Happy New Year!!!

WE WISH YOU A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR 2012!
Slovak partners

The Arab Spring wins Sakharov Prize 2011

Imagines from the streets of Egypt, Libya, Syria and Tunisia during the "Arab spring" revolution ©BELGA
The European Parliament Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought in 2011 goes to five representatives of the Arab people, in recognition and support of their drive for freedom and human rights. It will be presented to the winners by President Jerzy Buzek at Parliament's formal session in Strasbourg, on 14 December.
Parliament's 2011 Sakharov Prize goes to Asmaa Mahfouz (Egypt), Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi (Libya), Razan Zaitouneh (Syria), Ali Farzat (Syria) and posthumously to Mohamed Bouazizi (Tunisia). This nomination was submitted jointly by the EPP, S&D, ALDE and Green groups.
Following the decision by the Conference of Presidents (Parliament President and political group leaders) Thursday morning, President Buzek underlined "these individuals contributed to historic changes in the Arab world and this award reaffirms Parliament's solidarity and firm support for their struggle for freedom, democracy and the end of authoritarian regimes". He added, their award was "a symbol for all those working for dignity, democracy and fundamental rights in the Arab world and beyond."
Asmaa Mahfouz
Ms Mahfouz joined the Egyptian April 6th Youth Movement in 2008, helping to organise strikes for fundamental rights. Sustained harassment of journalists and activists by the Mubarak regime as well as the Tunisian example prompted Ms Mahfouz to organise her own protests. Her Youtube videos, Facebook and Twitter posts helped motivate Egyptians to demand their rights in the Tahrir Square. After being detained by the Supreme Council of Armed forces, she was released on bail due to pressure from prominent activists.
Ahmed al-Zubair Ahmed al-Sanusi
Mr Ahmed al-Sanusi, also known as the longest-serving "prisoner of conscience", spent 31 years in Libyan prisons as a result of an attempted coup against Colonel Gaddafi. A member of the National Transitional Council, he is now working to "achieve freedom and race to catch up with humanity" and establish democratic values in post-Gaddafi Libya.
Razan Zaitouneh
Ms Zaitouneh, a human rights lawyer, created the Syrian Human Rights Information Link blog (SHRIL) which reports on current atrocities in Syria. She publicly revealed murders and human rights abuses committed by the Syrian army and police. Her posts have become an important source of information for international media. She is now hiding from the authorities who accuse her of being a foreign agent and have arrested her husband and younger brother.
Ali Farzat
Mr Farzat, a political satirist, is a well-known critic of the Syrian regime and its leader President Bashar al-Assad. Mr Farzat became more straightforward in his cartoons when the March 2011 uprisings began. His caricatures ridiculing Bashar al-Assad's rule helped to inspire revolt in Syria. In August 2011, the Syrian security forces beat him badly, breaking both his hands as "a warning", and confiscated his drawings.
Mohamed Bouazizi
Mr Bouazizi, a Tunisian market trader set himself on fire in protest at incessant humiliation and badgering by the Tunisian authorities. Public sympathy and anger inspired by this gesture led to the ousting of Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Mr Bouazizi's self-immolation also sparked uprisings and vital changes in other Arab countries such as Egypt and Libya, collectively known as the "Arab Spring".
Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought
The Sakharov Prize for freedom of thought, named in honour of the Soviet physicist and political dissident Andrei Sakharov, has been awarded by the European Parliament every year since 1988 to individuals or organizations that have made an important contribution to the fight for human rights or democracy. The prize is accompanied by an award of €50,000.
This year, the other two shortlisted finalists were Belarusian civil activist and journalist Dzmitry Bandarenka and the Columbian San José de Apartadó Peace Community.

