Building a Culture of Peace
(Original)

Denise Anne Castro
(Age 11, The Philippines)
Miriam College

Media and information and communication technologies form part of our everyday lives that most of us couldn't live without them. Television, movies, books, magazines, the Internet and video games have an influence on us. They influence us in the way we think, feel and behave.

Media is a great source of information and facts. It helps me know what is happening outside my home such as the latest events in the community and how I could participate in them. It keeps me informed about the newest Disney rides or the newest robot invention. The Internet provides me tons of information especially when I do research. Whether I'm struggling with a Math problem or trying to figure out what 'sprechgesang" means, all I do is ask the World Wide Web. It's actually like having somebody beside you who is smart enough to know everything. The Internet helps me stay connected with family and friends through email, IM, blogs and personal pages.  When I've got news to share, I use them to get the word out and send the same message to as many people as I'd like, which saves a lot of time. I don't need to call every single family member or friend one by one.

Media also provides entertainment. Imagine what life would be without entertainment.  Reading books, watching TV or movies, surfing the Internet, and playing video games form part of my everyday life. An afternoon of soaking my eyes on the computer and touching its keyboard till my fingers get soar, is what I call PLEASURE.

These are just a few of the benefits I get from multimedia. Actually, there are a lot more than one could ever imagine. However, I have always been reminded by my parents and by my school that there are also disadvantages to their use.  And that I should be aware of their proper use. This is because television, movies, magazines, the Internet, video games, books, videos, and all forms of advertising, are powerful influences in the lives of children.

Their influence on children may be positive or negative, depending on the kind of news and information, and entertainment we get from them. They could promote either a culture of peace or a culture of violence. 

We kids are surrounded by all sorts of media and technology and we get our own dose of violence from them. Stories of violence are sensationalized in television and movies. They are flashed in the news. More news coverage is given to violent incidents than peaceful ones.  Violence are depicted in cartoon shows and seen in video games.

This is not the kind of culture we kids want. My big question is - Will we allow ourselves to be victimized by violent media culture or will we work to create a peaceful society where we feel safe in our homes, in our streets or in our communities?

I have made a stand. I will do my own little share of changing our culture of violence into a culture of peace through media and information and communication technologies. As a writer/correspondent of a kids' section of a newspaper in our country, I will help build a peaceful world by writing articles, poems or stories which will promote peace and understanding among peoples, regardless of race, creed or culture. I will let my voice be heard through my articles. I will submit them to our school paper or to other literary publications, or post them in the web. I will chat with other kids my age from around the world and encourage them to act and communicate their concerns to media.

Nobody wants to live in a world with a culture of violence and conflict. It's about time we act as globally responsive citizens and do our own little share of building a peaceful world through the proper use of media and information and communication technologies. It's time we make our world a better and safer place. Let's act now!