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CPI is hosted and supported by Pathways To Peace
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Since Day 100,
Pathways To Peace (PTP) has been counting down the days to Peace Day. We've highlighted a few of our Partners and Core Programs and we've asked you: What's your pathway to Peace? And, you've responded. So this newsletter is dedicated to you - all of you! We are so honored to feature some of the pathways that were emailed in response to our request. We are so sorry that we couldn't capture them all, but please know we read everyone. Every day we've been surprised, delighted, and inspired by the unique Peacebuilding efforts that are happening around our globe and in our own backyards! And we can't wait to share some of those pathways with you, but first ...
A Message from PTP Co-Founder, Avon Mattison
Especially now, amid increasing crises, it is time to "... Commit to Peace, above all interests and differences of any kind." (UN Resolution, 1981, establishing the International Day of Peace).
It is important to remember that personal and planetary Peace are inseparable, as are local/ global Peace. Together~ by daily cultivating Peace in ourselves, groups, organizations, communities or whatever~ we can make a significant difference.
In our daily commitment to Peacebuilding, we contribute to transforming a worldwide culture of violence & separation into a diverse & sustainable Culture of Peace for All.
Our gratitude
to all Peacebuilders
who
have participated in Peace Day for these nearly 40 years and who have participated in the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI). You have contributed to Peace Day becoming a worldwide movement, which is now building cooperation along diverse pathways for a Culture of Peace for all circles of Life. Our planetary future is at stake.
Peace Day is Every Day.
A Message from PTP Executive Director, Tezikiah Gabriel
I am grateful. Grateful to hear your stories. Grateful for bearing witness to the many ways that Peace is erupting around us. Grateful for the knowledge that Peacebuilding is about ordinary people who step up in extraordinary ways. Grateful that a Peaceful heart can exist in the midst of external struggle. And, I am grateful for you.
It has been almost a year since I accepted the call to come to Pathways To Peace as Executive Director. It has been a year of growth and change! Rest assured that what will not change is our commitment to you. You'll be hearing more from us in the next few months as we strive to keep you posted on what we're doing and opportunities for partnership and collaboration. Our new website will come out soon and will strengthen our connection with you and will share information, tools, and resources to support your Peacebuilding efforts. Stay tuned; we'll stay in touch.
In these difficult times, it's easy to be distracted by the noise. But if we are silent for just a moment, we can hear the rumblings of peace growing louder. The One Heart is beating stronger. Peace Day is an opportunity to listen to the heartbeat and share in the joy as we co-create a new earth - one that supports Peace and authentic justice for all. We are the Ones we've been waiting for, and I am grateful.
Presenting: Pathways to Peace
From the 2017 Global Peace Song Awards, Finalist Merrill Collins
From UPF-Nigeria, Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko, Secretary General, UPF-Nigeria
UPF-Nigeria is convening a Special Assembly of Ambassadors for Peace Day on "The Conflicts in the South East Zone of Nigeria" as part of activities to mark the UN International Day of Peace in Nigeria. The assembly shall deliberate on emerging challenges in the zone and offer recommendations to the government
and other stakeholders as well as develop actions steps that Ambassadors for Peace will be taking to address the situation, including the launch of the South East Peace Council (SEPC) and other national challenges.
Location: The Peace Embassy, 25 Bujumbura Street, Wuse 2, Abuja
Interested participants should send an email to
[email protected]
From "A Journey to Your Heart Campaign," Georgie Chapman
Georgie has written a fable that has touched our hearts and the hearts of others. We know it would touch yours as well. Georgie says the fable is about following your heart. This fable espouses kindness and self-awareness and builds empathy. While it would be especially beautiful for children and youth, adults can use those lessons too. Her two main characters are a white spirit bear, called the Kermode bear, and a Lightening Bug, named Flint, who gets brighter throughout the stories from lessons learned and with the knowledge of self-love. One Song, the white spirit bear, is also available as a stuffed animal that people can write loving messages on as a healing tool. Here's how the fable begins:
"Somewhere, not far from here, there is a place we all can go. It is a journey to your heart, and there is a wonderful white spirit bear named One Song, who will take your hand and guide you there." Are you hooked? We were! You can contact Georgie:
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
From The Circle of Peace Movement, St. Paul, MN, Russel Balenger
Everybody needs to eat.
Everybody has a story.
Everybody needs to be heard.
