"I conclude that this award which I receive on behalf of the civil rights movement is a profound recognition that nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral question of our time --- the need to find the means to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to violence and oppression..."

Martin Luther King, Jr., 1964 Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech

 

Whereas violence takes many forms --- on the street, at school, in family life, in the community, in the media, and between nations --- so that many children grow up in a "culture of violence,"

Whereas twenty Nobel Peace Laureates --- the largest number ever to sponsor such an initiative --- presented an appeal "for the children of the world" calling for a decade-long effort "to teach the practical meaning and benefits of nonviolence in our daily lives in order to reduce violence and . . . build a new culture of nonviolence,"

Whereas the United Nations General Assembly has adopted the Nobel Peace Appeal designating the years 2001-2010 the "International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence" and the year 2000 as the "Year for a Culture of Peace," and has designated September 19 the International Day of Peace,

Whereas schools and young people historically play a role of encouraging important new social initiatives,

Be it resolved that _______________________________________________________ __________________

(name of school or student group) & (date)

1. Supports implementation of the Nobel Peace Appeal for a "Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence," "Year of Peace," and "Day of Peace" and through classes, conflict education programs, student activities, films, etc.;

2. Resolves to make it a priority to teach, practice, and model nonviolence --- both for our students, faculty and staff, and in service to our community --- making use of resources from the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR), Northwest Coalition for the Nobel Decade for Peace, Educators for Social Responsibility (ESR), the Peace & Justice Resource Center (PJRC) and other sources;

3. Strongly urges our city council, state legislature, President, and Congress to endorse the Day and Decade for Peace, to earmark resources, and to encourage education efforts to implement it;

4. Requests that our administration, teachers, school board, etc. provide the leadership and resources needed to carry out this vital educational effort.

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A growing number of schools, community groups, religious organizations, and national groups are joining in support of the UN Decade for a Culture of Peace and Nonviolence. Please send a copy of your resolution and/or inquiries about follow-up resources to:

* Northwest Coalition for the Decade of Peace, 1710 11th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122, 206/349-2501 (1-3 pm), lpf@ecunet.org

* Fellowship of Reconciliation, Box 271 Nyack, NY 10960-0271 914/358-4601 for@forusa.org www.nonviolence.org