essay on peace in world

Essay on Peace

500 words essay peace.

Peace is the path we take for bringing growth and prosperity to society. If we do not have peace and harmony, achieving political strength, economic stability and cultural growth will be impossible. Moreover, before we transmit the notion of peace to others, it is vital for us to possess peace within. It is not a certain individual’s responsibility to maintain peace but everyone’s duty. Thus, an essay on peace will throw some light on the same topic.

Importance of Peace

History has been proof of the thousands of war which have taken place in all periods at different levels between nations. Thus, we learned that peace played an important role in ending these wars or even preventing some of them.

In fact, if you take a look at all religious scriptures and ceremonies, you will realize that all of them teach peace. They mostly advocate eliminating war and maintaining harmony. In other words, all of them hold out a sacred commitment to peace.

It is after the thousands of destructive wars that humans realized the importance of peace. Earth needs peace in order to survive. This applies to every angle including wars, pollution , natural disasters and more.

When peace and harmony are maintained, things will continue to run smoothly without any delay. Moreover, it can be a saviour for many who do not wish to engage in any disrupting activities or more.

In other words, while war destroys and disrupts, peace builds and strengthens as well as restores. Moreover, peace is personal which helps us achieve security and tranquillity and avoid anxiety and chaos to make our lives better.

How to Maintain Peace

There are many ways in which we can maintain peace at different levels. To begin with humankind, it is essential to maintain equality, security and justice to maintain the political order of any nation.

Further, we must promote the advancement of technology and science which will ultimately benefit all of humankind and maintain the welfare of people. In addition, introducing a global economic system will help eliminate divergence, mistrust and regional imbalance.

It is also essential to encourage ethics that promote ecological prosperity and incorporate solutions to resolve the environmental crisis. This will in turn share success and fulfil the responsibility of individuals to end historical prejudices.

Similarly, we must also adopt a mental and spiritual ideology that embodies a helpful attitude to spread harmony. We must also recognize diversity and integration for expressing emotion to enhance our friendship with everyone from different cultures.

Finally, it must be everyone’s noble mission to promote peace by expressing its contribution to the long-lasting well-being factor of everyone’s lives. Thus, we must all try our level best to maintain peace and harmony.

Get the huge list of more than 500 Essay Topics and Ideas

Conclusion of the Essay on Peace

To sum it up, peace is essential to control the evils which damage our society. It is obvious that we will keep facing crises on many levels but we can manage them better with the help of peace. Moreover, peace is vital for humankind to survive and strive for a better future.

FAQ of Essay on Peace

Question 1: What is the importance of peace?

Answer 1: Peace is the way that helps us prevent inequity and violence. It is no less than a golden ticket to enter a new and bright future for mankind. Moreover, everyone plays an essential role in this so that everybody can get a more equal and peaceful world.

Question 2: What exactly is peace?

Answer 2: Peace is a concept of societal friendship and harmony in which there is no hostility and violence. In social terms, we use it commonly to refer to a lack of conflict, such as war. Thus, it is freedom from fear of violence between individuals or groups.

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essay on world peace

Category:  Essays and Paragraphs On November 22, 2018 By Mary

World peace

World peace can be referred to as the state of people from all countries in the world being happy and living harmoniously with each other.

World peace creates one international community that can concentrate on greater issues that are affecting the planet like climate change.

When countries work together, they benefit their citizens since they can freely move from one country to another for employment, education or tourism.

Importance of world peace

• World peace leads to  increased globalization . Globalization is the act where people from different countries are able to interact freely with each other in various aspects.
• World peace also leads to the  promotion of tourism . With peace, people are freer to tour any country of their choice without fear of violence.
• World peace also contributes to  cultural exchanges . People are able to interact freely with each other and they can learn different cultures from other people.
• World peace also contributes to  more   developed economies . This is because people are able to carry out both domestic and foreign investments without fear of the risk of future violence.
• World peace also contributes to the  unification of people to fight unfair vices.  People are able to speak with one voice to get rid of vices like racism, religious discrimination and gender inequality.
• World peace also contributes to the  reduction of wars . Warring countries or internal nation conflicts can be reduced if world peace existed. War is the main cause of human suffering in the world.
• With world peace, you are also assured of  increased freedom of people . People get more freedom whether they are from different religions, race or country. This promotes global cohesion.

How to achieve world peace

• We can achieve world peace through having  international bodies  that will ensure that every nation upholds world peace. Such a body is United Nations and other world organizations that ensure every country has the responsibility of promoting peace.
• We can also achieve world peace through  upholding democracy . The main cause of world violence is dictatorship. When countries have the freedom to vote, they are able to choose the right leaders who are peace friendly.
• World peace is also achieved through  globalization . When globalization is encouraged, countries will uphold peace since they will avoid going into war with countries that have economic ties with them.
• We achieve world peace when there is  equal representation of nations in international bodies.  This will ensure that no nation is oppressed and no nation is left behind. When some nations are not represented, it creates inequality which may stir violence.
• World peace can also be achieved by  raising awareness  of the importance of world peace. Nations can create awareness to their citizens by teaching them on the benefits that they will get when they have peaceful coexistence with other nations.
• World peace can also be achieved by  sharing the country’s wealth equally . This is by giving equal opportunities to all and not overtaxing the poor. This will reduce the cases of rebel movements.

World peace is very important in the growth and prosperity of the entire global community. This is because with world peace, we are able to have more social cohesion and interactions that are beneficial to everyone.

World Peace Essay: Prompts, How-to Guide, & 200+ Topics

Throughout history, people have dreamed of a world without violence, where harmony and justice reign. This dream of world peace has inspired poets, philosophers, and politicians for centuries. But is it possible to achieve peace globally? Writing a world peace essay will help you find the answer to this question and learn more about the topic.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

In this article, our custom writing team will discuss how to write an essay on world peace quickly and effectively. To inspire you even more, we have prepared writing prompts and topics that can come in handy.

• ✔️ 200 Essay Topics on World Peace
• ✌️ Peace and Peace Treaties
• 🕊️ Peacemaking
• 💡 The Role of Weapons in World Peace Efforts
• ☮️ Peace Symbolism
• 🌐 Peace Language

✔️ 200 Essay Topics on World Peace

To help get you started with writing, here’s a list of 200 topics you can use for your future essay:

• Defining peace
• Why peace is better: benefits of living in harmony
• Is world peace attainable? Theory and historical examples
• Sustainable peace : is peace an intermission of war?
• Peaceful coexistence : how a society can do without wars
• Peaceful harmony or war of all against all: what came first?
• The relationship between economic development and peace
• Peace and Human Nature: Can Humans Live without Conflicts ?
• Prerequisites for peace : what nations need to refrain from war?
• Peace as an unnatural phenomenon: why people tend to start a war?
• Peace as a natural phenomenon: why people avoid starting a war?
• Is peace the end of the war or its beginning?
• Hybrid war and hybrid peace
• What constitutes peace in the modern world
• Does two countries’ not attacking each other constitute peace?
• “Cold peace” in the international relations today
• What world religions say about world peace
• Defining peacemaking
• Internationally recognized symbols of peace
• World peace: a dream or a goal?
• History of pacifism: how the movement started and developed
• Role of the pacifist movement in the twentieth-century history
• Basic philosophical principles of pacifism
• Pacifism as philosophy and as a movement
• The peace sign: what it means
• How the pacifist movement began: actual causes
• The anti-war movements : what did the activists want?
• The relationship between pacifism and the sexual revolution
• Early pacifism: examples from ancient times
• Is pacifism a religion?
• Should pacifists refrain from any kinds of violence?
• Is the pacifist movement a threat to the national security?
• Can a pacifist work in law enforcement authorities?
• Pacifism and non-violence: comparing and contrasting
• The pacifist perspective on the concept of self-defense
• Pacifism in art: examples of pacifistic works of art
• Should everyone be a pacifist?
• Pacifism and diet: should every pacifist be a vegetarian ?
• How pacifists respond to oppression
• The benefits of an active pacifist movement for a country

✌️ Peace and Peace Treaties

• Can the country that won a war occupy the one that lost?
• The essential peace treaties in history
• Should a country that lost a war pay reparations ?
• Peace treaties that caused new, more violent wars
• Can an aggressor country be deprived of the right to have an army after losing a war?
• Non-aggression pacts do not prevent wars
• All the countries should sign non-aggression pacts with one another
• Peace and truces: differences and similarities
• Do countries pursue world peace when signing peace treaties?
• The treaty of Versailles : positive and negative outcomes
• Ceasefires and surrenders: the world peace perspective
• When can a country break a peace treaty?
• Dealing with refugees and prisoners of war under peace treaties
• Who should resolve international conflicts?
• The role of the United Nations in enforcing peace treaties
• Truce envoys’ immunities
• What does a country do after surrendering unconditionally?
• A separate peace: the ethical perspective
• Can a peace treaty be signed in modern-day hybrid wars?
• Conditions that are unacceptable in a peace treaty

🕊️ Peacemaking

• Can people be forced to stop fighting?
• Successful examples of peace restoration through the use of force
• Failed attempts to restore peace with legitimate violence
• Conflict resolution vs conflict transformation
• What powers peacemakers should not have
• Preemptive peacemaking: can violence be used to prevent more abuse?
• The status of peacemakers in the international law
• Peacemaking techniques: Gandhi’s strategies
• How third parties can reconcile belligerents
• The role of the pacifist movement in peacemaking
• The war on wars: appropriate and inappropriate approaches to peacemaking
• Mistakes that peacemakers often stumble upon
• The extent of peacemaking : when the peacemakers’ job is done
• Making peace and sustaining it: how peacemakers prevent future conflicts
• The origins of peacemaking
• What to do if peacemaking does not work
• Staying out: can peacemaking make things worse?
• A personal reflection on the effectiveness of peacemaking
• Prospects of peacemaking
• Personal experience of peacemaking

💡 The Role of Weapons in World Peace Efforts

• Counties should stop producing new types of firearms
• Countries should not stop producing new types of weapons
• Mutual assured destruction as a means of sustaining peace
• The role of nuclear disarmament in world peace
• The nuclear war scenario: what will happen to the world?
• Does military intelligence contribute to sustaining peace?
• Collateral damage: analyzing the term
• Can the defenders of peace take up arms?
• For an armed person, is killing another armed person radically different from killing an unarmed one? Ethical and legal perspectives
• Should a healthy country have a strong army?
• Firearms should be banned
• Every citizen has the right to carry firearms
• The correlation between gun control and violence rates
• The second amendment: modern analysis
• Guns do not kill: people do
• What weapons a civilian should never be able to buy
• Biological and chemical weapons
• Words as a weapon: rhetoric wars
• Can a pacifist ever use a weapon?
• Can dropping weapons stop the war?

☮️ Peace Symbolism

• How the nuclear disarmament emblem became the peace sign
• The symbolism of a dove with an olive branch
• Native Americans’ traditions of peace declaration
• The mushroom cloud as a cultural symbol
• What the world peace awareness ribbon should look like
• What I would like to be the international peace sign
• The history of the International Day of Peace
• The peace sign as an accessory
• The most famous peace demonstrations
• Hippies’ contributions to the peace symbolism
• Anti-war and anti-military symbols
• How to express pacifism as a political position
• The rainbow as a symbol of peace
• Can a white flag be considered a symbol of peace?
• Examples of the inappropriate use of the peace sign
• The historical connection between the peace sign and the cannabis leaf sign
• Peace symbols in different cultures
• Gods of war and gods of peace: examples from the ancient mythology
• Peace sign tattoo: pros and cons
• Should the peace sign be placed on a national flag?

🌐 Peace Language

• The origin and historical context of the word “peace”
• What words foreign languages use to denote “peace”
• What words, if any, should a pacifist avoid?
• The pacifist discourse: key themes
• Disintegration language: “us” vs “them”
• How to combat war propaganda
• Does political correctness promote world peace?
• Can an advocate of peace be harsh in his or her speeches?
• Effective persuasive techniques in peace communications and negotiations
• Analyzing the term “world peace”
• If the word “war” is forbidden, will wars stop?
• Is “peacemaking” a right term?
• Talk to the hand: effective and ineffective interpersonal communication techniques that prevent conflicts
• The many meanings of the word “peace”
• The pacifists’ language: when pacifists swear, yell, or insult
• Stressing similarities instead of differences as a tool of peace language
• The portrayal of pacifists in movies
• The portrayals of pacifists in fiction
• Pacifist lyrics: examples from the s’ music
• Poems that supported peace The power of the written word
• peaceful coexistence: theory and practice
• Under what conditions can humans coexist peacefully?
• “A man is a wolf to another man”: the modern perspective
• What factors prevent people from committing a crime?
• Right for peace vs need for peace
• Does the toughening of punishment reduce crime?
• The Stanford prison experiment: implications
• Is killing natural?
• The possibility of universal love: does disliking always lead to conflicts?
• Basic income and the dynamics of thefts
• Hobbesian Leviathan as the guarantee of peace
• Is state-concentrated legitimate violence an instrument for reducing violence overall?
• Factors that undermine peaceful coexistence
• Living in peace vs living for peace
• The relationship between otherness and peacefulness
• World peace and human nature: the issue of attainability
• The most successful examples of peaceful coexistence
• Lack of peace as lack of communication
• Point made: counterculture and pacifism
• What Woodstock proved to world peace nonbelievers and opponents?
• Woodstock and peaceful coexistence: challenges and successes
• peace, economics, and quality of life
• Are counties living in peace wealthier? Statistics and reasons
• Profits of peace and profits of war: comparison of benefits and losses
• Can a war improve the economy ? Discussing examples
• What is more important for people: having appropriate living conditions or winning a war?
• How wars can improve national economies: the perspective of aggressors and defenders
• Peace obstructers: examples of interest groups that sustained wars and prevented peace
• Can democracies be at war with one another?
• Does the democratic rule in a country provide it with an advantage at war?
• Why wars destroy economies: examples, discussion, and counterarguments
• How world peace would improve everyone’s quality of life
• peace and war today
• Are we getting closer to world peace? Violence rates, values change, and historical comparison
• The peaceful tomorrow: how conflicts will be resolved in the future if there are no wars
• Redefining war: what specific characteristics today’s wars have that make them different from previous centuries’ wars
• Why wars start today: comparing and contrasting the reasons for wars in the modern world to historical examples
• Subtle wars: how two countries can be at war with each other without having their armies collide in the battlefield
• Cyber peace: how cyberwars can be stopped
• Information as a weapon: how information today lands harder blows than bombs and missiles
• Information wars: how the abundance of information and public access to it have not, nonetheless, eliminated propaganda
• Peace through defeating: how ISIS is different from other states, and how can its violence be stopped
• Is world peace a popular idea? Do modern people mostly want peace or mainly wish to fight against other people and win?
• Personal contributions to world peace
• What can I do for attaining world peace? Personal reflection
• Respect as a means of attaining peace: why respecting people is essential not only on the level of interpersonal communications but also on the level of social good
• Peacefulness as an attitude: how one’s worldview can prevent conflicts
• Why a person engages in insulting and offending : analysis of psychological causes and a personal perspective
• A smile as an agent of peace: how simple smiling to people around you contributes to peacefulness
• Appreciating otherness: how one can learn to value diversity and avoid xenophobia
• Peace and love: how the two are inherently interconnected in everyone’s life
• A micro-level peacemaker: my experiences of resolving conflicts and bringing peace
• Forgiveness for the sake of peace: does forgiving other people contribute to peaceful coexistence or promote further conflicts?
• Noble lies: is it acceptable for a person to lie to avoid conflicts and preserve peace?
• What should a victim do? Violent and non-violent responses to violence
• Standing up for the weak : is it always right to take the side of the weakest?
• Self-defense , overwhelming emotions, and witnessing horrible violence: could I ever shoot another person?
• Are there “fair” wars, and should every war be opposed?
• Protecting peace: could I take up arms to prevent a devastating war?
• Reporting violence: would I participate in sending a criminal to prison?
• The acceptability of violence against perpetrators : personal opinion
• Nonviolent individual resistance to injustice
• Peace is worth it: why I think wars are never justified
• How I sustain peace in my everyday life

Learn more on this topic:

• If I Could Change the World Essay: Examples and Writing Guide

🔗 References

• Ending the Essay: Conclusions
• Choosing and Narrowing a Topic to Write About
• Introduction to Research
• How the U.S. Can Help Humanity Achieve World Peace
• Ten Steps to World Peace
• How World Peace is Possible
• World Peace Books and Articles
• World Peace and Nonviolence
• The Leader of World Peace Essay
• UNO and World Peace Essay
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A very, very good paragraph. thanks

Glad you liked it! Thank you for your feedback!

Peace and conflict studies actually is good field because is dealing on how to manage the conflict among the two state or country.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Chieng!

Keep it up. Our world earnestly needs peace

I agree with you, Atibar 🙂

A very, very good paragraph.

December 2, 2021

Peace Is More Than War’s Absence, and New Research Explains How to Build It

A new project measures ways to promote positive social relations among groups

By Peter T. Coleman , Allegra Chen-Carrel & Vincent Hans Michael Stueber

PeopleImages/Getty Images

Today, the misery of war is all too striking in places such as Syria, Yemen, Tigray, Myanmar and Ukraine. It can come as a surprise to learn that there are scores of sustainably peaceful societies around the world, ranging from indigenous people in the Xingu River Basin in Brazil to countries in the European Union. Learning from these societies, and identifying key drivers of harmony, is a vital process that can help promote world peace.

Unfortunately, our current ability to find these peaceful mechanisms is woefully inadequate. The Global Peace Index (GPI) and its complement the Positive Peace Index (PPI) rank 163 nations annually and are currently the leading measures of peacefulness. The GPI, launched in 2007 by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), was designed to measure negative peace , or the absence of violence, destructive conflict, and war. But peace is more than not fighting. The PPI, launched in 2009, was supposed to recognize this and track positive peace , or the promotion of peacefulness through positive interactions like civility, cooperation and care.

Yet the PPI still has many serious drawbacks. To begin with, it continues to emphasize negative peace, despite its name. The components of the PPI were selected and are weighted based on existing national indicators that showed the “strongest correlation with the GPI,” suggesting they are in effect mostly an extension of the GPI. For example, the PPI currently includes measures of factors such as group grievances, dissemination of false information, hostility to foreigners, and bribes.

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The index also lacks an empirical understanding of positive peace. The PPI report claims that it focuses on “positive aspects that create the conditions for a society to flourish.” However, there is little indication of how these aspects were derived (other than their relationships with the GPI). For example, access to the internet is currently a heavily weighted indicator in the PPI. But peace existed long before the internet, so is the number of people who can go online really a valid measure of harmony?

The PPI has a strong probusiness bias, too. Its 2021 report posits that positive peace “is a cross-cutting facilitator of progress, making it easier for businesses to sell.” A prior analysis of the PPI found that almost half the indicators were directly related to the idea of a “Peace Industry,” with less of a focus on factors found to be central to positive peace such as gender inclusiveness, equity and harmony between identity groups.

A big problem is that the index is limited to a top-down, national-level approach. The PPI’s reliance on national-level metrics masks critical differences in community-level peacefulness within nations, and these provide a much more nuanced picture of societal peace . Aggregating peace data at the national level, such as focusing on overall levels of inequality rather than on disparities along specific group divides, can hide negative repercussions of the status quo for minority communities.

To fix these deficiencies, we and our colleagues have been developing an alternative approach under the umbrella of the Sustaining Peace Project . Our effort has various components , and these can provide a way to solve the problems in the current indices. Here are some of the elements:

Evidence-based factors that measure positive and negative peace. The peace project began with a comprehensive review of the empirical studies on peaceful societies, which resulted in identifying 72 variables associated with sustaining peace. Next, we conducted an analysis of ethnographic and case study data comparing “peace systems,” or clusters of societies that maintain peace with one another, with nonpeace systems. This allowed us to identify and measure a set of eight core drivers of peace. These include the prevalence of an overarching social identity among neighboring groups and societies; their interconnections such as through trade or intermarriage; the degree to which they are interdependent upon one another in terms of ecological, economic or security concerns; the extent to which their norms and core values support peace or war; the role that rituals, symbols and ceremonies play in either uniting or dividing societies; the degree to which superordinate institutions exist that span neighboring communities; whether intergroup mechanisms for conflict management and resolution exist; and the presence of political leadership for peace versus war.