The Circle of Peace Movement is a pathway to racial healing and peaceful communities. It works by creating a safe space where people come together on a regular basis to share a meal and engage in respectful conversation. Through circle, we come to understand and care for one another, and find hope and strength to transform our communities. The mission of TCOPM is to end violence and promote racial healing. Learn more at:
https://tcopm.org
From Meadow School, Petaluma, CA, Gina Rathbun-Dilles
"Because of knowing Avon, I was inspired to do something to honor Peace Day in my family and also to bring it into the schools that my daughters attend. I wrote up a project for the teachers to discuss with the students from kindergarten through 6th grade: PEACE and ways to actualize peace in their lives. The principal
of Meadow School, Melissa Becker loved it. She passed out the project to the teachers, and they will be doing this during Peace Week. I have also sent you a photo of the Peace symbol that my daughter Madeline made, which is the cover page for the project. Also, the principal has created a large peace symbol and had some students decorate it, and she is putting it up in the window of the school for peace week."
Gina Rathbun-Dilles
[email protected]
From our friend Steve Nation, Global Invocation Vigil for UN International Day of Peace: Thursday, September 21st
From "The Marin Singing Tree," Marin County, CA, Laurie Marshall
Create Peace Project will be celebrating the International Day of Peace by bringing the collaborative mural called "The Marin Singing Tree of What Makes America Great" to Indivisible Marin Community Summit on Sept. 24th from 2:30-4:30. This project involved an intergenerational, interracial design team that invited over 200 people in expressing their values and dreams in a collective way. We are dedicated to Peace Building Through Art. Here's a link to the Singing Tree Project,
http://www.unitythroughcreativity.net/programs/singing-tree-forest,
where over 17,000 people from 50 countries have created a forest of 48 Singing Tree murals. The tear in Lady Liberty's eye stands for our grief at the suffering in our country.
Laurie Marshall
[email protected]
From St. Francis of Assisi Sculpture Garden, Grand Rapids, MI
Instruments of Hope is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting peace through artistic endeavors. St. Francis of Assisi Sculpture Garden was created by Instruments of Hope. It's beautiful! Check it out:
http://www.instrumentsofhope.net
From Lion's Club International District 324A8, India
Lion's Club is celebrating INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE, September 21st with a full day of activities starting at 9.00 am onward @ world second longest beach (Marina beach bay of Bengal) in India, Tamilnadu, Chennai. Event organized by:
Ln.A.Chakkaravarthy
District Chairperson- International Peace Day
From Joseph Gilbert: How to Build a Culture of Peace
How to build a Culture of Peace? With sound! Here's an excerpt from Joseph's email:
"Fundamental restructuring of human culture is necessary. The cultural technology that enables peaceful living is attainable through recreating our spoken-word languages. The word is what makes us truly human. It enables us to think about and communicate about the things that make up our world. We are deeply affected by the vocal sounds which constitute our words." And, "The roots of our current cultures are as ancient as are the roots of the languages which create them. We must create new culture by creating new language".
Some of Joe's writings can be found online by searching for "Joseph Gilbert on sound symbolism."
[email protected]
From National Organisation for Research, Studies, and Realisation, Cameroon
The National Organisation for Research, Studies, and Realisation, NORSR-Cameroon would like to establish a city of peace in our community through which we shall be able to share with the community members the importance of peace and the right of children to education in particular.
The members are looking forward to partners and ideas for Peacebuilding activities.
Mainsah Gilbert, Technical Director
NORSR
-Cameroon
From Tom Houck, An Excerpt from his message about his pathway
"I found Teach Peace in a book called A Course In Miracles (The Course).It's wide-scope. Integrated. It says if we want to unlearn something, we have to stop teaching the thing. And it says the only way to have peace is to teach peace. If we want peace, we have to teach peace. We have to teach peace to learn it. And it says: Some people are talking about peace education these days. And "it starts in the home."
Tom also recommends: Booster.com/TeachPeaceWorldwide
From "United in Diversity: Artists Residency Turkey/Israel/Syria," Veronica Sabbag
The Yehudi Menuhin Foundation, the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Institute, and the NGO United Voices 4 Peace are undertaking a project aiming at promoting intercultural and inter-religious dialogue, as well as the integration of Syrian refugees. "United in Diversity: Artists residency Turkey/Israel/Syria" will bring together 18 artists (musicians and dancers) from Turkish, Israeli, Palestinian and Syrian communities in a five days residency of artistic co-creation and coexistence in the Brussels area. The program aims at addressing the challenge of the integration of refugees building bridges with their host communities and the one of peaceful coexistence between various communities using the universality of music as a language facilitating cooperation and understanding.
