being armed with military arms and manpower is all that is required to ensure and sustain national security, towards a sustainable future (Matsui, 2015). However, I fail to agree with this approach, as these only breeds in the minds of the aspiring youngsters that would in the nearest future occupy same places & positions of authority and influence, that violence and military engagement are the only language of peace worth understanding. Thus, a question arises, in what other ways can we ensure a sustained peace not only for the now but future generation yet unborn?

It is noteworthy that the Goal 16 of the sustainable development goals (SDG) is to be regarded as vital goal, without which no other goals can thrive effectively (Gurar, 2015). In the past 15 years, we have witnessed a series of ongoing conflicts around the world: mass shootings in various parts of the USA; Arab springs, rise of terrorist cells in Africa and parts of the Middle East amongst others.) In addition, OECD(2014) identified that most countries affected by such surge of violence have not been effective in meeting up the varied Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and moreover as identified in 2015, the world comparable to 2008, was less peaceful (The Institute for Economics and Peace (2015). Humanly speaking, peace is not inherited within our DNA thus, in order to achieve peace; it has to be effectively taught starting off with the youngsters within their development phases (Navarro-Castro and Nario-Galace, 2008). During the Global Campaign for peace education birthed during the Peace conference held at The Hague in the year 1999 its definition was affirmed: �Peace Education is teaching for and about human rights, gender equality, disarmament, social and economic justice, non-violence, sustainable development, international law and we later added, traditional peace practices. And we agreed that the methodology of peace education should include critical thinking, reflection and participation; they are elements that should be integrated into the pedagogy of all teaching at all levels of education.� (Navarro-Castro and Nario-Galace, 2008).

This day is of great importance in Nigeria, comprised with myriads of culture, beliefs, a ideologies, philosophies religious beliefs, ethnicities, there is bound be some tension or strife stirred up. The outcome of such if not dealt with is outflow of wars, violence and destructions of lives and properties making headline news (Gupta, 2016). One way identified in solving this is deliberate strategy in inculcating peace education in our various schools of education, especially within their primary to secondary phases. The promotion of this concept is neither a final goal nor an end to war, but a progressive, building process, but a process that would have a conscious effect in the mindset of such growing youngsters thus, fostering a healthy spiritual and sociable environment is important towards sustainable quality of life (Matsui, 2015). This is significant as important virtues are imbibed and carved within their hearts (justice, sympathy, caring and sincerity), vital towards peace building. For instance, the ability of inculcating the character of empathy in the mindset of  growing youngster would ensure in that in the nearest future his/her ability to carry out an vested effort in understanding in relating to  circumstances revolving around an individual rather than judging or condemning some of their behavior. In addition, promoting such concept would inculcate and develop ways of initiating non violent communication, serving as an vital ingredient towards sustaining a peace and livable environment amongst individuals in schools and in extensions within families, organizations and the society at large (ICRC, 2011).

In conclusion, it is pertinent to assert that  peace education should be observed, received and accepted as a vital tool in empowering the younger generation unto becoming active agents of transformation within their communities and society at large. This is regardless of the challenge that would be faced in changing the rigid mindset of the majority that violence is the only humane response to violence towards sustaining peace. This was emphasized by Loreta Navarro-Castro and Jasmin Nario-Galace in Peace Education: A Pathway to a Culture of Peace:
Peace education, or an education that promotes a culture of peace, is essentially transformative. It cultivates the knowledge base, skills, attitudes and values that seek to transform people�s mindsets, attitudes and behaviors that, in the first place, have either created or exacerbated violent conflicts. It seeks this transformation by building awareness and understanding, developing concern and challenging personal and social action that will enable people to live, relate and create conditions and systems that actualize nonviolence, justice, environmental care and other peace values. ([Miriam College Center for Peace Education, 2008], 21)

�Training the younger ones towards peace education would ensure that they won�t depart from it, fostering the sustainability of our society towards sustainable development.�� Ihenacho Nnaemeka M.


References
Guar, N. (2015). Sustainable Development Goal 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies
[Online]. Available at: https://www.greenbiz.com/article/sustainable-development-goal-16-promote-peaceful-and-inclusive-societies (Accessed 24th September, 2016)

Gupta, R. (2016). International Peace Day [Online]. Available at: http://www.voicesofyouth.org/en/posts/international-day-of-peace (Accessed 24th September, 2016)

ICRC (2011). Saving lives, changing minds. The Red Cross Red Crescent approach to Promoting a culture of non-violence and peace [Online]. Available: http://www.ifrc.org/PageFiles/53475/1205900-Advocacy%20report%20on%20Promotion%20of%20culture%20of%20peace-EN-LR%20(2).pdf (Accessed 24th September, 2016)

Matsui, K.R. (2015). The Role of Religion and Peace Education in Cultivating the Heart That Welcomes the Other [Online]. Available at: https://www.mpiasia.net/allnews/network-news/194-the-role-of-religion-and-peace-education-in-cultivating-the-heart-that-welcomes-the-other.html (Accessed 24th September, 2016)

Navarro-Castro, L., Nario-Galace, J., (2008). Peace Education: A Pathway to a Culture of Peace [Online]. Available at: http://www.creducation.org/resources/Peace_Education_Castro_Galace.pdf
(Accessed 24th September, 2016)

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (2014). Fragile States 2014 Domestic Revenue Mobilisation in Fragile States [Online]. Available at: http://www.oecd.org/dac/governance-peace/conflictfragilityandresilience/docs/FSR-2014.pdf (Accessed 25th September, 2016)

The Institute for Economics and Peace (2015). Institute of Economics and Peace�s 2015 Global Peace Index Report [Online]. Available at: http://economicsandpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Global-Peace-Index-Report-2015_0.pdf (Accessed 24th September, 2016)



Ihenacho Nnaemeka M.