A core theory of sustaining peace . We have also worked with a broad group of peace, conflict and sustainability scholars to conceptualize how these many variables operate as a complex system by mapping their relationships in a causal loop diagram and then mathematically modeling their core dynamics This has allowed us to gain a comprehensive understanding of how different constellations of factors can combine to affect the probabilities of sustaining peace.

Bottom-up and top-down assessments . Currently, the Sustaining Peace Project is applying techniques such as natural language processing and machine learning to study markers of peace and conflict speech in the news media. Our preliminary research suggests that linguistic features may be able to distinguish between more and less peaceful societies. These methods offer the potential for new metrics that can be used for more granular analyses than national surveys.

We have also been working with local researchers from peaceful societies to conduct interviews and focus groups to better understand the in situ dynamics they believe contribute to sustaining peace in their communities. For example in Mauritius , a highly multiethnic society that is today one of the most peaceful nations in Africa, we learned of the particular importance of factors like formally addressing legacies of slavery and indentured servitude, taboos against proselytizing outsiders about one’s religion, and conscious efforts by journalists to avoid divisive and inflammatory language in their reporting.

Today, global indices drive funding and program decisions that impact countless lives, making it critical to accurately measure what contributes to socially just, safe and thriving societies. These indices are widely reported in news outlets around the globe, and heads of state often reference them for their own purposes. For example, in 2017 , Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, though he and his country were mired in corruption allegations, referenced his country’s positive increase on the GPI by stating, “Receiving such high praise from an institute that once named this country the most violent in the world is extremely significant.” Although a 2019 report on funding for peace-related projects shows an encouraging shift towards supporting positive peace and building resilient societies, many of these projects are really more about preventing harm, such as grants for bolstering national security and enhancing the rule of law.

The Sustaining Peace Project, in contrast, includes metrics for both positive and negative peace, is enhanced by local community expertise, and is conceptually coherent and based on empirical findings. It encourages policy makers and researchers to refocus attention and resources on initiatives that actually promote harmony, social health and positive reciprocity between groups. It moves away from indices that rank entire countries and instead focuses on identifying factors that, through their interaction, bolster or reduce the likelihood of sustaining peace. It is a holistic perspective.  

Tracking peacefulness across the globe is a highly challenging endeavor. But there is great potential in cooperation between peaceful communities, researchers and policy makers to produce better methods and metrics. Measuring peace is simply too important to get only half-right. 

Tips on how to Create a Perfect Essay on World Peace

You are probably here because you do not know what to write in your world peace essay. Well, your visit was predetermined, and it is the very reason we have this guide on how to write a world peace essay.

To start us off, we can agree that world peace is among the most debated topics. Although achieving absolute world peace is a challenge, various stakeholders have fronted diverse efforts.

It is a great honor for a student to write a world peace essay finally. Although general a topic, it is always a chance to remind the audience that peace is not the absence of war and that there is more to it.

As such, whether it comes out as a synthesis, argumentative, persuasive, narrative, or descriptive essay, you must ensure that it is a creative piece of writing.

Now, let us go on a discovery journey for helpful tips and ideas on how to create a winning world peace essay.

Steps to Writing an Outstanding World Peace Essay

1. Study the world peace essay prompt and rubric.

The requirements for writing creative essays differ from college to college and from professor to professor. Therefore, instead of assuming, as most students do, concentrate on the rubric and the essay prompt. These documentations help you understand the formatting style for your essay, whether it is to be submitted in MLA, APA, or Chicago. They also entail information on the list of potential topics. Most importantly, they also guide you on the expected word count for the essay. Therefore, instead of asking whether a world peace essay is a 500-word or 1000-word essay , the rubric can help.

2. Pick a topic that interests you.

Although we have said this almost in every guide we have written, we emphasize its importance as it aids in writing an essay that gets you communicating with the audience (the marker). Think about a topic in the news, peace in a given country, or draw from your experience. Sometimes, even a movie can be the genesis of a world peace topic. Be whatever it may, ensure that you choose a topic you are comfortable to spend hours researching, writing, and reading about.

3. Research and choose credible sources.

The hallmark of writing an excellent essay is doing research. A well-researched and organized essay tickles grades even from the strict professor. The secret of creating a winning peace essay lies in the depth and scope of your research. With the internet awash with sources, choosing credible scholarly sources can define an A+ peace essay from a failing one. Now, as you research, you will develop insights into your chosen topic, generate ideas, and find facts to support your arguments. Instead of just plain or flat paper, proper research will birth a critical world peace essay. By critical, you will consider the models of peace, theories of peace, some treaties and global laws/legislations, and the process of peace where necessary.

4. Create a detailed outline.

One of the most straightforward strategies to write an essay fast is to have an outline for the essay. The outline offers you a structure and guide when you finally start writing the essay on world peace. Like a roadmap to the best world peace essay, the outline entails the skeleton of what you will fill to make the first draft. An excellent outline makes you logically organize your essay. Thus, skipping this step is disastrous to your grade pursuit.

5. Write the rough draft.

The first draft is a bouncing baby of the essay outline. To complete the first draft, fill in the spaces in your outline. With the essay hook, background, and thesis in the introduction, it is now a great time to polish up the introduction to make it outstanding. Besides, with the topic sentences and main points for each paragraph identified in the outline, when writing the first draft, it is your turn to support each paragraph with facts from the resources identified in the research phase. As this is your first draft, do not focus much on grammar and other stylistic and methodological essay writing errors: leave those for the next phase, proofreading.

6. Proofread the rough draft and turn it into a final draft.

Proofreading is as important as writing an essay. You cannot skin an entire cow and eat it whole. Now, with the analogy, proofreading helps dissect the essay. It helps you identify the grammar and stylistic errors as well as logical essay mistakes and weed them out. When proofreading, always endeavor to make every page count by making it perfect. If you are not as confident with your proofreading skills, try using software such as RefWorks (to check correctness and consistency of citations) and Grammarly or Ginger Software to check your grammar. You can also use plagiarism checkers to identify some areas with similarities and paraphrase further. If you feel all this is too much work, especially given you have written for hours, you can hire an editor to correct your essay .

115 Interesting World Peace Essay Topics to write about

• The importance of world peace treaties
• The significance of the International Peace Day
• Is peace the absence of war?
• Define peace
• Benefits of living in peace
• Is global peace attainable?
• Like war, can peace be human-made?
• Can humans and nature live without conflicts?
• Distinguishing hybrid war and hybrid peace
• Defining peace in contemporary society
• The role of community policing in peace within the community
• The role of criminal justice and law enforcement systems in peace management
• Is world peace a dream or an attainable phenomenon?
• The process of peacemaking
• The role of mediation in the political peace-making process
• Peace in Southern Sudan
• Peace in Iraq
• Impediments of peace between Israel and Palestine
• Role of political leaders in creating peace
• Role of peacekeepers in maintaining peace
• Could free hugs day make the world peaceful
• Can ceasefires bring peace
• Causes of lack of peace
• Why people should always give peace a chance
• Human rights and freedoms
• Strategies to prevent the telltale signs of war
• The role of the United Nations in global peace
• Solving conflicts between human and animals
• The importance of national peace
• Terrorism as a threat to world peace
• The stance of Mahatma Gandhi on peace
• How poverty and hunger combine as barriers to a world truce
• Role of Nelson Mandela and Dalai Lama in world peace
• Relationship between peace and freedom
• Humanitarian interventions as a means of achieving peace
• Can religion be the genesis of peace in the world?
• Factors limiting peace in countries at war
• Is it possible to intervene between the two warring countries?
• The origins of peacekeeping
• Does the peacemaking process work?
• Conflict transformation versus conflict resolution
• Does a peaceful world mean a peaceful world?
• Techniques for peacekeeping
• International law and peacemakers
• Prospects of peacemaking
• How the sale of weapons affects world peace
• Military intelligence and peace
• Impacts of technological development on global peace
• The role of social media in promoting world peace
• Nuclear disarmament and world peace
• Is it worth being a superpower and funding wars in other areas?
• Imagine a world without weapons; what would it be like?
• The most peaceful city in the world
• Does peace have its roots in culture
• Impacts of cultural beliefs on world peace
• The annex between peace and development
• Is the rainbow a sign of peace?
• Pros and cons of having a peace sign tattoo
• Role of street arts and graffiti in global peace
• Can art be used to rally support for global peace?
• The place of leaders in achieving global peace
• Peace declaration and traditions of Native Americans
• Dove with an olive branch as a symbol of peace
• Why flags should unite a nation
• Nationalism, patriotism, and national peace
• Political correctness and global peace
• Communication and negotiation as key skills to attaining peace
• Pacifist Nations
• Us versus them as a genesis of war
• Pacifists representation in movies
• The implications of the Stanford Prison Experiments
• Counterculture and pacifism
• Profits of peace
• The impact of the cold war between China and the United States
• Why the UAE remains peaceful and developed
• The role of the United States, UK, and Russia in the world peace
• Has globalization worsened or created a peaceful world?
• How individuals can contribute to world peace
• Role of peace in the development of Rwanda
• Lessons on peace the world can learn from the Rwanda Genocide
• Creating a peaceful society through cyber peace
• How to convince ISIS, Al Qaeda, and other Terrorist groups to bring peace
• Peace in Syria
• The future of peace in the world full of individualism
• How social skills can help inspire peace
• Architecture as an expression of peace
• Pacifist representation in fiction
• Pacifist lyrics
• Can music be used to create world peace?
• How global peace awards can inspire peace
• The role of Novel Price on Peace in promoting peace
• Why a peaceful world depends on a peaceful community
• Role of Interpol in maintaining world peace
• Interprofessional collaboration to achieve world peace
• How learning different languages can promote peace
• Can interracial marriages bring peace to the world?
• Why training children on peace as they are young is important
• Role of the Catholic church in attaining world peace
• The role of Oman as a regional mediator in the Middle East
• Peace in Yemen
• The biblical basis of peace
• Peace as defined by the Quran
• Gender equality as a means to global peace
• Can equal wealth distribution bring world peace?
• How removing exclusion can bring national and global peace
• The role of climate change in world peace
• How Hubris has affected policy-making process and global peace
• Addressing intergenerational relations as a means to global peace
• The significance of the Global Peace Index
• The role of preventive diplomacy in attaining global peace
• Preventive disarmament as a strategy toward world peace
• How natural resources contribute to conflicts
• The blood minerals in Congo and global peace
• Role of MNCs in promoting international peace
• Embracing global citizenship as a strategy to ensure global peace

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• World Peace

A Human Approach to World Peace

When we rise in the morning and listen to the radio or read the newspaper, we are confronted with the same sad news: violence, crime, wars, and disasters. I cannot recall a single day without a report of something terrible happening somewhere. Even in these modern times it is clear that one's precious life is not safe. No former generation has had to experience so much bad news as we face today; this constant awareness of fear and tension should make any sensitive and compassionate person question seriously the progress of our modern world.   It is ironic that the more serious problems emanate from the more industrially advanced societies. Science and technology have worked wonders in many fields, but the basic human problems remain. There is unprecedented literacy, yet this universal education does not seem to have fostered goodness, but only mental restlessness and discontent instead. There is no doubt about the increase in our material progress and technology, but somehow this is not sufficient as we have not yet succeeded in bringing about peace and happiness or in overcoming suffering.   We can only conclude that there must be something seriously wrong with our progress and development, and if we do not check it in time there could be disastrous consequences for the future of humanity. I am not at all against science and technology - they have contributed immensely to the overall experience of humankind; to our material comfort and well-being and to our greater understanding of the world we live in. But if we give too much emphasis to science and technology we are in danger of losing touch with those aspects of human knowledge and understanding that aspire towards honesty and altruism.   Science and technology, though capable of creating immeasurable material comfort, cannot replace the age-old spiritual and humanitarian values that have largely shaped world civilization, in all its national forms, as we know it today. No one can deny the unprecedented material benefit of science and technology, but our basic human problems remain; we are still faced with the same, if not more, suffering, fear, and tension. Thus it is only logical to try to strike a balance between material developments on the one hand and the development of spiritual, human values on the other. In order to bring about this great adjustment, we need to revive our humanitarian values.   I am sure that many people share my concern about the present worldwide moral crisis and will join in my appeal to all humanitarians and religious practitioners who also share this concern to help make our societies more compassionate, just, and equitable. I do not speak as a Buddhist or even as a Tibetan. Nor do I speak as an expert on international politics (though I unavoidably comment on these matters). Rather, I speak simply as a human being, as an upholder of the humanitarian values that are the bedrock not only of Mahayana Buddhism but of all the great world religions. From this perspective I share with you my personal outlook - that:

1. Universal humanitarianism is essential to solve global problems; 2. Compassion is the pillar of world peace; 3. All world religions are already for world peace in this way, as are all humanitarians of whatever ideology; 4. Each individual has a universal responsibility to shape institutions to serve human needs.

Solving Human Problems through Transforming Human Attitudes

Of the many problems we face today, some are natural calamities and must be accepted and faced with equanimity. Others, however, are of our own making, created by misunderstanding, and can be corrected. One such type arises from the conflict of ideologies, political or religious, when people fight each other for petty ends, losing sight of the basic humanity that binds us all together as a single human family. We must remember that the different religions, ideologies, and political systems of the world are meant for human beings to achieve happiness. We must not lose sight of this fundamental goal and at no time should we place means above ends; the supremacy of humanity over matter and ideology must always be maintained.   By far the greatest single danger facing humankind - in fact, all living beings on our planet - is the threat of nuclear destruction. I need not elaborate on this danger, but I would like to appeal to all the leaders of the nuclear powers who literally hold the future of the world in their hands, to the scientists and technicians who continue to create these awesome weapons of destruction, and to all the people at large who are in a position to influence their leaders: I appeal to them to exercise their sanity and begin to work at dismantling and destroying all nuclear weapons. We know that in the event of a nuclear war there will be no victors because there will be no survivors! Is it not frightening just to contemplate such inhuman and heartless destruction? And, is it not logical that we should remove the cause for our own destruction when we know the cause and have both the time and the means to do so? Often we cannot overcome our problems because we either do not know the cause or, if we understand it, do not have the means to remove it. This is not the case with the nuclear threat.   Whether they belong to more evolved species like humans or to simpler ones such as animals, all beings primarily seek peace, comfort, and security. Life is as dear to the mute animal as it is to any human being; even the simplest insect strives for protection from dangers that threaten its life. Just as each one of us wants to live and does not wish to die, so it is with all other creatures in the universe, though their power to effect this is a different matter.   Broadly speaking there are two types of happiness and suffering, mental and physical, and of the two, I believe that mental suffering and happiness are the more acute. Hence, I stress the training of the mind to endure suffering and attain a more lasting state of happiness. However, I also have a more general and concrete idea of happiness: a combination of inner peace, economic development, and, above all, world peace. To achieve such goals I feel it is necessary to develop a sense of universal responsibility, a deep concern for all irrespective of creed, colour, sex, or nationality.   The premise behind this idea of universal responsibility is the simple fact that, in general terms, all others' desires are the same as mine. Every being wants happiness and does not want suffering. If we, as intelligent human beings, do not accept this fact, there will be more and more suffering on this planet. If we adopt a self-centred approach to life and constantly try to use others for our own self-interest, we may gain temporary benefits, but in the long run we will not succeed in achieving even personal happiness, and world peace will be completely out of the question.   In their quest for happiness, humans have used different methods, which all too often have been cruel and repellent. Behaving in ways utterly unbecoming to their status as humans, they inflict suffering upon fellow humans and other living beings for their own selfish gains. In the end, such shortsighted actions bring suffering to oneself as well as to others. To be born a human being is a rare event in itself, and it is wise to use this opportunity as effectively and skillfully as possible. We must have the proper perspective that of the universal life process, so that the happiness or glory of one person or group is not sought at the expense of others.   All this calls for a new approach to global problems. The world is becoming smaller and smaller - and more and more interdependent - as a result of rapid technological advances and international trade as well as increasing trans-national relations. We now depend very much on each other. In ancient times problems were mostly family-size, and they were naturally tackled at the family level, but the situation has changed. Today we are so interdependent, so closely interconnected with each other, that without a sense of universal responsibility, a feeling of universal brotherhood and sisterhood, and an understanding and belief that we really are part of one big human family, we cannot hope to overcome the dangers to our very existence - let alone bring about peace and happiness.   One nation's problems can no longer be satisfactorily solved by itself alone; too much depends on the interest, attitude, and cooperation of other nations. A universal humanitarian approach to world problems seems the only sound basis for world peace. What does this mean? We begin from the recognition mentioned previously that all beings cherish happiness and do not want suffering. It then becomes both morally wrong and pragmatically unwise to pursue only one's own happiness oblivious to the feelings and aspirations of all others who surround us as members of the same human family. The wiser course is to think of others also when pursuing our own happiness. This will lead to what I call 'wise self-interest', which hopefully will transform itself into 'compromised self-interest', or better still, 'mutual interest'.   Although the increasing interdependence among nations might be expected to generate more sympathetic cooperation, it is difficult to achieve a spirit of genuine cooperation as long as people remain indifferent to the feelings and happiness of others. When people are motivated mostly by greed and jealousy, it is not possible for them to live in harmony. A spiritual approach may not solve all the political problems that have been caused by the existing self-centered approach, but in the long run it will overcome the very basis of the problems that we face today.   On the other hand, if humankind continues to approach its problems considering only temporary expediency, future generations will have to face tremendous difficulties. The global population is increasing, and our resources are being rapidly depleted. Look at the trees, for example. No one knows exactly what adverse effects massive deforestation will have on the climate, the soil, and global ecology as a whole. We are facing problems because people are concentrating only on their short-term, selfish interests, not thinking of the entire human family. They are not thinking of the earth and the long-term effects on universal life as a whole. If we of the present generation do not think about these now, future generations may not be able to cope with them.

Compassion as the Pillar of World Peace

According to Buddhist psychology, most of our troubles are due to our passionate desire for and attachment to things that we misapprehend as enduring entities. The pursuit of the objects of our desire and attachment involves the use of aggression and competitiveness as supposedly efficacious instruments. These mental processes easily translate into actions, breeding belligerence as an obvious effect. Such processes have been going on in the human mind since time immemorial, but their execution has become more effective under modern conditions. What can we do to control and regulate these 'poisons' - delusion, greed, and aggression? For it is these poisons that are behind almost every trouble in the world.   As one brought up in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, I feel that love and compassion are the moral fabric of world peace. Let me first define what I mean by compassion. When you have pity or compassion for a very poor person, you are showing sympathy because he or she is poor; your compassion is based on altruistic considerations. On the other hand, love towards your wife, your husband, your children, or a close friend is usually based on attachment. When your attachment changes, your kindness also changes; it may disappear. This is not true love. Real love is not based on attachment, but on altruism. In this case your compassion will remain as a humane response to suffering as long as beings continue to suffer.   This type of compassion is what we must strive to cultivate in ourselves, and we must develop it from a limited amount to the limitless. Undiscriminating, spontaneous, and unlimited compassion for all sentient beings is obviously not the usual love that one has for friends or family, which is alloyed with ignorance, desire, and attachment. The kind of love we should advocate is this wider love that you can have even for someone who has done harm to you: your enemy.   The rationale for compassion is that every one of us wants to avoid suffering and gain happiness. This, in turn, is based on the valid feeling of '1', which determines the universal desire for happiness. Indeed, all beings are born with similar desires and should have an equal right to fulfill them. If I compare myself with others, who are countless, I feel that others are more important because I am just one person whereas others are many. Further, the Tibetan Buddhist tradition teaches us to view all sentient beings as our dear mothers and to show our gratitude by loving them all. For, according to Buddhist theory, we are born and reborn countless numbers of times, and it is conceivable that each being has been our parent at one time or another. In this way all beings in the universe share a family relationship.   Whether one believes in religion or not, there is no one who does not appreciate love and compassion. Right from the moment of our birth, we are under the care and kindness of our parents; later in life, when facing the sufferings of disease and old age, we are again dependent on the kindness of others. If at the beginning and end of our lives we depend upon others' kindness, why then in the middle should we not act kindly towards others? The development of a kind heart (a feeling of closeness for all human beings) does not involve the religiosity we normally associate with conventional religious practice. It is not only for people who believe in religion, but is for everyone regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation. It is for anyone who considers himself or herself, above all, a member of the human family and who sees things from this larger and longer perspective. This is a powerful feeling that we should develop and apply; instead, we often neglect it, particularly in our prime years when we experience a false sense of security.   When we take into account a longer perspective, the fact that all wish to gain happiness and avoid suffering, and keep in mind our relative unimportance in relation to countless others, we can conclude that it is worthwhile to share our possessions with others. When you train in this sort of outlook, a true sense of compassion - a true sense of love and respect for others - becomes possible. Individual happiness ceases to be a conscious self-seeking effort; it becomes an automatic and far superior by-product of the whole process of loving and serving others.   Another result of spiritual development, most useful in day-to-day life, is that it gives a calmness and presence of mind. Our lives are in constant flux, bringing many difficulties. When faced with a calm and clear mind, problems can be successfully resolved. When, instead, we lose control over our minds through hatred, selfishness, jealousy, and anger, we lose our sense of judgement. Our minds are blinded and at those wild moments anything can happen, including war. Thus, the practice of compassion and wisdom is useful to all, especially to those responsible for running national affairs, in whose hands lie the power and opportunity to create the structure of world peace.

World Religions for World Peace

The principles discussed so far are in accordance with the ethical teachings of all world religions. I maintain that every major religion of the world - Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Sikhism, Taoism, Zoroastrianism - has similar ideals of love, the same goal of benefiting humanity through spiritual practice, and the same effect of making their followers into better human beings. All religions teach moral precepts for perfecting the functions of mind, body, and speech. All teach us not to lie or steal or take others' lives, and so on. The common goal of all moral precepts laid down by the great teachers of humanity is unselfishness. The great teachers wanted to lead their followers away from the paths of negative deeds caused by ignorance and to introduce them to paths of goodness.   All religions agree upon the necessity to control the undisciplined mind that harbours selfishness and other roots of trouble, and each teaches a path leading to a spiritual state that is peaceful, disciplined, ethical, and wise. It is in this sense that I believe all religions have essentially the same message. Differences of dogma may be ascribed to differences of time and circumstance as well as cultural influences; indeed, there is no end to scholastic argument when we consider the purely metaphysical side of religion. However, it is much more beneficial to try to implement in daily life the shared precepts for goodness taught by all religions rather than to argue about minor differences in approach.   There are many different religions to bring comfort and happiness to humanity in much the same way as there are particular treatments for different diseases. For, all religions endeavour in their own way to help living beings avoid misery and gain happiness. And, although we can find causes for preferring certain interpretations of religious truths, there is much greater cause for unity, stemming from the human heart. Each religion works in its own way to lessen human suffering and contribute to world civilization. Conversion is not the point. For instance, I do not think of converting others to Buddhism or merely furthering the Buddhist cause. Rather, I try to think of how I as a Buddhist humanitarian can contribute to human happiness.   While pointing out the fundamental similarities between world religions, I do not advocate one particular religion at the expense of all others, nor do I seek a new 'world religion'. All the different religions of the world are needed to enrich human experience and world civilization. Our human minds, being of different calibre and disposition, need different approaches to peace and happiness. It is just like food. Certain people find Christianity more appealing, others prefer Buddhism because there is no creator in it and everything depends upon your own actions. We can make similar arguments for other religions as well. Thus, the point is clear: humanity needs all the world's religions to suit the ways of life, diverse spiritual needs, and inherited national traditions of individual human beings.   It is from this perspective that I welcome efforts being made in various parts of the world for better understanding among religions. The need for this is particularly urgent now. If all religions make the betterment of humanity their main concern, then they can easily work together in harmony for world peace. Interfaith understanding will bring about the unity necessary for all religions to work together. However, although this is indeed an important step, we must remember that there are no quick or easy solutions. We cannot hide the doctrinal differences that exist among various faiths, nor can we hope to replace the existing religions by a new universal belief. Each religion has its own distinctive contributions to make, and each in its own way is suitable to a particular group of people as they understand life. The world needs them all.   There are two primary tasks facing religious practitioners who are concerned with world peace. First, we must promote better interfaith understanding so as to create a workable degree of unity among all religions. This may be achieved in part by respecting each other's beliefs and by emphasizing our common concern for human well-being. Second, we must bring about a viable consensus on basic spiritual values that touch every human heart and enhance general human happiness. This means we must emphasize the common denominator of all world religions - humanitarian ideals. These two steps will enable us to act both individually and together to create the necessary spiritual conditions for world peace.   We practitioners of different faiths can work together for world peace when we view different religions as essentially instruments to develop a good heart - love and respect for others, a true sense of community. The most important thing is to look at the purpose of religion and not at the details of theology or metaphysics, which can lead to mere intellectualism. I believe that all the major religions of the world can contribute to world peace and work together for the benefit of humanity if we put aside subtle metaphysical differences, which are really the internal business of each religion.   Despite the progressive secularization brought about by worldwide modernization and despite systematic attempts in some parts of the world to destroy spiritual values, the vast majority of humanity continues to believe in one religion or another. The undying faith in religion, evident even under irreligious political systems, clearly demonstrates the potency of religion as such. This spiritual energy and power can be purposefully used to bring about the spiritual conditions necessary for world peace. Religious leaders and humanitarians all over the world have a special role to play in this respect.   Whether we will be able to achieve world peace or not, we have no choice but to work towards that goal. If our minds are dominated by anger, we will lose the best part of human intelligence - wisdom, the ability to decide between right and wrong. Anger is one of the most serious problems facing the world today.

Individual Power to Shape Institutions

Anger plays no small role in current conflicts such as those in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, the North-South problem, and so forth. These conflicts arise from a failure to understand one another's humanness. The answer is not the development and use of greater military force, nor an arms race. Nor is it purely political or purely technological. Basically it is spiritual, in the sense that what is required is a sensitive understanding of our common human situation. Hatred and fighting cannot bring happiness to anyone, even to the winners of battles. Violence always produces misery and thus is essentially counter-productive. It is, therefore, time for world leaders to learn to transcend the differences of race, culture, and ideology and to regard one another through eyes that see the common human situation. To do so would benefit individuals, communities, nations, and the world at large.   The greater part of present world tension seems to stem from the 'Eastern bloc' versus 'Western bloc' conflict that has been going on since World War II. These two blocs tend to describe and view each other in a totally unfavourable light. This continuing, unreasonable struggle is due to a lack of mutual affection and respect for each other as fellow human beings. Those of the Eastern bloc should reduce their hatred towards the Western bloc because the Western bloc is also made up of human beings - men, women, and children. Similarly those of the Western bloc should reduce their hatred towards the Eastern bloc because the Eastern bloc is also human beings. In such a reduction of mutual hatred, the leaders of both blocs have a powerful role to play. But first and foremost, leaders must realize their own and others' humanness. Without this basic realization, very little effective reduction of organized hatred can be achieved.   If, for example, the leader of the United States of America and the leader of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics suddenly met each other in the middle of a desolate island, I am sure they would respond to each other spontaneously as fellow human beings. But a wall of mutual suspicion and misunderstanding separates them the moment they are identified as the 'President of the USA' and the 'Secretary-General of the USSR'). More human contact in the form of informal extended meetings, without any agenda, would improve their mutual understanding; they would learn to relate to each other as human beings and could then try to tackle international problems based on this understanding. No two parties, especially those with a history of antagonism, can negotiate fruitfully in an atmosphere of mutual suspicion and hatred.   I suggest that world leaders meet about once a year in a beautiful place without any business, just to get to know each other as human beings. Then, later, they could meet to discuss mutual and global problems. I am sure many others share my wish that world leaders meet at the conference table in such an atmosphere of mutual respect and understanding of each other's humanness.   To improve person-to-person contact in the world at large, I would like to see greater encouragement of international tourism. Also, mass media, particularly in democratic societies, can make a considerable contribution to world peace by giving greater coverage to human interest items that reflect the ultimate oneness of humanity. With the rise of a few big powers in the international arena, the humanitarian role of international organizations is being bypassed and neglected. I hope that this will be corrected and that all international organizations, especially the United Nations, will be more active and effective in ensuring maximum benefit to humanity and promoting international understanding. It will indeed be tragic if the few powerful members continue to misuse world bodies like the UN for their one-sided interests. The UN must become the instrument of world peace. This world body must be respected by all, for the UN is the only source of hope for small oppressed nations and hence for the planet as a whole.   As all nations are economically dependent upon one another more than ever before, human understanding must go beyond national boundaries and embrace the international community at large. Indeed, unless we can create an atmosphere of genuine cooperation, gained not by threatened or actual use of force but by heartfelt understanding, world problems will only increase. If people in poorer countries are denied the happiness they desire and deserve, they will naturally be dissatisfied and pose problems for the rich. If unwanted social, political, and cultural forms continue to be imposed upon unwilling people, the attainment of world peace is doubtful. However, if we satisfy people at a heart-to-heart level, peace will surely come.   Within each nation, the individual ought to be given the right to happiness, and among nations, there must be equal concern for the welfare of even the smallest nations. I am not suggesting that one system is better than another and all should adopt it. On the contrary, a variety of political systems and ideologies is desirable and accords with the variety of dispositions within the human community. This variety enhances the ceaseless human quest for happiness. Thus each community should be free to evolve its own political and socio-economic system, based on the principle of self-determination.   The achievement of justice, harmony, and peace depends on many factors. We should think about them in terms of human benefit in the long run rather than the short term. I realize the enormity of the task before us, but I see no other alternative than the one I am proposing - which is based on our common humanity. Nations have no choice but to be concerned about the welfare of others, not so much because of their belief in humanity, but because it is in the mutual and long-term interest of all concerned. An appreciation of this new reality is indicated by the emergence of regional or continental economic organizations such as the European Economic Community, the Association of South East Asian Nations, and so forth. I hope more such trans-national organizations will be formed, particularly in regions where economic development and regional stability seem in short supply.   Under present conditions, there is definitely a growing need for human understanding and a sense of universal responsibility. In order to achieve such ideas, we must generate a good and kind heart, for without this, we can achieve neither universal happiness nor lasting world peace. We cannot create peace on paper. While advocating universal responsibility and universal brotherhood and sisterhood, the facts are that humanity is organized in separate entities in the form of national societies. Thus, in a realistic sense, I feel it is these societies that must act as the building-blocks for world peace. Attempts have been made in the past to create societies more just and equal. Institutions have been established with noble charters to combat anti-social forces. Unfortunately, such ideas have been cheated by selfishness. More than ever before, we witness today how ethics and noble principles are obscured by the shadow of self-interest, particularly in the political sphere. There is a school of thought that warns us to refrain from politics altogether, as politics has become synonymous with amorality. Politics devoid of ethics does not further human welfare, and life without morality reduces humans to the level of beasts. However, politics is not axiomatically 'dirty'. Rather, the instruments of our political culture have distorted the high ideals and noble concepts meant to further human welfare. Naturally, spiritual people express their concern about religious leaders 'messing' with politics, since they fear the contamination of religion by dirty politics.   I question the popular assumption that religion and ethics have no place in politics and that religious persons should seclude themselves as hermits. Such a view of religion is too one-sided; it lacks a proper perspective on the individual's relation to society and the role of religion in our lives. Ethics is as crucial to a politician as it is to a religious practitioner. Dangerous consequences will follow when politicians and rulers forget moral principles. Whether we believe in God or karma, ethics is the foundation of every religion.   Such human qualities as morality, compassion, decency, wisdom, and so forth have been the foundations of all civilizations. These qualities must be cultivated and sustained through systematic moral education in a conducive social environment so that a more humane world may emerge. The qualities required to create such a world must be inculcated right from the beginning, from childhood. We cannot wait for the next generation to make this change; the present generation must attempt a renewal of basic human values. If there is any hope, it is in the future generations, but not unless we institute major change on a worldwide scale in our present educational system. We need a revolution in our commitment to and practice of universal humanitarian values.   It is not enough to make noisy calls to halt moral degeneration; we must do something about it. Since present-day governments do not shoulder such 'religious' responsibilities, humanitarian and religious leaders must strengthen the existing civic, social, cultural, educational, and religious organizations to revive human and spiritual values. Where necessary, we must create new organizations to achieve these goals. Only in so doing can we hope to create a more stable basis for world peace.   Living in society, we should share the sufferings of our fellow citizens and practise compassion and tolerance not only towards our loved ones but also towards our enemies. This is the test of our moral strength. We must set an example by our own practice, for we cannot hope to convince others of the value of religion by mere words. We must live up to the same high standards of integrity and sacrifice that we ask of others. The ultimate purpose of all religions is to serve and benefit humanity. This is why it is so important that religion always be used to effect the happiness and peace of all beings and not merely to convert others.   Still, in religion there are no national boundaries. A religion can and should be used by any people or person who finds it beneficial. What is important for each seeker is to choose a religion that is most suitable to himself or herself. But, the embracing of a particular religion does not mean the rejection of another religion or one's own community. In fact, it is important that those who embrace a religion should not cut themselves off from their own society; they should continue to live within their own community and in harmony with its members. By escaping from your own community, you cannot benefit others, whereas benefiting others is actually the basic aim of religion.   In this regard there are two things important to keep in mind: self-examination and self-correction. We should constantly check our attitude toward others, examining ourselves carefully, and we should correct ourselves immediately when we find we are in the wrong.   Finally, a few words about material progress. I have heard a great deal of complaint against material progress from Westerners, and yet, paradoxically, it has been the very pride of the Western world. I see nothing wrong with material progress per se, provided people are always given precedence. It is my firm belief that in order to solve human problems in all their dimensions, we must combine and harmonize economic development with spiritual growth.   However, we must know its limitations. Although materialistic knowledge in the form of science and technology has contributed enormously to human welfare, it is not capable of creating lasting happiness. In America, for example, where technological development is perhaps more advanced than in any other country, there is still a great deal of mental suffering. This is because materialistic knowledge can only provide a type of happiness that is dependent upon physical conditions. It cannot provide happiness that springs from inner development independent of external factors.   For renewal of human values and attainment of lasting happiness, we need to look to the common humanitarian heritage of all nations the world over. May this essay serve as an urgent reminder lest we forget the human values that unite us all as a single family on this planet.   I have written the above lines To tell my constant feeling. Whenever I meet even a 'foreigner', I have always the same feeling: 'I am meeting another member of the human family., This attitude has deepened My affection and respect for all beings. May this natural wish be My small contribution to world peace. I pray for a more friendly, More caring, and more understanding Human family on this planet. To all who dislike suffering, Who cherish lasting happiness - This is my heartfelt appeal.

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Essay on Peace 500+ Words

Peace is a simple word, but it holds immeasurable significance in our lives and in the world. It’s a state of harmony and tranquility, where there is no violence or conflict. In this essay, we will explore the importance of peace, its profound impact on individuals and societies, and why it is a goal worth pursuing.

Thesis Statement : Peace is the foundation of a harmonious world, where people live free from fear and violence, and where cooperation and understanding prevail.

The Meaning of Peace

Before we dive into the importance of peace, let’s understand what it means. Peace is not just the absence of war; it’s a state of well-being where individuals and communities coexist in harmony. It’s about respecting differences, resolving conflicts peacefully, and promoting cooperation.

The Individual Impact of Peace

Peace has a significant impact on individuals:

a. Mental Well-being : In a peaceful environment, people experience less stress and anxiety, leading to better mental health.

b. Physical Health : Reduced violence and conflict contribute to better physical health and longer life spans.

c. Education : Peaceful societies tend to invest more in education, leading to better opportunities for personal growth and development.

Peace and Relationships

Peace is vital for building strong and lasting relationships:

a. Family : Peaceful homes are nurturing environments where love and understanding thrive. It’s a place where children can grow up feeling safe and loved.

b. Friendships : In peaceful friendships, trust is the foundation. Friends can rely on each other, and conflicts are resolved through communication, not confrontation.

c. Global Relationships : On a global scale, peaceful countries can cooperate, trade, and work together to address common challenges like climate change and poverty.

Peace in Society

Peace also plays a crucial role in societies:

a. Economic Prosperity : Peaceful nations tend to have stable economies. When there’s less conflict, businesses can thrive, creating jobs and prosperity.

b. Political Stability : Peace is essential for political stability. When there is less violence, people can participate in democratic processes without fear.

c. Safety : In peaceful societies, people can go about their daily lives without fear of violence or crime.

The Price of Conflict

Understanding the importance of peace is easier when we consider the consequences of conflict:

a. Loss of Life : Wars and conflicts lead to the loss of countless lives, leaving behind grieving families and communities.

b. Destruction : Conflict destroys homes, infrastructure, and economies, making it challenging for communities to recover.

c. Refugees : Conflicts often create refugees who must flee their homes in search of safety and shelter.

The Role of Peacebuilders

Peace does not happen on its own; it requires dedicated individuals and organizations:

a. Nelson Mandela : The late Nelson Mandela is an iconic peacebuilder who worked tirelessly to end apartheid in South Africa through nonviolent means.

b. United Nations : The United Nations is an organization that promotes peace and security worldwide. It mediates conflicts, provides humanitarian aid, and fosters cooperation among nations.

Everyday Acts of Peace

Peace is not just for world leaders and organizations; everyone can contribute to peace:

a. Conflict Resolution : We can learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully by talking, listening, and finding compromises.

b. Kindness : Acts of kindness, like helping someone in need or being friendly to a new classmate, promote peace on a small scale.

c. Tolerance : We can embrace our differences and treat everyone with respect, regardless of their background.

Challenges to Peace

While peace is a noble goal, it faces challenges:

a. Misunderstanding : Misunderstandings can lead to conflicts. To overcome this, we need to improve communication and empathy.

b. Inequality : Social and economic inequality can lead to unrest and conflicts. Addressing inequality is a crucial step towards peace.

The Path Forward

Achieving and maintaining peace requires effort and commitment:

a. Education : Educating ourselves and others about the importance of peace is the first step.

b. Conflict Resolution : Learning how to resolve conflicts peacefully is a valuable skill that we can all acquire.

c. Empathy : Developing empathy for others can help us understand their perspectives and reduce conflict.

Conclusion of Essay on Peace

In conclusion, peace is not just a distant dream; it’s an attainable goal that benefits individuals, communities, and the world. It’s the key to better mental and physical health, stronger relationships, and prosperous societies. While challenges to peace exist, we can overcome them through education, empathy, and a commitment to resolving conflicts peacefully. Let us all work together to build a world where peace prevails, where differences are celebrated, and where cooperation and understanding lead us to a brighter and harmonious future. Peace is not just a wish; it’s a journey we can all embark upon.

Also Check: List of 500+ Topics for Writing Essay

Is World Peace Possible?

Peace may be closer than we think..

Posted December 24, 2020 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

Peace is a timeless and universal vision belonging to all, and it has forever been a multidisciplinary interest. The great ideals and perennial values of the world’s religions serve not only as beacons to better times, when all will live together in harmony and good will, but they are also designed, when put into practice and lived by, to represent a promise of what humanity is capable of, maybe even created for.

The Golden Rule can be seen as a foundation for a principle of justice that, when extended from the individual to the global level, becomes the basis for the fulfillment of the promise of peace on earth.

At the end of the 18th century, philosopher Immanuel Kant proposed in his essay Perpetual Peace a program to be implemented by governments that would abolish standing armies, eliminate interference of one state with another, and prevent national funds from being used to create friction with other nations. These steps and more, including the rights of all people, as citizens of the world, to experience universal hospitality, would be the foundation on which to build a lasting peace. This essay influenced not only European thought and political practice but was also well represented in the formation of the United Nations.

The founder of experimental psychology, Wilhelm Wundt, who also founded folk psychology— what became cultural psychology—wrote in 1912 of how the psychological and cultural development of humanity has evolved through stages toward a consciousness of “mankind as a unity,” when national affiliations give way to world-wide humanistic concerns. This evolutionary stage can now be seen as where we are headed, and as a prerequisite to world peace.

