From His Holiness The Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, India
The only sensible and intelligent way of resolving differences in today’s world is through dialogue in a spirit of compromise and reconciliation. Dialogue, through which we learn to listen to other points of view, is the way to build greater trust and transparency, and is the foundation of lasting friendship. Everyone from small children up to political leaders have to understand that violence and conflict are counterproductive, that they are not a realistic way to solve our problems . . .
“Trouble at the Watering Hole” makes a valuable contribution to such educational efforts by imagining how animals deal with trouble round the watering hole. It is a vivid scene that children will easily understand. I congratulate the authors for their keen appreciation of the importance of finding ways to educate children so they grow up learning not to lash out at the first sign of conflict, but to approach problems more reasonably. Genuine peace and reconciliation, whether in relation to ourselves or in relation to others, comes about through taking an understanding, respectful and non-violent approach to the challenges we face.
From William Ury: Co-author of Getting to Yes and author of The Third Side
It would be a better world if every child had the chance to learn early in life about ways to resolve conflict through cooperation. In this wonderfully simple and instructive tale for children, accompanied by a practical teacher’s guide packed with tips and exercises, Gregg Relyea and Josh Weiss make this dream possible.
From Dr. Daniel Shapiro: Director, Harvard International Negotiation Program
Everywhere we turn, it seems that youth are being exposed to the glorification of insult and violence, whether on social media or television, at the cinema or the toy-store lined with plastic guns and action figures. While it is useful for kids to learn about the complexity of human nature, there's a clear and desperate need for resources to educate children in peaceful methods of conflict resolution. This is why I was thrilled to read Trouble at the Watering Hole, a charming children’s book by conflict resolution experts Gregg Relyea and Joshua Weiss. Through a simple story, the book embeds key skills children can use to resolve everyday conflicts.
From Niranjan Bhatt: President, Association of Indian Mediators (2000-2016) and Founder and Managing Trustee of AMLEAD (Institute for Arbitration, Mediation and Legal Education and Development), Gujarat, India
“Trouble at the Watering Hole” is a landmark contribution to the field of conflict resolution. A difficult subject has been brilliantly reduced to first principles for young readers. It will lead the younger generation to a more peaceful society. “Trouble” also can be incorporated at an advanced level in train-the-trainers programs. The parent-teacher manual is a superb way of elaborating the practical skills used in conflict resolution.
From Sriram Panchu: Founder, Indian Centre for Mediation and Dispute Resolution, Chennai, India
It's a powerful message to convey to children - that they can end disputes by talking, that they can themselves ask the right questions and find the right answers, and that they can retain friendships. In a society where conflict is on the rise and is increasingly disabling, imparting and imbibing this message is a sign of hope.
