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International Day of Peace

Online activity for CALL Lesson Wednesday, September 26.  We will do this assignment during our class in the computer lab.

September 21, 2007 was International Day of Peace.  Let's join the people around the world who united for peace!

Useful links to find out more about this day
Peace Day
International Day of Peace
Peace-Wikipedia
Peace Symbols

I would like for you to compose a comment with your thoughts and ideas about the following TWO questions.  Remember to write your name, so I know who wrote what!

Question One:
    Introduce us to a person or symbol who represents peace.  If you choose a person, it could be a famous person (singer, entertainer, politician, religious leader, author, ...) or a person you know (student, teacher, family member, ...)  In your comment, tell us the name of the person or symbol, describe what the person or symbol has done to promote peace, and why you chose this.  (Of course you can look for more information online, but be sure to write your comment in your own words)

Question Two:
What can we do to promote peace in our daily lives?  What simple actions can be taken on a daily basis?

Just hit the comment button, post your response, and sign your name!!

Extra Credit:
If you still have time left at the end of class, please go to http://jovenes4ma.motime.com/ and see what English students in Argentina wrote about peace.  Their most recent blog posts/comments are on a very similar topic to ours!  Promote peace--leave them a comment!!

posted by: MaryH at September 24, 2007 13:06 | link | comments (18) |
culture, peace

Comments:

#1  26 September 2007 - 11:41

 

hi mary:)

Im haruka from IES f! We are in computer lab now, and I just finished writing an asignment:)

I am very hungry right now!!!

Anonymous

#2  26 September 2007 - 23:42

 

Hi, I’m Minami.

I think the folded paper crane represents peace. There was a girl who was exposed to radiation when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. She made a folded paper crane everyday until she passed away. After that, people erected a statue to comfort children who died from the atomic bomb, and people begun to offer folded paper cranes there to desire peace. Now, many Japanese students go there with folded paper cranes which they make. When they learn how to make a folded paper crane, they also learn a war and peace. Then, origami is really familiar to Japanese, so children can learn the importance of peace more easily.
I choose this because it’s really strong image for Japanese that the folded paper crane is the symbol of peace, and this also represents Japanese culture.

I believe "Pay it forward" can promote peace! It’s really easy to practice this, so I want many people to know and try this.

Anonymous

#3  30 September 2007 - 10:25

 

Hi, I'm Tomoyo.
I choose my friend from USA. She loves peace so much. I introduce the story I felt so. When people get marry, many women get engagement ring. However she refused that, because the engagement ring is diamond. Diamonds could be mined by poor people. They may be forced to work. She doesn't like such a thing which someone felt hard and mined. I thought she is so peace person.

In daily life, we can consider where this comes and what was used to make this. For example, papers are made from many trees. Cutting trees cause to destroy the place where some people live. People feel sad and uncomfortable. If we think that, we reduce the paper as less as possible. That leads the peace, I think.

Anonymous

#4  04 October 2007 - 21:02

 

Hello! I'm Selinda from Canada, but I live in Nagoya now.

I thought Mary's question was a very good one. Minami's reply about the paper cranes was very interesting. She made a good point about how children can learn not only about peace, by making the cranes, but also about the horror of war. We all hope our children will learn from our mistakes!

Tomoyo's comment was very unique. Many people know the famous phrase: "Diamonds are a girl's best friend", but perhaps they don't know where or who produces them. People should be more aware of where the goods they are purchasing come from, and think how their money money supports those workers. Is it for good or evil?

As for me, I think about peace in a different way. Since Japan is quite crowded, I try to smile and be polite to everyone, even if they are not polite to me. I think maintaining peace and harmony amoungst each other is very important. So, my image of peace is within you, and everyone around you. We can all promote peace, even in a simple way.

Anonymous

#5  09 October 2007 - 23:49

 

Hi,I'm Ayaka.
I think John Lennon represents peace because he wrote a song which has a message for world peace. The title of the song is "Happy Xmas(War is Over)" In this song, he wrote "Let's stop all the fight." This part especially shows his hope which everyone should stop the war. When I listened to this song for the first time, I was really impressed becasue the melody is of course good, and the lyrics show the strong message for world peace directly. I liked this song very much. That's why I chose John Lennon who wrote this wonderful song.

I think we can promote peace by insisting the importance of the world peace in our daily lives. For example, we can take part in the volunteer groups.
I hope everybody acts something, and the world will become the peaceful world.

