Heritage

100 heritage for peace and reconciliation | manual for teacherContentsDealing non-violently with conflictsBuilding block:We help children develop social skills and teach them, in the case of an argument, tolook for solutions that are beneficial to all parties. We stimulate cooperation insteadof competition.Conflicts are everywhere, ranging from arguments within the household to quarrelswith neighbours and international crises. They are part of life, and we will never beable to eradicate them completely. However, sometimes quarrels can be useful – theyoffer the opportunity to readjust situations that have gone wrong, to alter set patterns,to get to know each other’s wishes and values by means of a confrontation, tostrengthen a relationship or even create a sense of team spirit. Children often comeinto conflict with their parents or educators because in the process of personal growththey want to explore and push their boundaries. So, conflict on its own is not right orwrong. It is just an expression of conflicting interests, insights, opinions or wishes. Theway a conflict is dealt with will determine whether it is constructive or destructive.A non-violent attitude does indeed demand a fighting spirit, resilience and action,but without the use of violence. Violence, after all, never offers a durable solution andalways carries with it the beginnings of more violent behaviour.Gandhi emphasized the fact that all parties need to look for a solution together – asolution which is acceptable to everyone – and this needs to happen by means ofnonviolent behaviour, as well as through their love of life and of the other. Onlythen can conflicts develop constructively. Or, expressed more powerfully – the core ofnon-violence is that you include others when finding a solution. The core of violenceis that you rule them out.HMS SwiftIn March 1770, the British ship HMS Swift, travelling near Argentina, struck anuncharted rock and foundered. The Swift was lost for over a century until it wasrediscovered by local divers. The excavation of the wreck provided a treasure trove ofinformation about life in the late eighteenth century. The Mario Brozoski MunicipalMuseum in Puerto Deseado, Argentina now has an extensive collection of artefactsfrom the wreck.