World unity seems to be where the evolutionary flow is heading, favoring cooperation over competition . But is world peace a promise to be fulfilled, or one that will never be kept? Is it possible that world peace is an inevitable outcome of our collective evolution?

As Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith makes clear in his chapter “Is World Peace Possible?” in Our Moment of Choice: Evolutionary Visions and Hope for the Future , “peace isn’t something that only a group of world leaders will achieve, no matter how good their intentions. When peace erupts on Earth, it will come from individuals everywhere who have entered a new state of consciousness.”

He believes peace is inherent in our species, that it is now exerting itself on an increasingly global scale, and that it is the people who know they are facing a daunting task and work at it anyway who are making a significant difference. This is the way it has always been. When faced with a problem that seems intractable, people find a way around it instead of resigning themselves to it. People have always brought about change in this way, whether it was fighting the challenges of seemingly incurable diseases or achieving civil rights. Those who have won against great odds have pioneered paradigm shifts. This is what makes global peace possible.

It helps a great deal to know what peace really means. It’s not just an absence of conflict. Beckwith says, “peace is the dynamic of harmonizing good. It is a quality within us.” This understanding opens up so many options, not only to be a peace-builder, but also to live peace from within in everything one does in life. As an inner quality, peace becomes something others can pick up on, notice on an energy level, and emulate in their own actions. This way, peace becomes contagious.

As Beckwith puts it, being able to really see “something from another’s point of view leads to the birth of compassion. With compassion, there is understanding; from understanding comes dialogue. When dialogue emerges, then a way out of no way emerges. With empathy, compassion, understanding, and dialogue, people can see a solution that wasn’t there before; a shift in consciousness happens to enable a new insight.”

War is part of our dysfunction; it’s not a reflection of who we are in our highest form. There are many encouraging signs of a new paradigm emerging, of green markets, solar markets, holistic medicine markets, and more, leading a transformation toward a peaceful world.

As Beckwith reminds us, “peace is in the journey, with every step we take. We carry it with us, and its impact is felt on a much wider scale. We all have to find our own neighborhood, in our own community, where we’re willing to share our gift. Many people don’t realize that small groups of people around the world doing things with compassion have an impact on the mental and emotional atmosphere of the entire world. By having peace within, we build peace all around us.”

The promise of world peace has been there for millennia; it is up to us—now—to bring it into reality.

Rev. Michael Bernard Beckwith, "Is World Peace Possible?" in Atkinson, R., Johnson, K., and Moldow, D. (eds.) (2020). Our Moment of Choice: Evolutionary Visions and Hope for the Future. New York: Atria Books. 33-38.

Robert Atkinson, Ph.D., is Professor Emeritus at the University of Southern Maine and Nautilus Book Award-winning author of The Story of Our Time: From Duality to Interconnectedness to Oneness.

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The United Nations was created in 1945, following the devastation of the Second World War, with one central mission: the maintenance of international peace and security. The UN accomplishes this by working to prevent conflict, helping parties in conflict make peace, deploying peacekeepers , and creating the conditions to allow peace to hold and flourish. These activities often overlap and should reinforce one another, to be effective.

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The Security Council unanimously adopting resolution 2497 (2019) extending the mandate of the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). UN Photo/Loey Felipe

The Security Council takes the lead in determining the existence of a threat to the peace or an act of aggression. It calls upon the parties to a dispute to settle it by peaceful means and recommends methods of adjustment or terms of settlement. Under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, the Security Council can take enforcement measures to maintain or restore international peace and security. Such measures range from economic sanctions to international military action. The Council also establishes UN Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions .

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The General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the UN. Through regular meetings, the General Assembly provides a forum for Member States to express their views to the entire membership and find consensus on difficult issues. It makes recommendations in the form of General Assembly resolutions . Decisions on important questions, such as those on peace and security, admission of new members and budgetary matters, require a two-thirds majority, but other questions are decided by simple majority.

How does the UN maintain international peace and security?

Preventive diplomacy and mediation.

The most effective way to diminish human suffering and the massive economic costs of conflicts and their aftermath is to prevent conflicts in the first place. The United Nations plays an important role in conflict prevention , using diplomacy , good offices and mediation . Among the tools the Organization uses to bring peace are special envoys and political missions in the field.

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Peacekeeping has proven to be one of the most effective tools available to the UN to assist countries to navigate the difficult path from conflict to peace. Today's multidimensional peacekeeping operations are called upon not only to maintain peace and security, but also to facilitate political processes , protect civilians, assist in the disarmament , demobilization and reintegration of former combatants; support constitutional processes and the organization of elections, protect and promote human rights and assist in restoring the rule of law and extending legitimate state authority.

Peacekeeping operations get their mandates from the UN Security Council; their troops and police are contributed by Members States; and they are managed by the Department of Peace Operations and supported by the Department of Operational Support at UN Headquarters in New York.

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Peacebuilding

United Nations peacebuilding activities are aimed at assisting countries emerging from conflict, reducing the risk of relapsing into conflict and laying the foundation for sustainable peace and development.

The UN peacebuilding architecture comprises the Peacebuilding Commission , the Peacebuilding Fund and the Peacebuilding Support Office.

The Peacebuilding Support Office assists and supports the Peacebuilding Commission with strategic advice and policy guidance, administers the Peacebuilding Fund and serves the Secretary-General in coordinating United Nations agencies in their peacebuilding efforts.

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The General Assembly and other bodies of the United Nations, supported by the Office for Disarmament Affairs , work to advance international peace and security through the pursuit of the elimination of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction and the regulation of conventional arms.

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World Peace Essays (Examples)

1000+ documents containing “world peace” .

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World peace.

Leadership of the United States has been called into question by other countries perhaps at a level not experienced since the Vietnam war. The United States has opposed United Nations opinion regarding Iraq. The resulting action by the U.S. And Great ritain with small amounts of help from other countries has triggered anti-war and anti-U.S. demonstrations all over the world (Safty, 2003). Americans are shocked and dismayed at the level of anger other countries have shown toward the United States in recent months. PERCEPTION TODAY For many decades, the United States, has stood among the other nations as a country of great power, wealth and influence. For much of that time, we have acted militarily in multiple parts of the world: Europe during both world wars; Europe and Asia during World War II; Southeast Asia in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War; and more recently, in the MIddle East. Throughout….

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Brand, Madeleine. 2005. "Profile: American aid effort connected to the tsunami disaster may prove to be a diplomatic opportunity for the United States in the Muslim world. NPR Special, Jan. 6.

Dobbs, Lou. 2003. "America the unloved.(a look at anti-Americanism and the role United States takes in helping foreign nations)." U.S. News & World Report, Oct. 13.

Gecker, Jocelyn. 2005. "Muslims Welcome Tsunami Aid, Mixed on U.S." AP Online, Jan. 5.

Kane, John. 2003. "American values or human rights? U.S. foreign policy and the fractured myth of virtuous power."Presidential Studies Quarterly, Dec.

Catalytic Action World Peace Is

Residents from the countries where violence is encouraged by different factors need to receive solid information concerning violence and its aftermath. Also, those supporting violence need to be presented with alternatives that would partially solve their problems. Even with the fact that outside organizations can get involved in preventing violence, they have limited access to the victims and to the persons responsible for committing violence. Thus, educational programs need to be developed, in order for those in crisis areas to learn that violence has limited and short lived efficiency, and that it does not bring any advantages to those resorting to it. A number of organizations often fail in preventing violence because their passion overcomes their sense of reality. They tend to make promises which they are not certain that they will be able to keep. While this might seem like a minor risk, it can actually lead to serious situations,….

Peace in Our Time Is it Possible

PLANET IS TO BECOME MORE PEACFUL IN MY LIFETIME -- HOW IS THIS MOST LIKELY TO COME ABOUT? If the planet is to become more peaceful in my lifetime: How is this to come about? Over the years, many types of solutions have been proposed to the problem of the constant state of war which has gripped humankind for so many years: solutions political, economic, and artistic in nature. All of these solutions to some degree have failed. This essay will briefly review some of these proposals and then suggest that these various solutions cannot be deployed in isolation. Peace must be brought about through a multifaceted effort, through both a shift in culture and creating supportive institutions that facilitate dialogue. To bring about world peace or at least to establish a more peaceful planet requires change at every level of society. "When I was a young boy," writes Johan Galtung, "German….

WWI the Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand

WWI The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife represented a culmination of several concurrent forces, all of which led to the outbreak of World War. The concurrent forces that led to World War One can be loosely grouped under the following categories: nationalism, imperialism, and militarism. Within each of these categories are ample sub-categories that can testify to the extent of forces that shaped the pre-war conditions throughout not just Europe but the entire world. World War One was a total war for many reasons: it involved serious civilian casualties on a horrific scale for all parties. The Great War also brought to light the impact of globalization on the global economy and political enterprise. Nationalism, imperialism, and militarism all played a part in shaping participation in World War One; the effects of which continue to reverberate. As Marshall (2001) points out, "Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy were all creations of….

Allan, T. (2003). The Causes of World War I. Chicago: Reed Elsevier.

Bosco, P., & Bosco, A. (2003). World War I. Infobase.

Heyman, N.M. (1997). World War I. Greenwood.

Marshall, S.L.A. (2001). World War I. New York: First Mariner.

Peace or War in Homer

Is it a sign of inconsistency in Athena that at the end of the Odyssey she echoes the sentiment of Zeus and sues for peace whereas in Book 4 of the Iliad she is all too eager to ignore the sentiment of her father and manipulate the warriors into shedding more blood? Again -- not necessarily. hile, were it up to Zeus he would gladly see men work out their problems in a peaceful way, and, if he can help it, only sends strife and war when men need to be punished. The relationship between war and peace is complicated by the fact that he is not the only god (even if he is king of the gods). The gods seem to have just as many quarrels and disagreements among themselves as men do on Earth -- a point Zeus knows quite well. That is the reason he presides over….

Works Cited

Homer. The Iliad. (Trans. By Richmond Lattimore). IL: University of Chicago Press,

1951. Print.

Homer. The Odyssey. (Trans. By Robert Fitzgerald). NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux,

1961. Print.

WWII History Making Decades WWII-Present

Diversity -- with the exception of homophobia -- was beginning to be commonly accepted and praised. Technology -- such as the use of DNA in criminology and the introduction of the PC -- was becoming more prominent in the lives of everyday Americans. In the Cold War, President Gorbachev asked for openness and economic freedom, while President eagan asked him to tear down the Berlin Wall, which he did. However, the discovery of AIDS had a far more profound impact on the American people than any of these events. In 1981, the first case of AIDS was reported in the United Kingdom, and this eventually caused quite a crisis in the U.S., as it was first noticed among gay men, and then in women and children as well. People became scared because they were not sure what was causing the disease. esearch continued throughout the 1980s, but the fear….

Dove, R. (1999). Heroes & Icons: Rosa Parks. Retrieved August 12, 2009, from Time:

 http://www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/parks01.html 

"Fascinating facts about the invention of the Internet by Vinton Cerf in 1973." (2007,

May 30). Retrieved August 12, 2009, from the Great Idea Finder: http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/internet.htm

World War II in Europe

By attacking from the North, Hitler effectively bypassed France's only real defense against invasion. Within two weeks, Paris was under Nazi control, and still seething from the harsh terms of the 1919 Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I, Hitler demanded that the surrender terms be signed in the very same spot as the armistice that ended that war, and in the very same railroad car, which he had brought out from its museum display for that purpose3. Belgium had surrendered to Germany without firing a shot, effectively dooming France to Nazi occupation, and nearly sealing the fate of more than a quarter million British troops sent to support Britain's ally, France. Only a last- 3. Hayes & Faissler p.444 minute scramble saved the British from capture, at the port city of Dunkirk, where the British used thousands of ships, boats, and dinghies to rescue them all and ferry them….

Commager, H.S., Miller, D.L. The Story of World War II: Revised, Expanded & Updated from the Original Text by Henry Steele Commager (2002)

Hayes, C., Faissler, M. Modern Times: The French Revolution to the Present (1966)

Kowalick, T.M. The Western Tradition Transcripts (1989)

Lukacs, J. The Last European War (1976)

Peace Agreements and International Intervention

Peace Agreements and International Intervention A peace treaty is an agreement between two hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a war or armed conflict. Treaties are often ratified in territories deemed neutral in the previous conflict and delegates from these neutral territories act as witnesses to the signatories. In the case of large conflicts between numerous parties there may be one global treaty covering all issues or separate treaties signed between each party. In more modern times, certain intractable conflict situations, especially those involving terrorism, may first be brought to cease-fire and are then dealt with via a peace process where a number of discrete steps are taken on each side to eventually reach the mutually desired goal of peace and the signing of a treaty. Some ceasefires, such as the one following the American Revolution, may last a number of years and follow a tortuous process. "Though….

Bibliography

Berdal, Mats and David M. Malone, eds. Greed and Grievance: Economic Agendas in Civil Wars. Boulder, CO: Lynne Rienner, 2000.

Chomsky, Noam. "Peace Process' Prospects." July 27, 2000. June 27, 2005. .

Collier, Paul and Anke Hoeffler. "Greed and Grievance, Policy Research Paper 2355." World Bank Development Group. May 2000.

Fitzpatrick, Sheila. The Russian Revolution. New York: Oxford University Press, 1994.

Peace Keepers of the Northeast

This dance was very powerful as it did scare the European people. They did not fully understand the reason behind the dance and the religion, but they were very clear as to what the apocalypse was and they wondered if the Indians were somehow summoning the end of the world. Not soon after this Ghost dance caused such a commotion, an Indian by the name of Handsome Lake who was a leader for the Seneca tribe brought a new message to the Iroquois people. His message was to end the drinking. The Iroquois people had began to drink a lot of alcohol that was often offered to them from the European people during the fur trade. Handsome Lake believed that many of the problems that the Iroquois people faced was related to the alcohol. Many of the Indian people were drunk when they were trying to handle problems of….

WORKS CITED

Kehoe, Alice Beck. North American Indian Tribes, Chapter 5. 1992 Prentice Hall.

Biolsi, Thomas and Zimmerman, Larry. Indians and Anthropologists, Chapter 9. 1997 Prentice Hall.

Iroquois Website. Retrieved December 19, 2009 from http://www.iroquois.net/.

WWII to the 60s the

Wilson, a student of public administration, favored more governmental regulation and action during a time when large monopolies still existed. He saw the role of public administration as "government in action; it is the executive, the operative, the most visible side of government, and is of course as old as government itself" (Wilson 235). The pendelum swung, though, and the government was blamed for many of the ills that caused the Great Depression. Franklin oosevelt, despite being called draconian, knew that he had to launch programs that would have a quick effect upon the struggling economy; resulting the New Deal -- a complex, interlocking set of programs designed to produce jobs, economic recovery, and fiscal reform of banking and Wall Street -- exactly what was needed, it seems to turn the Titanic in a new direction (Badger). Then, of course, came the war, which stimulated the economy like nothing….

Badger, A. FDR - The First Hundred Days. New York: Macmillan, 2009.

Cooper, P. Public Law and Public Administration. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1988.

Fesler, J. "Public Administration and the Social Sciences: 1946-1969." Mosher, F. American Public Administration: Past, Present, Future. Washington, DC & Birmingham, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 1975. 97-142.

Halberstam, D. The Fifties. New York: Ballantine, 1994.

Peace Strategy a Strategy for

At the time of its composition, Laird's proposal would be contextualized by the ongoing SALT conferences between the U.S. And Soviet Union designed to reduce each side's proclivity toward nuclear armament in a highly contentious setting. The result would be the re-assertion in Laird's strategy of American prioritization of its nuclear armament. As Laird would note, "we should make it clear to the Soviet Union that regardless of the outcome of SALT, our approach to strategic forces is designed to preserve our deterrent without question." (Laird, p. 10) This 'deterrent' would be the continued research, development and maintenance of its nuclear stockpile in the interests of demonstrating the latent power to respond to any Soviet nuclear action. As Laird reports, even under the terms of the uncomfortable negotiation with the Soviets over an Anti-Ballistics Missile treaty, it was the intention of the United States to remain girded by this….

Works Cited:

Feickert, Andrew. Does the Army Need a Full-Spectrum Force or Specialized Units? Background and Issues for Congress, Congressional Research Service, 18 January 2008,  http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/natsec/RL34333.pdf 

Laird, Melvin. "Strategy for Peace: National Security Strategy of Realistic Deterrence." Department of Defense. 6 November 1970.

Metternich, Ronald. "Security Force Assistance: Organization for the Long War." U.S. Army War College, 30 March 2010.  http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA520009 

Nagl, John a. "Institutionalizing Adaptation." Center for a New American Security, June 2007.

Peace Justice and Reconciliation Following

Victims can participate in the proceedings, presenting their voices and concerns. They are invited, and it would be good for us if they present their concerns in court. They can also request compensation from those under investigation. It will be a demanding process and there could be delays and setbacks. Our first trial was stayed two times. We had to appeal the genocide charges against President Al Bashir. So there will be fights in court. We will persist and do our part. We count on your support. But I want to be clear: we will not go further than these six individuals. We are helping Kenya to start, to break impunity. Kenyans will decide on their own way forward. Doing justice for massive crimes is a long journey. Different countries have chosen different paths. South Africa is well-known for its truth commission, in Argentina we started prosecuting the top leaders 25….

Kofi Annan Foundation (2010). "Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation, Two Years On,

Where Are We?" Statement by Luis Moreno Ocampo, Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.  http://kofiannanfoundation.org/newsroom/speeches/2010/12/kenya-national-dialogue-and-reconciliation-two-years-where-are-we-statemen

Is Peace Possible

Peace Possible in the Modern World? Is peace possible in the world as we know it today? One side of the human brain, if idealistic, might reply: "Certainly peace is possible, even perpetual peace, but it is possible only if visionary, bold and intelligent leadership emerges in key international places." The other side of the brain could well answer like this: "Are you kidding? There are too many terrorists, and too many greedy, power-crazed nationalist leaders pushing and shoving and developing weapons to ever expect a peaceful world." And meanwhile, what did some of the great thinkers and philosophers have to say about the prospects of peace? THUCYDIDES: Thucydides, in writing about the Peloponnesian War, makes it clear that human nature tends to dictate how history plays itself out, and he does not blame the Gods or other forces for this war. Thucydides, who is a young man, and an intellectual,….

Brown, Chris, Nardin, Terry, and Rengger, Nicholas. International Relations in Political

Thought: Texts from the Ancient Greeks to the First World War. Cambridge, UK:

Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Thucydides, "History of the Peloponnesian War," in International Relations in Political Thought: Texts from the Ancient Greeks to the First World War, ed. Chris Brown, Terry Nardin, Nicholas Rengger (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2002), 38.

International Relations Theory and United Nations Peace

International elations Theory and United Nations Peace: International elations (I) field normally focuses on the study of how various state systems can be made to work more efficiently to improve the power of law, maintain order, manage interstate affairs peacefully, and lessen prospects of war. The word relation in this field is used to denote the inclusion of more than political affairs to aspects like conflict and peace. International relations field is closely linked administratively to political science departments (O'Connor, 2010). Actually, the field of international relations traces its origin from various subfields including international law, diplomatic history, and international economics. While it's still early to consider international relations as a sovereign field of study, it has broken from the analytical procedures of economics and law as well as the ongoing process of breaking from political science. Consequently, this field has become an important facet because of the conceptualizations of governments,….

References:

Ahmed, S. Keating P. & Solinas, U (2007), 'Shaping the Future of UN Peace Operations: is there

A Doctrine In the House?' Cambridge Review of International Affairs, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 11-28, viewed 26 November 2011,

Cristol, J (n.d.), International Relations Theory, Oxford Bibliographies Online, viewed 26

November 2011,

War vs Peace How Efforts

Peace, therefore, is dependent upon the power-play between capitalism, socialism, consumerism and communism -- and often they all overlap. The problem arises when domination rather diplomacy becomes a tactic of certain world powers. Rather than working with other nations at the expense of commercial or ideological interests, nations (like the U.S.) revert to underhanded scheming, acts of espionage, terrorism, and war, and militarism to undue rival nations' hegemony. The Middle East is a prime example for the way the est has gone about ending "terrorism" and restoring "peace." The idea that the U.S. is at all interested in peace is a complete farce. It is interested in nothing but profits. Peace can be attained, however -- as Kennedy showed during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Roger Fisher, illiam Ury, and Bruce Patton all agree when they affirm that the best way to peace today is through negotiation and diplomacy. By putting peace….

