Thinking ahead

http://action.peaceoneday.org/page/s/manifesto-vote

Click here to help choose a message of peace for this coming year.

Whiteboard Challenge....the collage

Inspired by Pia and Katie's excellent work, I thought I would have ago at collaging (is that a word?) some of the images from the individual commitments our students made.

My personal reflection on the day

http://www.tristanforsyth.com/blog/?p=422

May be a little similar to the post below in nature but this goes a little deeper with regards to reflection on the day.

My thanks again to all involved in making the day work

What an amazing day!

Peace Day-Wednesday 21st of September

Can I just say WOW!!!

Our School community is a amazing. 

Nearly every class in the Senior School undertook some form of Peace based lesson between 11:30 and 12:30 along with a number of classes in the Junior School. 

Our banner signing went off! I think it would be far to say that the message of Peace was spread throughout our School community and thanks to the efforts of the Year 11's, into our wider community as well.

Thankyou to all involved including my wonderful Yr 11's-the day would not have gone ahead without your input, enthusiasm, organisation and cakes! Thanks also to the Art department, esp. Mrs Herron for allowing us to take over the main Art room at lunchtime and to our Headmaster, Mr Barman for his support in getting the day off the ground.

Photos speak louder than words

 Year 8 Maths class 

 Banner signing in Art room

 Messages of Peace to be used in a collage

 Banner signing

 Boards of Peace

 Banner signing

 BMGS Peace group member+message of Peace= CHAMPION!!!

 The Banner!!!

 Yr 11 Group members (+a Yr 12 ring-in) 'relaxing in the sun!

 Junior School Peace Day work

Electronic Signboard Hijack!!

Thankyou again to all that were involved. Remember that peace is worth 'fighting' for and it is up to individuals like you and I to effect the change WE want to see occur in our world.

HAPPY PEACE DAY!!

Happy Peace Day from the BMGS Community

There is no trust more sacred than the one the world holds with children. There is no duty more important than ensuring that their rights are respected, that their welfare is protected, that their lives are free from fear and want and that they grow up in peace.
      -- Kofi Annan



Peace, in the sense of the absence of war, is of little value to someone who is dying of hunger or cold. It will not remove the pain of torture inflicted on a prisoner of conscience. It does not comfort those who have lost their loved ones in floods caused by senseless deforestation in a neighboring country. Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.
      -- The XIVth Dalai Lama


It is possible to live in peace.
      -- Mahatma Gandhi (1869-1948)


We look forward to the time when the Power of Love will replace the Love of Power. Then will our world know the blessings of peace.
      -- William Gladstone

Peace Is...

Pia and I went around school asking students "What is peace ?"

The Lost Generation-a palindrome

Recommended to me by one of my colleagues, this is an amazing piece of text.
A palindrome is a a piece of text that can be read from 'either end'

read it first from start to finish, then reverse it!



TEXT FOR “LOST GENERATION” VIDEO
I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
this is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.
And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

Twitter madness

Just spent the past couple of hours spreading the message of Peace Day to as many Australian 'media presenters' via their twitter accounts (targeted live TV /radio presenters). Just got a message back from David Koch (Sunrise on 7) and he has re-tweeted the message throughout his network so heres hoping it all works to get the message out!

Hijacked the School's electronic signboard....

We will be monopolising the signboard all day tomorrow. 

Any suggestions as to what should go on the board to advertise Peace Day?

More in class work from Year 9

Worked through the '100 ways to make peace' activity with my other Year 9 class. Again, some amazing work was put together by the kids.

Woolies Leura Tuesday 20th September

Hey guys.

Ash and I have organised for us to go up the Wooolworths in Leura on the tuesday 20/9 this week. We will be handing out Fliers and will need some help from others to help to talk to everyone and to give them information.

We would love if if you could help and come along in Full School uniform and promote Peace.

We will be catching the bus up to Leura and then finishing around 5:15 ish.

Please let me knbow if you can help.

Melinda

Ruby's take on Peace

Given we are posting up somewhat embarrassing video's, heres one from last years Peace Day by 5 year old Ruby.



NB...she had a cut on her head and the patch is to stop her from picking at the glue!

Video Project

One of the projects we are doing for Peace Day is to collect peoples opinions on what Peace means. This is a bit rough but I was interviewed by our group and this was my response.....

Logo

Beautiful drawing from one of our group.

We often talk about the art of war but maybe we should be talking about the art of peace?

www.peaceofart.org

In class Peace Activities

Year 9 hard at work investigating 100 ways of making peace

The aim of the activity was to look at 100 ways of making peace (25 different 'techniques' per group), to categorize them by consensus and then rank them from 'activities they would do' (plus/positive end) and 'activities they wouldn't do' (negative/minus end).

