Here are quotes from students who have completed their global peace murals and what they wanted to share with you...
From the Ghandi-King Season of Non-violence Conference, March 16, 2007 at the United Nations, New York, NY
Jon "Deveraux" Laing and Claire Mastellar of Communications High School in Wall, New Jersey share their experience of working on the peace mural with hundreds of students attending the United Nations on March 16th, 2007 for the 10th Anniversary of the Ghandi-King Season of Nonviolence Youth Conference recognized by the United Nations. A Season for Nonviolence is a national 64-day educational, media, and grassroots campaign dedicated to demonstrating that nonviolence is a powerful way to heal, transform, and empower our lives and our communities. It was inspired by the 50th and 30th memorial anniversaries of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.. It was organized by The Permanent Mission of The Philippines to the United Nations in cooperation with The Temple of Understanding, The Association for Global New Thought The Interfaith Center of New York, The M.K. Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence The International Mahavir Jain Mission, and The World Peace Prayer Society.
" Since the day I was born", says Jon, "my parents always told me 'Our generation screwed up this world, and your generation is going to fix it.' I've heard it about a million times since then and after hearing it so many times I became desensitized to the idea. I became very accustomed to the thinking that my generation was no different. We're just as greedy, selfish, ignorant, and pugnacious as all the countless generations before us. What could we possibly change? What's so great about us?
Then I started working on this mural. During the brainstorming process I had the privilege of hearing what my peers had to say concerning the state of the world, and how they thought the world should be. Hearing the relentless optimism of my fellow students gave me a new perspective. Sure, making a difference isn't going to be easy, but hey, why not? There's nothing stopping us.
The two canvases of our mural depict the world as we see it, and the world as we feel it should be — the problem and the rectified scenario. However, this mural is unfinished; do you see it? Right there, between the two. That's where the solution goes. It's not finished because it's a project that we as humanity are continuously working to paint. As the future scientists, educators, architects, artists, and politicians, we the youth add a little more to that canvas everyday. It's a daunting task, but it's not beyond the realm of possibilities.
My parents told me that my generation was going to fix the world. Before this I didn't believe it, but I think I can call myself an optimist again, and can safely say that I'm looking with great anticipation toward the future that my peers and I are going to create."
Claire Masteller's shares with hundreds of students at the United Nations, March 16th, 2007 for the Ghandi-King Season of Non-violence Youth Conference
"It is often said a picture is worth a thousand words", says Claire Masteller. "A picture is something universal that everyone around the world can understand. It has the ability to bridge the gaps between different races, religions, languages, and cultures. The Where Peace Lives Mural Exchange utilizes art as a medium to communicate peace. In a world full of so much turmoil and unrest, the discussion of peace is always open for new views and ideas. For years we have spoken of peace, but this project allows us to express ourselves in a new way that people all over the world can relate to. By taking our visions of peace and transforming them into concrete images we are able to communicate with others through the universal language of art.
Coming from Communications High School we have been taught to communicate through not only words but also images. So, when I first heard about the project I thought what better message to communicate than that of peace? This project was a great way to put all of our schooling to use in order to truly make an impact and create a positive change in the world by opening the eyes of many others to important world issues. This project will truly help the youth of the world to build bridges to universal peace.
As we worked to complete this project it became more than just a mural. With each hour devoted to it, and with each brushstroke we each put a part of ourselves into the mural. It was not just an image on a canvas anymore, it was so much more. It was a possibility, it was a future. The mural helped open our eyes to the world and to what the world could be.
We made the mural to make an impact, and in turn, it made an impact on us. It showed us that we were what the world needed to change. It showed us that peace truly lives inside us."
Communications High School, Wall, NJ
"Painting the mural showed all of us how peace is achieved. Even though we didn't always agree, we learned to compromise and in turn, we created peace between each other. " — Alexa Squillaro
"Sometimes, I still like to close my eyes and pretend that we had never finished painting the mural —For that, my friends, is an experience that I will not soon forget. " — Skippy Smith
"Aside from having a great time and getting in touch with an artistic side of myself that I rarely get to see, what I really feel that I am taking away from the mural project is a true idea of progress. We often worry so much about the details in life that it becomes difficult to keep the big icture in mind, but in this mural, every little detail, every little stroke of the paintrbush, was a step in the right direction. " — Shina Alads
"Working on this mural taught all of us that people with different ideas can come together and move toward peace. " — Samantha Jasanovsky
Conerly Road "Peacemaker" School, Somerset, NJ
"Working on the mural was a big thing for me because it made me feel happy and it explains what peace is." — Jasmine Blades, Grade 3
"Working on the mural made me feel joyful seeing big and small working together, it made me feel peace." — Shannon Lauder, Grade 3
"When I was working on the mural it felt like I was helping someone so I feel happy for when were giving our mural to someone else so they know what peace is to us." — Kyra Erel, Grade 3
"I think the mural helped bring out the peace in everyone." — David Earley, Grade 4
"Working on the mural made me feel happy because I got to be part of something big, and it was like seeing what peace means." — Michael Velez, Grade 4
"Working on the mural project made me feel very peaceful and happy. It made me happy and peaceful because I got to be with my friends and I got to learn how to make a mural." — Alayna Fuller, Grade 4
"Working on the mural made me feel happy because I was part of a very big thing with peace and love." — Emily Riha, Grade 3
"Working on the mural made me happy. I liked doing it because it was fun and everyone was able to do it."— Juliana Kosty, Grade 3
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