30th January - School Day of Non-violence and Peace
The "School Day of Non-violence and Peace", founded in 1964 and also known as World or International Day of Non-violence and Peace, is a pioneering, non-state, non-governmental, non-official, independent, free and voluntary initiative of Non-violent and Pacifying Education,which is now practised in schools all over the world and in which centres of education, teachers and students of all levels and from all countries are invited to take part.
It advocates a permanent education in and for harmony, tolerance, solidarity, respect for human rights, non-violence and peace. It is observed on January 30 or thereabouts every year, on the anniversary of the death of Mahatma Gandhi.
Its basic message is: "Universal Love, Non-violence and Peace. Universal Love is better than egoism, Non-violence is better than violence, and Peace is better than war".
NELSON MANDELA (1918-2013)
This year, we would like to commemorate the life of Nelson Mandela, who
died a few months ago (5th December 2013), by reading some of his most famous quotes about Peace
and Freedom.
Nelson Mandela was awarded
the Nobel Peace prize in 1993 for his role in the peaceful termination
of the apartheid regime and for laying the foundations for a new democratic
South Africa.
- “As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”
- “A Nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but it's lowest ones."
§ "Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never
extinguished"
§ "No one is born hating another person because of the colour of his
skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if
they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more
naturally to the human heart than it's opposite."
§ "A good head and a good heart are always a formidable
combination."
§ "If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your
enemy. Then he becomes your partner."
§ "Only free men can negotiate; prisoners cannot enter into contracts.
Your freedom and mine cannot be separated."
§ "For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in
a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."
§ "There is no such thing as part freedom."
§ "I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph
over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers
that fear."
§ "Education is the most powerful weapon
which you can use to change the world."
§ “Resentment is like drinking poison and then
hoping it will kill your enemies.”
§ “I have walked that long road to freedom. I
have tried not to falter; I have made missteps along the way. But I have
discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that
there are many more hills to climb."
§ "I am the
master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul" (From the poem "Invictus", by W.E. Henley)
Find out more about this great man in the link below
