September-October 1998, Volume 2, Issue 1

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• International Peace Research Assoc., Conference in Durban, South Africa, June 23-26, 1998
• American Psychological Assoc., Peace Psychology Division, San Francisco, California, August 14- 18, 1998
• New SIG with Common Interests: Research in Global Child Advocacy
• Common Ideals Shared with the American Sociology Association
• Hands-on Peacemaking: A New Focus at Wilmington College's Peace Resource Center
• Calling All Volunteers
• On-line Resources for Peace Education/Peace Studies
• Recently Published Books and Other Resources
• Coming Soon . . .  

International Peace Research Assoc. Conference in Durban, South Africa, June 23-26, 1998

Mini-Report by Ian Harris, SIG Member

The Conference attracted 300 delegates from around the world, who met at the University of Durban to discuss how to meet human needs in a cooperative world. The general conference schedule was divided into 13 different commissions: Communication, conflict resolution and peacebuilding, global political economy, internal conflicts, international human rights, nonviolence, peace education, peace history, peace movements, peace through literature, religion and peace, women and peace, and security and disarmament.

The Peace Education Commission(PEC) hosted 25 different papers/presentations on topics as diverse as: theory, caring communication, conflict resolution and global interdependence, and peace education through culture. Delegates also listened to reports on peace education activities taking place in Burundi, Japan, Australia, South Africa and the Balkans.

Peace educators are invited to join this dynamic international exchange by contacting Ian Harris, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, P.O. Box 413, Milwaukee, WI 53201. Dues: $15.00, which provide a 2 year membership in PEC and include two newsletters annually. Checks may be made out to: " UWM Foundation."

Special Note: A LISTSERV established by IPRA to facilitate discussion about education for peace can be subscribed to by sending a message to: listserv@csd.uwm.edu and in the body of the message write:

subscrib pec your name

Put nothing else in the message. If you want to communicate with other peace educators from all around the world, send a message to: pec@csd.uwm.edu A message sent to this address will go to all the other people in the listserv. Ian Harris, manager of the listserv, noted that all are welcome "parents, citizens, and professionals . . . who are using the insights of nonviolence and conflict resolution to create a less violent world."

Report on Conference Proceedings at the American Psychological Association

Conference - Peace Psychology Division

Mini-Report by Ian Harris

The Peace Psychology Division of APA held 21 sessions at the annual conference in San Francisco from August 14-18, 1998. This Division has an active membership involved in many different aspects of peace research. They publish a refereed journal, Peace and Conflict.

The Division sponsored various symposia with topics such as "Spiritual Values and Peacework;" "After the Fighting Stops: A Psychosocial Intervention and Reconciliation;" "Training Peacemakers, Peacekeepers, and Peace Educators;" "Comprehensive Approaches to School-Based Violence Prevention;" and "Peace Education-Psychological Issues and Applications."

Researchers at this Conference defined peace psychology in the following way: It seeks to develop theories and practices that elucidate psychological processes involved in the prevention and mitigation of destructive conflict, dominance, oppression, and hatred. Psychologists help people understand the crucial, destructive role of violence in their lives and develop new understandings of ways to create peace.

If interested, contact: Dan Mayton, Department of Psychology, Lewis-Clark State College, 500 8th Ave., Lewisburg, ID 83501.

New SIG with Common Interests: Research in Global Child Advocacy

In recent weeks, Michael and Ilene Berson, University of South Florida, spearheaded a campaign to establish a new SIG that promotes research into child maltreatment and the creation of school environments that address a range of protective efforts against child abuse and neglect.

Information can be obtained from Michael or Ilene Berson. Email: berson@tempest.coedu.usf.edu or Web site: http://www.coedu.usf.edu/globalchild

Common Ideals Shared with the American Sociology Association

Contribution from Candice C. Carter

The American Sociology Association has a Section on the Sociology of Peace, War, and Conflict(a recent name change) that recently celebrated their 20th anniversary. Their Newsletter of June 1998 featured Elise Boulding, who shared her memories of the formation of the group. Her message to the ASA and others involved in peace studies/peace education was an important reminder:

Given the new international dangers on the horizon with the steps India and Pakistan have taken to join the nuclear club . . . it is time to remind our ASA colleagues of how important peace studies is and will be to help us get into the 21st century peacefully.

If interested, contact: ASA, 1722 N St., NW, Washington, DC 20036.

Hands-on Peacemaking: A New Focus at Wilmington College's Peace Resource

Center

This past summer, a revitalized Newsletter from the Wilmington College's Peace Resource Center reported on a "shifting emphasis" and "historic change" for the Center. Essentially, it will move "in a clear direction of hands-on peacemaking with a focus on conflict resolution in our nation's schools." As a result, the Center will be connected to the College's Education Department in an effort to become more directly involved in community peacemaking, particularly in the local public schools.

As a result of this policy change, they reported that the College will hire a Center Director who will train the College's education students in conflict management and resolution skills. Friends of the Center, however, were assured that the historic mission of the founder, Quaker peace activist, Barbara Reynolds, will continue with its Hiroshima/Nagasaki Memorial Collection.

The Center can be accessed through their website: http://www.wilmington.edu or email: prc@wilmington.edu

Calling all Volunteers

• Proposal Mentors (for 1999-2000)
• Proposal Reviewers (for 1999-2000)
• Membership Assistance: Recruiting, Contacting Prospective Members,
• Payment Reminders
• Dissertation Mentors
• Web Site Assistance
• Your Best Ideas and Suggestions
• Contributions, New Resources, especially Your Own Publications (Books, Journal Articles, etc.)

Coming Soon . . .

Next Newsletter will include:

• Agenda for Business Meeting in Montreal
• Paper Presentations/Roundtables
• Related social events in Montreal