Ending War 101

Why Ending War 101?

It can be very disconcerting to learn that there have been more than 250 wars since the United Nations was formed with the commitment to “save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.” How can this be? Survey after survey around the world shows that, after life itself, what people most want is peace. Why, then, do we still have war?

This unique online course invites us to look at the beliefs and assumptions — both personal and cultural — that have allowed war to continue for so long, and to consider what this is costing us and our planet.

As Einstein is often quoted as saying, “We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.” At its core, Ending War 101 is an exercise in consciousness raising: an opportunity to question some of our assumptions about war, peace, and security, and to explore what might be possible if we think differently.

The course was developed particularly with the Rotary community in mind. One of its central aims is to encourage and support Rotarians to broaden and deepen their approach to peacebuilding — including looking beyond individual conflicts to consider the beliefs, systems, structures, and ways of thinking that allow war itself to continue.

At the same time, Ending War 101 is open to anyone interested in peacebuilding, nonviolence, war abolition, and alternatives to war.

Whether you are an experienced peacebuilder or just starting out on your journey, the course provides an opportunity to:

• Reflect on your own assumptions about war;
• Recognise ways in which we, and the cultures in which we live, may tolerate or even cooperate with war, and consider what that toleration costs us;
• Clarify what really makes us safe;
• Explore alternatives to war and militarism;
• Share experiences and connect with like-minded people; and
• Identify practical ways to act and contribute to the transition from a war system to a peace system.

Course Outline

• Module 1: Can War Be Ended?
• Module 2: Is a “Just War” Even Possible?
• Module 3: What Does It Cost Us to Allow the War System to Continue?
• Module 4: How Can Rotary Help Us Shift from a War System to a Peace System?

The course includes a mix of text, images, video, and audio, together with optional reflection activities, discussions, and Zoom conversations.

When can I take the course?

Ending War 101 is available as soon as you have registered and enrolled. You can start at any time that fits your schedule.

The course is self-paced and can be completed in a few hours or explored in considerably greater depth, depending on the optional videos and other resources you choose to engage with and your level of participation in discussions.

Because the course questions some common personal and cultural assumptions about war, we encourage participants to discuss what they are learning with others and to take part in the periodic Global Ending War Zoom calls.