Spain. All the students and professors together with quite a few families of the School, almost 1000 persons, gathered to commemorate the School Peace and Non-Violence Day under the theme “Combat poverty, build peace.”
Poverty is frequently found among the factors that favour or aggravate the conflicts, including armed struggles. Benedict XVI reminded us of this truth in January:
“Another serious threat to peace is observed and is becoming ever more serious in the world: whole towns live today in situation of extreme poverty. The inequality between rich and poor has become more evident, even in the economically more developed nations. This is a problem that is posed to the conscience of humanity.”
For two weeks, seconding the educative proposal of Alboan (www.alboan.org), the Cardinal Larraona School has tried to remember that “we also keep the capacity to get angry in view of the injustices that others suffer, and mobilize ourselves before another’s disgrace, getting involved in it.”
We believe in solidarity. We must not only avoid hurting others directly; we must also help those in need.
The alternative vision of the rights of the persons tells us:
• That we should recognize that other persons have the same rights I have. That was what Jesus of Nazareth showed us.
• Consequently, we feel responsible for the others; what happens to them affects us too.
• Forgetting our own responsibilities prevents us from building a caring community.
• Fulfilling our duties towards others builds us as persons and as societies. Our happiness cannot be attained at the fringes of the others.
• Seeking peace by working for justice is a right and a duty of everyone.
The day of January 30 was for the first time declared School Day of Peace and Non- Violence (DENIP) in 1964.
Its aim is the education in and for tolerance, solidarity, harmony, respect for Human Rights, non-violence and peace. On this day the schools and education centres become instruments of peace and understanding among persons of different formation, race, culture and religion.
