RJC Hosts Peace Fair for Rosthern Elementary School

RJC NEWS RELEASE
May 9, 2008, Ryan Wood

The halls of Rosthern Junior College were a little noisier than usual on Friday, May 9, as students from Rosthern Elementary School attended RJC’s second annual Peace Fair. The carnival-like event consisted of nine booths featuring global peace and justice themes complete with games, activities, prizes and treats. Featured this year were issues of poverty, the arms trade, climate change, sweatshops, water wars, child soldiers, bullying, blood diamonds and the impact of oil. The Peace Fair is designed as part of RJC’s Peace and Justice Studies class to create awareness of global peace and justice issues.

When asked why she thinks it is important that elementary students learn about these topics, grade 12 student Hannale Regier, standing behind her ‘Arms Trade’ booth, responded, “Kids play with toys guns all the time and they don’t know how big of an issue it really is, how mass produced guns are, and how badly they affect people.” When asked why he is passionate about having young people learn about sweatshops David Epp, grade 12, replied, “Really soon these students are going to be earning money and be consumers and they will be involved in the world of sweatshops whether they realize it or not. They might as well learn about it now.” At the ‘Oil’ booth, Jordan Zimmerly mused, “Kids don’t know about the negative history of oil and the affect it has had on small countries. Oil is important, but it comes at a high cost.”

The elementary students jumped right into the event. When Ross, grade one, was asked about his favorite part he responded “The Ring” referring to the ring pop prize that he won by successfully completing the ‘Blood Diamond’ obstacle course. He played the role of a police officer who was trying to capture a smuggler in an effort to stop the illegal trafficking if blood diamonds, which help fund militias in high conflict zones like Sierra Leone. He was rewarded for his efforts with a sugary 18-carat prize. Mackenzie, grade two, most enjoyed “Pulling that big boy (Cody Pauls) in the water” at the ‘Water Wars’ booth where students simulated the struggle for water that many in the world experience on a daily basis. As a result of the game Jessica, grade three, learned that “we shouldn’t waste water”. Grade four student Danielle enjoyed “making wallets” at the ‘Sweatshop’ display underneath the stage in RJC’s gymnasium because she learned that some “people that make stuff only get paid a really small amount.”

All the students who participated, on both sides of the displays, appeared to enjoy themselves and learn something from the event. The grade 11 and 12 hosts were impressed with the knowledge, energy and enthusiasm of the younger students. Some RJC students are already scheming about what they might plan for next year.