PEACE EDUCATION

While teaching at the Rudolf Steiner School in Edinburgh, Michael introduced a number of peace education initiatives including topics on conflict resolution, war and peace, eco-activism, and child soldiers and refugees.

In 2004 he was invited to join a peace education committee in the Scottish Parliament and later became Secretary to the Cross-Party Group on Creating a Culture of Peace in Scotland. In 2006 he became the Development Manager for Unipaz-UK, a peace education organisation which offers programmes for adults, young people and children.

Michael also works as a storyteller and singer, promoting peace and advocating a 'peace begins with me' approach encouraging young people and children to learn to find peace within themselves and to take responsibility for developing positive relationships with others and with the world around them.

In April 2009, Michael will join ten other storytellers from the UK and around the world at Emerson College's School for Storytelling where he'll participate in the 'Healing Words' programme. For 6 weeks Michael will undergo advanced storytelling and peacemaking training and travel to Israel and Palestine to work and perform alongside Arabs and Jews in their peace and community work. Michael is grateful for support from the Scottish Arts Council.

If you or your organisation would like a peace education workshop or training or would like to book Michael to talk to your group about peace education, please contact him.

In addition to his peace education work in schools, Michael has contributed to the The Amazing Travelling Friendship Fair, an animated children's series from Mugisha Productions in Canada which explores issues of conflict resolution. See www.friendshipfair.com.

UNIPAZ-UK www.unipaz.org.uk

Mugisha Productions www.mugisha.com