State of Peace

Measuring peace, increasing happiness

Left = Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland Right = Children in Iceland practicing karate, a Japanese martial art.
Click to watch our interview through the video link.

Iceland is ranked first in the world in the Global Peace Index. We interviewed a student there, Nikulás Barkarson, 11, through a video link. Nikulás is in the 6th grade at Vesturbæjarskóli in Reykjavík, the capital of Iceland.

Iceland has no standing army and isn't involved in any conflicts. He said the children feel little danger in their daily lives and aren't significantly troubled by such problems as bullying at school and crime against children. They can go freely and safely to the city center by themselves.

However, since last fall, the citizens of Reykjavík have staged protests against the government, claiming that measures to address the economic crisis have not been effective. In the largest protests, as many as 3,000 people took part. Nikulás feels that the country isn't at peace when he sees the people and police clash, resulting in injuries.

He says that children can appeal for the importance of peace and ask the government to provide support for peace activities. In addition, he suggests that children can help countries that aren't at peace by raising funds for them.

Nikulás made the following five points in regard to the key elements needed for peace: 1) Nations and their people should be open to compromise, 2) Diplomatic relations and international exchange should be established with other countries, including trade, 3) Trust is maintained between nations and their people, 4) The citizens of a nation are happy, and 5) The nation possesses a limited number of arms.

We agree with his opinions, as we also think that the capacity to smile happily is important to peace. We hadn't thought about trying to move adults to meet these conditions for peace, though, so we were very impressed with Nikulás's ideas. (Minako Iwata, 15, and Miyu Sakata, 13)

	Left = A street in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan Right = Children at Jigme Losel Primary School

We interviewed two girls in Bhutan, whose national goal is increasing the Gross National Happiness (GNH). Lilly Yangchen and Yeshi Syeldrol, both 11 and students at Jigme Losel Primary School in Thimphu, told us their opinion of the level of peace in Bhutan.

They said that the level of peace in the country is high because the nation isn't engaged in war, there's ample food, and few poor people.

At the same time, they noted that some areas aren't at peace. In the south, protests against the national policy of cultural integration by Nepalese residents have forced them to flee the country and become refugees.

Lilly and Yeshi also feel some anxiety when they read in the newspaper about an increase in children being raped or children abusing drugs.

In their opinion, the important factors for peace are such things as: 1) Don't commit crime, 2) Don't wage war, 3) Don't use drugs, 4) Live in friendship, without envy, and 5) Don't be mean. They added, "If we do our best to become adults who can stand up against bad things in the world, the number of countries at peace will increase."

We think it's wonderful they hold the belief that their daily actions can help promote peace. If children throughout the world felt this way, perhaps peace on our planet could be realized. (Moeko Takaki, 14)

Gross National Happiness GNH was advocated by Bhutan's former king as a measurement of happiness, not material standards. The pillars of GNH are: 1) promotion of equitable and sustainable socio-economic development, 2) preservation and promotion of cultural values, 3) conservation of the natural environment and sustainable use, and 4) establishment of good governance.

	Left = A scene in Alajuela, Costa Rica Right = Sara's classroom at her school

What about children in Costa Rica, the country whose constitution prohibits the formation of a military force? We contacted Sara Nunez, 14, of Alajuela, Costa Rica, by e-mail.

Costa Rica is blessed with rich natural resources, including water. After a civil war in 1948, the nation abolished its military force and no longer wages war. Sara wrote, however, that "Costa Rica may look like a country at peace, but the absence of war doesn't necessarily mean everything is peaceful."

She explained that serious crimes, such as robbery, are frequently committed. In the capital, just wearing jewelry can invite robbery. She added that there is discrimination against the people of Nicaragua, too, a neighboring country.

She suggests the United States, which is fighting a war in Iraq, isn't at peace, either.

In regard to important elements for peace, Sara mentioned: 1) Bring people together to create policies for social welfare and education, 2) Hold talks and discussions, 3) Imagine new ideas to resolve problems, 4) Have positive views, and 5) Keep an open mind and respect others' views.

She also feels it's important for children to have the determination to create a better future in order to increase the number of peaceful countries in the world. I was inspired by her words and I agree that the world's children, if we think seriously about our future and sustain our efforts, without giving up, we can help make our countries more peaceful. (Rika Shirakawa, 12)

The Constitution of Costa Rica Article 12 of Costa Rica's constitution was established in 1949 and states: "The Army as a permanent institution is abolished." However, it still permits the formation of forces for national defense. In 2003, a citizen claimed that the Costa Rican government's support for the U.S. in the Iraq War was a violation of the constitution and the Supreme Court upheld his claim the following year.

Six junior writers discussed whether or not Japan is at peace. Four thought so, while the other two didn't.

The reasons given for feeling Japan is at peace include the country's relative safety, the fact that the nation isn't at war, there's an ample amount of food, and children here have the opportunity to attend school.

However, for many people in the world, their lives are threatened by hunger. Because Japan is free of this and other problems of survival, we are able to exchange our views about peace and become involved in peace activities. This very fact is proof of a country at peace, as one member pointed out.

On the other hand, crimes occur almost daily and there are children who commit suicide because they are bullied. These things create the feeling that Japan is not a peaceful place. If people are killed in a casual way, it leaves the impression that human life is treated carelessly.

In our opinion, the five necessary elements to create peace are: 1) Our lives are not under threat from war or other dangers, 2) We have secure shelter and food, 3) People respect each others' ideas and work in cooperation, 4) The gap between rich and poor is small, and 5) The environment is not polluted. (Kotaro Tsuchida, 16)