The World Affairs Series hosted author, speaker and current president of the National Peace Academy, Dorothy Maver, to speak in front of a large audience in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union on Monday. Maver gave an overview of what the National Peace Academy does as well as stressed the importance of peace education in a world that is plagued by burden of violence.

“Conflict might be inevitable, but violence is not,” Maver said. “But through each other we can wake up to the beauty of community and really caring about one another in our community. The essence of us at the National Peace Academy is human relationship. And we need to develop these tools for non-violent communication and resolution.”

This was an important theme throughout the lecture as Maver presented the idea that peace education is one of the most important factors in ensuring that our next generation sees a more peaceful world than the previous one. An example that was given about the prospects for peace in the next generation was the joint youth groups that are attended by both Israeli and Palestinian children in Israel in an effort to reconcile each others’ differences and see that violence is not the only option.

“We are at a threshold moment,” said Maver. “Whether it is economics, war, food, water, shelter, jobs — it’s a real time of transition. However, we are also at the beginning of a renaissance and we are beginning to recognize that there is an awakening in us. The emerging world view is about synthesis and cooperation.”

Adding to her optimism, Maver showed a five-minute clip of a group called Generation Wake Up. The clip highlighted the group’s goal of building awareness about the issues that are facing Generation Y (those born between mid-1970s to mid 1980s) including rising ocean levels, starvation, etc, and how we can all become involved in helping our communities by creating an atmosphere for a peaceful and compassionate world through public works and social awareness.

Another example was the efforts of Bangladeshi diplomat and United Nations ambassador, Anwarul Chowdhury, who is known for his work on developing poor nations, campaigning for human rights and pushing for global unity in facing the world’s challenges.

“[Chowdhury] is asking the big question, is peace a human right?” Maver said. “Every time humanity has asked a big question, some big change has happened. It’s not a quick fix but we are asking the right questions. I may not see [world peace] in my lifetime but darn it we are going to see it in your lifetime.”

As Maver pointed out, there are currently four nations, the Solomon Islands, Nepal, Costa Rica and the newly declared state of South Sudan, who have establish ministries of peace, and it was her dream that a ministry of peace would be established in the United States.

“Is it possible that we can make violence history?” Maver asked. “The answer is that we need more recognition of peace institutions.”

The lecture ended with a thirty-second moment of silence for the audience to contemplate on what their own contribution to the peace effort would be. Upon asking the audience what they can contribute, one man spoke up by saying, “compassion.” The answer and the end of the lecture was met with a loud applause as the crowd seemed very pleased with the prospect that each and every one of them can work to eradicate violence and create a better world for all.