Saturday, October 22, 2011

Module 1: Peace Through Our Own Tongues and Eyes

Peace-TAYO is going to provide various modules designed for different peacebuilding and implemented in its activities. Here is our first module. This can be used in National Service Training Program (NSTP) session. Watch out for more. Use it, own it. Peace-TAYO!



(Note: This module was first implemented in the Peace Through Technology Training Workshop for Peace Ambassadors (Bughaw) of PeaceTech, a non-profit organization that builds peace among youth through technology. Peace-TAYO believes that by sharing this module, it will be more useful for others who can adopt, modify, and implement it in their own organizations.)


Activity: Sharing of the closest equivalent of "Peace" in one's language

Each culture has its own conceptualization of "peace." Peace is culturally-rooted in our society. It is not a foreign import or imposition. It exists in the ordinariness of people's daily lives. It is highly valued. Its existence and value are best expressed in people's own language and experiences. 

Objectives:

At the end of this activity, the participants must be able to:
·     Share the closest or direct equivalent of peace in one's own languages. Or share the representations or images of peace in one's own surrounding.
·   Learn and gain deeper understanding and profound appreciation of the various conceptualizations and representations of peace.



Material/s:
·         Drawing paper
·         Crayola
·         Masking tape
·     Music


Time Frame: One to three hours depending on the number of participants



Procedure:

1.    Allow the participants to express their conceptualization of peace through art. They can share the equivalent or expression of peace in their own language. They can also share their vivid images or representation of peace based on their experiences and observations. These images or representation can be embedded in the local stories, songs, poems, places, people, events, etc.. Play a music while the participants are doing the activity.

   2. Group sharing: Allow each participant to share in 2-3 minutes. 

   3. After the group sharing, synthesize the activity by discussing the following points:

     All of us have our own idea of peace, which emanates from our language, personal lives, relationships with family, peer groups, communities, and God.


These ideals guide us in our daily lives to strengthen our relationship with our family, peer group, community, and God.




4.    Discuss various views on “peace.” Highlight the richness and creativity of each culture expressed in language. Share your own language of and experience with "peace." 

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Social Distance in Facebook: Breaking or Building Barriers in Cyberspace

Source: http://www.sgclub.com/lifestyle

Social networking sites have captured the interest and aspiration of people especially Filipinos and Filipinas to make contacts and connect with families, friends, and others. To illustrate this, imagine Facebook having over half a billion account users all over the world. Twenty-six million of those are found in the Philippines.  Thus, albeit virtually, numerous contacts are made by differentiated groups through Facebook.

Research has shown that contacts among equals of differentiated groups reduce social distance. With the popularity and wide use of Facebook in the world including the Philippines, do contacts occur among differentiated groups? Or Facebook further solidifies the ingroup and marginalizes the outgroup? Does Facebook break or build social distance among differentiated groups?

It is hypothesized that Facebook facilitates ingroup formation and strengthens its cohesion. Moreover, Facebook does not intentionally marginalize the outgroup.  It helps reduce social distance among groups especially those who have a sizeable number of friends from other groups.

If you have a Facebook account, please take the survey here.

The results of this survey will be presented at the 2011 Philippine Sociological Society National Conference in Ateneo de Naga University in Naga City on October 14-15, 2011.

Thank you very much.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Youth Journalists and Bloggers: 7th UNESCO Youth Forum


Call for applications- Youth Journalists and Bloggers- 7th UNESCO Youth Forum

 7th UNESCO Youth Forum of the 36th UNESCO General Conference will take place from 17 to 20 October 2011.
Established in 1999, the Youth Forum has become an integral part of UNESCO’s highest decision-making body – the General Conference. It brings together young delegates from all over the world to exchange views, share experiences and identify common opportunities and challenges.
As part of the 7th Youth Forum, UNESCO will be offering five young journalists and bloggers the opportunity to participate in the Paris event. Journalists and bloggers who are selected to attend the 7thUNESCO Youth Forum will be able to network with youth delegates from 193 countries, with key members of international organizations and with non-governmental organizations.
A young blogger from each of UNESCO’s five constituent regions (Africa, Arab States, Asia and the Pacific, Europe and North America & Latin America and the Caribbean) will be selected.
The application deadline is Thursday, September 15, 2011.
Youth journalists and bloggers have three roles: Firstly, they will ensure internal coverage of the Forum through blogs, articles, video clips, radio coverage and other relevant mediums. Secondly, they will be responsible for reporting news of the Forum to their regional and local communities, networks and organizations. Thirdly, they will accompany the action of youth delegates in implementing the recommendations of the Forum in the regions.
Below are the basic selection criteria and the processes for application and selection.
Applications should be sent to youth@unesco.org with the reference “Youth blogger application for the 7th UNESCO Youth Forum”
Air travel and accommodation for the selected youth journalists and bloggers will be covered by UNESCO.
By reporting on the Youth Forum’s discussions, activities, regional follow-up, and outcomes, the youngjournalists and bloggers will directly enhance its results.
We look forward to receiving your applications!
UNESCO – Section for Youth, Sport and Physical Education
—————————————————————————————————-
Criteria for Selection
General requirements for youth journalists and bloggers:
  • Be below 30 years of age
  • To have journalism (online, print, photo, video, radio) and/or blogging experience
  • To have a working knowledge of English and/or French. Knowledge of another of the six official United Nations languages (Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish) will be an asset
Selection Process
The selection panel of the UNESCO Section for Youth, Sport and Physical Education is looking for youth journalists and bloggers based upon the above criteria. The final selection will take into consideration the representation from the five UNESCO regions, languages and gender parity.
* Required documents for selection process
  • CV
  • A brief cover letter.
  • Online articles, videos, etc which prove journalism experience.
  • Name and e-mail of two references from people who are familiar with the work of the youth blogger.
Click here for more info.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

World Youth Movement for Democracy: First Annual Photography Contest


Youth in Action: A Snapshot of Democracy

Share Your Experiences and Capture Images of Democracy
Submit your photo capturing democracy, and win an opportunity to attend one of the largest global gatherings of democracy activists, scholars, policy makers, and donors. The World Youth Movement for Democracy is pleased to announce the launch of its Global Photo Contest. Fifteen semi-finalists (Five in each category: Building a Movement, Democracy in Action, and Youth Igniting Change) will be announced on 1 December 2011, and will have their winning photo published on the WYMD Web site. One finalist will be selected from each category through online open voting for a total of three finalists. The final results of the contest will be announced on 15 December 2011.
Photo Categories
Democracy has been practiced in different ways and in different contexts. We believe there are core universal democratic values and aspirations that we all share, even though we live in different countries and regions, speak different languages, and practice different traditions. These can be reflected in our daily lives, and images capturing them can tell many stories about how people see, and where people find, democracy.
The purpose of this contest is to demonstrate understanding of the workings of democracy in your daily life by capturing images of democracy in action, youth igniting change, or the building of movements to create change for your community. The categories below outline concepts that photographs should embody. Each category is open to participant’s personal interpretation and understanding of how the photo applies to the relevant category, and should be accompanied by a short (100 word maximum) tagline to explain your concept and reasoning behind the photograph.
 Each submitted photo is required to fall into one of the following categories:
Building a Movement — youth, human rights, and women’s rights movements, among others, can begin with just one person reaching out to a few others in his or her community. How do you and other young people begin building a movement from the grassroots up? How are young people and broader communities mobilized? How does a movement grow? Why are you part of a particular movement? 
Democracy in Action — democracy is more than casting a vote. It includes active participation in your community and the political freedom to do so. It can be gathering your neighbors to hold a community discussion, posting information expressing different viewpoints, or joining a political party or civic organization. What does democracy mean to you? How do you perceive democracy in your community? What areas are others trying to improve? What is it about democracy that you most appreciate in your community? How does democracy translate to action?
Youth Igniting Change — Youth are a powerful force to bring about change to a community. Often change comes about by youth asking the question “why?” and planting the seed to make others in the community think progressively to improve society and policies. What are youth doing to positively change your community? How is change brought about?
Submissions
Please submit your photo by 1 November 2011, online at: wymdonline.org/contest/2011 Photo Contest/Contest Entry Form.html. Photos may be in jpeg, bmp, or gif format. Your submission must include a short caption that provides the necessary background to understand the meaning of the photo. The caption can be submitted in Arabic, English, French, Russian, or Spanish, and can be no longer than 100 words.
Rules and Regulations
Each participant can submit only one photo per category to the contest and may not enter duplicate photos (i.e. enter the same photo to each category). A person who violates this regulation will become automatically ineligible. By submitting a photo to the contest, the participant consents to publication of his/her original work and photos must not be previously published. Participants must be no younger than 18 and no older than 35 years old before 1 November 2011. Participants are welcome from all parts of the world – where democracy is limited, transitioning, or established.

