During the conference, I was struck at the seriousness of all participants and speakers in joining hands together to discuss and map out how to bring about peace education as a crucial component of quality basic education. Interactive, learner-centered methods in peace education were presented along with elements of effective education programs. The round table discussions became venues of unanimous commitment to peace and social justice. The wide array of topics included environment, ecology, tolerance, conflict avoidance, personal health, cooperative skills, multiculturalism, comparative views on human values, human and childrens rights. Friendly and approachable participants would like to put an end to conflict and violence. They would like to uphold knowledge, skills, values and attitudes that bring about changes in behaviors so as to prevent conflicts and violence.

I was particularly awe-struck at the contemporary approach presented by the speakers on Global education that links the past, present and future creating spatial awareness on the interdependent nature of the world and interconnected contemporary issues.

Concerted efforts on how to grab the different opportunities for peace education were also discussed and action plans were crafted. It ended with overview of methods of evaluating peace education programs, behavior indicators and suggestions for setting up evaluation tools.

As I look back, my thoughts turn to St. Paul also wrote to the Christians of Ephesus (Efes) in Turkey. The unity of the community is a particular concern of his Letter to the Ephesians. God's eternal plan was to unite all things in Christ (Eph 1:10). Christ has made peace, reconciling all to God in one body (Eph 2:13-16). So they must live a life worthy of the gift they have received, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace (Eph 4:3). There is only one body, one Spirit, one hope, one call, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all (Eph 4:4-5).

Yes, for St. Paul the unity of the community is founded on the unity into which Christ calls us, a unity in the Spirit of God's love. 'So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind' (Philippians 2:1-2).