Alejandra Barrera

• PhD Candidate, Vienna University of Economics and Business (Institute for Ecological Economics)

Mexico City is full of contrasts and with a very high degree of inequalities. The rich people live in privileged communities where private security takes care of them. Usually they have all services first class and are located in green areas where the air is cleaner. Living in this socio-economic and cultural framework, the peace work I do aims at understanding these phenomena in order to support the transformation of the inequalities that cause a myriad of conflicts at different levels and in different arenas. I work by facilitating workshops in civil society and schools, I mainly work with representatives of the indigenous communities who have an alternative perspective which differs from the dominant worldview. The task is to create channels of intercultural communication between parties of the conflict as well as to create awareness of non-violent transformation for the construction of a better world.

Although we are in need of more research on defining peace, as well as the dissemination of information and the education of individuals in regards to peace, I believe peace and a better world can be achieved by the use of non-violence.

There are small, big, good and bad moments in our field of work. The important thing is to believe in your dream and to continue until it becomes possible. Peace education can, through individuals (especially teachers), help people understand about the transformation of conflicts in a non-violent way. If one commits to peace education, he or she will become a part of the process of creating a nonviolent world.