| Posted: Feb. 25 2005,10:49 |
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PROGRESS: Has your organization seen
progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain of
action and in your constituency during the first half of the Decade? |
Since
1996 more than 10 million young people have signed the Student
Pledge Against Gun Violence. These represent only those reported;
we suspect that th numbers are actually significantly higher.
During
the years in which the Student Pledge has been in wide use, gun deaths
among young people, long rising at a rate much higher than among
adults, has ben falling more dramatically than among other age groups.
The National Center for Health Statistics has indicated that
'rising awareness' has been one of the factors for this. We
feel that the widespread use of the Student Pledge has been part of
that 'rising awarness.'
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OBSTACLES: What are the most important obstacles that have prevented progress?
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There
still are many to reach, to increase the awareness, to reduce even
further gun deaths caused by young people (and persons of all
ages).
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ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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The
Student Pledge Against Gun Violence developed out of the work of Mary
Lewis Grow (Northfield, MN) against the toll that gun
violence takes in American lives. While helping organize the 1994
Silent March, displaying 38,000 empty pairs of shoes in Washington, DC,
a graphic reminder of the toll gun violence takes in American life,
she began to think of ways to connect young people to the issue
of gun violence. Her goal was that they would see their own power
to help reverse it. Drawn to the power of simultaneity--a large
number of people connected to the same idea at the same time--she
started to think of ways to use the power of connectedness to address
gun violence among young people. While in DC in 1994, she
shared this vision with then-Senator Bill Bradley, of a day when
students across the nation could commit themselves to being part of the
solution in reducing or eliminating gun violence. Months later
this grew into a unanimous Senate Resolution calling for a Day of
National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence and a
national distribution of the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence.
Endorsements and support came from most of the national
educational organizations, very important support since the idea
behind the Student Pledge was always premised on its occurring in
schools. The signing of the contract was meant also as a
way of beginning meaningful conversation with young peopls about
inappropriate use of guns and violence in solving problems and for
suggesting the cumulative effect of good decisions, mounting up one by
one, until they represetrned a sea change. A web site was
created so that the curriculum and resource suggestions woud be readily
available to anyone who wished to use them. After widespread use
of the student Pledge in districts from NYC to Washington to Chicago to
Oakland to many cities and towns in between, stories of the
best practices were collected and shared. Many communities
created supporting events: peace marches, candlelight vigils for
young victims of gun violence, speeches or rallies on capitol
steps by public figures who wanted to show their support for young
people who were making healthy decisions. Some schools and
communities planted bulbs so that the resulting spring flowers would
serve as a memorial to those who had died from gunshot and would also
encourage a promise to live peacefully. A segment about the
Student Pledge was included by a Danish filmmaker in a film for the UN.
Originally the Pledge was intended for middle school and
high school students. But in response to requests from many
parents, teachers and administrators of elementary-aged children, we
also created a pledge more appropriate for small children. Thanks
to Sheila Wellstone (Paul Wellstone's wife) who recommended THE
GORP'S GIFT, a suitable way was found to address the subject of
guns with younger elementary-aged children. Since 1996,
the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence has been used by more
than 10 million young people. These represent only those number
that have been reported; we suspect the numbers are actually
significantly higher.
It is gratifying to note that during this
time, that gun deaths among young people --long rising at a rate
much higher than among adults-- has been falling more dramatically than
among other age groups. The National Center for Health Statistics
has indicated that 'rising awareness' has ben one of those factore.
Ms Grow comments, "I would like to believe that the
widespread use of the Student Pledge has been a part of that 'rising
awareness.'"
Of the eight areas of action called for in the Decade of Peace, MS Grow feels the most significant for the Student Pleadge are:
The
fostering of peace through education; The fostering of democratic
participation; The advancing of understanding, tolerance and
solidarity; Supporting participatory communication and the free
flow of information and knowledge; Promoting international peace
and security.
"Of course, I wish for the time in which there is no
call or need whatsoever for the Student Pledge Against Gun Violence,"
says Ms Grow. "If our violence prevention and peace
fostering efforts were to take deep enough root, wouldn't it be lovely
if all such initiatives, someday, were to seem but quaint anacronisms?"
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ADVICE: What advice would you like to
give to the Secretary-General and the General Assembly to promote a
culture of peace and nonviolence during the second half of the Decade? |
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PARTNERSHIPS: What partnerships and
networks does your organization participate in, thus strengthening the
global movement for a culture of peace? |
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence in the second half of the Decade (2005-2010)? |
Continue
the work for the annual Student Pledge Against Gun Violence--A
Day of National Concern About Young People and Gun Violence
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Postal address of organization
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112 Nevada Street
Northfield, MN 55057
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E-mail address of organization
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mlgrow@microassist.com
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Website address of organization
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www.pledge.org
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Highest priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Fostering of peace through education
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Second priority action domain of a culture of peace
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Fostering of democratic participation
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Highest priority country of action (or international)
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Second priority country of action (or international)
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