Interestingly enough, all four groups independently decided that the best way to make peace was to talk to someone or to forgive them.

"We forgive freely or we do not really forgive at all."

Lewis B. Smedes

Roll on the 21st!

Some tunes to listen to as we get ready for the 21st

Well, its on this week. really looking forward to this one and heres hoping it all comes out how we have planned it!

Some tunes from the various Peace Day Concerts. Enjoy!!!

This weeks newsletter article

Due to a variety of things going on at school, things had slowed down in the last two weeks but we are now back on track and looking forward to the 21st!!


------

Just the Facts Please.......

In the last 5600 years there have been only 292 years of peace.

90 percent of modern war casualties are civilians -- primarily women and children.

Conflicts have produced 31 million refugees and other displaced persons, most of them women and children.

War has killed 2 million children in the last twenty years.

By the age of 16, the average American child has witnessed 18,000 murders on television.

(statistics from changingthepresent.org)

Imagine a world where these facts did not exist could not exist, would not exist, a world where peace ruled supreme

It all starts with one individual and one day.....the 21st of September is International Peace Day

Our School community has made the commitment to Peace Day, will you join us?

Week 7's Newsletter Article

By Zander

Regardless if a war is accounted as history or alternatively as fiction, the motivation behind the necessary use of violence to solve ones problems remains evident and still exists today worldwide. Though if a single day were possible, a single day of cease fire, a single day to really understand the nature of peace for merely a moment of the year, with this moment, the opportunity to comprehend the possibility of a time with no conflict, no fighting and no violence. I believe that this day would be a monumental step in the right direction towards a future blessed with the gift of peace. Fortunately, that day is rapidly approaching, come September 21^st, and only through support, can peace truly blossom…

We’ve made the commitment, will you?

T Shirts idea

$2 t shirts
http://www.vistaprint.com.au/vp/ns/easypath/uploadpicture.aspx?ref=1&page=1&pf_id=372&combo_id=62643&filter=9%3a10013%7c%7c1%2c17%3a10030%7c%7c1%2c17%3a10031%7c%7c1%2c3%3a10028%7c%7c1&ssc=1&ink_pad_color=1&orig_combo1=15544.120.1.79912%7c79912%7c137%7c0&orig_combo2=15544.120.1.%7c%7c137%7c0%7c%7c-1&click=0&epupstep=1&combo1=15544.120.1.79912%7c79912%7c137%7c0&combo2=15544.120.1.%7c%7c137%7c0%7c%7c-1&uei=94036&ag=true&redir=3&rd=4

Or

http://www.vistaprint.com.au/2million-v3-multi10.aspx?GP=8%2f27%2f2011+12%3a33%3a00+AM&GPS=2164725901&GNF=1&GPLSID=

If the above link doesn't work. One week to order!!!

Peaceful Tortise

Just a little picture of what life could be like.

Operation Whiteboard Launched today!

Thanks to our wonderful Captains (and peace group members) Lucy and Tom, Operation Whiteboard was launched at todays Senior School Assembly. One of our key events for the 21st, we are hoping to collect as many messages of peace on mini whiteboards as we can from our School community to the display as a part of our commitment.

Better than a thousand hollow words is one word that brings peace.

-- Buddha (560-483 B.C.)

Week 5...alls now FINE!!!

Massive roll up to todays meeting. Got everyone signed up for stuff in the upcoming weeks and now I feel (no, we feel) more organised and ready to get this moving!!

Took the opportunity to show them Jeremy's TED speech that he recently did to show the group why I feel the way I do and I think it had the motivational impact I was going for!!





"Peace comes from being able to contribute the best that we have, and all that we are, toward creating a world that supports everyone. But it is also securing the space for others to contribute the best that they have and all that they are."
-- Hafsat Abiola

This weeks newsletter article

This weeks newsletter article was written by Miranda. Unfortunately, I was too late in getting it in so it will be published next week.

----------

A Norwegian gunman disguised as a police officer beckoned his victims closer before shooting them one by one, claiming at least 84 lives, in a horrific killing spree.

Intense fighting in Somalia between the Islamist group al-Shabaab and the Somali Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and African Union peacekeepers over the past eight months has killed and wounded thousands of civilians.

Images of the England riots showed looters running from a shopping mall, store windows smashed and groups of young people being confronted by officers in riot gear.

Police said they made more than 1,100 arrests.

What if there could be one day without senseless violence?