This is the comic dedicated to eTwinning weeks 2011

The author of it is Nikola Janečková from 2.C from Business Academy Levice, Slovakia
ENJOY!!!

eTwinning weeks at Business Academy in Levice Slovakia

We had several activities supporting the project eTwinning during etwinning weeks.Two creative workshops for students of our schoola nd also for students of elementary school and knowledge quizes and competitions too. Enjoy the photos :)
Slovak team

BULLYING PROJECT

Both schools participating in the project peaceambassadors@school have decided to create some projects on bullying. Some of them were like PPTs, some comics or stories. Here are some of Slovak comics about bullying.

STOP BULLYING, SPREAD PEACE!

What is bullying?
Bullying is when someone keeps doing or saying things to have power over another person.
Some of the ways they bully other people are by: calling them names, saying or writing nasty things about them, leaving them out of activities, not talking to them, threatening them, making them feel uncomfortable or scared, taking or damaging their things, hitting or kicking them, or making them do things they don't want to do.

Have any of these things happened to you? Have you done any of these things to someone else? Really, bullying is wrong behaviour which makes the person being bullied feel afraid or uncomfortable.


Why do some people bully?
There are a lot of reasons why some people bully.

They may see it as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough and in charge.
Some bullies do it to get attention or things, or to make other people afraid of them. Others might be jealous of the person they are bullying. They may be being bullied themselves.

Some bullies may not even understand how wrong their behaviour is and how it makes the person being bullied feel.


Why are some young people bullied?
Some young people are bullied for no particular reason, but sometimes it's because they are different in some way - perhaps it's the colour of their skin, the way they talk, their size or their name.
Sometimes young people are bullied because they look like they won't stand up for themselves.


Why is bullying harmful?
Some people think bullying is just part of growing up and a way for young people to learn to stick up for themselves. But bullying can make young people feel lonely, unhappy and frightened. It makes them feel unsafe and think there must be something wrong with them. They lose confidence and may not want to go to school any more. It may make them sick.


What can you do if you are being bullied?
Coping with bullying can be difficult, but remember, you are not the problem, the bully is. You have a right to feel safe and secure.
And if you're different in some way, be proud of it! Kia Kaha - stand strong. Spend time with your friends - bullies hardly ever pick on people if they're with others in a group.

You've probably already tried ignoring the bully, telling them to stop and walking away whenever the bullying starts.
If someone is bullying you, you should always tell an adult you can trust. This isn't telling tales. You have a right to be safe and adults can do things to get the bullying stopped.
Even if you think you've solved the problem on your own, tell an adult anyway, in case it happens again.
An adult you can trust might be a teacher, school principal, parent, someone from your family or whanau, or a friend's parent. If you find it difficult to talk about being bullied, you might find it easier to write down what's been happening to you and give it to an adult you trust.


What can you do if you see someone else being bullied?
If you see someone else being bullied you should always try to stop it. If you do nothing, you're saying that bullying is okay with you.
It's always best to treat others the way you would like to be treated.
You should show the bully that you think what they're doing is stupid and mean. Help the person being bullied to tell an adult they can trust.


Are you a bully?
Have you ever bullied someone else? Think about why you did it and how you were feeling at the time. If you are sometimes a bully, try to find other ways to make yourself feel good.

Most bullies aren't liked, even if it starts out that way. Remember, it's best to treat others the way you would like to be treated.

Peace song - Joan Baez - We Shall Overcome

This is one of the songs dedicated to peace. ENJOY!

Slovak students were discussing Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize
“The said interest shall be divided into five equal parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: /- - -/ one part to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations, the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses.”
(Excerpt from the will of Alfred Nobel)
Alfred Nobel was interested in social issues. He developed a special engagement in the peace movement. An important factor in Nobel’s interest in peace was his acquaintance with Bertha von Suttner. Perhaps his interest in peace was also due to the use of his inventions in warfare and assassination attempts? Peace was the fifth and final prize area that Nobel mentioned in his will.
Henry Dunant, founder of the Red Cross, shared the first Nobel Peace Prize in 1901 with Frédéric Passy, a leading international pacifist of the time. In addition to humanitarian efforts and peace movements, the Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded for work in a wide range of fields including advocacy of human rights, mediation of international conflicts, and arms control.
The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee of five persons who are chosen by the Norwegian Storting (Parliament of Norway), Oslo, Norway.