Timeline
August 2011 – Launch of the Essay Contest
November 1, 2011 – DEADLINE!
December 1, 2011 – Announcement of 15 semi-finalists (five from each of three categories), and open online voting to select three finalists (one from each category).
December 15, 2011 – Three finalists announced
Review Process
Each category will have its own regionally balanced review committee that will be comprised ofLeadership Board members and Democracy Ambassadors to determine the five semi-finalists. Photos will be evaluated based on:
Clarity—is it understandable what the picture is meant to capture and how it relates to the category; 
Creativity—is the concept of the photo original and capture democracy in a new light or bring a new understanding to it; 
Practicality—does the picture capture ideas or concepts that show how democracy can be applied and is applicable in diverse communities; and 
Message— does the picture communicate a meaningful and relevant message.
 The photos of the 15 semi-finalists will be posted online for open voting to determine three finalists in each category.
Prizes
Finalists will be provided with sponsorship to cover their travel and other expenses to participate in the Seventh Assembly of the World Movement for Democracy in October 2012. (www.wmd.org)

The photos of the three finalists will be showcased on the World Youth Movement for Democracy and World Movement for Democracy Web sites, as well as at the Seventh Assembly. 
To submit an entry to the Photo Contest click here.
Help spread the Photo Contest announcement! A flier with full information can be found here.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

What If People All Over The World Prayed for Peace: Symphony of Peace Prayers

What if all of us prayed for global peace? Imagine the positive energies that would be generated by our common thought and desire!

The power of prayer is beyond measure. Historically, many battles were won with it. Numerous miracles were brought about by prayer.

Yes, there are groups of people who sincerely pray for world peace. Most of us sincerely wish for peace in the world. Except for some businesses which thrive in and other entities that benefit from wars and conflicts, many of us who believe that wars and conflicts are not the necessary and ultimate means to achieve what we want must stand up for non-violent and peaceful means such as prayers.

Annually, the Symphony of Peace Prayers on Global Peace Meditation and Prayer Day gather people of various faiths to have 24-hour prayer marathon in different locations in the world. The idea originated in Fuji Sanctuary in Japan, with the Byakko Shinko Kai. The organization is dedicated to promoting world peace through a universal prayer, "May Peace Prevail On Earth."

The activity exudes love and gratitude to humanity and all living things on earth.

Peace-TAYO was able to participate in this year's (2011) celebration of Symphony of Peace Prayers in Miriam College last May 22. It was organized by the Mandala Peace Arts Initiative, Inc. in partnership with Peacemakers' Circle Foundation and United Religious Initiative (URI) in Southeast Asia-Pacific.

Various groups and organizations joined and all prayed, May Peace Prevail On Earth!

As the song goes, and let it begin with me!

Peace tayo!

Tuesday, July 19, 2011

What Engagement with PEACE-TAYO?

Let’s start from what Marx said, “The philosophers have interpreted the world in various ways, the point however is to change it.”

I am no philosopher in the academic sense, but indeed I have tried to interpret and understand the world in which I live. The sociological imagination and its promise have offered rational and useful framework to make sense of our world. While our society affects us, we in turn affect our society. While we are shaped by our society, we also shape its course.

The social sciences have been helpful in our attempt to provide descriptions and explanations of phenomena and settings that baffle our curious minds and hinder our progress and development as a collective humanity. Grand and meta-theories have been put forward to help us understand the interconnected and seemingly similar events in the global scale. Social scientists have delved into the complexities of the minds, personalities, tribal groups, rural and urban communities, corporations, unions, organizations, nation-states, regions, and other aspects of human lives in the hope that these scientific endeavors would untangle shackles of ignorance, insensitivities, and irrational systemic forces that hold back our progress and cause divisions, tensions, and conflicts.

By all means, these advances in social sciences are remarkable in our lives. For example, now we know that marriage is not solely a personal decision, it is also informed by economic and social considerations. Even the most personal and individual act, suicide, does depend on the social conditions and contexts of the individual.
With the richness of the theoretical tools at our disposal, we are gratefully encouraged to put them into use in our contemporary times. The knowledge produced in the last century is enormous. The lessons may not be sufficient to address all pressing problems, but they are consequential in what we confront today.

Thus, we thought of engaging the world. We go back to the question, what kind of engagement?

To present what we have in mind, I feel it suits to narrate an example.

In the capital city of the Philippines, the taxi drivers are known to be astute. Recently, coming from Japan with my partner, we took a taxi whose driver did not want to use the fare meter. This is, sadly, common in Metro Manila. Not all drivers though, but many of them wanted a contracted trip, a disadvantageous trip for passengers. In short, we were still engaged in negotiating while we were moving out of the airport premises. The driver did not want to budge to use the fare meter. My partner wanted to get out of the taxi and just pay the minimum fare. I was bemused. 