Those artists/peace ambassadors will then serve as multipliers upon their return to their respective countries. Look for future communications on Peace Day Events. Veronica Sabbag
[email protected]
From Longboarding for Peace, Thornhill, Ontario, Michael Brooke
From Emerald Compassionate Action Network (ECAN), David Hazen
The Emerald Compassionate Action Network (ECAN) seeks to build a culture of peace. We believe it is easier to act our way into a new way of thinking than it is to think our way into a new way of acting.
Emerald Compassionate Action Network (ECAN) is an outgrowth of an international methodology for creating a universal culture of peace - first at the global level, through the International Cities of Peace, and then at the national level, by establishing a cabinet-level position, the U.S. Department of Peace, in Washington. D.C.
541-520-6621 mobile
541-359-3598 office
From Unity, Peace & Wellness Gardens, Lusaka, Zambia, Donald Bilham
Zambia as a Centre for Peace & Wellness through walking.
"Solvitur Ambulando" is a well-known quote accredited to St Augustine which translates as "it is solved by walking." Locally labyrinths are called a path or journey, and labyrinth facilitators are guides or companions, all of which can be easily translated and understood. Labyrinths, for example, are called a Path of Hope, a Journey of the Heart, a Path of Discovery, a Path of Peace and named after people such as the Presentation Sisters' labyrinth at their convent in Kaoma, Western Province is called the Nano Path after their founder Nano Nagle. Africa's largest labyrinth and spiral pathways are to be found in Zambia. The world's 3rd largest labyrinth pathway measuring 2,000m is at a new wellness garden in Lusaka City called Rufaro gardens - meaning a Place of Happiness, owned by Dr. Hampwaye and his wife, Cecilia. It is a pathway with the themes of Discovery, Renewal, Resolution, Peace, and Happiness as it meanders through a sunken rock garden of creation, a Peace contemplation garden, sensory & herbal gardens, a prayer garden and natural woodland.
Donald KB "Malenga" which in the Soli language means designer and creator
From Dr. PK Mahanandia: A Love Story
This love story lifted us and made us smile; we think it will do the same for you. "The Amazing Man who Cycled from India to Europe for Love." We think you'll enjoy the links below - it's a truly heartwarming story!
From WOVEN, in New York City, submitted by Elizabeth Howard
"We Oppose Violence Everywhere Now" (WOVEN), is a nonprofit organization based out of New York City that aspires to end violence in our lifetime. Built on the belief that rejecting violence is not insurmountable, WOVEN is designed to serve as a platform for the world to collaborate and take action with innovative, new solutions for solving today's issues of violence, as well as act as a vehicle for peaceful advocacy. WOVEN has a digital platform of resources and a series of events for Peace Week, including a Peace Circle on September 21st:
https://wovenow.org
From Occupy Mendocino, CA, International Peace Day Celebration
International Peace Day is celebrated annually on September 21st. For the last several years, Occupy Mendocino has recognized local peace advocates for their work at a ceremony in the Peace Garden at the FB Senior Center. In the past, we have honored Howard Ennis, Zac Zachary, and Women in Black. This year, we are proud to recognize Phil Ebert. Phil on Highway One outside Caspar. You may have waved and honked as you drove past him. You may have wondered why, for almost fifteen years now, every Sunday from 11-1, rain or shine, summer or winter, Phil has stood on the east side of the highway surrounded by peace flags.
Have your spirit lifted in these dark days by joining us for snacks and songs as we celebrate Phil Ebert, Mendocino's Peace Man, from 1:30-3 p.m., on Thursday, September 21st, in the Peace Garden adjoining the Senior Center on Harold St. in Fort Bragg. He invites everybody to join him.
http://www.occupymendocino.net
From VoiceAmerica, The Convergence, Dr. Kurt Johnson
Hosted by Dr. Kurt Johnson of Unity.Earth Convergence Radio, will co-broadcast the Keynote Summit presentation by Deepak Chopra, Karenna Gore, and Kabir Sehgal, with further commentary by Rick Ulfik, Kurt Johnson (for the Interspiritual Network) and Jeff Vander Clute (for the Culture of Peace Initiative). This will be an "on demand" broadcast, available anytime after that, starting after the 9/21 broadcast of the Keynote presentations by our colleagues at the 11 Days of Global Unity, SHIFT, etc. Additional videos and commentaries by other Peace luminaries (including Avon Mattison, Co-founder of Pathways To Peace, David Kirshbaum of the UN NGO Platform for the Emergence of a Culture of Peace, and Philip Hellmich, Director of Peace at SHIFT Network Network).
