SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict

2
7/28/2019 SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sciaf-youth-topics-conflict 1/2 Conflict More than 2,000 children are killed or disabled by war each day, mostly in poor countries. Youth Topics explores the causes and consequences of conflict. AIM To explore our responses to conflict Lover or fighter? Conflict isn’t just about wars – it happens in our own lives. How well do you cope? Try a light-hearted test and see! 1. You’ve waited for ages at a bus stop in the rain. When the bus arrives there’s only room for a few. Someone behind you pushes past. Do you: a) sigh but do nothing – it’s not worth it b) politely say that everyone should wait their turn c) say nothing but ‘accidentally’ whack them with your bag d) yank them back, yelling, ‘Get to the back, scum!’ 2. Your TV programme is interrupted by a news flash about a war in Africa. Do you: a) sigh, ‘Will there never be an end to this terrible fighting?’ and do a little channel surfing b) write to your MP saying, ‘here’s another reason to stop selling weapons to the Third World’ c) remark, ‘Another job for the UN. Send our boys in’ d) yell, ‘If they’re gonna fight, we should nuke ‘em all,’ and start a game of Streetfighter. 3. You’re at the supermarket quick checkout where the maximum number of items allowed is five. The person in front has 15 items! Do you: a) ignore it. What’s a few extra minutes? b) tap their arm and say, ‘Sorry, it’s just five items here.’ AIM To reveal the extent of conflict and the arms trade Face the facts Are the following true or false? 1 More than 20 million people have been killed in wars since 1945. 2 Seventy per cent of people killed in wars today are civilians. 3 Nine of the world’s ten poorest countries have fought armed conflicts in the last decade. 4 One hundred thousand children are fighting as soldiers in armed conflicts. 5 The UK exports weapons to repressive regimes. 6 In 1999 global military expenditure was more than $700 billion. Answers 1 True. Exact figures are unknown, but estimates are 20-30 million. 2 False. Ninety per cent are civilians, half of these children. 3 True. War is a major cause of poverty – in 1996, $2.75 billion worth of food was lost in Africa due to conflict. 4 False. It’s 300,000. 5 True. In 1998 the UK sold weapons to 30 of the 40 governments with the worst human rights records in the world. 6 True. Yet, for $80 billion, basic health care and education could be provided for all, worldwide.  S o  u  r c e s  a  m  p  a  i  g  n  A  g  a  i  n s  h e  A  r  m s  T  r  a  d e  ,  S o c  k  h o  m   I  n e  r  n  a  i o  n  a  P e  a c e  R e s e  a  r c  h  I  n s  i  u e  ,  U  n  i e  d  N  a  i o  n s e v e o  p  m e  n  P  r o  g  r  a  m  m e  ,  F o o  d  a  n  d  A  g  r  i c  u  u  r e  O  r  g  a  n  i s  a  i o  n c) lean across to the cashier (sticking your elbow into the person in front), shouting ‘Five items here, is it?’ d) shove past saying, ‘Wrong queue! Can’t you count?’ 4. You only drink Fairtrade coffee. A friend offers you Nescafé. Do you: a) ask for tea b) explain about fair trade and offer to send them some Café Direct samples? c) accept but spit it out on the sofa saying ‘Pathetic! Can’t you buy Fairtrade coffee?’ d) smash the jar and stomp out, returning later to daub their walls with ‘Buy Fairtrade or Die’. Results Mostly (a) You’re a happy hippie, who avoids conflict at all costs. But are you burying your head in the sand? Mostly (b) You’re a peaceful person who confronts injustice in a non-violent way. Ever thought of joining the UN? Mostly (c) You try to be fair, but you’re like a bull in a china shop. Chill out! Mostly (d) Don’t want to bump into you in a dark alley! Injustices make you angry, but will fighting solve anything? DISCUSS Which responses are most likely to tackle the situations successfully? Is it important to confront injustices? Can problems ever be solved with violence? Does the end justify the means?

Transcript of SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict

Page 1: SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict

7/28/2019 SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sciaf-youth-topics-conflict 1/2

ConflictMore than 2,000 children are killed or disabled by war each day, mostly in poor countries.Youth Topics explores the causes and consequences of conflict.

