Rajesh G. Konnur & Sangita Singh

Abstract:

The first written record of the word “education” is found in 1530s. It comes from the Latin word “educare” (meaning: to educate, to train, to rear, to bring up) as well as the words ‘educatio’ and “educationis”, which signify “bring up” or “rearing”. Education propels growth of an individual and ultimately leads to self-realization i.e. highest epitome of “knowledge” or “peace”.

Key Words: Education, peace, knowledge,

Definition and Meaning of Peace:

The concept of peace has an important cultural dimension. Traditionally it is linked as with inner peace (peace existing in our minds or hearts) by our philosophers. Western world views peace as to be outside the individual (absence of war or violent conflict). For example, in India the word peace is “Shanti” and implies “a perfect order of the mind” or “peace of mind”. Gandhiji based his philosophy and strategy on a concept called Ahimsa, which means broadly to refrain from anything harmful. He said, “… literally speaking, Ahimsa means non-violence. It means that you may not offend anybody; you may not harbor uncharitable thoughts, even in connection with those who consider you as an enemy.” In the Maya tradition, peace refers to the concept of welfare; it is linked to the idea of a perfect balance between the different areas of our lives.

A great Norwegian Scholar of Peace, John Galtung defines peace as  the absence of structural violence. Structural violence is a form of discrimination against individuals and groups in a society.

Positive peace means no war or violent conflict combined with a situation where there is equity, justice and development.

Negative peace means that there is no war; no violent conflict between states or within states or nations.

We would summarize these two concepts in the following way:

No war = Negative peace

No war + Social justice/ development = Positive peace

Relationship between Education and Global Peace:

Education is perhaps the most important tool for human development and the eradication of poverty and ill spirits within society. It is the means by which successive generations develop the values, knowledge and skills for their personal health and safety and for future political, economic, social and cultural development. This may be one reason why the MDGs place so much emphasis on achieving universal, free and compulsory education through Education for All (EPA).

Education is the foundation of a peaceful society. It builds literacy, respect, dignity and opportunity for all. On a planet of 7.3 million, peace education i.e. education that specifically promotes respect, empathy, and mutual understanding and conflict management skills, is more crucial than ever. This is even truer in developing countries where often more than 45% of the population is under 14 and children who crave for a peaceful live amid conflict.

The goal of education should be the full flowering of the humans on this earth. According to a UNESCO study “… the physical, intellectual, emotional and ethical integration of the individual into a complete man/ woman is the fundamental aim of education. The goal of education is also to form children into human persons committed to work for the creation of human communities of love, fellowship, freedom, justice and harmony.”

According to James Ross, “The aim of education is the development of valuable personality and spiritual individuality”. The true aim of education cannot be other than the highest development of the individual as a member of the society. Let education burn the individual flame, feeding it with the oil of society.

Interrelationship between Nursing Education/ Practice and Global Peace:

Education is a process which draws out the best in the child or student with the aim of producing well – balanced personalities, culturally alert, morally upright, vocationally self- sufficient and internationally liberal.

Nursing is a dynamic, therapeutic and educative process. It responds to physical, psychological, social, economic and spiritual aspects of human beings. It is a helping profession and always upholds the dignity of human values and spirit of love and peace. The core aspects of nursing are care, cure and co-ordination. This is applicable not only in case of human beings but also beyond living things.

Violent conflict has a grave impact on human health and wellbeing. Violence (inter, intra, external) affects the humans and globally all. Morbidity and mortality are due to the direct or indirect consequences of conflict related to displacement from homes and barriers in access to food, shelter, clean water, sanitation facilities and professional health care.

Nursing profession was profoundly influenced by nursing leaders who provided care during war. Nursing interventions during war were an important stage in helping nursing defines its mission and domain of knowledge that brought peace among the various communities.

In recent years, nursing profession has been championed as a” bridge for peace” with the potential to reduce conflict through a variety of interventions. However, nurses working in situations of violent conflict practice under a range of domains including humanitarian relief, human rights promotion and health sector development.

World Health Organization (WHO) argues that prevention of violent conflict is an important component of health. Good public health practice requires identifying risk factors and determinants of collective violence and developing approaches to resolve conflicts without resorting to violence. In this case, nursing/ nurses have to urge governments to abide by international agreements and solve conflicts nonviolently. This declares nursing’s respect for human life and dignity.

In this era of globalization and power struggling attitude, the environment has been unsafe and unhealthy to live. Now the time has come to transform the society toward a more non- violent and harmonious culture. This includes educating ourselves and others about the effects of war and weaponry, political advocacy and conducting research into the suffering associated with war.

Peace is a dynamic, bio-psychosocial construct. Nursing deals with prevention, care and promotion of health and well being. The extended and expanded roles of nurses have in -depth responsibilities in uplifting human kindness and ultimately bring peace in an individual, family and at large globally. The nursing programmes are designed to make a ‘life’ a better and peaceful one.

Conclusion:

Peace is a dynamic state of mind. It is intrinsic and also extrinsic in nature. Nurses and nursing education can strengthen the global peace mission by collaborative work and ethics.

References:

• Alan Smith (2010). The Influence of Education on Conflict and Peace Building. UNESCO.
• Friedrich (2009). Theories of Peace and Conflict and their Relationship to Education’.Pg: 4-49.
• Galymzhan Kirbassov. Peace and Sustainable Development – A Two-way Relationship. Pg: 1-4.

• Johan Galtung (1999). Theories of Peace. International Peace Research. Oslo.
• L. Redden (2015). The Effectiveness of Combining Simulation & Role Playing in Nursing Education”.