Non-violent toys promoted for Christmas in Puerto Rica
-21/12/05
Wanda Colon Cortos, d
Non-violent toys promoted for Christmas in Puerto Rica
-21/12/05
Wanda Colon Cortos, director of the Caribbean Justice and Peace Project, which is backed by Christians and other civic groups, has called on authorities in Puerto Rica to reformulate educational practices so that they include non-violent conflict resolution.
She has also proposed recovering the value of play and toys as a tool to reduce social violence.
The project recommends avoiding violent toys that represent war, militarism, death and violence, themes that predominate in movies, television – and above all in video games where the objective is to kill and destroy your opponent.
Over emphasis on these activities contributes to desensitizing children and young people to real-world violence, she says.
As a counterpoint, this Christmas the Caribbean Justice and Peace project has continued its Non-Violent Toys Campaign, something first initiated 19 years ago.
“Our call is aimed at adults, so that they realize they are the first educators of their children,” declares Colon Cortos.
She emphasizes that parents must become more aware of the importance of play in the formation of values and behaviour in children and young people.
“We call on them to select non-war and non violent toys and to dedicate time to playing with their children,” she said.
The pacifist organization seeks to cooperate with a whole range of NGOs in
Puerto Rico that promote values of community life and social solidarity – reducing violence in the schools and in general society.
As examples Colon Cortos cites the EcoPeace project, directed by Carlos Muniz
Osorio; the Peace School for Life Together of the Puerto Rican Workers Union; and work in support of early education on the part of Dr Maria de Lourdes Lopez Cintron of the Pedagogy Department in the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon.
[Also on Ekklesia: Decade to overcome violence gathers momentum; Christians in army resort promote non-violence; Beyond the politics of fear – a response to the London bombings; Asia is focus of global churches day of prayer for peace; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Religions called to honesty, peace and common action]
Non-violent toys promoted for Christmas in Puerto Rica
-21/12/05
Wanda Colon Cortos, director of the Caribbean Justice and Peace Project, which is backed by Christians and other civic groups, has called on authorities in Puerto Rica to reformulate educational practices so that they include non-violent conflict resolution.
She has also proposed recovering the value of play and toys as a tool to reduce social violence.
The project recommends avoiding violent toys that represent war, militarism, death and violence, themes that predominate in movies, television – and above all in video games where the objective is to kill and destroy your opponent.
Over emphasis on these activities contributes to desensitizing children and young people to real-world violence, she says.
As a counterpoint, this Christmas the Caribbean Justice and Peace project has continued its Non-Violent Toys Campaign, something first initiated 19 years ago.
“Our call is aimed at adults, so that they realize they are the first educators of their children,” declares Colon Cortos.
She emphasizes that parents must become more aware of the importance of play in the formation of values and behaviour in children and young people.
“We call on them to select non-war and non violent toys and to dedicate time to playing with their children,” she said.
The pacifist organization seeks to cooperate with a whole range of NGOs in
Puerto Rico that promote values of community life and social solidarity – reducing violence in the schools and in general society.
As examples Colon Cortos cites the EcoPeace project, directed by Carlos Muniz
Osorio; the Peace School for Life Together of the Puerto Rican Workers Union; and work in support of early education on the part of Dr Maria de Lourdes Lopez Cintron of the Pedagogy Department in the University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon.
[Also on Ekklesia: Decade to overcome violence gathers momentum; Christians in army resort promote non-violence; Beyond the politics of fear – a response to the London bombings; Asia is focus of global churches day of prayer for peace; Christian peacemakers say coalition force causes Iraqi violence; Religions called to honesty, peace and common action]