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Re-building Bougainville by Re-building Trust: A Peace Monitor's Experience

Case Study Student Activities

Teacher's Notes

Overview

Through the daily media, we learn of places experiencing war and conflict. We view scenes of devastation, death, profound fear and misery, and we occasionally stop to consider ourselves fortunate not to be experiencing such violence on a national scale. Rarely, however, do we view images of individuals and communities resuming normal lives - repairing transport and communications; building homes, hospitals and schools; or, growing crops and raising livestock. Even less do we hear about the processes that are necessary before any re-building of infrastructure, education, job-training and other essential activities can take place - the peace-awareness and peace-keeping measures that bring together the groups of people previously in conflict with each other.

Before life can return to normal in any location devastated by conflict, people need to learn to trust those they live with, particularly if some of the people in their immediate communities have recently been their enemies. They also need to learn the benefits of peace. In order to achieve this, communities need to meet together in a safe and trusting environment to voice their concerns and discuss peace-related issues.

This case study describes some of the experiences of Lia Burns, a peace monitor from Australia on Bougainville Island, Papua New Guinea, and provides students with an insight into the initial peace-awareness and peace-keeping projects that rarely make the news.

Level

Secondary

Objectives

Students:

  • investigate the causes and consequences of civil war on Bougainville Island
  • identify Bougainville's social, political and economic needs and consider how they may be achieved
  • increase their understandings of peace-awareness and peace-keeping processes, with applications for conflict resolution in their own lives
  • develop empathy with the residents of Bougainville and an Australian peace monitor
  • research Australia's historical links with Bougainville and mainland Papua New Guinea
  • examine aspects of the Australian Government's overseas aid program in partnership with Papua New Guinea
  • appreciate how well-planned and well-coordinated peace and development projects can have multiple positive outcomes.

Links with nationally-developed statements and profiles

Studies of society and environment:

  • Time, Continuity and Change - Interpretations and perspectives
  • Culture - Personal, group and cultural identity
  • Resources - Use of resources; People and work; Management and enterprise
  • Investigation, Communication and Participation

Preparation

  • copies of case study (one per student)
  • class set of atlases
  • whiteboard and whiteboard markers
  • butchers' paper
  • textas and other drawing materials
  • Focus magazines or other colourful publications from the Australian Government's overseas aid agency available free of charge through books@ausaid.gov.au, or materials from non-government overseas aid organisations specifically on Papua New Guinea and Bougainville, for reading and cutting or scanning

Procedure

Without introduction to the topic or assistance from atlases, ask students to identify Australia's nearest neighbour - Papua New Guinea.

Ask students to discuss what they already know of Papua New Guinea and to identify their source of information. If necessary, prompt them to recall recent media reports. This will prove valuable in identifying what news of Papua New Guinea is reported in Australia. If there appears to be biases in the reporting, encourage students to examine why. Three events that have received significant coverage in recent years have included the conflict on Bougainville, the volcanic eruption at Rabaul and the tsunami at Aitape. Encourage students to consider other events and sources. For example, what do they know of Australia's historical links with Papua New Guinea? What have been their sources - documentaries, other accounts of World War Two, or the 'Australia Remembers 1945-95' commemoration?

Students locate Papua New Guinea in an atlas and calculate the shortest distance between it and mainland Australia. Does the close proximity surprise them - why or why not? They locate Bougainville Island and seek information on heights above sea level, temperature, precipitation, natural vegetation and agriculture, including subsistence farming. They briefly note their findings then brainstorm in pairs how the lives of Bougainvilleans may be affected by such factors. For example, how may the landscape affect the supply of government services? How may precipitation affect activities at certain times of the year?

Students build on these preliminary understandings by reading the case study and completing a selection of the activities. All students, however, should complete the final activity that asks them to consider what they have learned from the case study for addressing 'conflict situations' that may arise in their daily lives.

Both the case study and activities can be linked or adapted to other peace, social, global or development studies, or built into a unit of work specifically on Papua New Guinea.

Resources

Almost all of the Australian Government's overseas aid agency's publications are available on this site or can be obtained by contacting books@ausaid.gov.au.

For other resources or publisher details, contact Professional Development Providers. Details of current peace-keeping projects managed by overseas aid organisations may also be obtained through the Centres or by contacting the relevant organisations.

* Further information and resources can be obtained from the
Professional Development Providers.

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