Peace rhymes and prayers - read at workshop about peace in Romania

When peace came,
I showered under streaming light
– Silent, settling –
Effectuating over all –
The reassurance drunk
From Mother Nature’s breast.

And rays channeled through
The greys of ancient gloom
That paste the hopelessness of
Dying on the battlefield or

The losing out upon a risk
In love;

Byes to precious life
(A husband, child, a wife):

Or failure:
Crashed careers; bleak depression,
The fallen – ruined, spurned –
Covered in veneers of rasping blight.

When peace came, a gate begged
A gentle path inviting me to
Stroll through verdant fields of spring,
Bristling with a bouncing life
Of colour; flowers cheering to
The air ‘We have a chance in nature! ’

When peace came, my addled head was
Reconciling, airing, ringing true –
The sense of crushing pressure dead;
Instead, I flamed a faith anew!

When peace came, I saw our youth
Inside a multicultural womb; our
Death was pointing to a proud
And glorious tomb engraved with words of
Freedom for the soul that was when
Once a body whence it thrived.

When peace came, there happened you –
A fragrance dancing ‘gainst a new and
Frightened innocence of beauty
– Eyes ready; slender arms of care –
A tender skin to be caressed.

And we were blessed by starting fresh
In rhythms of pervading warmth;
Serenity.



Path Of Peace
By Paul Mc Cann


Peace is an easy path to tread
Peace is where our fears are mislaid
Peace is beginning to restore
Peace for each man, woman and child
Peace for the troubled streets gone wild
Peace is for the old and the young
Peace in the end will overcome
Peace builds trust into a lifestyle
Peace is a friendly open hand
Peace is a place to understand
Peace in the end will overcome
Peace is for the old and the young
Peace is a legacy to leave
Peace is when we don't have to grieve
Peace is and end to all the hate
Peace is why we negotiate
Peace for all the victims of war




All We Want Is Peace (Please)


Peace, Peace, Please,
Please, Peace, Please,

There’s something we should do
That’s not been done
Something we can win
That’s not been won
Something we can SHOUT OUT
To end all their brutal war games
We Want Peace

Case for war was fake,
Don’t let it fade
More lives can be saved
Got to be brave
Something we can shout out,
We want peace, and we want it right now
Talking is Free

All we want is Peace
All we need is Peace
All we ask is Peace, Please
Peace is all we want

All we crave is Peace
All we miss is Peace
All we lack is Peace
Peace is all we want

Something we can ask,
Before it’s blown
Something we can grow
Before it’s grown
Small green shoots of Peace
To educate next infancy
Believe me

All we want is Peace
All we crave is Peace
All we wish is Peace, please

Peace is all we ask
It’s not a big task
Believe me
It’s easy.

All we want is Peace, All we want is Peace,
All we need is Peace, All we need is Peace.
Peace is all we want,
Peace is all we want
Peace is all we need,
Peace is all we need………………





Chain of love and peace

One moment of love and peace,
Several moments of love and peace, it can make.

Several moments of love and peace,
One minute of love and peace, it can make.

One minute of love and peace,
Several minutes of love and peace, it can make.

Several minutes of love and peace,
One hour of love and peace, it can make.

One hour of love and peace,
Several hours of love and peace, it can make.

One hour of love and peace,
Several hours of love and peace, it can make.

Several hours of love and peace,
One day of love and peace, it can make.

One day of love and peace,
Several days of love and peace, it can make.

Several days of love and peace,
One week of love and peace, it can make.

One week of love and peace,
Several weeks of love and peace, it can make.

Several weeks of love and peace,
One month of love and peace, it can make.

