Last Tuesday, the sight of the Ukrainian President stirred a deep response in many observers. Volodymyk Zelensky addressed the Spanish Parliament to condemn Russia’s war crimes, express gratitude for aid, and request continued support to resist the occupation. He noted that although it is April 2022, the world seems stuck in the same crisis that unfolded in 1937 as German airpower threatened civilian targets in Europe. The violent onslaught and its ripple effects—bombings, displacement, and shattered communities—have shrouded global peace in fear.
The applause from standing deputies followed, and the Spanish leadership reaffirmed its support for Ukraine, praising its people’s resolve in defending freedom and human rights while safeguarding ongoing assistance and exploring Ukraine’s path toward European Union membership.
Zelensky expressed a willingness to remain in the country in order to lead the defense, stressing the need for weapons and essential tools to halt the invasion. His stance highlighted a courage that resonates with a people defending their rights against a powerful adversary.
Beyond the battlefield, a second conflict unfolds: the war of disinformation. Decisions to invade have flooded media channels and networks with distortions. Fake images, misleading captions, and false statistics spread rapidly, warping perceptions and undermining truth.
For more than a month, audiences have endured the sounds of bombardment and the sight of widespread destruction in Ukraine. Millions have become refugees, thousands have fallen or been wounded, and both public and private property have suffered considerable damage. The psychological toll on those who live through the war and follow its developments is immense. War wounds everyone who participates or witnesses it, regardless of outcome.
What can be done to halt this catastrophe and prevent a recurrence? While some may label the stance as naive, the proposed long-term remedy centers on education for peace. In the face of brutal occupation and flagrant violations of international norms, the imperative is to strengthen peace-oriented education. Short-term measures include enacting laws that support global peace, assisting those who defend themselves, imposing targeted sanctions, prosecuting acts of genocide, and removing aggressors from international institutions that defend human rights.
Quotations about peace echo across generations. A line attributed to Bob Marley asks, “If we all shake hands, who will draw their guns?” His advocacy for harmony mirrors the belief that ordinary people unite for a gentler future. The aim is to progress toward a world that prioritizes livability, solidarity, and compassion, even as current tragedies claim countless lives and drive people from their homes.
Peace is more than the absence of conflict. A cemetery might offer quiet, but true peace requires justice and solidarity to flourish. The absence of oppression and the presence of fairness are essential components of enduring peace. Education for peace carries the potential to prevent wars, halt exploitation in vulnerable regions, and cultivate nonviolent approaches that empower communities to shape just and harmonious societies.
Structural violence and the notion of positive peace, introduced in scholarly discourse, underscore that peace entails more than the lack of overt aggression. It involves just institutions, equitable development, and the fulfillment of basic human needs. The duty to advance peace rests on practical efforts to build justice and shared prosperity while nurturing a cognitive and emotional commitment to peaceful values.
Schools can be transformed into engines of peace by training students to help shape a more inclusive world. The idea that education shapes the future is echoed by Paulo Freire, who argued that schools do more than reflect society; they prepare people to transform it. A hopeful path toward a peaceful future requires a deliberate search for new models, new leadership, and renewed dedication to peaceful living.
In this shared mission, everyone can contribute to a more peaceful order that spans nations, institutions, and families. The old adage si vis pacem, para bellum is challenged by the conviction that true security comes from building peace rather than preparing for war. The term Ministry of Defense invites reflection on its true objectives; if the aim is protection, clarity in naming matters, and the focus should align with defensive, peaceful goals rather than aggression.
Peace remains a constant aspiration—an ideal that invites continual efforts, even when progress seems elusive. The pursuit of peace benefits from both practical strategies and a steadfast commitment to humane values, keeping the vision alive for a world where human relations are governed by justice and cooperation rather than force.
Feminist perspectives on peace expand the discussion to include micro-level violence and gender dynamics, enriching the analysis of both negative and positive peace. Education for peace emphasizes developing skills and tools that enable people to coexist with dignity, ensuring equality, cooperation, and mutual respect. Schools become living spaces where peace is learned, practiced, and celebrated.
Across regions, programs that embed peace education into school life demonstrate how communities can foster inclusion and resilience. The idea is to create environments where learners grow into citizens committed to social change and peaceful development. When nations reflect on their approach to education and security, they can choose paths that keep humanity at the center of policy and daily life.
Ultimately, the call is to train the next generation to build a peaceful world, one classroom, one curriculum, and one act of kindness at a time.