Youth Peace Initiative

OVERCOMING HATRED & VIOLENCE…

“Today, in a world convulsed by violence and unbelievable brutality the lines between ‘us’ and ‘the terrorists’ have been completely blurred… We don’t have to choose between Imperialism and Terrorism, we have to choose what form of resistance will rid us of both. What shall we choose? Violence or non violence? …We have to choose knowing that when we are violent to our enemies, we do violence to ourselves. When we brutalize others, we brutalize ourselves. And eventually we run the risk of becoming our own oppressors.” - Arundhati Roy, 2004 Sydney Peace Prize recipient.

Racism, bullying, prejudice and other forms of discrimination and oppression are all forms of violence. Whether they manifest in physical attacks and fights or are revealed in the form of verbal or emotional abuse, they are still violent and hateful acts and they stand in the way of peace at all levels – from the interpersonal all the way to the global.

Media

Relevant Sydney Peace Prize Winners

arundhati-royARUNDHATI ROY, 2004 - Author & Human Rights Campaigner.
“Peace is not the opposite of war. Peace is the sibling of justice.” - Arundhati Roy.
In 2004 Ms Roy was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize for “her courage in campaigns for human rights and for her advocacy of non violence, as expressed in her demands for justice for the poor, for the victims of communal violence, for the millions displaced by the Narmada dam projects and by her opposition to nuclear weapons.” Read more about 2004 Sydney Peace Prize recipient Arundhati Roy HERE.

desmond-tutuDESMOND TUTU, 1999 - South African Cleric & Activist; Leader of anti-apartheid movement against racial oppression.
“A person is a person because he recognizes others as persons.” - Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
In 1999 Archbishop Tutu was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize “for his work as Chairman of South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, his leadership of the anti-apartheid movement against racial oppression, and his tireless campaigning for reconciliation through tolerance and forgiveness.”
Read more about 2004 Sydney Peace Prize recipient Desmond Tutu HERE.

YPI Projects

The following projects designed and run by Australian young people are dedicated to the cause of “Overcoming Hatred & Violence”: