THE MEANING OF THE LOGO

as in Nuclear

N= D=as in Disarmament

In semaphore letters

MELS Working Document 2008

The Culture of Peace What is it?

It is a set of values, attitudes, modes of behaviour and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts (...) through dialogue and negotiation among individuals, groups and nations.

(United Nations Resolutions A/RES/52/13)

The Culture of Peace A little bit of history...

From the mid 1940’s to the beginning of the 1990’s, there were major tensions between the Soviet Union (USSR) and USA. The two superpowers became obsessed to have the most powerful military equipement especially nuclear weapons. That era was known as the Cold War.

In 1961, as a result of the Cold War, Germany was divided in two by a wall, called the Berlin Wall.

In the late 1980’s reform programs in the Soviet Union led to major changes and USSR was dissolved.

In 1989, the wall was broken down by East and West Germans. They were more than happy to be reunited.

Photo: Maryam Yahyavi

The end of these tensions led to a new vision of peace, looking for common values for all: respect for life, liberty, justice, solidarity, tolerance, human rights & equality between men and women.

In 1997, there is an announcement proclaiming 2000 International Year of

Culture of Peace.

The following year, Nobel Peace Prize laureates suggest that 2001-2010 becomes the

International Decade for a Culture of Peace

and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.

The Culture of Peace How the UNESCO

promotes it... United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization

Public awareness campaignDevelopment of communication and information tools (Web site, guidelines, logo, etc.)

8 action areas for promoting a Culture of Peace...

economic and social development, respect of human rights, equality between men and women, democratic

participation, understanding, tolerance and solidarity, free flow of information and knowledge, international peace and security, a culture of peace through education!