A summary of the PeaceTest results from Brazil, year 2006
Since the PeaceTest was the first SCORP project developed in Brazil, our first experience was in a school with the senior year, with only 23 respondents - 13 girls and 8 boys. Students aged from 16 to 19, being most of them 17. In general, they were pacific and respected human rights. However, some of them lacked information, especially in regards to what role the International Court of Justice plays in conflict resolution and preservation of human rights.
It also calls our attention that 56,5% of the students strongly disagree with threatening and punishmenin nations with economic sanctions, even when they threat our economic security. Through statistics, we can see that most respondents disagreed about using unpeaceful ways to solve conflicts. For instance, NO ONE strongly agreed that military force is necessary when other nations threaten our economic security, and only 4,3% strongly agreed that if another nation threatens our military security, we have the right to attack them before they attack us.
These students demonstrated a good awareness about the damage unpeaceful meanings of conflict resolution can bring. NO ONE agreed that precision missile attacks and surgical bombings rarely harm civilians, and only 4,3% strongly agreed that military force prevents more suffering than it causes.
Regarding the capital punishment (the death penalty), the respondents seem to be in either of two extremes: 52,2% of them strongly approve of capital punishment (the death penalty) for certain crimes, while 30,4% strongly disagree with it.
Most students agreed, in various degrees, that not only the government, but also individuals, including journalists and the news media, should secure human rights protection and promotion. 78,3% of them strongly agreed that people have basic rights regardless of whether their government recognizes those rights or not.
- The United Nations can help to resolve our conflicts with other nations.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 17.4 60.9 0.0 17.4 4.3 female: 15 13.3 60.0 0.0 20.0 6.7 male: 8 25.0 62.5 0.0 12.5 0.0 - International diplomacy can help to resolve our conflicts with other nations.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 21.7 39.1 30.4 8.7 0.0 female: 15 20.0 33.3 46.7 0.0 0.0 male: 8 25.0 50.0 0.0 25.0 0.0 - We can resolve conflicts with other nations by threatening or punishing them with economic trade sanctions.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 4.3 13.0 4.3 21.7 56.5 female: 15 0.0 6.7 6.7 13.3 73.3 male: 8 12.5 25.0 0.0 37.5 25.0 - The International Court of Justice can help to resolve our conflicts with enemies in other nations.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 0.0 34.8 52.2 13.0 0.0 female: 15 0.0 40.0 40.0 20.0 0.0 male: 8 0.0 25.0 75.0 0.0 0.0 - Military force is necessary when other nations threaten our economic security.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 0.0 8.7 13.0 26.1 52.2 female: 15 0.0 0.0 13.3 40.0 46.7 male: 8 0.0 25.0 12.5 0.0 62.5 - If another nation threatens our military security, we have the right to attack them before they attack us.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 4.3 4.3 4.3 43.5 43.5 female: 15 0.0 0.0 6.7 46.7 46.7 male: 8 12.5 12.5 0.0 37.5 37.5 - Military force prevents more suffering than it causes.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 22 4.5 9.1 13.6 27.3 45.5 female: 15 6.7 6.7 13.3 33.3 40.0 male: 7 0.0 14.3 14.3 14.3 57.1 - Precision missile attacks and surgical bombings rarely harm civilians.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 0.0 0.0 4.3 8.7 87.0 female: 15 0.0 0.0 6.7 6.7 86.7 male: 8 0.0 0.0 0.0 12.5 87.5 - Some collateral damage is an acceptable part of a military operation.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 4.3 13.0 8.7 34.8 39.1 female: 15 6.7 0.0 13.3 33.3 46.7 male: 8 0.0 37.5 0.0 37.5 25.0 - Terrorists do not deserve to be treated like human beings.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 13.0 30.4 0.0 21.7 34.8 female: 15 6.7 33.3 0.0 26.7 33.3 male: 8 25.0 25.0 0.0 12.5 37.5 - People have a right to kill to defend their property.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 4.3 13.0 0.0 13.0 69.6 female: 15 0.0 6.7 0.0 13.3 80.0 male: 8 12.5 25.0 0.0 12.5 50.0 - I approve of capital punishment (the death penalty) for certain crimes.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 52.2 17.4 0.0 0.0 30.4 female: 15 40.0 26.7 0.0 0.0 33.3 male: 8 75.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 25.0 - A neighborhood should be made up of people from the same race or ethnic group.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 0.0 4.3 0.0 0.0 95.7 female: 15 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 male: 8 0.0 12.5 0.0 0.0 87.5 - A neighborhood should be made up of people with the same religious beliefs.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 0.0 4.3 0.0 0.0 95.7 female: 15 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 100.0 male: 8 0.0 12.5 0.0 0.0 87.5 - No matter who they are or what they have done, every person has basic rights that are common to all human beings.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 56.5 26.1 0.0 8.7 8.7 female: 15 60.0 33.3 0.0 6.7 0.0 male: 8 50.0 12.5 0.0 12.5 25.0 - People have basic rights regardless of whether their government recognizes those rights or not.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 78.3 13.0 4.3 4.3 0.0 female: 15 73.3 13.3 6.7 6.7 0.0 male: 8 87.5 12.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 - Racism and ethnic intolerance are important human rights issues.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 73.9 13.0 13.0 0.0 0.0 female: 15 66.7 20.0 13.3 0.0 0.0 male: 8 87.5 0.0 12.5 0.0 0.0 - Poverty, homelessness and hunger are important human rights issues.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 82.6 8.7 4.3 0.0 4.3 female: 15 86.7 6.7 6.7 0.0 0.0 male: 8 75.0 12.5 0.0 0.0 12.5 - Individuals should help protect human rights.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 73.9 17.4 4.3 4.3 0.0 female: 15 73.3 20.0 6.7 0.0 0.0 male: 8 75.0 12.5 0.0 12.5 0.0 - News media and journalists should help protect human rights in my country.
n Strongly Agree% Somewhat Agree% Not sure% Somewhat Disagree% Strongly Disagree% total: 23 47.8 21.7 17.4 4.3 8.7 female: 15 46.7 26.7 13.3 6.7 6.7 male: 8 50.0 12.5 25.0 0.0 12.5