Fisher, Roger, et al. "Getting to Yes." Approaches to Peace. [Barsh, David, ed.] UK:

Oxford University Press, 2010. Print.

Schweitzer, Christine, ed. Civilian Peacekeeping: A Barely Tapped Resource. Sozio-

Publishing, 2010. Print.

American History

Leadership of the United States has been called into question by other countries perhaps at a level not experienced since the Vietnam war. The United States has opposed…

Research Proposal

Residents from the countries where violence is encouraged by different factors need to receive solid information concerning violence and its aftermath. Also, those supporting violence need to be…

PLANET IS TO BECOME MORE PEACFUL IN MY LIFETIME -- HOW IS THIS MOST LIKELY TO COME ABOUT? If the planet is to become more peaceful in my lifetime:…

Drama - World

WWI The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife represented a culmination of several concurrent forces, all of which led to the outbreak of World War. The concurrent forces…

Is it a sign of inconsistency in Athena that at the end of the Odyssey she echoes the sentiment of Zeus and sues for peace whereas in Book 4…

Diversity -- with the exception of homophobia -- was beginning to be commonly accepted and praised. Technology -- such as the use of DNA in criminology and the…

By attacking from the North, Hitler effectively bypassed France's only real defense against invasion. Within two weeks, Paris was under Nazi control, and still seething from the harsh terms…

Peace Agreements and International Intervention A peace treaty is an agreement between two hostile parties, usually countries or governments, which formally ends a war or armed conflict. Treaties are often…

Native Americans

This dance was very powerful as it did scare the European people. They did not fully understand the reason behind the dance and the religion, but they were…

Article Critique

Wilson, a student of public administration, favored more governmental regulation and action during a time when large monopolies still existed. He saw the role of public administration as…

At the time of its composition, Laird's proposal would be contextualized by the ongoing SALT conferences between the U.S. And Soviet Union designed to reduce each side's proclivity…

Research Paper

Business - Law

Victims can participate in the proceedings, presenting their voices and concerns. They are invited, and it would be good for us if they present their concerns in court.…

Peace Possible in the Modern World? Is peace possible in the world as we know it today? One side of the human brain, if idealistic, might reply: "Certainly peace…

International elations Theory and United Nations Peace: International elations (I) field normally focuses on the study of how various state systems can be made to work more efficiently to improve…

Peace, therefore, is dependent upon the power-play between capitalism, socialism, consumerism and communism -- and often they all overlap. The problem arises when domination rather diplomacy becomes a tactic…

Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries Essay

Introduction, world war ii, effects or war/lack of peace, importance of peace, works cited.

The emphasis of peaceful interactions among the nations cannot be undermined at any cost. Peace is one of the fundamental factors that influence growth in economic activities, development of political governance, among other important aspects of living. Without peace, many areas of human existence are affected. Peace is the essence of living, and the lack of it can be termed as the opposite of life. When people cannot interact peacefully, there will be chaos and disarray. Therefore peace is supreme in the world, and without it, nothing is achievable. This essay seeks to outline several evidences to prove that peace is the most important thing in the world

The Second World War was one of the most destructive battles in the world. Its effects especially in Japan are felt up to date. The war broke out form a simple conflict between nations, and it eventually turned into a global conflict. As seen in the picture, American soldiers are kissing and celebrating with their wives their victory against Japan. Looking at the picture, one can clearly see that all the people captured are happy and excited to know that their spouses are back home safe and sound. Peace brings happiness to families and among nations. It took years before Iraq became a fully politically run state (Dumas and Thee 89).

World War II had greatly destabilized Europe, and all that people wanted to be an end to the fighting. This photograph was taken in Times Square on the 14 th of august 1945, and it has been used in many occasions to commemorate the day of peace in America ( History.com par. 2). The conflict between 30 countries including Japan, Germany, the Great Britain, France among others led to a war that lasted for six years and caused millions of deaths both military and civilians ( History.com par 2). Considering such damage, peace is therefore one of the most important things in the world today.

Where there is no peace, there is war. War can be among people from different races, clans, tribes, religion among other profiling strategies. Nonetheless, when war occurs in a particular region or country, the effects are horrible. One of the major effects of war is hunger and starvation. the World War II was greatly influenced by the instability that was created by the first world war which had only ended two decades earlier ( History.com par. 8).Adolf Hitler’s greed for power and his urge to dominate the world led him to rearm his nation. As Germany invaded Poland, the Great Britain and France reacted in protest declaring war against Germany ( History.com par. 8).

This regional conflict ended up in a global and the destruction caused was beyond measure. As Hitler rose to power, he believed that the only way for humans to acquire enough living space was through war ( History.com par. 8). Unfortunately, he was obsessed with the idea of domination and he believed that pure Germans were the only race worth of the living space. Such a mentality can ruin and comprise any efforts to achieve peaceful coexistence among nations.

Peace is a very crucial aspect of human life. Peace allows people to interact in civilized and planned structures which give life a meaning. Through peace, people are able to shear common values and enhance the promotion of common decency through laws and policies (Acharya 45).

Governance and political structures are products of peaceful agreements brokered with the best interests of the people at heart. Peace has enabled the world to come together in many occasion and to work together to fight some of the deadly vices in the world. For instance, the United Nations that was formed as a result of an end to a deadly conflict among nations is a product of peace. It is very important to foster peaceful relations among nations because it allows interaction and through such interactions there are major benefits that may accrue. Peaceful nations for instance trade together and they allow their citizens to trade in better terms of trades.

In every country, peace is the major influence of any positive development. Whether it is political, economic, social or infrastructural success, peace is the key to achieving it. Without peace the world can achieve nothing. According to the evidenced given in this essay, one can evidently connect peace to other areas of growth in a country. For instance, Somalia has been mentioned and clearly one can understand the impacts of peace just by looking at the country’s development and infrastructural growth. Somalia is one of the poorest countries in terms of GDP while its wealth in fuel is one of the bets world’s known.

Therefore, this essay shows that regardless of a country’s natural resources, peace is paramount. Rwanda has also been used in this essay as an example and clear the country’s fertility was compromised the 1994 genocide where conflicting communities were starving in a land of great agricultural potential.

Acharya, Amitav. Constructing a Security Community in Southeast Asia: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order: ASEAN and the Problem of Regional Order , New York, NY: Routledge, 2014. Print.

Dumas, Lloyd J., and Marek Thee. Making peace possible: the promise of economic conversion , New York, NY: Elsevier, 2014. Print.

History.com: America Enters World War II . 2009. Web.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2020, August 15). Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/

"Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." IvyPanda , 15 Aug. 2020, ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

IvyPanda . (2020) 'Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries'. 15 August.

IvyPanda . 2020. "Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." August 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

1. IvyPanda . "Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." August 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Peace Importance and War Effects on Countries." August 15, 2020. https://ivypanda.com/essays/peace-importance-and-war-effects-on-countries/.

• Why did Somalia Become a Failed State?
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• Analysis of Piracy in Somalia
• The Relationship Between Religion and Politics in Somalia
• Somalia Health Care Assessment
• Ethnic Conflict in Somalia Analysis
• Somalia: A History of Events
• The Humanitarian Intervention in Somalia
• Somalia's State Building and Failing Approaches
• Water Shortage in Somalia: Reasons and Solutions
• Optional Self-Defence War Against Lesser Aggressor
• Vietnamese in Greene's The Quiet American and Terry's Bloods
• The American Combat Soldier in Vietnam by Grunts
• The First and Second Chechen Wars Comparison
• The Arab Spring: Change and Resistance in the Middle East

Imagine: Reflections on Peace – photo essay

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Colombia, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, and Rwanda, a new project and book by the VII Foundation, Imagine:Reflections on Peace shows the difficult work being done to break cycles of conflict in each country’s recent history. Survivors and photographers who witnessed events during and after the dark times, tell their stories

T he project is conceived to encourage discourse and conversation around peace-building and ending conflict. It is an initiative of The VII Foundation, which was established in 2001 to challenge complex social, economic, environmental and human rights issues through documentary non-fiction storytelling and education.

“When battlefield prowess and political manipulation are not enough to achieve peace through victory, we summon our best and brightest to negotiate an end; we celebrate peace settlements; and we give prizes, if not to victors, then to visionaries. We exalt peace as a human achievement, and justly so. But the reality of peace is flawed. The rewards of peace are elusive for the men and women who live in the post-conflict societies of our time. Why is it so difficult to make a good peace when it is so easy to imagine?”

Palestinians fleeing massacre by Christian gunmen, Karantina, Beirut, Lebanon , 18 January 1976. Photograph: Don McCullin/Contact Press Images.

“I went running with the first wave. It was evening and raining hard. They all wore hoods. We stopped behind a low wall and watched people being shepherded out of a hospital for the insane. People came to the windows of one wing. One of the Falange fighters shouted and when he didn’t get a proper answer he shot a burst of automatic fire into the window. There was the same snip-snap of sniper bullets in the morning. Everyone seemed to have shrunk in the centre of Karantina. An old American truck, like a Dodge pick–up, was brought up with a huge 50mm machine gun mounted on it. The Falangist on top was pouring out fire indiscriminately. It was more than frightening, it was catastrophically fearful, like the dawn of a new dark age. I photographed, and went on photographing. I had pictures that would tell the world something of the enormity of the crime that had taken place in Karantina.” Don McCullin

The Falangist on top was pouring out fire indiscriminately. It was more than frightening, it was catastrophically fearful, like the dawn of a new dark age.

People enjoy ‘80s night at B 018 — one of Beirut’s most legendary clubs — in the Karantina quarter.

Chamran Hamieh [left], Hamza Akel Hamieh’s son, goes through his father’s collection of images from the civil war, stored in old suitcases in his home in the the Bekaa Valley, Taraya, Lebanon. Nicole Sobiecki

“In 2017 I travelled to Lebanon with writer Robin Wright to try and make sense of what peace means in a place so defined by conflict. As we met with former fighters and young creatives, I thought back to one of Aesop’s fables, The Oak and the Reed, and the countless storms this country has weathered without breaking. Peace here comes in shades of grey. It’s the reason to bend with the next wind, to endure, and to embrace the present despite the fire under the ashes.” Nicole Sobiecki

A Cambodian government soldier firing his outdated M1 carbine at the Khmer Rouge from a fox hole. Kien Svay, Route 1, Cambodia 1973. Roland Neveu

“In 1973, I was a student in sociology in Brittany and was very motivated to experience the ills of our world first- hand. During the summer break, a friend and I dreamed of getting to Cambodia to hone our skills as burgeoning photographers. We managed to fly into Phnom Penh a couple of weeks ahead of the end of the US B-52 bombing of the country. That for me was a revelation in covering a conflict, a big leap after trailing my camera along the student protests of the early 1970’s in France. It also became a jumping off point from university and the entry into a career as a photojournalist. Reporting that war became a passion, and with the fall of Phnom Penh to the Khmer Rouge in April 75, it altered my life forever. Witnessing the tragedy of Cambodia over the years has taken me from the disembodiment of the country to the relatively prosperous time it has entered now. Peace has been a very long and tortuous road for the Cambodians, affecting many generations of its people.” Roland Neveu

During the heavy monsoon in September 1979, travelling in the forest of Western Cambodia with a group of Cambodian guerilla favourable to Prince Sihanouk. Photo by Roland Neveu. Right; Sophary Sophin, bomb disposal engineer. Photo by Gary Knight/VII

Cambodian opposition political activists (left to right) Sin Chanpouraseth, Chay Vannak, Ney Leak and Douch Sovunth. Photo by Gary Knight/VII

“The story of peace – much like the story of war – is personal. Everyone who lives through it has a different experience, and the breadth of those experiences cannot all be expressed within a photo essay. In creating this work, I revisited places that I have been visiting since the war of the 1980s and 1990s when I started my career in Cambodia. I spoke to men and women of all generations and wrote down what they told me. Some had lived through the civil war of the 1970s and the Khmer Rouge genocide that followed. All of them had lived through the years of violence and deprivation of the post-Khmer Rouge period. All had expectations of the peace that followed. For many, the reality of that peace was desperately inadequate. There are people in Cambodia for whom peace has been a great benefit, such as the family members and associates of the political classes, the military, and the police. No one would argue that peace has been less favorable than war, especially that war – but sit on a stool next to a Cambodian villager and ask about the peace, and the stories of suffering and injustice will soon begin to flow.” Gary Knight

An RPF soldier (Rwandan Patrioric Front) advancing in Gikoro district, 1994. Jack Picone

“In 1994 as Rwanda was in the throes of genocide, I illegally crossed the Ugandan border to document one of recent history’s darkest events. I documented a broken country gouged, burnt, scarred and littered with corpses.

“Twenty-five years later, I revisited Rwanda and found a very different country. A country that carries the genocide with it in its collective memory but refuses to be defined by it. Instead, Rwandan people have been transformative and accomplished the impossible, turning the darkness of the genocide, into light.

The Amahoro Stadium, Kigali, 1994. During the genocide the stadium was temporarily a “UN Protected Site” hosting up to 12,000 mainly Tutsis refugees.

Alice Mukarurinda and Emanuel Ndayisaba. Ndayisaba admits to killing dozens of people during the genocide. Alice is one of his victims, left for dead in a swamp after he cut off her hand. Ndayisaba was imprisoned for his crimes, but under the laws of ‘Gacaca’; the local courts set up to encourage truth and reconciliation, he confessed to his murders and was released. He later recognised Alice and admitted to her it was he who had tried to kill her. In an unlikely partnership they have both reconciled and now work in a restorative group teaching reconciliation within the community.

“A country once gouged is now full, a country once broken is now whole and scars once obvious are fading. Rwanda’s transformation is squarely rooted in the Rwandan people’s unparalleled ability to forgive.” Jack Picone

Senad Medanovic, sole survivor of a massacre finds his home in ruins after the Bosnian army recaptured his village from Serb forces. He is standing on what is believed to be a mass grave of sixty-­nine people, including his family, 1995. Ron Haviv/VII

“What happens when 3.5 million people suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder for an entire generation? What happens when a whole nation – forged from an imposed peace agreement, with opposing sides forced to live together – can’t move beyond the past? Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country that continues to battle itself as it moves in a constant circle.

A defaced photograph that was found by a Bosnian family when they returned to their home in a suburb of Sarajevo, Bosnia, March 17, 1996.

Nedžiba Salihović, who lost her husband and son during the Srebrenica massacre, celebrates the conviction of Bosnian Serb General Ratio Mladic for his role in the genocide.

“Memorials litter parks and hilltops. Conversations turn to politics and at a moment’s notice back to the war. The political parties remain the same as those that brought the conflict to fruition. There is no agreed-upon history of the war taught in schools. Children learn old grievances from their parents, ensuring that for many the war will always be a dividing line. Stories from the 1990s now take their place alongside older tales of war, those from the 14th century to World Wars I and II. Repressed anger and hatred simmer just beneath the surface. The pressing question: how can we use memory to move past the loss and create one nation for all Bosnians?” Ron Haviv

• Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Derry, North of Ireland, 1996. Gilles Peress/Magnum/for Imagine:Reflections on Peace

“In 1994, the Irish Republican Army and the Combined Loyalist Military Command declared ceasefires on behalf of the predominant paramilitary organizations in the North of Ireland. Political conversations had dragged on for decades, but the ceasefires kickstarted a process that eventually led to the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and the cessation of active hostilities. Another 25 years on, no one knows if this will be permanent: There have been similar pauses throughout the 800-year British occupation of Ireland, and even the 1994 ceasefires proved neither lasting nor universal. But something unquestionably changed.”

12th of July Parade, City Centre, Derry, North of Ireland, 1996.

Short Strand, East Belfast, North of Ireland, 1994.

“The previous 30 years had been dominated by the Troubles, a conflict defined not by violence but by the tension between the necessities of everyday life and periodic, inescapable eruptions of violence precipitated by the British Army, by Loyalists, and by Republicans. During this era, dark and full of murders, Gilles Peress defined the structure of history as helicoidal. Nothing seemed to progress or regress; rather, each day became a repetition of every previous day.” Gilles Peress (excerpt from The Battle for History, with Chris Klatell)

Residents of Ituango, Antioquia, a region that has suffered greatly from the armed conflict, converse outside a polling station on the day of the national plebiscite to approve or reject the peace treaty negotiated between Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc) insurgents and the government. Stephen Ferry

“Colombia is a country where the Cold War combined with internal factors to create a human rights disaster, one which implicates all players in the Colombian armed conflict as well as United States foreign policy. I documented the Colombian conflict from 1997 to the signing of the Havana peace accords and then, of course, followed the peace process with great interest and hope.

Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos shakes hands with Rodrigo Londoño, alias “Timochenko,” top commander of the FARC insurgent army, at a celebration for the completion of the FARC’s disarmament.

Family members mourn during the funeral services for Wílmar Asprilla Allim, a FARC member who, after laying down arms, was participating in the organization of the FARC’s new political movement.

“It’s too early to know whether Colombia has found its way out of a cycle of brutal internal wars, but certainly the signing of the peace accords is a big step forward.” Stephen Ferry

Fighters with the Free Syrian Army fire at regime forces on the front line in Qastal Al Harami, a section of the Old City in Aleppo, Syria, on Tuesday, November 6, 2012. Nicole Tung

“To step into the wake of the war against Isis was to enter a dystopian world. As the circle closed in on the terrorist military group, first in Mosul, then in Raqqa, and then in their last redoubt in Baghouz, I travelled between newly liberated villages and cities. I went to document that vital moment between the end of a conflict and peace – the space where life begins to emerge. At first, everything seemed a blur of rubble, like a dark, smudgy water colour of a never-ending nightmare about war and how it forever mutilates lives.

Students in class at the heavily damaged Hawari Bu Medyan School, in Raqqa, Syria. May 2018.

“But, very quickly, the streets buzzed back to life. I witnessed civilians, so utterly traumatized, do the only thing they knew how to do: go on and survive. It was dark, yet remarkable, to see the cautious hope among people who had lost everything. They know: peace is so incredibly fragile. Unless the marginalization of peoples in each country is addressed, unless resolution is brought to disputed territories, unless the systematic corruption that hinders everything from rebuilding to job creation is ended, peace can once again unravel with astonishing speed.” Nicole Tung

The book is available through the website www. reflectionsonpeace.org and Waterstones

• The Guardian picture essay
• Bosnia and Herzegovina

Most viewed

100, 150, 200, 250, & 300 Word Paragraph & Essay About Peace

Table of Contents

A Paragraph about Peace in 100 Word

Peace is a beautiful state of calm and harmony in the world. It is when there is no fighting, no arguments, and no wars. In a peaceful world, people treat each other with kindness and respect. There are no bullies, and everyone is safe and free to be themselves. In a peaceful world, animals roam freely, without fear of being hunted or harmed. Nature flourishes, with clear blue skies and clean rivers. When there is peace, children can play and go to school without worrying about violence. People work together to solve problems and make the world a better place. Peace is a precious treasure that we should all strive for.

A Paragraph about Peace in 150 Word

Peace is a beautiful thing that brings happiness and harmony to our lives. It is like a calm river flowing peacefully, where there is no hate or violence. Imagine a world where people respect and accept one another, a world where conflicts are resolved peacefully. This is the world we all crave. Peace can be found in small acts of kindness, like sharing a smile or helping someone in need. It can also be achieved through understanding and forgiveness. When we learn to listen to others without judgment, we promote peace. Peace can be found in nature too, where birds chirp, rivers gurgle, and flowers bloom without any disputes. We can find peace within ourselves by practicing mindfulness, being grateful, and letting go of anger and resentment. By promoting peace in our own lives and communities, we contribute to a more peaceful world. Let us all strive to make peace our constant companion and spread its joy to everyone we meet.

