Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label peace. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

International Day of Peace 國際和平日


(International Day of Peace 國際和平日 September 21st)
I will begin the new semester with teaching about peace and then give a small test to determine who will be the new A and B class students (in cooperation with their writing teacher who will also give them an assessment.) This is important to give the kids in B class an opportunity to move up if they can, as well as not keep the A class kids too complacent. Its helpful for teaching and learning if the kids are grouped according to their English ability. Also there are several new students. 

After this Unit all subsequent readings will be divided into beginner and intermediate level readings.

Introduction: Students survey their peers and John Lennon's "Imagine" (bilingual lyrics, fill in the blanks).



Vocabulary: Self study/Review here
  1. Global (adj)
  2. Workshop (n.) 研討會,討論會
  3. Speech (n.) 演說;發言;談話
  4. Celebrate (v.)
  5. Support (n.)
  6. Colleague (n.)
  7. seriously (adv.)
  8. something devoted to something: 將…貢獻給,把…奉獻給 EX: September 21st is devoted to peace.
  9. war torn: 飽經戰亂的;受戰爭蹂躪的
    EX:It is a long-term task to rebuild the infrastructure of a war-torn country such as Angola.重建像安哥拉這樣飽受戰爭蹂躪的國家的基礎設施是一項長期的任務。
13. prayer: 禱文,禱詞

EX: a prayer of thanks 表示感謝的禱文

She always says her prayers (= prays) before she goes to sleep她睡前總要念禱文。



The International Day of Peace should be one of the most important days of the year. It occurs annually [every year] on September 21st. It is dedicated to peace as well as the absence [不存在;缺乏]of war. This day also serves as a global ceasefire [停火協定] day. Many countries, political groups and military groups observe [obey a custom] it. The day starts when the U.N. rings the “Peace Bell” at its New York headquarters. This bell was a gift from the people of Japan. There is a message on the side of the bell that says: "Long live absolute [total] world peace." The U.N. said: "Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating [officially respect] and strengthening the ideals[理想;標準極高的原則] of peace [and] that our permanent [長久的;永久的commitment, above all interests [利益,好處] or differences of any kind, is to peace."

Thousands of Peace Day events take place around the world every year. These include concerts involving rock superstars to football tournaments [錦標賽] for peace and baking cakes for peace. Many organizations hold educational workshops in schools, especially those in war-torn countries. Nobel Peace Prize laureates [諾貝爾獎得獎者] also make speeches to show the world their work has not finished. Anyone can celebrate Peace Day. It can be a simple, individual act such as lighting a candle and saying a prayer. For those who want to be more active, it can involve getting the support of friends and colleagues to plan a large event. Hopefully, this day will take off and people will think about peace more seriously.



ART:
1. Origami Dove,
2. Hand Chain with peaceful word haiku
Haiku 俳句 (5-7-5)

EXAMPLE:
Composure

Stop in your distress
Quiet the discomposure
Be tranquility


3. An acrostic poem "PEACE"
acrostic: (通常指每行詩第一個詞的首字母可組合成詞或片語的)藏頭詩,離合詩

People living together in harmony
Educate the children
Accords signed by all of society
Ceasefires forever
Exit all suffering and strife

EXTRA: Dalai Lama Hopes Trump, Putin Will Work together for Global Peace 達賴喇嘛希望川普、普廷為全球和平攜手合作


Resources:

Sunday, September 20, 2015

Happy International Day of Peace- Peace Begins with Me


My Peace and Justice social studies classes have just finished Unit 1 on Human Rights. It was supposed to be a review, but for many, most of the concepts were abstract and the language difficult. It took 2 weeks longer than I anticipated going through that material. 

Unit 2 is an introduction to Peace Studies and we try and define peace, how Otherness contributes to conflict and watch and read interviews of peacekeepers and peace builders. Since the 9th graders will be on a field trip Tuesday to Friday, it doesn't make sense introducing this unit until next week. 


Monday the 21st happens to be International Peace Day so for my Monday classes we will talk about peace and the individual, how cultivating inner peace can contribute to global peace and share any religious or spiritual beliefs that help us and have an interfaith meditation. I originally intended to have a poster competition with the expectation of having completed Unit 2 on peace before, but I'm flexible.

     (This isn't my favorite musical cover of Let Peace Begin with Me, but it has lots of cool quotes.)

Most of my students are Taoist, then Buddhist or a mix of Taoist/Buddhist and a few are Christian. Since I am Christian I will share some scriptures of what I know.  I'd love if any of my Buddhist students could do the same. In Taiwan many Buddhists read their scriptures in the temple. As for Taoism, my limited understanding is that inner peace manifests from the harmonious balance of yin and yang which are found in everything, the food we eat, weather, emotions, the placement of furniture, the season, the organs in our body, etc.

 In Christianity peace is personified in the person of Jesus. He is called "The Prince of Peace." The believer has access to inner peace thru their faith of Christ living within them.


What Christianity and Buddhism do share is that the present moment is where the peace of God is, not worrying about the past or future. The biggest difference is Buddhists believe peace comes from mastering oneself and Christians believe Christ in them is their master.

The first selection is often read at Christmas or sung in carols.


1. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder; and his name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Father of Eternity, Prince of Peace.  (Isaiah 以赛亚书9:6) 因為有一個嬰孩為我們而生,有一個兒子賜給我們; 政權必擔在他的肩頭上;他的名必稱為“奇妙的策士、全能的 神、永恆的父、和平的君”。

2. Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life. (Philippians 腓立比书4: 6-7)
應當毫無憂慮,只要凡事藉著禱告祈求,帶著感恩的心,把你們所要的告訴 神。 這樣, 神所賜超過人能了解的平安,必在基督耶穌裡,保守你們的心思意念。



3.May the Master of Peace himself give you the gift of getting along with each other at all times, in all ways. May the Master be truly among you! (2 Thessalonians 帖撒罗尼迦后书 3: 16) 願賜平安的主親自隨時隨地賜平安給你們。願主與你們眾人同在。

4.Those who love Your law have great peace; Nothing makes them stumble. (Psalms 诗篇119:165) 喜愛你律法的必有豐盛的平安,甚麼都不能絆倒他們。


5. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 腓立比书 4:7) 這樣, 神所賜超過人能了解的平安,必在基督耶穌裡,保守你們的心思意念。


  
6. God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach, for goodness’ sake. It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ. Do that and you’ll kill two birds with one stone: pleasing the God above you and proving your worth to the people around you. So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other. Help others with encouraging words; don’t drag them down by finding fault. (Romans 罗马书14: 17-19) 17 因為 神的國不在於吃喝,而在於公義、和睦,以及聖靈裡的喜樂。 18 這樣服事基督的人,必蒙 神喜悅,又得眾人嘉許。 19 所以,我們總要追求和睦的事,與彼此造就的事。

 7. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught. (John 约翰福音14:27)  我留下平安給你們,我把自己的平安賜給你們;我給你們的,不像世界所給的。你們心裡不要難過,也不要恐懼。



Listen to Tina Turner chant a peace mantra in Sanskrit. This mantra in Sanskrit means, "“May well-being, peace, wholeness and tranquility, happiness and prosperity be achieved by all”.


Mantra:
Om Om Om,
Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Shantir Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Poornam Bhavatu,
Sarvesham Mangalam Bhavatu,
Om, Shanti, Shanti, Shanti.