A new batch of Peace Channel Club members were inducted at Assisi Hr. Sec. School, Dimapur on 3rd March, 2015. The chief guest, Rev. Fr. C.P. Anto, Director Peace Channel and Principal of NEISSR exhorted the gathering saying that all the Peace Club institutions should remain as a place of peace. Where all forms of discrimination is reduced and harmonious living is enhanced. He encouraged the members to create the school a place of peace by striving to prevent all forms of violent conflicts. He also spoke on the importance of peace education and conflict resolution skills. He demonstrated it with an example of a rubber band which breaks when stretched beyond a point. Conflict is natural but when it is stretched too much it will break. In the same way, relationship breaks when each individual claims to be righteous over the other individual/ groups but relationship gets closer when there is mutual respect for each other. He also quoted Mother Teresa's words that Peace begins with a smile and thus, urged the students to show good gestures with one another to create an environment of Peace.

The minds of the leaders of the world are still set in thinking that national security is about being equipped with military arms and strength, that violence can be prevented by violence, and that violence can be resolved by violence. But is that so? . . . How can we change the mind-set of our leaders and our society from the culture of war to the culture of peace?

In the past as well as in our present world, going to war has been glorified as a noble and heroic act, and war movies are glamorized. But what is the truth about war? War dehumanizes us and the presumed enemy. It sets us to think that the “other” is the enemy. Our differences are exaggerated, and that allows prejudice, xenophobia, and scapegoating. Real or invented threats and brainwashing make us willing to sacrifice everything in war, even to the extent of committing genocide and ethnic cleansing. This is the true face of war that has been repeated in history countless of times at the expense of so many lives.

The October 2014 edition of the Faith and Peace Newsletter for October 2014 is now available here.  There are several articles on the Philippines, including an article by MPI Annual Peacebuilding Training volunteer Tirmizy Abdullah, Paving the Way for Peace in History Class.

Peace Channel Dimapur on 10^th December 2014 commemorated Human Rights Day under the theme “Respect Human Rights for Peace,” at Christ Hall, Holy Cross Higher Secondary School Dimapur. Rev. Fr. Chacko, Rector, Good Shepherd Seminary graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. In his message he encouraged Peace Channel for bringing the youth and the children for coming together to create awareness and promotion Human Rights. Assessing the contribution of the Nobel peace winners Ms. Malala  Yousufzai and Kailash Sathyarthi said that they could bring changes in the society. We need to follow their footprints to bring changes in our state Nagaland, by standing for the rights of children and people in Nagaland. In his message he quoted Malala "One child, one teacher, one book, and one pen can change the world.” He also said that we all want peace and all talks about peace and peace is possible but there are certain percent of people who interprets religion, law, customs according to their personal agenda thus depriving people of their basic human rights and peace. He also said that even if the laws and customs were set before, we should ask ourselves whether these laws and customs are still applicable in this present scenario. He stressed that we should stand on what we really believe in.