We are in a time of war, and in the mainstream media, the floor is given above all to leaders who are at the head of hostilities and conflicts. Right now, we mostly hear words tinged with violence. These words are used repeatedly by the leaders who defend the war option in the conflict in Ukraine. They talk about fighting, nuclear devices, guns, bombs, weaponry, fighter jets, and sanctions.
While the words and resolutions proposed by the pacifist and nonviolent groups of Ukraine and Russia, which could bring a ray of hope to the Ukrainian people and to humanity are never, never published!
These are words related to the resolution of a conflict, for example: negotiation, talks, meetings, compromise, resolution, dialogue, openness, brotherhood between peoples, cooperation and diplomacy. Despite the few diplomatic attempts to defuse the conflict, it seems that some leaders are at a loss for words to defuse the infernal cycle of violence that is becoming more and more dangerous for all of humanity.
Run This Way school program wishes to support the pacifist and nonviolent option in this conflict. We want to support Peace and Nonviolent groups in Ukraine and Russia by launching the project “Thousands of words for Peace and Nonviolence”.
Project “Thousands of words for Peace and Nonviolence”
Over the next few weeks, several students from elementary and high school classes in schools across Canada will participate in the “Thousands of words for Peace and Nonviolence” project.
The project invites students to write a word of well-being note for students in Ukraine. We also invite students to write a speech, a song, a poem, or even a story in order to advance pacifist and nonviolent options in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
The students’ productions will be published in New York and Montreal on the Pressenza press agency platform. In addition, student productions will be sent to peace and nonviolent groups in Ukraine and Russia as well as to the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Class groups who wish to do a team project will be asked to produce a video, a podcast, or a photo-report of their words and/or drawings.
Teachers from the United States and other countries are also invited to participate with their students by registering for the “Thousands of words for Peace and Nonviolence” project in Ukraine. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/student-projects-thousands-words-for-peace-in-ukraine-tickets-295333409177
About Run This Way school program for Peace and Nonviolence
The Run This Way school program promotes peace and nonviolence among young people. Between 2011 and 2019 more than 20,000 students from schools centers in the province of Quebec, Canada (from the Montreal, Pointe de l’Ile, Outaouais, Abitibi-west, Three-Lakes and Draveurs), and from Argentina, France, Ireland, Iraq, and Ecuador have taken part in races and traveled several thousand kilometers for peace and nonviolence.
Run This Way was launched in 2011 by the International Humanist Network following the great Global March for Peace and Nonviolence and nuclear disarmament. During the COVID19 pandemic, Run This Way ceased its activities between 2020 and 2022. On the other hand, until the fall of 2022 the program is managed by the Henri Oscar communication startup.
The educational objectives of Run This Way school program:
« Learn to treat others the way you want to be treated»
« Learn to resist the violence inside and outside of you»