The 21st of September, Peace One Day.

We’ve made our commitment to Peace, will you?

http://www.peaceoneday.org/

by Miranda

Week Four wrap up

Well,
Timed that one well. Not many people were able to make it to the lunchtime meeting today but we able to make some progress on organizing the 21st.

With all the chaos that surrounds us in the world, I feel that it's vital to realise the big picture that can be influenced, dictated and driven by the actions of individuals working towards a common goal.

The prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Great Western Hwy,Wentworth Falls,Australia

Our first newsletter article

“Give Peace A Chance” John Lennon

Our students at BMGS are striving to inspire not only our School community, but the surrounding neighbourhood on the importance of the international Peace One Day. Jeremy Gilley, who is the founder and chairman of Peace One Day, started a film project in 1999 to document his efforts in establishing an annual day of global cease-fire and non-violence. Peace One Day will be held on the 21st of September and is recognised globally and supported by the United Nations. A small group of dedicated students will be organising musical items, activities and fundraising to the lead up to this day. Our goal is to contribute to Peace One Day and to motivate students, teachers and parents to the cause.

By Meaghan

And the journey begins....

Congratulations go to Andie for launching our first Peace Day activity by bravely volunteering to serenade the entire Senior School on assembly with a beautifully acoustic version of the Dixie Chicks 'Travelin' Soldier'..

Being the organized person that I am, we didn't have a camera at the performance but here is a live version by the Dixie Chicks for those unfamiliar with the song

hey

Hey, just checked my email. Belated joining, apologies ect.

Site re-design

Added a countdown to the 21st of September and changed the background to something a little more 'calming'....of course, if someone wants to do a better job than I because I have the creativity of a rock, please feel free to take over!

Thought it also important to add in what Peace Day is all about.

from the Peace One Day Youtube Page




"Peace One Day is working to manifest an annual day of global unity; a day of intercultural cooperation on a scale that humanity has never known. The next stepping stone on this journey is to reach 3 billion people with the message of Peace Day by 2012."


So now you know....go spread the word

Blog Authors

Okey Dokey....a stack of author invites have been sent out so if you have signed up, get posting!!
Things to get the ball rolling if stuck for an idea:
1) Introduce yourself without giving too much away and say hi!!
2) Why are you doing this?
3) What you hope to do for the 21st?
4) Dreams and goals in the context of the group?
5) Things that inspire you to do what you do?
6) Interpretive Dance? (with ribbons on sticks of course)....jks!

If you know of someone who should be here but hasnt checked their emails, give them a nudge to sign up as Im hoping to get all interested parties posting at semi-regular times about our journey towards the 21st and what happens after the 21st.


F. x

Badges, we don need no stinkin' badges!

Had the brilliant idea from P and M to get our hands on some more Peace One Day badges to sell on the 21st of Sept. I think I may have to get on the email to POD to see if I can organise some badges at a discount!!!


I have 8 all ready to go to lucky members of the group but I will try to source more for next term and for the 21st!




And to those under the age of 30, the badges line is a classic from Mel Brooks' "Blazing Saddles" (you must say it in a bad Mexican accent)

Badges

Pia had a great Idea. Buy heaps of Badges which cost 2.5 pounds for 10. And then we can sell them on the Mufti day. And donate that money to peace one day.
http://shop.peaceoneday.org/engine/shop/product/PODBadge001/Peace+One+Day+Badges

L-Dizzle, Checking in!

POD Ideas from 1st meeting

*FACEBOOK STATUS CAMPAIGN
-example shot with message and logo
-encourage screenshots?
*Peace Day Banner (Hands and messages) at Lunch (to be displayed in Chapel term 4)
-benches/sheets/pens
*Video tape peace messages for POD/Youtube? (senior and junior school)
-phones
*Whiteboard messages (photography)
-Ruby's whiteboard+phones/cameras (tripod setup)
*Photo/drawings
-display in chapel??
-timing? (how long before?)
*Mufti Day
-Fundraising for POD?? Required/Necessary? Detracts from the day?
- Money to a community that needs it? (idea of using POD as a Humanitarian Day)

WHERE???? (Reset chapel to accommodate the 'spaces' required)- where else?
Junior School involvement?
-contact them
-speak at their assembly?

Playing around with prezi

Introduced to Prezi at a seminar last year and re-introduced to it by some members of the group.

Amazing concept with some potential but I still have to get the hang of it!

Peace One Day on Prezi

A start.....

New blog set up for this years activities at BMGS.
Need to invite all of the group as authors to get them posting up their thoughts