Peace facts for kids
Peace is a time without any fights or wars. In a larger sense, peace (or peacefulness) can mean a state of harmony, quiet or calm that is not disturbed by anything at all, like a still pond with no ripples.
Many people and organizations want peace. One organization that was set up to bring peace among the nations and try to make war a thing of the past was the League of Nations after World War I. When it did not stop World War II, it was replaced by the United Nations which tries to make the world peaceful. This means that if any member is attacked or invaded by another country without attacking that country first, the other members will come to help the country that was attacked first. This idea was used by the United Nations to defend both South Korea and Kuwait when they were attacked.
Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote in a letter he sent from the Birmingham jail that, "True peace is not merely the absence of tension: it is the presence of justice." In other words, Real peace is more than just problems being gone: there must be fairness to have peace.
Alfred Nobel created an annual award, the Nobel Peace Prize, for the person who had done the most to bring peace to the world.
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Religious beliefs and peace
Buddhists think that peace can be gotten once all suffering ends.To get rid of suffering and get this peace, many try to follow a set of teachings called the Four Noble Truths
Jews and Christians believe that true peace comes from a personal relationship with God. Jesus Christ (also called the "Prince of Peace" in the Book of Isaiah) said: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." (John 14:27)
Inner peace
Inner peace (or peace of mind) refers to a state of being mentally and spiritually at peace, with enough knowledge and understanding to keep oneself strong in the face of stress. Being "at peace" is considered by many to be healthy and the opposite of being stressed or anxious. Peace of mind is generally associated with bliss and happiness.
Peace of mind, serenity, and calmness are descriptions of a disposition free from the effects of stress. In some cultures, inner peace is considered a state of consciousness or enlightenment that may be cultivated by various forms of training, such as prayer, meditation, Tai chi chuan or yoga, for example. Many spiritual practices refer to this peace as an experience of knowing oneself.
Movements and activism
Peace movement
A movement that seeks to get ideals such as the ending of a particular war, minimize inter-human violence in a particular place or type of situation, often linked to the goal of achieving world peace. Means to achieve these ends usually include advocacy of pacifism, non-violent resistance, conscientious objector, diplomacy, boycotts, moral purchasing, supporting anti-war political candidates, demonstrations, and lobbying to create legislation on human rights or of international law.
Nobel Peace Prize
The highest honour awarded to peace maker is the Nobel Prize in Peace, awarded since 1901 by the Norwegian Nobel Committee. It is awarded annually to internationally notable persons following the prize's creation in the will of Alfred Nobel. According to Nobel's will, the Peace Prize shall be awarded to the person who "...shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses."
Theories on peace
Many different theories of "peace" exist in the world of peace studies, which involves the study of conflict transformation. The definition of "peace" can vary with religion, culture, or subject of study.
Peace is a state of balance and understanding in yourself and between others, where respect is gained by the acceptance of differences, tolerance persists, conflicts are resolved through dialog, people's rights are respected and their voices are heard, and everyone is at their highest point of serenity without social tension.
Monuments
The following are monuments to peace:
| Name | Location | Organization | Meaning | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese Peace Bell | New York City, NY | United Nations | World peace |  |
| Fountain of Time | Chicago, IL | Chicago Park District | 100 years of peace between the US and UK |  |
| Fredensborg Palace | Fredensborg, Denmark | Frederick IV | The peace between Denmark–Norway and Sweden, after Great Northern War which was signed 3 July 1720 on the site of the unfinished palace. |  |
| International Peace Garden | North Dakota, Manitoba | non-profit organization | Peace between the US and Canada, World peace |  |
| Peace Arch | border between US and Canada, near Surrey, British Columbia. | non-profit organization | Built to honour the first 100 years of peace between Great Britain and the United States resulting from the signing of the Treaty of Ghent in 1814. |  |
| Statue of Europe | Brussels | European Commission | Unity in Peace in Europe | .jpg) |
| Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park | Alberta, Montana | non-profit organization | World Peace |  |
| Japanese Garden of Peace | Fredericksburg, Texas | National Museum of the Pacific War | A gift from the people of Japan to the people of the United States, presented to honor Chester W. Nimitz and created as a respite from the intensity of violence, destruction, and loss. |  |
| The Peace Dome | Windyville, MO | not-for-profit organization | Many minds working together toward a common ideal to create real and lasting transformation of consciousness on planet Earth. A place for people to come together to learn how to live peaceably. | |
| Shanti Stupa | Pokhara, Nepal | Nipponzan-Myōhōji-Daisanga | One of eighty peace pagodas in the World. |
Images for kids
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Peace dove statue in Lomé, Togo, Africa. The dove and the olive branch are the most common symbols associated with peace.
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Statue of Eirene, goddess of peace in ancient Greek religion, with the infant Plutus
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Before the word 'peace' came into English lexicon, Anglo-Saxons used a phrase "friðu sibb" for 'pledge of peace'
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Rainbows: Often used as a symbol of harmony and peace.
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The Kind Angel of Peace monument in the city of Donetsk, Ukraine, by Russian artist Peter Stronsky
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Martin Luther King Jr., president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Mathew Ahmann, executive director of the National Catholic Conference for Interrracial Justice, at a civil rights march on Washington, D.C.
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See also
In Spanish: Paz para niños
