Peace-keeping & Peace-building - Creating a More Equitable World

Last week you looked at various proxy wars that took place in the Cold War, and that are ongoing today.  We reviewed three conflicts - Ukraine, Kashmir and a proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran. My hope would that these studies might pique your interest, and encourage you to take a look at regions of the world that you might not be as familiar with.

Our focus these next two weeks will be to take a look at projects and initiatives where people are trying to create a more peaceful and equitable world.  We know that war and conflicts have severe impacts on civilian communities.  But - what actions can help bring justice to communities?  How do we prevent wars from breaking out?  How do we help people in conflict zones rebuild their lives?

Let's examine some more hopeful initiatives:

Section A: The United Nations Peacekeeepers

1. Tell Me More About Peacekeeping...


The United Nations Peacekeeping Forces, otherwise known as the blue berets or blue helmets, were created during the Suez Crisis of 1956.  The idea actually was suggested by Canadian Lester Pearson, who was Minister of External Affairs in Canada during this conflict in the Middle East.  He ended up negotiating a ceasefire between the parties, and later went on to win the Noble Peace Prize.

UN Peacekeeping forces have expanded their mission today to include policing forces, health care deployment (they are currently helping with Covid-19 outbreaks) and breaking up tensions in conflict zone.   Watch the following video to understand what UN Peacekeeping is all about 

• As you watch, pay attention to the different jobs and tasks that Peacekeepers do

TASK - Head to the UN website and read about "What Peacekeeping Is"

• Review the page, and the three principles.  
• Note that force is not allowed to be used. In many conflicts, peacekeepers don't even have weapons so that they don't escalate tensions or create more conflict.  Would you be brave enough to enter a war zone without a weapon? 
• Head to the United Nations website on Peacekeeping
• Click on the 13 different locations where peacekeeping initiatives are taking place

What else does the UN do to help people? 

The United Nations also does massive work helping refugees flee from conflict, helping with health emergencies and pandemics, vaccination programs, and general support for governments.  In addition, there is a UN Policing Force, as well as UN International Court of Justice. 

TASK: Watch the following video to see how the UN supports refugee families fleeing conflict.  

• Pay attention to some of the conflicts that you have studied in this class, or maybe ones you have heard of before in current events.
• Pay attention to the way in which war affects people's daily lives caught in conflict

Section B: The Chances of Peace Increase When We Aren't Fighting Poverty

The United Nations is just one organization that works to build peace in conflict zones, and to care for people in need.  Other ways that peace-building can occur is through the work of foreign aid by countries like Canada, or by non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International or Human Rights watch.  

There are also projects by charities that are smaller community intiatives that can have a positive impact on communities.  Let's take a closer look at some of these 'grassroots projects'.  Let's explore a couple projects that are quite interesting, and see if we can determine some criteria for effective help. 

TASK: GRASSROOTS DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Watch the following videos about small grassroots projects that are empowering local people in different communities around the world.  All of these videos are from places that have overcome war and conflict, and are now rebuilding. They are hopeful and inspiring!

• Pay attention to aspects of the project that make it effective, and empowering. 
• A common factor in all of these films is the restoration of dignity and purpose to citizens.  
• They also create economic opportunities for people in need. 

VIDEO 1- Watch the following video Bikes to Rwanda about a NGO that is working in Rwanda to help rebuild the country after the civil war in 1994. 

VIDEO 2 - Watch this next video Motorcycle Doctors about an NGO working to help people get access to health care in rural areas. 

VIDEO 3 - This is an inspiring film about Landfill Harmonic Orchestra, an orchestra of children living in the slums of Paraguay, who have made instruments out of recycled materials. 

VIDEO 4 - Malala and her father create schools for girls

VIDEO 5 - Moving Windmills - The William Kwamkwamba Story (now a Netflix movie)

VIDEO 6 & 7 - The Favelas of Brasil - Fighting poverty, violence and drug cartels

Last, these are two videos that show children and youth from the Favelas in Brasil, overcoming poverty, an international drug trade and corrupt police and government to get off the streets.  

• The first is a trailer for Street Kids United II - a documentary about female soccer (football) players that get involved in the Street Soccer World Cup.  
• The next video is below, about how youth in one of the most dangerous slums in Brasil are finding purpose and confidence through a grassroots ballet school. 

OPTIONAL - Intrigued? Want to know more about sports, favelas and Brasil?  Watch this inspiring video about one of Brasil's soccer stars Gabriel Jesus, who comes from the streets of Rio de Janeiro and now plays for Manchester United. 

Learning Activity for This Week: How Do We Help Others?

One of the impacts of war and conflict is that it destabilizes communities and can create massive poverty. Others find that the conditions during war, and the aftermath, takes away the dignity they once held when they had a home, a job, the ability to provide for their families. 

TASK: After watching the videos for this week, answer the following questions and upload to TEAMS

1. What's something you learned about the role of the United Nations, and the way in which they help others?  Why do you think that work is effective and helpful in the peacebuilding process? 

2. There were several short video clips that you were asked to watch this week.  Watch them all, and then decide which two videos were the most impactful to you.   Why were they inspiring/touching/hopeful? 

3. CRITICAL THINKING CHALLENGE - Helping others, through foreign aid or charity work, can be very complicated.  Sometimes, its not successful.  All of these videos were examples of successful peace-building or community-building efforts where people received 'help' and were able to help themselves. Reflect on the different videos and then answer: 

• What are three common elements/connections of effective help/aid projects that help people experience success and improve the quality of their lives?   Use the different videos, or other background knowledge, to provide supporting evidence. 

Stuck with the last question - ensure that you watch the Class Meeting video, and feel free to email Ms. Sawatsky for help.

DUE NEXT TUESDAY, MAY 27TH - UPLOAD RESPONSE TO ASSIGNMENTS SECTION.