Violence and Sustainable Development: The Role of the University

• Published in: Saúde e sociedade 2008-07, Vol.17 (3), p.33-41
• Main Authors: Zottis, Graziela Aline Hartmann, Cunha, Lucas de Lima, Krebs, Lisandra Fachinello, Algeri, Simone, Flores, Renato Zamora
• Format: Article
• Language: Portuguese
• Subjects: Cultural Change; Ethics; Human Rights; Peace; Sustainable Development; Universities; Violence
• ISSN: 0104-1290
• DOI: 10.1590/S0104-12902008000300005

This paper is an essay that resulted from reflections on sustainable development & its connections with university extension programs & violence. The paper discusses the four extents of sustainable development -- ethical, temporal, social, & practical & the ethical principles of sustainability, essential for a culture of peace. It proposes a new praxis in the university to reevaluate the institution departmentalization, in order to open space for the construction of a cross-disciplinary environment which will produce graduates prepared for a sustainable future. It introduces an extension program of the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), which studies violent behavior & acts to decrease the problem effectively. The work concludes that it is the university's role to educate professionals according to sustainable development values, prepared to act in an ethical & responsible way concerning natural & human resources, capable of understanding & interacting with the complexity of problems such as poverty, social inequities & violence, which threaten human rights & the future generations. References. Adapted from the source document.