A Paragraph about Peace in 200 Word

Peace is a wonderful feeling that everyone wishes for. It is when there is no fighting or violence, only happiness and calmness. In a peaceful world, people are kind to each other and help one another. They solve their problems by talking and listening, without hurting others. Peace allows us to live in harmony with everyone, no matter where they are from or what they believe in.

When we have peace, we can play and learn without fear. We can walk outside with a smile on our faces, knowing that we are safe. Peace helps us to focus on important things like education and friendships. We can express ourselves through art, music, and sports without any worries.

Peace also brings together people from different cultures and backgrounds. It helps us to appreciate our differences and learn from each other. In a peaceful world, we can celebrate our traditions and share our stories without judgment.

In conclusion, peace is a beautiful thing that we should always strive for. It makes our lives better and the world a happier place. Let’s work together to create peace and spread love and understanding everywhere we go.

A Paragraph about Peace in 250 Word

Peace is a beautiful and serene feeling that brings harmony and happiness to our lives. It is like a gentle breeze flowing through the air, calming our souls and filling our environment with tranquility. When there is peace, people work together, respecting and understanding one another. There are no conflicts, fights, or wars. Instead, there is cooperation, empathy, and love.

In a world filled with peace, children can play freely in the parks, laughing and sharing their joys without fear. They can grow and learn in safe and nurturing environments, surrounded by the support of their families and communities. Adults can pursue their dreams and ambitions, knowing that they are free to express themselves without facing discrimination or violence.

Peace is not just the absence of war, but also the presence of justice and equality. It means that everyone, regardless of their race, religion, or gender, has the same opportunities and rights. People are treated with fairness and kindness, knowing that their opinions and beliefs are respected.

In conclusion, peace is a state of harmony and calmness that brings people together and creates a better world for everyone. It is a precious gift that we must strive to achieve and preserve. Let us all work towards building a world where peace reigns and where every person can live their lives to the fullest, free from fear and hatred. Let us work for a future in which war and conflict are a thing of the past. Together, we can create a world of love and understanding. Let us strive for a world in which everyone is treated with respect and dignity.

A Paragraph about Peace in 300 Word

Peace is a beautiful word that brings warmth and happiness to our hearts. It is a feeling of calm and serenity that fills the air. In a world that can sometimes be chaotic, peace is like a little oasis where everything is harmonious. Imagine a world without wars, without arguments, without conflicts. That is what peace brings to our lives.

Peace means living in harmony with others and treating one another with love and respect. It means finding solutions to problems through peaceful and non-violent means. In a peaceful world, people can communicate and understand each other without resorting to violence. It is about listening to each other’s opinions and finding common ground.

In a peaceful world, we can go to sleep at night knowing that we are safe and secure. We don’t have to worry about our homes being destroyed or our loved ones getting hurt. Everyone can enjoy their basic rights and live without fear.

Peace is not just about the absence of war, it is also about inner peace. When we have inner peace, we feel calm and content within ourselves. We are able to manage our emotions and handle conflicts in a peaceful manner. Inner peace helps us live a happier and more fulfilling life.

As a 4th grader, it is important to understand the value of peace and how we can contribute to creating a peaceful world. We can be kind to others, help those in need, and resolve conflicts peacefully. We can spread love and positivity wherever we go.

In conclusion, peace is a wonderful thing that we should all strive for. It brings happiness, safety, and harmony to our lives. Let’s work together to create a peaceful world where everyone can live in unity and prosperity.

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Essay on world peace 4 Models

Last updated Friday , 15-03-2024 on 11:23 am

Essay on world peace , We will present to you an essay on world peace, which is one of the most important topics on the minds of a large number of people around the world, who are advocates of peace.

These people are advocating in every possible way for world peace. Because of the importance of this topic, we will talk in the following about the importance of world peace for individuals and groups.

We will talk about the ways in which we can spread world peace in our societies and keep away from the strife and disputes that lead to the destruction of peoples.

Essay on world peace

The globe is full of diverse living creatures, the most important of which is man. The origin of the formation of the globe is that everyone live in peace and not fight for any reason.

When world peace prevails, we find that peoples settle and progress, but when peace ends and wars spread, we find that famines spread and deadly diseases spread.

In societies that are at peace, we find that its members work hard and live in a good psychological state. Calm spreads and mental illnesses disappear.

The importance of peace for people

As for peoples who are determined to fight wars with others, they feel miserable and their conditions deteriorate.

This causes psychological illnesses for soldiers who go out to fight in other countries. As for their families, they suffer greatly because of waiting for their children or hearing news of death or captivity.

This bad news affects them for the rest of their lives, and they are unable to continue their lives as they should, which leads to the deterioration of their conditions and the deterioration of society.

We will not forget what is happening to the countries that are under attack, where adults and children panic and cause a state of sadness and tension.

Of course, new deaths occur constantly, which makes children lose their parents and scatter on the streets. Poverty and hunger prevail among the people, making them suffer from malnutrition and contract diseases.

With the destruction of infrastructure such as the water, sewage and electricity networks, the spread of diseases is increasing.

How to maintain world peace

Because of all these dangers and negatives that wars cause, a number of people have turned to calling for world peace. The goal of world peace is to end conflicts and wars between nations and some of them. These people try to replace violence with peace in order to reduce the casualties, whether those killed or captured in wars.

But these people face great difficulty in persuading some countries to spread world peace and leave wars and aggression on others.

There is no way for us to maintain world peace unless nations who believe in the importance of peace come together.

And after they meet, they establish a headquarters for them in a country that loves and supports peace. Then large awareness campaigns are launched among the different peoples of these countries.

Awareness campaigns for individuals must start so that people learn the importance of peace among themselves, and then they start spreading this awareness through the means of communication so that it reaches the largest number of people.

World peace essay conclusion

At the end of this important topic of world peace, each of us must begin with himself, as we must spread peace between us and those around us. We must first spread inner peace before we demand world peace.

We must reconcile with our relatives and friends with whom we quarrel. The conflicting sects must reconcile in one society, and everyone should renounce violence and spread peace. After we achieve inner peace, we begin to spread world peace.

Health and hygiene essay

The human body is exposed to a large number of pollutants that affect it negatively. In order to avoid these pollutants, we must know  the main things that causes a person to get sick.

The main reason a person gets sick is poor hygiene. There are many types of uncleanliness, including not washing hands, where hands are used to hold food, causing it to become contaminated. Therefore, hands must be washed before every meal.

One of the types of lack of hygiene is also lack of attention to the teeth and the accumulation of tartar on them and food between them. This food rots over time, attracting bacteria that feed on the rotting remains.

When a person eats a new food, he mixes the new food with the rotting remains, and this mixture is swallowed.

When this food enters the stomach, it causes various diseases in the digestive system.

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Stories from the UN Archive: Greatest of All Time fights for peace

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Boxing legend Muhammad Ali took on fights outside the ring for civil rights and against war, bringing strong messages to the UN since the 1970s, so ahead of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace , we looked back at what he brought to the world.

“Here’s a little Black boy from Louisville, Kentucky, sitting in the United Nations talking to presidents of the world, why? Because I’m a good boxer,” he said at a press conference at UN Headquarters in 1979. “I needed boxing to get here. So, my purpose is to use boxing to get to people.”

Devoting most of his time outside the boxing ring to the pursuit of peace, Mr. Ali had earlier delivered a statement at the UN the year before to address the UN Special Committee against Apartheid in South Africa.

From the 1970s until his death in 2016, the United States Olympic gold medallist floated like a butterfly and stung like a bee, as he often aptly described himself, both inside and outside the boxing ring.

Listen to our Podcast Classic episode below.

God, boxing and fame

Over his career, Mr. Ali supported relief and development initiatives. He hand-delivered food and medical supplies to hospitals, street children and orphanages in Africa and Asia.

In a press conference at UN Headquarters in 1979, Mr. Ali spoke about God, boxing and using his fame for a good cause. The son of a sign painter, he also talked about painting for peace.

Listen to the full press conference  here .

Giving back to fight African drought

Mr. Ali also visited UN Headquarters in 1975, ahead of his title fight against Chuck Wepner, announcing that the promoters would give 50 cents from the proceeds of each ticket sold to African drought relief.

At the time, promoter Don King said he expected an audience of 500,000 to a million via closed-circuit TV. The money was divided equally between the UN Children’s Fund ( UNICEF ) and Africare, a Black aid organization, to help dig wells in Senegal and Niger.

UN Messenger of Peace

Known worldwide as "the Greatest", three-time World Heavyweight Champion boxer Muhammad Ali was designated UN Messenger of Peace in 1998.

Bringing people together by preaching “healing” to everyone irrespective of race, religion or age, over the years Mr. Ali was a relentless advocate for people in need and a significant humanitarian actor in the developing world.

Upon his death in 2016, then Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the UN was grateful “to have benefitted from the life and work of one of the past century’s great humanitarians and advocates for understanding and peace”.

On #ThrowbackThursday, UN News is showcasing pivotal moments across the UN’s past. From the infamous and nearly-forgotten to world leaders and global superstars, stay tuned for a taste of the  UN Audiovisual Library ’s 49,400 hours of video recordings and 18,000 hours of audio chronicling.

Visit UN Video’s Stories from the UN Archive playlist  here and our accompanying series  here . Join us next Thursday for another dive into history.

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Panelists Melani Cammett (clockwise from top left), Oded Leshem, Mohammad Kundos, Alon-Lee Green, and Rula Hardal.

Photos by Kris Snibbe/Harvard Staff Photographer

Finding middle way out of Gaza war

Educators, activists explore peacebuilding based on shared desires for ‘freedom and equality and independence’ at Weatherhead panel

Christy DeSmith

Harvard Staff Writer

The world seemed to split in two on Oct. 7, observed political psychologist Oded Leshem .

“You need to be either pro-Israeli and anti-Palestinian or pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli,” said Leshem, the senior research associate at Hebrew University’s Psychology of Intergroup Conflict and Conciliation Lab. “This is, of course, a huge, huge mistake. And the people who pay the price for that mistake are Israelis and Palestinians.”

The Weatherhead Center for International Affairs convened a fifth conversation in its “Israel/Palestine” series last Wednesday. Previous installments explored history , geopolitics , and civil dialogue , but the educators and activists on this panel spoke to peacebuilding. As divisive political discourse dominates, viewers of the online forum were urged to embrace an alternative.

“There are a lot of common points between the two cultures to focus on,” offered Mohammad Kundos , principal of the Hand in Hand School in Kfar Saba, Israel.

Moderated by Melani Cammett , Weatherhead Center director and Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, the event covered such topics as school integration, coalition-building, and narrative change.

“If we all agree on freedom and equality and independence, the main question we should ask is: ‘Where do we start?’” said Kundos, whose school offers a bilingual Hebrew and Arabic curriculum . “And for me, the first step is education.”

Israeli Jews and Palestinian citizens of Israel traditionally attend separate schools until college. “The idea of Hand in Hand is to start teaching Palestinians and Jewish Israelis together since kindergarten,” he said. “Our goal is to create a common, equal stage for kids to grow up together, to learn about each other, to speak each other’s language fluently — to know each other’s music, food, poetry, history. And by giving them this opportunity, we believe that we’re raising the leaders that in 20, 30 years will be able to come up with a political solution.”

The grassroots Jewish-Arab movement Standing Together operates with full acknowledgement of the conflict’s power differentials, explained national co-director Alon-Lee Green , citing the number of children killed ( nearly 14,000 ) and homes destroyed ( more than 70 percent ) by Israeli military action in Gaza over the past five months.

“We understand the Palestinians are paying a higher price,” said Green, who worked as a political adviser in the Knesset, Israeli’s parliament, before co-founding Standing Together in 2015. “But when we ask ourselves, ‘Does it mean that the Jewish people are benefiting because of this reality? Do we … profit out of occupation? Out of oppression?’ The answer is no.”

Green remembered gathering the Standing Together coalition following Oct. 7, when Hamas killed roughly 1,200 people and took more than 240 hostages . It was supposed to be an outlet for expressing pain.

“And then we understood that there are forces within our society that are wasting no time — not even one second — to drive our society into very dangerous places,” said Green, whose organization calls for an immediate ceasefire and return of all hostages.

“We understood that there’s not only a war waging on Gaza, there’s actually a war over the soul of our society,” he added. “And we started fighting this war, we started organizing, trying to bring people together, trying to speak about basic solidarity, basic empathy.”

The political organization A Land for All advocates for separate Palestinian and Israeli states under a shared confederacy, said political scientist Rula Hardal , the group’s Palestinian CEO as well as a research fellow at the Kogod Center for the Study of Jewish and Contemporary Thought at the Shalom Hartman Institute.

“We encourage a paradigm shift when we speak about the two-state solution, which is based on sharing the same homeland … and partnership instead of separation,” explained Hardal, who emphasized the region’s common climate, economy, and currency.

Hardal offered the European Union as a model when asked by an audience member for clarification of what her group had in mind. That would enable both flexibility and the level of self-determination both Palestinians and Jewish Israelis, on average, say they require.

“If some part of the nonviolent settlers would like to remain where they live now in the West Bank, in the future Palestinian state, they will be able to be residents in the state of Palestine and keep their citizenship in the state of Israel,” Hardal said.

A Land for All’s plan calls for Palestinians to receive automatic citizenship in a Palestinian state. But they could exercise their United Nations-recognized right of return by applying for residency status in Israel.

Leshem, who lectures and writes about hope as a political phenomenon, noted that bilingual education and Jewish-Arab solidarity movements are not mainstream in Israel today. That makes it all the more important to bolster these efforts, he argued, appealing directly to the panel’s American viewership.

In the aftermath of “acute events” like Oct. 7, Leshem said, history tells us the conflict will go in one of two ways. The first possibility would entail perpetuating hostilities.

“But another pathway is what these organizations are trying to do,” he said. “If we are just observers — if we just look and say, ‘Oh, interesting; where will it go?’ — we are not actually doing the right thing. The only right thing is to support these initiatives, to make sure that the future does not go in the direction of escalation and extremism.”

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Reader essays: ‘In a world filled with woe, I found solitude, beauty, grace, and peace.’

This month’s theme of “Fast-Told Tales” -- 200-word essays by Fast Forward readers -- was Sacred Spaces, and we received some quite evocative, passionate, and even romantic compositions. All contained a common thread: Calm, peace, tranquility. To find such contentment, even if for a short period of time, is a gift. Thanks for sharing those moments.

My daughter, 24, was graduating with a master’s degree last September in Geneva. As soon as I landed, she asked me to braid her hair for the ceremony. I put my hand to my mouth – I had not done her hair in maybe 10 years. It means two hours of her sitting between my knees while I carefully moisturize, comb, part, and plait braids through her thick hair. Our ritual began with gathering up the items we needed, recreating a sacred space we shared for that most intimate task between a mother and her baby girl. I loved and missed her deeply, and now she sat between my feet, with her elbows on my knees, her fingers unconsciously stroking my shins as she shared her challenges in our space. I gently kneaded rows of braids down toward the nape of her neck. My heart soared as my baby girl smiled and patted the finished product.

I pondered the insecurities she had faced in graduate school that braids at the ceremony would enable her to conquer. She is undeniably beautiful, smart and strong. In this conflicted moment, the sacred space brought comfort and love, and strength.

– Adelaide Steedley

The stains on the concrete floor tell a story. So do the tools hanging from the pegboard and the cabinet holding dusty cans of paint and stain. It was here that I took apart a classic British sports car with oil dripping in my face and onto the floor. When I look at the stains now, I can hear myself cussing my way through the seven years of its restoration.

On the pegboard hang the saws, planes, squares, and chisels I used for countless projects: my son’s Pinewood Derby race car for Cub Scouts; the plywood “gravestones” I made for our Halloween lawn display. The shelving that turned a messy closet into a pantry to my wife’s delight.

In the metal cabinet are my paints and stains, each with a story to tell. The Early American stain I used on the plank flooring in the dining room. The can of Butchers Wax I used to make drawers and windows slide more easily.

The workbench is old and worn, with dried paint drips and oil from small engines dotting its surface. And a long-faded testimonial written with a black felt pen: “We ❤️ Dad.”

My sanctuary, my sacred place, my garage.

– James Gaffey of Groton, N.H.

I was alone. We were together. The weather was crap, but it was a beautiful day. I was grateful and I was disappointed.

Near the campground in Acadia National Park, Maine is a patch of woods leading to the Otter Cliffs. A steady drizzle dashed plans to hike or even climb on the rocks for morning coffee. So I wandered into that little patch of woods.

I have been to wild places, but this little patch was a world away. Fog condensed on pine needles and dropped heavy onto the undergrowth, my dog, and on me. The lichens and mosses did not crush under our weight but yielded and sprang back, plumped up, happy for the fog. They blanketed the rocks. Mushrooms drew the affection of hungry slugs.

How marvelous to see us all there, so different and so much alike. Earth, air, and water nesting such diversity, ancient and recent, representing all the Phyla of life yet with similar DNA. Things living on rock, on the dead of the forest detritus, on each other, yet all so balanced and vibrant.

I was alone. We were together. An atheist in the fog – in church.

– Edward Daniels of Eastham

Inside edge, outside edge, repeat, repeat.

When thawed, the mosquitoes mass, the crickets chorus, the squirrels traipse through the brush pond-side. When frozen, subtle breezes rustle past my scarf and hat on the local frozen pond.Inside edge, outside edge, repeat, repeat.

The skating isn’t elegant – the beauty seen with Olympic dizzying displays – but more a shuffle, a sluggish attempt at solitude amidst foggy breaths and sighs. It became routine in afternoons, after work, alone, when nature normally naps for three months and sunsets edge horizons earlier than preferred. Gone are the mosquitoes, the crickets, the squirrels. Gone, too, are deadlines, stresses, and demands – if only for a half hour.

The only noise is the crisped flaking of ice, the carving of a loop that wanders aimlessly from side to side, turning only to meander another frozen route again. It’s not lonesome or boring or static, nor a labor to shuffle in my sighs. The birches sway, the breezes graze, the sun blushes its goodbye. And tomorrow begins anew.

Inside edge, outside edge. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

– Patrick Cuff of Medford

My sacred place is my first game of the year at Fenway. It tells me that everything has been renewed, that the world once again is full of promise (at least for the next few hours), and that spring is finally here.

– Bruce Richardson of Chestnut Hill

The term “sauntering” is discussed in Thoreau’s essay, “Walking.” He explained that the verb “saunter” had two possible derivations. One was people going to the Holy Land or la Sainte Terre were said to be “Sainte Terrer” which became “saunterers” or " one who saunters.” Another possible derivation is “sans terre” or people “without land” who could find home anywhere – an apt description of pilgrims.

Those who saunter on the Camino de Santiago travel various distances on different routes. The reasons why we saunter are as varied as each individual who undertakes this journey. One can read the guidebooks and watch the videos, but until one pulls on their hiking shoes and starts walking, you can’t really understand the magic. The magic really is inside you.

My reasons for the sauntering were in thanksgiving for a blessed life, a recovery from a life-threatening illness, and to pray for more than 50 friends who asked me to pray for them along “The Way.”

Although the Camino can be crowded, I found many moments of solitude, beauty, grace, and peace. In a world filled with woe, I could not ask for more.

– Peter H. Gilligan of Chapel Hill, N.C.

I think it’s the combination of the deer and the land that’s it for me. A walking trail, through the woods, past ponds and waterfalls, through cow pastures sublime and pastoral. Morning sunrises of infinite variance and hue, sometimes misty, sometimes saturated. I touch creation and creator here, every morning to begin the day. The deer and cows look on, the birds sing, and sometimes the heron visits. This special slice of nature is my physical and mental therapy, and yes, is my church. I try to take its blessings with me as I venture forth into the world. I’m so very fortunate to have this sacred space.

– Anne Bristow

My home is my sacred place. Probably the majority of submissions will say the same thing. For me, though, home is where I can still be with my wife of 44 years, Faye, who succumbed to cancer in December 2020.

We literally shared everything in our lives, and now that she’s gone… For so long now, my home (condo) is all I have left of our life together. All the furniture, art, pictures, kitchen items, music, etc. we collected over so many years remind me of her constantly. It’s a blessing to remember her that way, but also tends to keep me from becoming who I have to be to reclaim my own life and move forward, writing new chapters. But the memories live on in my heart, my soul … and my home.