Anonymous

#6  10 October 2007 - 11:01

 

Hi, I'm Natsuko.

For me, Gandhi represents peace because he suggested non violent and non obedience.He tried to solve fight without violence. I think he is a really great person in the world, and we have to learn what is the real peace from his thinking.

Anonymous

#7  10 October 2007 - 11:03

 

hi mary

I am haruka, from IESf.
A person who symbolize peace is I think Martin Luther King Jr. I know only his speech. maybe he made efforts for black people in the States.

What i can do for peace in my everyday life is maybe to stay gentle and forgive, because i think that it is hatred that raise the war or fight.

Anonymous

#8  10 October 2007 - 11:03

 

Hi, I'm Shizuka

I think Mother Teresa represents peace. She took care many soldiers who were injured by war.
I think she remainded not only their injury but their heart too.

Anonymous

#9  10 October 2007 - 11:04

 

Hi,I'm Miho.
I doidn't know we have such that day. I went to the Pearl harbor when I went to Hawaii last month, and I kind felt uncounfortable staying at that place, because Japan attacked there right?! As I am japanese, I felt sorry for the people who were killed by Japanese military. Some people are not intersted in global problems, but i think students should study more about what's happening in the world,and we should talk about peace more!! I love to smile people and talk with people!!

Anonymous

#10  10 October 2007 - 11:05

 

Hi,I am Sho from Japan.
I think Ryoma Sakamoto is one of the most famous peace makers in Japan. The end of Edo period in Japan was very caoth, but his idea
changed Japan. Now I think what we can do for the world peace is to
know what is happening in the world.Then, we should do something we can do. Indiffrence
makes the world worse.

Anonymous

#11  10 October 2007 - 11:06

 

Hi, I'm Mina!

I didn't know the day of peace! It is embarrassing.
For me, the symbol of the peace is Gandhi in India. He fought for Indian civilian's freedom with no weapon. He chose the peaceful way to solve the problem. I was so moved to hear that story in your class.

I think we should remember the old days. In old days, there were alot of terrible wars.Not to repeat them, I think, remembering the day of peace is very important.If we do so, we will be able to thank to our peaceful life.

Anonymous

#12  10 October 2007 - 11:07

 

Hi. I'm Shoko. I think there are many people who don't know about the war so much. For those of people, I recommend to watch the movie. There are many movie about the war. My favorite movie is "Amen". This movie is about Jewish people. A movie is the trigger that try to know the history, I think. We have to know the past, and recognise that there're many people who are suffered from the war now.

Anonymous

#13  10 October 2007 - 11:07

 

The symbol of peace is white pigeon for me. I don't know why it is a symbol of peace, but I like the movie "HomeAlone" and the boy got pair of them in the movie. We often fly them on the wedding day.
To have peaceful daily life, we should calm ourselves all the time. Sometimes, we need to contain our feeling I think.
Saya Iwasaki

Anonymous

#14  10 October 2007 - 11:08

 

Im rika.
I chose myself because when I go to a convinience store, I always raise money for unicef.
I dont have much money, but I think even if my money is small, it will help people who are suffering in the world, so I do that everytime.
I hope everyone can live peacefully.

Anonymous

#15  10 October 2007 - 11:09

 

Hello, I'm Yuka.
I think the rings of Olympic is one of the symbols　that show peace. As everyone knows the rings represents five continents, and they conect as if all people were holding their hands tight.

To promote peace in our daily lives we can do from small thing. It's to be kind of other people and don't discriminate them.

Anonymous

#16  10 October 2007 - 12:02

 

Hi, I'm Syujiro

I think Gandhi was good peaceful person. He appealed to people no more violence and war. He also fasted to stop wars.I can't imagin to do that, but he did. I respest him.

Anonymous

#17  10 October 2007 - 12:07

 

Hi, I'm Risa.
I think Mother Teresa represents peace because she helped many children and people who were sick. Also, she got the Nobel prize for peace.

I think to have a calm mind, try to be happy, or smile are good way to promote peace in our daily lives.

Anonymous

#18  10 October 2007 - 13:44

 

Your comments show a wide variety of people and symbols that represent peace. Even though International Peace Day occurs only once a year, we can do small things every day to promote peace. For instance, you mentioned learning about world events and history; smiling and talking with various people; and participating in volunteer or charity work.

Thank you for your contributions!! Now, I'm looking forward to seeing your movies from today's class!

MaryH

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