Educating For Peace - Wholistic Peace Institute

04/29/2026

Alex is so right when he speaks the Truth about Education "...Real change begins when we stop seeing education as just a personal achievement and start seeing it as a national responsibility. Every policy, every decision, and every opportunity we create today shapes the kind of leaders, professionals, and citizens we will have tomorrow. If we truly care about the future of this country, then we must care deeply about the quality, accessibility, and dignity of education for every child. "

Education is the greatest equaliser when a nation chooses to take it seriously. I have always believed that behind every child sitting in a classroom, there is a family praying for a better tomorrow, a parent sacrificing in silence, and a dream waiting for one opportunity to breathe. Some students walk into class with full support, while others walk in carrying hunger, pressure, and battles no one sees. Yet they all deserve the same chance to rise.

A strong university is not just about buildings and qualifications, it is about creating hope for the less privileged, opening doors for those who thought life had already closed them, and producing graduates who can transform families, communities, and the country itself. We must protect education, improve it, and fight for systems that make excellence accessible to everyone, not only to the fortunate few.

Real change begins when we stop seeing education as just a personal achievement and start seeing it as a national responsibility. Every policy, every decision, and every opportunity we create today shapes the kind of leaders, professionals, and citizens we will have tomorrow. If we truly care about the future of this country, then we must care deeply about the quality, accessibility, and dignity of education for every child.

Consider it done. – Alex Lushaba

03/02/2026

Our student alumni, former Schnitzer Spirit of Unity winners and amazing young adults that have purpose filled lives, interesting varied careers and are enlightening others about the way out of this dark period in our history.

Find an image or phrase that captures your attention and engenders discourse, openness, lovingkindness, or cracks you up for a good belly laugh

Then post it - or send to someone to post for you
let's flood the zone with Positive Peace Messages

Read this now (or message me and I will send you a copy)

Non-violence is also a social virtue V.74 pg. 392- Source: Collective Works of Mahatma Gandhi

01/06/2026

HUMANITY JAN 6th
we are Educating for Peace
a few years ago I was in Italy during the Feast of Befana, the world’s most famous old lady that magically flies around and brings gifts to children. This January 6th day of family and children intertwines the pagan Roman beliefs with the time of Epiphany when Christians commemorate the bringing of the gifts from the wise men, the Magi to the newborn King they named him, Jesus. https://www.italia.it/en/italy/things-to-do/epiphany-in-italy-befana-meaning-and-traditions

So this week on January 6th let’s consider Human Birth is a miracle -- every child that makes it into this world, God smiles My parents used to say “a new baby is God’s sign that the world should go on”

During this festive or fearful season whatever way you see it, won’t you pause with me and be grateful that your mother sustained the trials of childbirth and that somehow you thrived
The first year of a child’s birth throughout the entire world is also treasured because a woman must go through so much travail during the pregnancy, the labor the birth and the gestation of a newborn – every child that makes it with its mother to be one year of age has great promise – we as humans, have lost touch with this reality

"Children to Children" is an initiative that our agency started to provide necessary funds for freedom for Ukrainian refugees, without access there is not a similar approach to take in Sudan or in Gaza but certainly, there are medical teams that can inform us as to how best to support --
Should it be any different for other beings? They only need assistance for those months in the womb and those early days where they can not fend for themselves

I am in – are you in? Let’s not sit back and watch a generation of children be starved, maimed, traumatized by the war induced famine. Surely there is a solution whereby the objectives of ending conflict can continue and the generation of children allowed to live, no?

12/08/2025

A bright constellation in the field of peace education is right here. Portland Jewish Academy was a brilliant idea 64 years ago and it serves as our community as a beacon for K-8 education. If your children are eager to learn, explore, solve problems independently, and value peace while collaborating with others to make a positive impact, check out this school. Their leadership stands as a bright light to our country's field of education. Wholistic Peace Institute lifts up PJA's model for educating for peace. www.pjaproud.org

09/17/2025

ILLUMINE HOPE

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU IN THIS MOMENT?

like shiny crystals in each sand bar along the sea on a moonlit night
Illumine those facets of beauty and hope in each other
and in your family or neighborhood

ILLUMINE HOPE and tell others about why you see it that way

09/12/2025

Gary truly loved the spiritual leaders that he met through his work. They all lived in the pursuit of Peace. Come to a World Day of Peace happening.

Sunday, September 21st United Methodist Church sanctuary 620 NW Eighth St, Gresham, OR 97030 11:15am before the Noon Minute of Silence, we celebrate our brother, husband, friend, teacher, and founder of the Peace Institute, Gary Alan Spanovich.

The WPI tribute will be followed 12:15 - 3PM by peace pole dedication and food and live music in the garden.

Event is Free and Open to Everyone

08/06/2025

Life without my friend and mentor about forgiveness and reconciliation, Ed Kawasaki, Beaverton, Oregon who passed on New Years Day 2025. He gave us so much to ponder and a challenge we should all face before it is too late -- Nuclear Weapons will never resolve a dispute

I owe a debt of gratitude to Ed Kawasaki for helping raise my consciousness about the risks of nuclear war and about the values of forgiveness and reconciliation.
The opportunity arose as I was helping an immigrant get legal assistance in a building in downtown Portland. I ran into Sho Dozono in the elevator; it was surprising yet I was all a twitter having wanted to meet the iconic Sho Dozono for many years. I knew who he was immediately and introduced myself as the director of Educating for Peace. I shared with him about the famous Peace Memorial Museum exhibit our Institute had on loan from the Hiroshima, Japan. Sho was pleased that we were anxious to teach about this Mayors for Peace and the Never Again Exhibit here in Portland.