Five years ago, I would have easily regarded the desire of my partner – to get out of the taxi and walk away. My argument then was that there is no point of negotiating with a shrewd and astute person. However, the knowledge and lessons I gained stopped me from doing so. If I wanted to change a bit of my world, I thought that was a chance. 

So I talked with the driver. What caused him not to use his fare meter? He said that he needed extra money to pay for the household utility bills because he had already paid for his children’s education. Hmmmm… Who did not want extra money? Most of us need extra money to make bring some comfort. But paying utility bills was not about comfort, it was basic things such as water and electricity (well, I’m not sure how his family uses energy). 

Still, I pointed out that it was not necessary to charge higher fare than what is mandated. He said that he did not force passengers to pay him, they agreed to the price. The discussion went on.

Meanwhile, my partner was somehow puzzled why we did not get out yet. She asked me to tell the driver to stop and we would get out. At that time, I shifted my attention and started to argue with my partner. Then, I was able to persuade her to give me some time to make me understand the driver’s reason and condition.
The driver told us that he is the only source of income for the family of six. He works 12 hours a day all week. Despite his hardwork, according to him, he could earn enough for the food, house rent, and education to which he gives importance and emphasis. But his income could not cover the utility bills. (And of course, all other expenses such as health, social security, clothes are out of the question). According to him, this shortage prompted him to seek contracted trip and not use the fare meter. 

I did not agree to the driver. I told him that there may be other ways to earn some extra money to cover other necessary expenses. At first, he dismissed the ways I had presented. For instance, his wife could set up a sari-sari store or his teenage children could contribute financially by working part-time in shops and restaurants. He did not like the idea at first.

So I asked him, what do you feel when you charged the passengers higher than the fare meter? He feels a bit guilty and ashamed, I was told. A bit. Then, what do you feel when you use the fare meter and charge the mandated fare? He said, he could talk to the passengers freely and look at their eyes. 

Do you like that feeling?

Yes!

The trip was supposed to be long and tiring, but this one was something. We arrived in our destination in no time that I expected.

As a traveler, I know the mandated taxi fare from the airport to my destination. We agreed to have that price. As I was about to get out of the taxi to get my things from the trunk, the driver said, thank you. I had not yet paid him when he said that. 

After all the bags were taken out of the taxi, I paid him. He said thank you again.

I like the first thank you. I thought it was the outcome of the engagement that we made. That is what we think we can do in PEACE-TAYO.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Barrio de Paz (Peace Town): Engaging the Gangs in Ecuador

Barrio de Paz (Peace Town), a non-violent youth movement in Guayaquil, Ecuador, is a piece of what PEACE-TAYO has in mind. It brings together street gangs to provide services to the struggling community. Gang members band together out of a need for unity, structure, and love when their social fabric has been torn apart. Mirroring the society that marginalizes them, gangs use this unity for domination and aggression. 


Youth and peace worker Nelsa Libertad Curbelo Cora shows how this instinct toward oneness can be transformed into a power of service, life, and love.


Imagine this kind of youth movement spreading in Metro Manila. Our streets will be a bit safer, crimes will be a bit lower, things will be a bit better. This is part of what PEACE-TAYO wants to see happening in Metro Manila.

Watch the video below for some inspiration. Thank you Global Oneness Project (http://www.globalonenessproject.org/)




Friday, June 24, 2011

Youth Social Entrepreneur Global Competition (Deadline: September 19, 2011)

What you need to know: The Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur (YSE) Competition is a global competition created by Staples Foundation and Ashoka to recognize exceptional young people using innovation and technology to advance social change and improve their community and the world.


Who’s eligible?: Young people (age 12-24), living anywhere in the world, are eligible to apply.
Dates and details: Apply online between June 22 and September 19, 2011.
Technology is constantly revolutionizing our world. Bold new ideas speed instantaneously online as portable devices such as smart phones and tablets connect us to people and resources across the globe in real-time. The way we communicate, work, and play in our daily lives has been transformed. But how do these technologies translate into solutions for a better world?
We want to know how you are using technology to create solutions to society’s most pressing challenges. Share your story about how technology is helping realize your vision for change, and you could be the winner of the 5th annual Staples Youth Social Entrepreneur Competition!
Four finalists will be selected and will receive an all expenses paid trip to Techonomy, an elite conference held in Tucson, Arizona that convenes thought leaders, innovators, and changemakers from the technology sector. You’ll get to meet outstanding tech sector influencers and be recognized for your work!
Check out our guidelines and rules for more information, and apply by September 19!
For further information: Click here.