From PUDO ORG, Bugiri District, Uganda
Peace for Unity andDevelopment Organisation (PUDO) is an International non-profit and non-partisan secular educational organization that seeks to enhance the lives of all people globally by promoting peace through educational programs and curricula designed to develop positive character and to promotes reconciliation through use of peaceful means. PUDO is seeking partnership, resources, and support to further its mission and
realize
its objectives to actively participate in the
building of a global culture of peace
.
Contact:
[email protected]
From Peace Village Education Program/Peace Village Global, Suzanne Miller
Peace Village is a week-long summer day camp. Community members, such as schools, local government, and service organizations, come together to put on the camp. The Camp teaches peacebuilding skills to kids through four main tenets: Conflict prevention and resolution, connection to nature, mindfulness and media literacy. The Peace Village is now founding a "parent organization" and changing its name to "Peace Village Global." Through this group, the summer day camp program is being expanded around the world (now 23 camps in the U.S. and the first international camp will be held in Kenya in November). To build on the day camp experience, Peace Village is now working on in-school and after-school programming and has a couple of pilot programs underway in schools in Newberg and Corbett. You can check out
peacevillageinc.org
for more info.
From thinkPEACE Network, Los Angeles, CA, Howard Flaer and the thinkPEACE Team
Since 2004
www.thinkPEACE.net
has promoted Peace Day awareness by involving global comedy clubs in a night of celebration for Peace Day. The MC announces Peace Day and the audience receives our take home U.N. approved flyer about Peace Day and the U.N. with a message to donate directly online to the world food program if they can.
The clubs and Peace Day gain attention! A win-win for Peace Day.
www.thinkPEACE.net
What is Your Pathway To Peace?
We'd love to hear about it! Pathways To Peace honors, celebrates, and supports Peacebuilders around the world. You can contact us by emailing:
[email protected]
About Pathways To Peace and the Culture of Peace Initiative
Incorporated in 1983
, Pathways to Peace (PTP) is an international organization dedicated to making Peace a practical reality in our world today. PTP is an official Peace Messenger of the United Nations and has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. PTP works locally and globally, inter-generationally and multi-culturally, to promote Peacebuilding, Peace education, and to collaborate with other organizations in initiatives that help further the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI).
With participants from around the world, the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) is a cooperative local-global Peacebuilding Initiative uniting the strengths of organizations, networks, projects and people to realize a Culture of Peace for the Common Good. The CPI also serves as a vehicle for bringing to light many previously unseen and unheard Peacebuilders working along diverse paths, who are embodying the emerging Culture of Peace within Humanity. The annual highlight of the Culture of Peace Initiative is the International Day of Peace, which provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations, and nations to work together, on a shared date, to create practical acts of Peace with a year- round impact.
About the International Day of Peace
An annual focus for PTP is the International Day of Peace (Peace Day), held annually on September 21st.
Pathways To Peace has worked with the UN to observe and promote the International Day of Peace since its inception in 1981 and has grown International Day of Peace from a single event of a few hundred people into an annual global observance that now reaches hundreds of millions of people.
The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") is observed around the world each year on 21 September. Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day provides a globally shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
http://internationaldayofpeace.org
"Together for Peace: Respect, Safety and Dignity for All"
Is the theme for the International Day of Peace -
September 21, 2017
This theme relates to the UN's "Together" campaign which relates to the fair and compassionate treatment of refugees and seeks to promote awareness of our global community and a common desire for Peace. We all are One.
Download the IDP poster at
This newsletter comes to you from Pathways To Peace,
a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization, whose work would not be possible without our volunteers and your support. If you would like to support Pathways To Peace and Peace Day activities around the globe, you can do so by clicking the
Donation Button
above. A Heart-Felt Thank You from the Pathways To Peace Team!
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Pathways To Peace, P.O. Box 1057, Larkspur, CA 94977
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