One month of love and peace,
Several months of love and peace, it can make.
Several months of love and peace,
One year of love and peace, it can make

One year of love and peace,
Several years of love and peace, it can make

Several years of love and peace,
One life of love and peace, it can make

One life of love and peace,
Several lives of love and peace, it can make

Several lives of love and peace,
One family of love and peace, it can make

One family of love and peace,
Several families of love and peace, it can make

Several families of love and peace,
One village of love and peace, it can make

One village of love and peace,
Several villages of love and peace, it can make

Several villages of love and peace,
One community of love and peace, it can make

One community of love and peace,
Several communities of love and peace, it can make

Several communities of love and peace,
One country of love and peace, it can make

One country of love and peace,
Several countries of love and peace, it can make

Several countries of love and peace,
One world of love and peace, it can make

One world of love and peace,
One eternity of love and peace, it can make

One moment of love and peace,
One eternity of love and peace, it can make

So, why doesn’t it?
Because this is same for hate and war…






Peaceful Prayers

Let there be peace in the world.
Let us all see peace and not war.
Let us all have peace in the world.
Let all our statesmen know no violence,
Let all love peace with warm vehemence,
Let all be clothed with passionate patience,
Let all respect peace with real reverence.
Let peace pervade every political terrain,
Let peace calm the spirits of every domain,
Let peace be at peace with every reign,
Let each achieve peace with poor pain.
Peace, to you we plead: come to us.
Peace, we entreat you: deign on us.
Peace, we want you: envelope us.
Let our homes be adorned with peace,
Let our streets be paved with peace,
Let our cities be set on a hilltop of peace.
Let peace taint our every thought.
Let there be peace, let peace never cease
Let there be peace, let war forever cease.

Romanians were discussing the issues of inner peace

How do you reach the inner peace?
• PRAYER and faith
• ATTITUDE and positive thinking
• lecture and PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

Feed your heart with peace. This means to live in peace with yourself. If the heart is full of distrust and selfishness, the head never finds ways to peace. The peace begins where hatred and greed end. The world cannot be changed with violence, but only with the heart.

Feed your heart with peace. This means to breathe quietly. To become one with everything that lives and dies! No more daily wars! End the entire violence inside yourself with gestures of reconciliation.

Feed your heart with peace. This means to meet with respect all that is weak and vulnerable. Be careful to everything that makes you happy. There is no peace in the world, if there is no peace in your heart and mine.
(Phil Bosmans )
By Bianca Hanesi

Prayer for peace
God of our parents, rich in mercy,
Lord of Peace and Life,
Father of all,
You have plans for peace and not for punishment,
You condemn wars and reject the vanity of the violents,
You’ve sent your Son Jesus,
To announce peace to those close and far,
To bring together people of every race and every nation in one family.
Listen the unanimous cry of your children, who beg for mercy for all humanity:
May it never be war, adventure without return,
May it never exist the spiral of battle and violence;
May it never be such wars in the world,
Threats for your creation in heavens, on earth and the sea.
In communion with Maria, Mother of Jesus, we beg you:
Speak to the hearts of those responsible for the nations,
Stop the logic of revenge and that of punishment,
Inspire through Your Holy Spirit new solutions, generous and dignifying gestures,
Spaces for dialogue and patient expectation,
More fertile than the hurried times of war.
Give our time days of peace.
May it never be war!
Amen.

Peace quotes

Slovak students were working with quotes about peace, so Romanian students - read them and enjoy their meaning!
PEACE QUOTES

If we are to create peace in our world, we must begin with our children.
Mahatma Gandhi

Racial understanding is not something we find, but something that we must create. Through education, we seek to change attitudes.
Martin Luther King Jr.