AIM To explore our responses to conflict

Lover or fighter?Conflict isn’t just about wars – it happens

in our own lives. How well do you cope?

Try a light-hearted test and see!

1. You’ve waited for ages at a bus stop in

the rain. When the bus arrives there’s

only room for a few. Someone behind

you pushes past. Do you:

a) sigh but do nothing – it’s not worth it

b) politely say that everyone should wait

their turnc) say nothing but ‘accidentally’ whack

them with your bag

d) yank them back, yelling, ‘Get to the

back, scum!’

2. Your TV programme is interrupted by a

news flash about a war in Africa. Do you:

a) sigh, ‘Will there never be an end to this

terrible fighting?’ and do a little

channel surfing

b) write to your MP saying, ‘here’s another

reason to stop selling weapons to the

Third World’

c) remark, ‘Another job for the UN. Send

our boys in’

d) yell, ‘If they’re gonna fight, we should

nuke ‘em all,’ and start a game of 

Streetfighter.

3. You’re at the supermarket quick

checkout where the maximum number

of items allowed is five. The person in

front has 15 items! Do you:

a) ignore it. What’s a few extra minutes?

b) tap their arm and say, ‘Sorry, it’s justfive items here.’

AIM To reveal the extent of conflict and the arms trade

Face the

factsAre the following true or false?

1 More than 20 million people have

been killed in wars since 1945.

2 Seventy per cent of people killed in

wars today are civilians.

3 Nine of the world’s ten poorest

countries have fought armedconflicts in the last decade.

4 One hundred thousand children are

fighting as soldiers in armed conflicts.

5 The UK exports weapons to

repressive regimes.

6 In 1999 global military expenditure

was more than $700 billion.

Answers

1 True. Exact figures are unknown, but

estimates are 20-30 million.

2 False. Ninety per cent are civilians,half of these children.

3 True. War is a major cause of poverty

– in 1996, $2.75 billion worth of food

was lost in Africa due to conflict.

4 False. It’s 300,000.

5 True. In 1998 the UK sold weapons

to 30 of the 40 governments with

the worst human rights records in

the world.

6 True. Yet, for $80 billion, basic health

care and education could be

provided for all, worldwide.

 S o u r ces: C  a m p a i   g n A  g a i   nst  t   h e A  r  ms T  r  a d e , S t  oc k  h ol   m  I   nt  e r  n at   i  o n al   P e ac

e R ese a r c h  I   nst   i  t   ut  e , U  n i  t  e d  N  at   i  o nsD evel  o p me nt   P  r o g r  a m me , F oo d  a n d  A  g r  i  c ul  t   u r e O  r  g a n i  s at   i  o n

c) lean across to the cashier (sticking your

elbow into the person in front),

shouting ‘Five items here, is it?’

d) shove past saying, ‘Wrong queue! Can’t

you count?’

4. You only drink Fairtrade coffee. A friend

offers you Nescafé. Do you:

a) ask for tea

b) explain about fair trade and offer to

send them some Café Direct samples?

c) accept but spit it out on the sofa saying

‘Pathetic! Can’t you buy Fairtrade coffee?’

d) smash the jar and stomp out, returning

later to daub their walls with ‘Buy

Fairtrade or Die’.

Results

Mostly (a) You’re a happy hippie, who

avoids conflict at all costs. But are you

burying your head in the sand?

Mostly (b) You’re a peaceful person who

confronts injustice in a non-violent way.Ever thought of joining the UN?

Mostly (c) You try to be fair, but you’re like

a bull in a china shop. Chill out!

Mostly (d) Don’t want to bump into you in

a dark alley! Injustices make you angry,

but will fighting solve anything?

DISCUSS Which responses are most likely

to tackle the situations successfully?

Is it important to confront injustices? Can

problems ever be solved with violence?Does the end justify the means?

Page 2: SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict

7/28/2019 SCIAF Youth Topics - Conflict

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/sciaf-youth-topics-conflict 2/2