I’ve been dating recently and have found someone I’m beginning to develop feelings for. She’s widowed, too, and we actually have the same birthday. We’re taking ballroom dancing lessons and enjoying each other’s company. She visits me and I visit her, so we’re each writing a new chapter in our lives … while honoring the deep love we both once knew that will always be with us.

– Bill Bradley of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

You’ve heard of “a loaf of bread, a jug of wine, and thou,” right? Well, I’m a “fishing rod, a worm, and nobody” kind of person. I love to fish but I really love to fish alone. Sky above, water beneath, fish lurking somewhere … and me between all of them. I have a bucket list of fish I want to catch (and I’ve made a good start on it), but for the most part, it’s the joy of being out, being by myself and just never knowing what the day might bring. No calls, no texts, no communication. I can start before dawn and return in the late afternoon and however the day has turned out, catch-wise, it’s always a success.

– Mary Helen Sprecher of Columbia, Md.

I thought this would be so easy. It’s my garden, of course! Inspecting new life that appeared overnight, pruning spent efforts, tending, dreaming, reinventing, but wait … what about the ocean so close by? Letting the breeze take my hair, inhaling life and death in one breath, syncing my rhythms to the waves, the big boulder I sit on, dangling my feet just above the water, and all those gorgeous rocks, freshly deposited at my feet, begging to go home to my garden. My home also vies for this honor with its centuries-old, wooden beams. Putting thoughts of wars and loss away for the silky feel of flour on my hands, the savory aromas and the creativity of what I can make with what I have, and the satisfaction of providing sustenance. Travel photos on the walls, constant reminders of adventures from faraway places, and my old, yellow cat, Tom, always ready to share purrs and warm cuddles. The act of being a good listener for friends, exercising creativity to help with good causes and self-care on my old exercise mat to the rhythm of favorite music.

I finally realize: Purpose is my sanctuary.

– Andrea Daniels of Eastham

Sanctuary. It is both a place and a yearning. A place of refuge and safety. A sacred space. Sanctuary is sought both by those fleeing oppression and those in search of peace, silence, and solace. I am one of the latter.

My sacred space is in Northern New Mexico. “Sanctuary” is right there in its name: Santuario de Chimayo. I was born nearby, just after WWII. My family predates statehood. I have since lived in NYC, LA, Chicago, Seattle, and Portland. I’m an old atheist, but it is to Santuario I return when my soul needs healing.

I went home last month to sit in silence. I’m a full-time caregiver to a beloved wife in the grip of late-stage Parkinson’s. You can’t imagine what it’s like. I was ragged, in need of sanctuary … and a respite from hallucinations.

Reverence, like courtesy, is a virtue in danger of extinction. We are too self-involved to be reverent. We need quiet spaces in which to practice being small. Forests do nicely. So do lonely beaches. I needed silence in which to regain my equilibrium. The 200-year old Santuario is a place silent and sacred enough, even for an old atheist like me.

– Jack Haynes of Portland, Ore.

Smashing through mounds of recently fallen oak leaves, we leave the cozy canopy of the woods, and the sky opens up. I am not alone. My Alabama, mostly Labrador rescue, Harlow, leads the way, her tail swinging like a happy pendulum. Our pace quickens as we strut south through the vast pastureland where sheep and cattle graze. We are surrounded by a Great pond, filled with brackish water, where wild oysters and blue crabs live. This pond is where my grandparents summered in a rustic cabin, and where, as kids, my brother and I wildly romped.

Once again, for our walk, nobody is here. We have the whole earth to ourselves.

Almost a mile in, we arrive at the opening through the tall grass and bushes at the pond’s edge. Harlow wades in up to her chest, her tail swings, and she dips her mouth in for one salty gulp. Her plunge is done. No swimming for her. As I said, she is not a full Lab. She does a vigorous shake to expose her shiny black coat, and leads the way out, heading north. We are both smiling.

– Tina Miller of West Tisbury, Martha’s Vineyard

The fish pond came with the house my husband and I bought in 2021. He thought having a pond was great, but I could take it or leave it. Fish kind of creeped me out and the notion of having to take care of yet one more thing was unnerving. We already had two dogs and a cat, and my husband’s Parkinson’s was getting worse every day.

During the chaos of getting settled in our new home, I found that the few moments I could spend staring at the goldfish were surprisingly restorative. The fish are calm. They open their mouths and expect to be fed. They don’t worry that you might forget or that you won’t give them enough. They don’t crave, they accept. They are the most Zen-compliant beings I’ve ever encountered. I peered into the pond several times a day and I always came away feeling more settled.

A year after we moved in, my husband passed away. Tending the pond reassures me that life goes on and being in the moment is enough. It helped me start rebuilding the rest of my life. The fish pond is my homily: my reflection, instruction, exhortation, and consolation.

– Lisa Peterson of Biloxi, Miss.

I have hiked Knuckup Hill for more than 50 years, from the top of which one can enjoy a wonderful view stretching to the New Hampshire border on a clear day. This Wrentham hummock is strewn with giant boulders deposited during the last Ice Age, some of which our two sons named after dinosaurs during our many trips to the summit.

Tucked away on the south side of Knuckup, there is a small cedar grove working diligently to bury its feet in the sparse soil atop the granite outcroppings. On a sunny day, you can lounge on a bed of moss that grows near the stone surfaces, which soak up and radiate solar warmth. The forest fragrances are both soothing and inspiring.

It is here that I am persuaded to dream and write, while the birds and wildlife scurry about, tending to their many chores, oblivious to the painful and worrisome travail of mankind.

– G. Gregory Tooker of Wrentham

Two years ago, we went from washed-up high tech workers to wash-ashore residents on Cape Cod. Like so many, COVID changed our lives forever.

In the pandemic’s early days, my husband and I lost jobs. No income + skyrocketing costs = bad news. So we sold our home of 36 years and quickly bought the first fixer-upper that we could tolerate. It was a whirlwind romance!

Now the honeymoon is over. It’s time for some old Cape magic.

Years ago, on my family’s annual summer trip to Cape Cod, our station wagon passed and ignored a sign on Route 6A for this jam kitchen place called Green Briar. Now the Green Briar Nature Center and Jam Kitchen is a neighbor. One sunny day this summer I heeded the sign and turned onto a narrow, shady country road to the woodland where the animal characters of naturalist and children’s writer Thornton Burgess had many adventures.

I plopped down under an ancient maple. The sky was riotously blue populated with requisite perfect clouds. A hushed hum vibrated the air as bees and dragonflies bothered wildflowers. A turtle slid off a log into the pond. The world was gone. I was home.

– DB Harrison of Sandwich

My sacred place has morphed through the years. When I was a homeowner with an acre of land, half of it in woods, it might have been the big rock where the trail through the woods to the top of the property begins. I would go there sometimes and just sit. Or sometimes I would take a folding chair and place it further up along the path, where I was in the woods but could see the lawn below, and my house.

Last year I moved into an apartment in the independent living portion of a life care community. I took my stone statue of the Buddha, the one from my old garden, and put it on my tiny balcony, thinking that would be my meditation space. But life is different here – my whole apartment has become a kind of refuge from the generally welcome but sometimes overwhelming presence of lots of other people in the public spaces of the community. I am as likely to find spiritual sustenance in reading a book or essay in a comfy chair, practicing my guitar, or editing photographs, surrounded by a welcome silence, as I am in formal meditation.

– Peg Espinola of South Setauket, N.Y.

My most sacred space exists inside my brain: My imagination.

It started out as a real place – the creek trail at Placerita Canyon, where, pregnant in 1978, I hiked and communed with nature and divinity. The glaring California sunshine gets soft under the trees creekside. I invent a cave in the rocks behind the waterfall. The cascading water is a portal; walking through it cleanses me in preparation for the sacredness inside.

As I enter, I am greeted by a wise woman dressed in white. In the dim cave, in comfy seats, an assortment of loving guides – people, animals, plants, and spirits – wait to comfort or enlighten me. The peace is absolute. Whatever is troubling me, whatever desire is unmet, whatever unrest I bring, the answer is there. With deep love and gentleness, the appropriate guide shows me another way of seeing my dilemma or walks me through confusion and heightened emotions. Sometimes I simply rest in a guide’s arms, basking in peace and love as I regain strength to go back out there.

– Carol Brach of Bellingham, Wash.

My favorite sacred place is the Jesuits’ Gonzaga Retreat House at Eastern Point in Gloucester, Mass. Overlooking the sometimes tranquil but otherwise raging North Atlantic, this holy space offers retreatants acres of rocky precipices, forested land, and a nearby deserted cove to ponder their lives and things eschatological; it also allows me to pose Kris Kristofferson’s musical question, “Why me, Lord, what have I ever done to deserve even one of the pleasures I’ve known . . .?”

In the autumn of my life now, I was first welcomed here as a BC High senior in November of 1961, but I really didn’t appreciate the overriding silence until I started going there as part of the St. Ignatius parish retreat maybe a decade ago. For 40 hours the silence prevails – even though we know our fellow parishioners – from after supper on Friday evening to lunch at noontime on Sunday; of course, one is free to “break the silence” by participating in in common prayer services. And to me, the highlight is when our former pastor arrives to humorously and prayerfully inspire us as he had done for years at our parish straddling the Brighton-Newton line.

– Joe Galeota of Boston

Weeding is peace. My large vegetable garden is where I contemplate and find strength. Fortified by a tall perimeter fence, the garden originated from my love of food and my need for my own playpen, a quiet space while my three children played outside the fence. I planted, pruned, and weeded while keeping an eye on the kids. They were allowed inside with the understanding that the garden was a place of peace. No conflict was allowed. They were welcome to help, but I did not expect them to work. The beans, corn, squash, and more sprouted – or not – thrived – or not – and always yielded plenty of food. Germinating, watering and weeding have provided me with vegetables, humility, and wonder.

– Mary Hollinshead of Rehoboth

The place I go when I need to get away is a tiny beach on the New Hampshire coast. It’s generally quiet there. I love to sit in the sun, listen to the waves crash, and read a book. Usually my thoughts wander away from my book, and I think about how my family had such happy times at the beach when my children were young. My husband also likes to sit quietly at the beach, which makes it even better.

– Sharon Pecci of Haverhill

I used to walk to an abandoned rock quarry about a mile from my house. I’d sit near the pond and contemplate the long row of random numbers painted on the rock wall across the water. My husband says those numbers were there more than 60 years ago when he was a kid. No one knows who painted them or what they mean.

Through the years, I pondered the numbers accompanied by three different dogs: Buster, Woody, and Domino. All gone over the Rainbow Bridge. I first visited the quarry with Buster, who led me home as the crow flies when I got lost. I pondered the numbers with Woody in March, 1988, newly pregnant with our son Travis but not aware yet. When he was a little boy, we hiked to the quarry together and Travis scooped up frogs from the pond with his bare hands while Domino waded and I watched.

Twenty years ago, someone bought the rock quarry and the land around it. I haven’t been there since. I miss the quiet, the pond, and the little boy my son once was. I miss the numbers. I still wonder who wrote them and why.

– Marylou Ambrose of Tafton, Penn.

My sacred space is not a physical location but a mental haven, where I find solace, self-discovery, and renewal. It’s the realm of words and imagination, where literature and writing transport me to different worlds, times, and perspectives. In the pages of a book or on a blank document, I discover my sanctuary. Within the realms of literature and writing, I find a refuge for my thoughts and emotions. Whether engrossed in a novel, exploring an essay, or weaving my narratives, this space offers an escape from daily chaos. It’s where I connect with authors, past and present, who share their wisdom and experiences, guiding me through life’s challenges and enriching my understanding of the world. Writing, in particular, allows me to process thoughts, express feelings, and articulate ideas. In this sacred space, I confront fears, embrace dreams, and give voice to my stories. My sacred space transcends physical walls and boundaries, a boundless expanse of literary exploration and creative expression. Here, I find my authentic self and connect with the wisdom of humanity. This is why my sacred space is one of words and imagination.

– Paul Tennis of Pepperell

Check list done, canopy and airbrakes locked, wing up, tow rope slack out. The tow plane departs the runway on its way to where I release. I’m free! Just the clouds, the birds and looking at the beautiful earth below. Where to now? If the conditions are good, I’m off on a short cross-country, 50-100km out, then return – all without an engine.

Watching the clouds, deciding which are best for thermals, where under the cloud the lift is, eyes continuously outside scanning for traffic, listening to radio chatter, checking instruments to decide where other glider pilots are. If close enough, I’ll join up and fly a bit with them. If not, that’s okay too, solitude under the clouds, in the clear, well above the ground truly enjoying the scenery.

After a couple of hours and wondering at the pure joy of flying a sailplane, it is time to head back to the airport. Gear down, checklist done, scanning for traffic, and listening on the radio. In the pattern, conscientiously thinking safety, speed to fly, time to turn to final approach. Over the grid, flare, smooth touch down, roll to a stop by my trailer. Another beautiful flight.

– Fred Looft of Leicester

In my bedroom, right next to my bed, I have created a small altar with some of my most sacred objects: pictures of those who have been my spiritual teachers, whether formally or informally; small statues of two Hindu gods with whom I feel a strong personal connection; a picture of the Matrimandir – the temple to the Divine Mother at the center of the spiritual community of Auroville in south India; a small candle and an incense holder. Oh, and also my malas – prayer beads for counting repetitions of the mantra I use during my morning Practice.

I find it extremely helpful to have this resource any time I need re-centering or calming down, in addition to having it be the focus of my morning meditation. Also, it is somewhere I can place as an offering anything like a letter, a gift, any kind of bill or anything that makes me feel conflicted, to help me rise above or to embrace difficult emotions that may be associated with that object. I may leave it for an hour, or a day or two, until the emotional charge has been resolved. Sometimes simply lighting a candle is enough.

– William Moss (Karun Das) of Montague

Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, Mass., is the oldest performance space in the US designed for dance, and my sacred space. Though I never was a dancer, the Pillow is a magical combination of nature and art. Just stepping out of the car becalms me (an antique but apt word).

It’s partly the setting. The views of the Berkshire hills are breathtaking, no matter which way you look. Although there’s plenty of open space, there’s plenty of forest, too. I always expect to spot Tinkerbell (or at least the odd forest faerie) behind the next tree. The outdoor performance space is the infinity pool of dance floors – jutting out into thin air with the hills in the distance. Even the main stage has a back wall that fully opens to a different forested vista – a perfect backdrop for some stunning dance performances.

And it’s partly the friendly ghosts that coexist peacefully there – generations of indigenous peoples, 18th century settlers who saw the switchbacks in the road leading to the area as rungs of a Biblical ladder and the stone boulders as “pillows,” and the spirits of 90 years of dance icons who taught and performed in this magical place.

– Alison Sneider of Lenox

People might scoff and say you cannot call a state sacred, but I disagree. I grew up in the Midwest and never saw the ocean until my teenage years. My vacations were not spent at the beach, but in Kenosha with my grandparents. It wasn’t until my 20s that I encountered Maine.

In 1995, my boyfriend (now my husband) surprised me by driving us to Maine for the weekend. A Massachusetts native, he grew up summering there and wanted to share it with me. One trip to the Nubble Lighthouse, and I was hooked. The colors, the ocean, the people. It became my favorite place.

Every trip east to visit family ends with Maine. The serenity that I feel there is unparalleled to any other place. Breathing in the pine-scented air, hearing the gulls, watching the sunrise, smelling the sea roses, these fill me up the way nothing else does. It truly is my sacred space. I understand why Maine’s motto is “The Way Life Should Be.”

On Oct. 26, we awoke in Ogunquit to frantic texts from loved ones asking if we were safe. While we slept, Lewiston was torn apart by violence. My heart aches for Maine.

– Jennifer Dolan of Louisville, Ky.

My sacred place to escape the craziness of the world around me and daily stress is to be near the ocean or a running stream. President John Kennedy once said, “We are drawn to the sea because that is where we came from, and in time that is where we shall return.”

I come from a family of seafarers, lifesavers, fishermen, and Lighthouse Keepers. The salt air and the sea run through my veins. When I need to relax and escape life, that is where I go. The calming effect of the crashing waves, the colors of the rainbow, and reflections of a setting sun or a full moon. It is my place to converse with the creations of Mother Earth, watch graceful gulls or playful seals, and perhaps encounter whales, the monsters of the sea.

The sea is where I feel most at home!

– Robert Metell of East Boston

My sacred space is along the shore of Lake Michigan. The waves crash upon the shores, the sun glints off the water. Trees rise high, home for birds, squirrels and other wildlife. Gulls soar across the open water, plucking unlucky fish out of their homes. On a rare day, a bald eagle or two can be spotted.

If you listen closely and quietly, you can feel the souls of those who lie in her icy depths. You can feel their desire to have returned home, yet also their love of being on the water.

It is easy to pray here. It is easy to feel peace here. To breathe, releasing the burdens of the real world. To feel one with nature. And to feel God’s presence all around.

– Amy Rivera of Milwaukee, Wis.

My sacred space is more of a moment in time in which I would recall regularly.

February 2017. I was visiting Kentucky. Old Friends Farm in Georgetown featured retired thoroughbreds who are now enjoying rolls in the mud while receiving bits of carrot from their fans. During the tour, we met graded stakes winners and claimers.

At that time, I was dealing with my husband’s dementia and my years-long depression and spiritual upheaval.

The tour guide brought the group to the star of the farm, 1997 Kentucky Derby winner Silver Charm. Noble yet mellow. I stepped forward to feed him. He ate the carrot from my hand and then he kissed me on my forehead. That was when things shifted from mundane to mystical.

From that kiss, a flood of divine love and joy came over me. It was a message telling me that life was too short to remain miserable. I spent the next several days pondering.

Ultimately, I moved to Kentucky and I found a healthy spiritual environment and sought mental wellness. When I had my moments of despair, I remember Silver Charm’s kiss and that reminds me that God is closer than I think.

– Carol Rutz of Shepherdsville, Ky.

When I was a kid in the 1960s, about twice a month we would head up into the San Gabriel Mountains to be the hosts for Harwood Lodge, a three-story, stone and timber, 100-plus-year-old Sierra Club Lodge, up the road from Baldy Village and deep in the trees. Once there, we kids had only two rules: We could run around anywhere on the mountain as long as we could see at least a corner of the lodge, and we had to come when the whistle sounded. Such freedom! Even when the weather precluded outdoor activities, there were games, books, and puzzles. In the evenings there might be dancing, singing, or playing music. It was magical and still where I go in my head when I think of childhood.

– Saski Augustine of Sunnersta, Sweden

I must be the only person on this planet who finds their sacred space at the office. And willingly shares that space.

To be precise, just down the corridor from my office, which as a mostly remote worker I now visit infrequently, exists a transcendent, enveloping space of peace, a small silent cocoon, a retreat from some decidedly un-sacred work moments and any other of life’s lunacies. The compact interfaith chapel, despite the prominence of the 23rd psalm engraved on the wall behind the altar, is a haven sought out by all persuasions.

In the great equalizer that is the hospital, this lapsed Catholic may encounter fellow travelers in deep nonsectarian meditation, or Muslims at prayer at the back, or a patient’s relative in deep supplication, or hospital employees at all levels of its multilayered strata seeking a moment of tranquility and escape. We are the whole world on a tiny scale, each quietly respecting the other.

I think of the chapel as a place where the dream of America is alive, a place where all visitors are freely, comfortably, able to worship or reflect or just sit quietly together without judgement or fear. Our own little practicum in democracy.

– Pat Conway of Rochester, N.Y.

I spend time walking along the Touchet River in Columbia County, Washington state, to experience both sacred space and sacred time. I have a water meditation I practice silently when walking. This is a simple process and also powerful for my 75-year-old body, mind, and spirit. The river flows alongside a mountain and the mountain provides much-needed shade during the hot/sunny summer months. This walking is a sacred space experience for me because it is also a block away from my husband’s rest home. There is the old saying that your cup needs to be half full in order for you to be able to be present and be generous with others. Metaphorically, I walk by the Touchet River so I will be quietly nourished and my cup will be half full.

– Dee McMurrey

My Sacred Space is without longitude and latitude. My Sacred Space is time.