Peace is our gift to each other.
Elie Wiesel

Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.
Albert Einstein
When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.
Jimi Hendrix

There are many paths up the Mountain, but the view of the moon from the top is the same.
Old Japanese Proverb
You must be the change you wish to see in the world.
Mahatma Gandhi

Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.
Mother Theresa

Let us embrace the beauty of every culture and faith to create peace in our world.
Mitra Sen
As we breathe the same air and we share the same sun, why can't we share the same earth...when will the power of love prevail?
Mitra Sen
The way of peace… Overcome evil with good, falsehood with truth, and hatred with love.
Peace Pilgrim
On our own we glitter….TOGETHER WE SHINE!
Mitra Sen
Peace brings the world together.
Aiishwariya Haran, age 9

Peace is inside all of us. We just need to share it.
Jacoba Barber-Rozema, age 10

Peace makes everyone smile.
Sonika Ramachandran, age 7

When there is love, there is peace.
Neil Wu, age 12

Peace means having friends around the world.
Eisa Hayashi, age 11

SOLUTION OF THE CROSSWORD - :)

Slovak students solved the crossword created by Romanian students :)
Here is the result: PEACE

Peace crossword

Romanian students prepared for the Slovak friends and partners the CROSSWORD:
Let´s solve it:

1.Jesus of Nazareth is the “…………………. Of Peace”;
2. The highest honor awarded to Peace maker is the NOBEL PEACE………;
3. Is the opposition to violence;
4.Is one of the three monotheistic religions;
5. Peace means…………..

We Want Peace

Romanian International Day of Peace

Romanian students involved in the project peace ambassadors @school celebrated the IDP in the workshop, where they presented peace rhymes.
ALL WE WANT IS PEACE

Peace is all we ask
It’s not a big task
Believe meIt’s easy.
All we want is Peace

This is one of the rhyme cereated by *Romanian students about peace on IDP. Great, isn´t it? :)

International Day of Peace at Business Academy in Levice

Slovak eTwinning team was planting a tree into the peace alley on International Day of Peace on 21 September 2011. We have also had a workshop where we were discussing the peace issues. We informed our partners about our activities

International day of Peace 21 September

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.
In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.
By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal. During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:
"Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples…This day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace."
Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.
Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world, coming together for one day of peace, is immense.
International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire – personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.

About the project "peaceambassadors@school"

Schools Business Academy Levice, Slovakia - Colegiul National Pedagogic Constantin BratescuConstanta, Rumunsko
This project aims to promote the concept of peace from three perspectives: * The world perspective * Role - models for peace * Individual perspective The project will try to teach students about necessity to keep peace in the world and lead the students to such activities which will form and make students be ambassadors of peace. Students will organize mutual activities to support world peace, they will listen to peace songs, plant peace trees and organize the activities for their schoolmates, write articles, poems, ... with peace ideas. The students will cooperate with UN, EP and other organizations in their peace activities
The project will enhance the European dimension of the school curriculum. The European co-operation will help us to share different approaches and methods of teaching and learning and students will profit from other European countries. The ambition of the project is to make students think of the most important values in the world like peace, tolerance and cooperation. Other aims of the project: To reflect upon the barriers to peace. - To appreciate wider points of views regarding peace. - To encourage tolerance towards others. - To oppose against racism and xenophobia - To increase the pupils' knowledge of the differences between countries, race, religion and culture. - To engage the pupils in co-operative activities to achieve better understanding so that we can exist in a peaceful way.The project will broaden also English language, ICT skills.
Students and teachers will discuss the topics of the project and coordinate the activities of the project, plan work on the project. They will introduce schools, towns where they live, countries and themselves and then discuss planned topics and organize mutual activities in their schools, communities and countries. They will have a video conference andchats every month. Finally they will evaluate the project and make outputs of the project - CDs, DVDs, web sites, blogs,...
The co-operation shall enhance the motivation of learning from and sharing with others and intensify the work across national and cultural boundaries. - The partnership will broaden one’s minds and widen tolerance and curiosity to international experiences in future. - Children will develop linguistic awareness through their dialogue with partners, learning from first-hand experience. - The communication with their partners will improve technology skills as well as language skills.