I revealed how Gary had attended the World Nobel Peace Summit there and had been a part of a week-long summit with the Dalai Lama and twenty or more Nobel Peace Prize winners. The Nobels all seem to have appointed the Dalai Lama as their spiritual leader and they each presented their thoughts and perspectives on lasting peace from the podium at the bell tower at the Peace Memorial Museum. The conference left a deep mark on us and better understanding of the active pursuit of peace that Japan has made since the devastating event that brought World War II to an end.

Sho’s eyes twinkled and he said ”you know, we have an hibakusha, atomic bomb survivor right here in Oregon.” The very next week we met Mr. Ed Kawasaki, soft spoken and good humored devouring a single cup of soup for his entire lunch. Thus began an enormously fun and interesting relationship with this bilingual banker from Oregon who dons his life from “Paradise to Paradise”. How is that possible?
He was a Japanese American born in Hawaii in the in 1923; his parents moved to Hiroshima to look after his grandfather who had become ill. On August 6th 1945, Ed was literally bounced off his hospital bed with the Pika Don Sonic Boom and horrendous wind. Young 16 year old Ed had just had an appendectomy. He was miles away from his family, his father had attempted to get Ed’s surgery at the Shima Hospital. Miraculously the Shima Hospital was full and Ed was placed in a hospital closer to his family’s home.

Shaken and alone, in a hospital gown, Ed walked through the devastation to be reunited with his family. Numerous members of his school class were killed because they had to serve the war effort, and a few more were underground where they were protected.
Years passed, Ed became a devoted husband, father, grandfather and respected loan officer in Portland banking industry, he made it back to Hawaii United States. After serving in the US military, he married and was invited to Oregon by a bank officer. He and his wife, a teacher, raised their three sons in Oregon.

Ed was a professional, he threw himself into working on behalf of peace. He travelled across the western states and Hawaii and offered to share his story with young and old. H carefully crafted and updated his story as he paid attention to the World’s response to nuclear weapons, to nuclear warfare, to the view of Japanese during wartime and post wartime. He never wavered from the truth and was an objective witness to the atrocities of war and nuclear annihilation between two very different cultures. He conveyed his truth and I learned something new every conversation we had. Later, Japan’s emperor bestowed an award because he survived and he promoted peace and was able to translate between Japanese and English. His calligraphy skills writing the Japanese characters was impressive.

Because we're on the dawning of the additional year that's passed since that fateful day, I want to encourage you to learn about this massive moment in world history and the trajectory of human civilization Check out YouTube to listen to Ed’s clear truth and lift him up to others. I am hearing his voice asking al of us to warn others that “War is Hell” but in the end it forced him to realize the only path was peace through healing powers of forgiveness and reconciliation. His children have expressed that through their own sacred unions between a person from Japan and one from America. Thank you, Ed, we love you and we miss you and all your wisdom and humor. Rest well.

07/11/2025

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WEEK TO THE 14th DALAI LAMA, HIS HOLINESS TO SO MANY FRIENDS and COLLEAGUES THROUGHOUT THE GLOBE

His teachings are foundational for PEACE and aligned with our Institute's mission Educating for Peace

"My main insterest is in the promotin of human values. From birth we have a sense of affection and some sense of concern for others. We need to nurture it. Scientists have found that to ensure even physical health peace of mind is essential. People often think that love and compassion are only maters of religious concern, but in fact such values are necessary in all human relations." 14th Dala lama July 2014

07/03/2025

Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive. - the 14th Dalai Lama

Let's be clear. No matter what euphemism you use. Or what general term you throw around.
Death is death. Killing is violence.
Killing is against the Ten Commandments, the law of the land of humankind.
Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhist. No one believes that killing is not violent and Irreparably wrong.

Starvation. Malnutrition. Ending humanitarian processes and aid. Providing weapons. Direct shooting from drones or trained soldiers of people seeking a bit of flour and water.

These are practices that should not take place and will not sustain our world. And why one country gets as much support as it does from the international community is astounding. We must not allow the wool to be pulled over our eyes, to make us believe that killing is right. Or that there's some justice to be had, in allowing babies and their parents to starve to death.

Rabbi Ascherman shows heroic courage and prays continuously as he supports the rights of all humans in conflict areas

Consider our freedoms this 4th

speak out about the values that we Americans abide by and ask ourselves have we become blind to the necessities for survival?
– N. O. S. 1 July 2025

06/19/2025

Join us in sharing your unique peace practices! In that way you ILLUMINE HOPE for others around you

06/16/2025

Honoring two famous Dads that were a powerful; team for peace. They were gone way too soon, yet their Legacies live on in the communities in which they worked. taught, and modeled their unique approach to peace-building

Happy Father's Day to Each and Every Father = fathers connect us may more live like these two saints among us and take time to Illumine Hope wherever you can