These two words appear to be very similar, but when one processes them through the materials of the International Peace City 2000 program some very clear conclusions arise.

Peacebuilding supports the local economy. Peacekeeping drains the economy of the local community.

Peacebuilding requires understanding people. Peacekeeping requires guns.

Peacebuilding requires little energy. Peacekeeping requires a great deal of energy.

Peacebuilding is always ethical. Peacekeeping is sometimes ethical.

Peacebuilding requires communication and talking. Peacekeeping requires unnatural silence.

Peacebuilding is healthy. Peacekeeping may be healthy.

Peacebuilding is a creative enterprise. Peacekeeping is structured and fixed.

Peacebuilding is a joyful experience. Peacekeeping is "dutiful".

Peacebuilding instils trust. Peacekeeping strains trust.

Peacebuilding develops integrity. Peacekeeping challenges integrity.

Peacebuilding requires courage. Peacekeeping requires a different courage.

Peacebuilding is a love experience. Peacekeeping creates fear.

Peacebuilding can be done by everyone. Peacekeeping requires generals, lieutenants and corporals.

Peacebuilding involves personal responsibility. Peacekeeping is outer directed responsibility.

Peacebuilding honours our mothers, fathers and elders. Peacekeeping creates fear for our fathers and mothers, disregarding our elders.

Peacebuilding plant tress. Peacekeeping chop trees down.

Peacebuilding affect positively the quality of life in a community. Peacekeeping is stressful activity for all concerned.

Peacebuilding requires community participation. Peacekeeping requires soldiers.

Peacebuilding requires education and learning. Peacekeeping requires dogma.

Peacebuilding is a sustainable activity. Peacekeeping is not a sustainable activity.

I trust that you will see that peacebuilding can more easily serve your highest purpose whatever that may be. I believe that you have enough intelligence and knowledge to make that distinction, that by seeing this distinction you will consider wisely what this means to you. If you look closely at these distinctions you will see your own bias' and prejudice that you may hold. You will see whether or not you use compassion and mercy in how you look at things. You will see the necessity to make decisions not just with using your heart alone. By seeing clearly these distinctions you will allow both yourself and others to reach peak performance and be the best that they can be. A sustainable community will be the result of understanding this distinction and your community will have a strong foundation.

Ultimately seeing this distinction and its manifestation may heal the planet.

Peacemessengers carry this message. Won't you consider being Peace Messenger?