I spend most if not all of my waking days with colleagues, my family, my pets, with others. This time is spent for the most part quite happily.

It is rare that I have time with just me. This time is my sacred space.I don’t even need to pray, meditate, or leave my chair if I prefer not to. It’s a time when my mind is free to wander. Sometimes it will wander over the times I’ve spent or will spend with others; other times, it goes beyond to other places, other times – future and past. Sometimes I ponder, other times I just reflect. Still other times I am a blank (these times usually mean I’ve been on overload and my mind needs to be empty).

These occasions do not happen often, and they’re impossible to plan. I take them when they present themselves and am exceedingly grateful for them. If you asked, I wouldn’t be able to tell you how long I’d been in my sacred space.

I emerge like a butterfly from a chrysalis, ready to fly off again. Until the next time.

– Elena Zadoroznia Larsen of Vermont

Some places hold a special home in my heart. Just being in them brings out gratitude, awe and wonderment.

We held our “Moving Through Grief, Trauma and Loss Workshops” at the Notre Dame Spiritual Center in Alfred, Maine. For more than 22 years, I had the extreme privilege and honor of working with participants struggling to move through experiences of grief, loss, and trauma.

But those are just words. Words pale and are insufficient to describe what was in that room in Eugene Hall.

Death, suicide, overdoses, accidents, cancer, divorce. Extreme violence, physical abuse, rape, incest, cults, clergy sexual abuse. How to describe the emotions they expressed in those four days? I can’t do justice to their work with words.

When we arrived at Eugene Hall on the day before the workshop, I would walk into that empty room and memories would take over and time would stop.

– Paul K. Matteson of Pownal, Maine

“Made or declared holy.” What is sacred centered in a place, a hallowed spot in the space-time continuum? Google Earth shows the ocean trenches and raised relief mountain ranges, omniscient live view drills down to 10 acres outside Pittsburgh, closer in to see the settlers’ gravestones akimbo, closer still to see the windows of the restored pioneer church. Then two real feet on the ground with hands cupping the window to hide the reflected sky, to peer through to the rows of wooden pews facing the massive tree stump holding the pulpit.

By the pulpit is the font, simple on a carved stand, dry now but filled up with every memory of every baptism whose water caressed a baby’s head. Time has passed and rippled but the space is intact and still. The difference between space and memory, and maybe the difference between holy and human. Sacred because it was consecrated and used by parishioners building in communion a rural retreat from the steel mills in Duquesne.

A tiny wooden sanctuary anchors arranged cabins made from US Army castoff building parts, a picnic pavilion, and a swimming pool dug out of former farmland. Reclaimed for sacrament; declared holy.

– Skye Fackre Gibson of Boston

My sacred place is in my small living room and serves as a refuge only in the early morning hours, when no one else is awake. The silence is of primary importance, as is the natural light that floods the room, inviting the day forward in the most pleasing way. This is “alone time” that I truly love.

Sitting in a bright-red antique chair that has molded to my body, I prioritize my morning meditation. In the “metta,” or loving-kindness practice, I direct goodwill to myself, a loved one, a challenging person, and/or all beings. My tailored phrases include: “May I experience deep joy” and “May all sentient beings delight in the natural world,” among others.

Once the meditation is done, something substantial has been accomplished. I turn to gazing outdoors at the birds or the lush landscape, watching for the sweet 8-year-old child headed to her bus stop. I note whether she is skipping ahead of herself with eagerness or hanging back reluctantly; she is so dear to me. I pick up my journal, a book, or a puzzle, and nod in gratitude for allowing myself, in this sacred space, a “soft start” to what will be a very good day.

– Rita Ghilani of Ashland

Music has forever been my place, my sacred space. When the fingers hit the keyboard, I drift into my own personal meditation, my singular Zen. Sometimes it’s a gentle touch, a soft release resolving into a cherished feeling of peace. At other times, it’s a pounding! It’s mad frustration or it’s joyful exhilaration. The world slips away. The calm overtakes me, and the beauty surrounds me.

In moments of collaboration, when other instruments join in and voices unite, there is essential joy and sweet harmony. It’s all so simple, yet it’s so beautiful.Music. My passion. My personal space. My sacred place.

Music is life.

– Marianne Howell of Nashua, N.H.

Sixty-five years ago, my 2nd-grade class took a field trip to the public library. We left clutching our first library cards, and ever since that day some library, somewhere, has been my sacred space – as the dictionary instructs, a space I regard with respect and reverence.

The libraries of my past and present have been both peaceful spots of quiet and relaxation, where the stresses of daily life fade away, and exciting places of stimulation and discovery, where the whole world awaits exploration. All are locked in my memory – the old stone building where my teenage self barreled through every book on the science fiction shelf in order and dropped nickels into an awesome new invention, the copier; the busy college center where I soaked up knowledge at my favorite carrel and earned $1.60 an hour at the check-out desk stamping due dates (and deleting friends’ fines – ssh); the children’s rooms of suburban libraries where I tried to nurture in my kids, with uneven success, the love of reading that has carried me my whole life.

Sit home and download a novel onto my e-reader? No thanks. I’m going to the library.

– Jane Wiznitzer of Stamford, Conn.

I wake at 4:30 a.m., take a cold-water plunge in the Lamprey River, and then meet with 60+ teenagers at a high school to enthrall them with the joys of French and Spanish. I write bathroom passes, remind my cherubs to take out their cahiers or cuadernos, insist they have Chromebooks charged, encourage them to quiet down and engage in the study of language.

By 2:30 p.m., I am toast.

My sacred spot is the Salvation Army Thrift Store in Rochester, New Hampshire. I head there on my way home; put on a podcast, and wander through the aisles. I do not talk, save for a “Hi” to the welcoming clerk. I disappear in the racks, perusing the bags, the dresses, the coats, the scarves.

I find the locale soothing, comforting, and not once have been asked, “Can I help you?” I crave being left alone, delighted that no one asks me for a thing. I meander and touch and, on occasion, find some treasure, a beautiful trench coat I’ll give my daughter, a fishing shirt for my husband. I hunt in silence, in peace.

I decompress just as many of the donors decompose.

– Susan Dromey Heeter of Newmarket, N.H.

I’ve spent most of my adult life looking for a place that could be my sanctuary. I found it in 2010: Briarwood Beach, Wareham. The beginning of the experience was a challenge. Purchase home – job loss – regroup – relocate – renovate – reap benefits – a roller coaster, 10-year adventure. It’s a short stroll to the sandy spot by the Weweantic River where you can park your chair, but make sure you keep moving with the tide. Most days there’s no one there but the birds looking for a meal. The gentle lapping waves and warm sun bring peace. What began as a part-time experience is now permanent. We’ve added two couples, long-time friends who also craved the serenity and spectacular sunsets of our neighborhood. The house has changed, but the feeling remains. Simple peace every day.

– Joanne Robertson

Wind in the sail, water gurgling past the hull, hand on the tiller, alone on the water in a small sailboat feeling the forces of nature – or is it the hand of God – moving us along. Wind in the sail, water churning past the hull, hand firmly on the tiller with muscles tensed as the gale drives the small sailboat forward, soaked with spray, feeling the forces of nature – or is it the hand of God – driving us furiously forward.

On a large schooner, standing wheel watch alone, feeling the forces of wind and water transmitted through spokes of the wheel, watching the compass in the dimly lit binnacle, keeping us on course moving onward through the night toward our destination, feeling the warm steady breeze, the gentle force of nature – or is it the hand of God – helping us on our way.

These are my sacred spaces, wide open places in which to find both solitude and renewal, places like no other in which to feel close to the spiritual world, to feel a gentle softness much of the time and the full fury of a possibly angry spirit testing strength and resolve. All are sacred to me!

– Walter G. Ensign Jr. of Ashland, Ore.

My rowboat is 7 1/2 feet long. I was lucky to inherit her. She needed a home and I welcomed her. I’d learned to row as a kid and rowing, like bike riding, is a skill never forgotten.

At that time my husband was falling apart with Parkinson’s and dementia. As his caregiver, I lived a constrained life. Getting out on the water seemed like a fine idea. I’d bring in a friend to keep my husband company when I rowed. And once on the water, all constraints fell away.

My husband died four years ago, and still I row in the broad, busy harbor. I like to row alone. It’s never silent, but the sounds have meaning: the cries of the ospreys and gulls, the occasional boat horn, the thrum of a lobster boat engine.

Boats, buoys, moorings are constants in the harbor, but the water, the sky, the clouds, are miracles of light. There are seals to sing to or flotillas of ducks bobbing on the waves. Sometimes I visit a beach and look for treasure. Other times I just row for hours. And watch. And listen. My rowboat is the entry to my sacred space.

– Lynn Hower Allen of Rockland, Maine

On most Sunday afternoons, after errands are completed and social gatherings are finished, my husband Jim and I sit on the bed with a bunch of pillows and our two dogs, pull out our books, and read. It is the best time of my week, and the constant answer to the question that one podcast host always asks her guests, “What is saving your life right now?” It doesn’t matter that we read differently – he devours formulaic mysteries on his iPad and I tend to enjoy literary fiction in “real book” form. What matters is the quiet togetherness. Sometimes we hold hands while we read. Sometimes we laugh at something silly the dogs are doing. Sometimes we read until we fall asleep. If we’ve been cranky with each other during the week, being here fixes everything. If, as I believe, the highest spiritual practice in any faith is love, this time and space is our sacred space and we always come away better from having been there together.

– Sharon Lewis of Williston, S.C.

My sacred space is my home yoga studio and practice. My practice happens via Zoom once a week. My yogi lives in one state and the rest of us live in different states, so it is perfect for us. I also appreciate that I do not have to leave my home to have a yoga practice. It is so peaceful to sit on my mat in my own home. I can moan and groan to my heart’s content in my own private yoga space. I have my own candle and essential oils and I do not need to worry about offending anyone with the scents. This is the one hour a week where I can be alone and at peace. This practice grounds me and helps me cope. I am very lucky to have this sacred hour as part of my life, and I offer my unending gratitude to my yogi. 🙏

– Nancy Stenberg of Easthampton

When I was little, my family would take the week before Labor Day to spend at Camp High Sierra, near Mammoth Lakes in California. Mostly, our dad would go fishing (we would, too, but not every day, like he would). We would take an all-day horse trek up to Grass Lake from McGee Pack Station. The trek would be led by Bill Bryan, a former rodeo rider and after a few years, our friend.

Along the way, there was (is still?) an area where the trees bent toward each other, forming what Bill and I called “the Cathedral.” It was a peaceful pathway and very quiet. Only the hoof-falls and birds could be heard. That was, and will always be, my sacred space.

– Janice Cagan-Teuber

My sacred place has stood the test of time, from childhood into adulthood. I now share it with my own family, and they have grown to similarly cherish the remoteness as a needed respite from a too-connected, “always-on” life we struggle to manage.

This particular haven of solace is nestled on the Maine coast, 30 minutes from the hectic thoroughfare that carries visitors into mid-coast Maine, to Boothbay, Acadia, and beyond. No signage adorns the familiar turn from the blurring traffic of Main Street to the calming pace of vacationers as we leisurely navigate toward an idyllic seaside fishing village. A quaint cottage containing a kitchen, a sitting room, three bedrooms, and two bathrooms offer me perspective in troubled times. The easy meander over a stone path to the churning and rejuvenating sea brings me strength, focus, and gratitude, all sorely needed after the tribulations we all experience from time to time. A short stroll beyond, the Marshall Point Lighthouse and Museum welcomes weary travelers keen to learn of local history or bask in the late-day sun.

This nirvana on the coast of Maine is my sacred place, and the medicinal qualities I have enjoyed here are more powerful than any other therapy I’ve yet found.

– Thomas Moore of Shrewsbury

My sacred space is a 34-foot sailboat I have sailed with my husband and son for more than 30 years. Our ship is sacred to me because it connects me with a more beneficial life rhythm. At home, there is always something else to do or an email to answer. I need to move fast to keep up and often become frazzled. But on the boat I am responsible for only a limited area below deck, mainly the salon and galley, plus internet is not constant. So I am able to slow down – to breathe, relax, dream, and just appreciate being.

I love to stare at the waves when underway, be they sparkling in sun or green-gray under clouds. I savor the “golden hour” when the almost setting sun gilds the landscape in glorious light. I like to sit on deck then with a glass of wine and contemplate the peace of the harbor. I also enjoy leaning against the deck shrouds after dark to study stars – so many points of brightness way, way above the mast. After that, to climb below, crawl into my bed in the bow’s v-berth, and be gently rocked to sleep.

– Jean Trescott Lambert of West Newbury

Fast Forward is a twice-weekly email newsletter that’s an irreverent mix of news and opinion. You can read past issues here, and sign up to subscribe for free here.

Why Taiwan Was So Prepared for a Powerful Earthquake

Decades of learning from disasters, tightening building codes and increasing public awareness may have helped its people better weather strong quakes.

Search-and-rescue teams recover a body from a leaning building in Hualien, Taiwan. Thanks to improvements in building codes after past earthquakes, many structures withstood Wednesday’s quake. Credit...

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By Chris Buckley ,  Meaghan Tobin and Siyi Zhao

Photographs by Lam Yik Fei

Chris Buckley reported from the city of Hualien, Meaghan Tobin from Taipei, in Taiwan.

• April 4, 2024

When the largest earthquake in Taiwan in half a century struck off its east coast, the buildings in the closest city, Hualien, swayed and rocked. As more than 300 aftershocks rocked the island over the next 24 hours to Thursday morning, the buildings shook again and again.

But for the most part, they stood.

Even the two buildings that suffered the most damage remained largely intact, allowing residents to climb to safety out the windows of upper stories. One of them, the rounded, red brick Uranus Building, which leaned precariously after its first floors collapsed, was mostly drawing curious onlookers.

The building is a reminder of how much Taiwan has prepared for disasters like the magnitude-7.4 earthquake that jolted the island on Wednesday. Perhaps because of improvements in building codes, greater public awareness and highly trained search-and-rescue operations — and, likely, a dose of good luck — the casualty figures were relatively low. By Thursday, 10 people had died and more than 1,000 others were injured. Several dozen were missing.

“Similar level earthquakes in other societies have killed far more people,” said Daniel Aldrich , a director of the Global Resilience Institute at Northeastern University. Of Taiwan, he added: “And most of these deaths, it seems, have come from rock slides and boulders, rather than building collapses.”

Across the island, rail traffic had resumed by Thursday, including trains to Hualien. Workers who had been stuck in a rock quarry were lifted out by helicopter. Roads were slowly being repaired. Hundreds of people were stranded at a hotel near a national park because of a blocked road, but they were visited by rescuers and medics.

On Thursday in Hualien city, the area around the Uranus Building was sealed off, while construction workers tried to prevent the leaning structure from toppling completely. First they placed three-legged concrete blocks that resembled giant Lego pieces in front of the building, and then they piled dirt and rocks on top of those blocks with excavators.

“We came to see for ourselves how serious it was, why it has tilted,” said Chang Mei-chu, 66, a retiree who rode a scooter with her husband Lai Yung-chi, 72, to the building on Thursday. Mr. Lai said he was a retired builder who used to install power and water pipes in buildings, and so he knew about building standards. The couple’s apartment, near Hualien’s train station, had not been badly damaged, he said.

“I wasn’t worried about our building, because I know they paid attention to earthquake resistance when building it. I watched them pour the cement to make sure,” Mr. Lai said. “There have been improvements. After each earthquake, they raise the standards some more.”

It was possible to walk for city blocks without seeing clear signs of the powerful earthquake. Many buildings remained intact, some of them old and weather-worn; others modern, multistory concrete-and-glass structures. Shops were open, selling coffee, ice cream and betel nuts. Next to the Uranus Building, a popular night market with food stalls offering fried seafood, dumplings and sweets was up and running by Thursday evening.

Earthquakes are unavoidable in Taiwan, which sits on multiple active faults. Decades of work learning from other disasters, implementing strict building codes and increasing public awareness have gone into helping its people weather frequent strong quakes.

Not far from the Uranus Building, for example, officials had inspected a building with cracked pillars and concluded that it was dangerous to stay in. Residents were given 15 minutes to dash inside and retrieve as many belongings as they could. Some ran out with computers, while others threw bags of clothes out of windows onto the street, which was also still littered with broken glass and cement fragments from the quake.

One of its residents, Chen Ching-ming, a preacher at a church next door, said he thought the building might be torn down. He was able to salvage a TV and some bedding, which now sat on the sidewalk, and was preparing to go back in for more. “I’ll lose a lot of valuable things — a fridge, a microwave, a washing machine,” he said. “All gone.”

Requirements for earthquake resistance have been built into Taiwan’s building codes since 1974. In the decades since, the writers of Taiwan’s building code also applied lessons learned from other major earthquakes around the world, including in Mexico and Los Angeles, to strengthen Taiwan’s code.

After more than 2,400 people were killed and at least 10,000 others injured during the Chi-Chi quake of 1999, thousands of buildings built before the quake were reviewed and reinforced. After another strong quake in 2018 in Hualien, the government ordered a new round of building inspections. Since then, multiple updates to the building code have been released.

“We have retrofitted more than 10,000 school buildings in the last 20 years,” said Chung-Che Chou, the director general of the National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering in Taipei.

The government had also helped reinforce private apartment buildings over the past six years by adding new steel braces and increasing column and beam sizes, Dr. Chou said. Not far from the buildings that partially collapsed in Hualien, some of the older buildings that had been retrofitted in this way survived Wednesday’s quake, he said.

The result of all this is that even Taiwan’s tallest skyscrapers can withstand regular seismic jolts. The capital city’s most iconic building, Taipei 101, once the tallest building in the world, was engineered to stand through typhoon winds and frequent quakes. Still, some experts say that more needs to be done to either strengthen or demolish structures that don’t meet standards, and such calls have grown louder in the wake of the latest earthquake.

Taiwan has another major reason to protect its infrastructure: It is home to the majority of production for the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, the world’s largest maker of advanced computer chips. The supply chain for electronics from smartphones to cars to fighter jets rests on the output of TSMC’s factories, which make these chips in facilities that cost billions of dollars to build.

The 1999 quake also prompted TSMC to take extra steps to insulate its factories from earthquake damage. The company made major structural adjustments and adopted new technologies like early warning systems. When another large quake struck the southern city of Kaohsiung in February 2016, TSMC’s two nearby factories survived without structural damage.

Taiwan has made strides in its response to disasters, experts say. In the first 24 hours after the quake, rescuers freed hundreds of people who were trapped in cars in between rockfalls on the highway and stranded on mountain ledges in rock quarries.

“After years of hard work on capacity building, the overall performance of the island has improved significantly,” said Bruce Wong, an emergency management consultant in Hong Kong. Taiwan’s rescue teams have come to specialize in complex efforts, he said, and it has also been able to tap the skills of trained volunteers.

Taiwan’s resilience also stems from a strong civil society that is involved in public preparedness for disasters.

Ou Chi-hu, a member of a group of Taiwanese military veterans, was helping distribute water and other supplies at a school that was serving as a shelter for displaced residents in Hualien. He said that people had learned from the 1999 earthquake how to be more prepared.

“They know to shelter in a corner of the room or somewhere else safer,” he said. Many residents also keep a bag of essentials next to their beds, and own fire extinguishers, he added.

Around him, a dozen or so other charities and groups were offering residents food, money, counseling and childcare. The Tzu Chi Foundation, a large Taiwanese Buddhist charity, provided tents for families to use inside the school hall so they could have more privacy. Huang Yu-chi, a disaster relief manager with the foundation, said nonprofits had learned from earlier disasters.

“Now we’re more systematic and have a better idea of disaster prevention,” Mr. Huang said.

Mike Ives contributed reporting from Seoul.

Chris Buckley , the chief China correspondent for The Times, reports on China and Taiwan from Taipei, focused on politics, social change and security and military issues. More about Chris Buckley

Meaghan Tobin is a technology correspondent for The Times based in Taipei, covering business and tech stories in Asia with a focus on China. More about Meaghan Tobin

Siyi Zhao is a reporter and researcher who covers news in mainland China for The Times in Seoul. More about Siyi Zhao

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