Jazztin Antonii Acedillo 
“I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; then the evil it does is permanent.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Established by General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 on June 15, 2017, the International Day of Non-Violence aims, through public education and awareness, to promote its message of non-violence on a personal, local, national, and global level. The International Day of Non-violence, celebrated on October 2, also shares the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, who pioneered the philosophies and strategies of non-violence.
The movement of non-violence or non-violent resistance was established as a form of rejection of passivity and the use of physical violence for political or social change. Contrary to the common misconception of ignoring or avoiding conflict, non-violence seeks to resolve conflicts through peaceful and diplomatic means.
In its application, non-violence means engaging in actively peaceful behavior when faced with conflict. This serves as setting the right example for others to follow, further adding to the hope of ending the destructive cycle of needless violence that often arises from heightened tension due to misunderstandings. Non-violence also entails awareness of our own violent tendencies and working to eliminate their negative impact on our intentions and actions.
In a world where being aggressive and forceful is seemingly rewarded, choosing the path of non-violence serves as a powerful statement. To quote the late Gandhi’s words, “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man.” Let us all come together and strive for a world where conflicts and disputes are resolved through peaceful means and diplomacy.
