To find inner peace, believe in others, and educate our children are among contributions people felt they could make toward world peace. This is what Epoch Times reporters from The Canary Islands to Bangalore found when they asked locals: “What do you think you can do to contribute to world peace?”
Luis Felipe Coutinho, 22, Marketing Student
I think we can provide a better world by starting to believe in people more. Supporting, giving a vote of confidence even when that person some day may have disappointed you. … I want to care about people more and more, and I want that other people care about me too. That’s confidence! Be more helpful to strangers or people with whom you have little contact with. People need to go back to believing in people, in moral values, family, marriage, so we can have better human beings in the world. Have you hugged someone today? That can be all this person needs to change the world.
Ján Maruškin, 26, Architect
Nowadays, peace is a very fragile thing, considering cultural, social, and economical status in respective countries, or regions. What could help is an effort to establish and maintain dialogue and looking for solutions and compromises suitable for every party. Even if it isn’t always possible, at least we should try, by using various forms, to lessen the suffering of those who can’t enjoy peace at present.
Piluca Barrera Ortiz, 63, Biologist
From a macro point of view, and with such a big matter as world peace, I think that common people are limited and this is a terrain reserved for governments and politicians. To look from a micro point of view, I think that everyone’s contribution can be huge … In my particular case, I’ve done my best to educate my children and now my grandchildren with the desire for living in peace and not to resort to violence ever to achieve your objectives, whatever the circumstances, since human beings have other more rational/human ways to solve discrepancies and conflicts.
Vimala Pritamraj, 41, Chemistry Professor
Human beings comprise a major portion of this world that we live in. If we are peaceful with ourselves, and begin from “within,” the positivity will radiate and hence bring peace to all of the people we interact with on a daily basis. If each of us made an effort and worked on this aspect, we would very soon have a peaceful world. So let us all start from within, and spread the radiance of positivity that brings forth peace; this is how I would like to contribute to world peace.
Vaclav Korytar, 18, Student
I, as a single being, don’t know what I could do for world peace. But I know that I, as an individual, definitely cannot fashion seven billion people. Certainly, one has to begin from individuals. Then groups can catch on … so that everyone is happy with one’s own life. If a person can put up with it, I believe there won’t be a problem.
Rachel Bolstad, 32, Researcher
I think people can take an interest in what’s going on around them in their own countries and internationally. Getting involved in activism is one way of doing things, and I guess trying to live their lives in a way that is consistent with the values of world peace. So thinking about how your own actions can contribute to the sort of things that, when you build them up together, lead to kind of conflict. So whether it’s … about being tolerant of other people and accepting diversity, and wanting to learn and understand other people’s ways of life, and building those cultural relationships.
Gabriele Guidi, 33, Bartender
I would make a request to all the world powers to sit around a table and put aside everything about financial gain. The first thing to worry about would be the problem of Sub-Saharan Africa, and world hunger. Then I’ll ask all the superpowers to use money and profits to help the poorest countries, bringing the resources that are lacking there. Only this could be the starting point for a world based on universal peace.
Naveed Subhani, 35, Customer Service
The main thing we should have to do is set aside our cultural and religious differences, and make it clear in our mind that the human race is one united group. And in that way, we might be able to help each other, without keeping in mind any differences of race, color, ethnicity, or religious background.
Tyrus Eaves, 25, Healthcare Work
I think what we can do is to have patience for what people try to convey in terms of improving ourselves. Also be mindful of people’s feelings, and come to realize that we need communities. Never take things around you for granted, appreciate and acknowledge the strength of them. That can be a start.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “Do we live healthier lives today than our parents did at our age?”
