Conduct Peace Lessons In Schools, Moderates Conference Told

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- A subject on peace should be included in school curriculums throughout the world as an effort to promote moderation, said former International Court of Justice (ICJ) vice-president Christopher G.Weeramantry Thursday. Weeramantry said the peace studies would be a genesis to the culture, religion and customs of the world, saying that he believed it should be introduced early. "Here again, cross cultural understanding is vital. It is important that children should know about all religions and the basic teachings of other religions," he said when presenting a paper on Conflict Resolution: The Need For A New International Paradigm in conjunction with the International Conference on Global Movement of Moderates here, Thursday. He said the cooperation of other parties including government, non-governmental organisations (NGO) and individuals were also needed. Weeramantry said he believed that basic international law should be universally acceptable, and a campaign should be conducted to make it better known to people of the world, especially among school children. Meanwhile, former Singapore deputy prime minister Professor S Jayakumar said a total societal effort was required in today's world where technology is changing the way ideas are spread and how people interact with one another. He said this societal effort, should involve all key sectors - governments, various communities and their leaders; and finally, individuals, NGOs and the media. "Technology, for all its benefits, also privileges extreme views and elements who can voice their views while hiding behind the cloak of anonymity," he said. -- BERNAMA