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CPI is stewarded by Pathways To Peace

   
Balance - Refugee Rights - and the Global Broadcast


Dear Peacebuilding Community,

In 31 days we will celebrate Peace Day and "The Right To Peace". This takes many forms and in the following we will take a look at a few of them. A very important part of effective peacebuilding is our "narrative of peace", how we communicate what it is, what can be done, and the significance in everyone's daily lives. The message, the story, is both practical and inspirational. This is all the more important in today's barrage of information and often loud competing ideas. Our highlighted Peacebuilder Extraordinaire is Bill McCarthy of Unity Foundation who has been on the forefront of the narrative of peace for many years. It is an honor to bring you his story.

Peacebuilder Extraordinaire - Bill McCarthy


1.) What inspired the original idea for Unity Foundation
  In 1975, inspired by the lyrics of a Jefferson Starship song - "In the Summer of 75 the whole world will come alive" I envisioned the first San Francisco Unity Fair  I had never produced a major event in my life but my vision of the fair was so clear that I felt compelled to proceed. Working with a few friends we convinced 45 spiritual, political and environmental organizations to come together to celebrate Unity. 
 
In my vision I saw the Jefferson Starship performing at the fair. It turned out that our production partners, the People's Ballroom, knew the band and asked them to perform. They said yes and we were ecstatic. Then, a few weeks before the fair, the Jefferson Starship song "Miracles" hit number 1 on the charts. They were now the biggest band in the world and their management wanted them back in the studio to create another number 1 hit. So they called and said the band was not going to appear. I couldn't believe it. Then a miracle happened. Our stage designer, who knew the band, called to ask how things were going. I said not too good. The Jefferson Starship have decided not to perform. He then said the thing that changed my life and led to the creation of Unity Foundation - "I don't care what they said. what do you see"  With tears flowing from my eyes I said "I can see them performing on that stage as clearly as I see anything". He then asked me to call the band's production office and plead my case for why the band had to perform. The band's representative said she would talk to the them. Later that day, at a production meeting for the Unity Fair, there was a phone call for the leader of the People's Ballroom. Following the call he came back into the room looking like he was about to faint. He pointed at me and said "McCarthy I don't know what you told them but their coming and their bringing the Grateful Dead with them." And they did! So both bands headlined the Unity Fair in a Reunion Concert that drew 50,000 people. Backstage at the concert, a friend of mine who was a lawyer said "you have to keep this going." "This can't be a one time event." He convinced me to create Unity Foundation and 42 years later the work of the foundation continues.

2.) Please describe your organization. What makes it unique and meaningful.
  Unity Foundation  www.unityfoundation.org  was founded in 1976 with the purpose of promoting peace, cooperation and unity throughout the world. For the first 21 years the foundation furthered its mission by producing and co-producing special educational and cultural celebrations in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York City. In 1998 Unity Foundation created the Positive Spin television program to present positive, innovative and solution oriented news from around the world. The program was designed to be a counter point to the negativity, sensationalism and bias in the news by giving focus to the important work of the world's peacemakers and humanitarians. The program now in its 20th year, airs nationally in the United States on the country's two major satellite networks - DirecTV and DISH Network, with a combined audience reach of 40 million homes in the United States. In 2009 I envisioned the first Peace Day Global Internet Broadcast Celebrating the United Nations International Day of Peace, which I co-founded with my producing partner Laurien Towers. The broadcast promotes the vitally important work of the United Nations, it's humanitarian agencies and organizations working for peace, the environment, human rights, and social and economic justice. Special focus is given to promoting the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The 2017 broadcast had 712,000 unique viewers. For this year's 10th Anniversary Peace Day Global Broadcast our goal is to have one million viewers.
 
3.) What do you want people around the world to know about your organization.  
Unity Foundation is here to serve the world community by promoting the work of the United Nations and the world's changemakers (individuals, communities and organizations) through its media vehicles - the Positive Spin television program and the Peace Day Global Broadcast Celebrating the UN International Day of Peace and giving special focus to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 
 
  4.) What's your vision for what your organization will mean to Peacebuilders today and in the future. 
  Through Unity Foundation's partnership with the Peace Channel, the media platform that streams the foundation's annual Peace Day Global Broadcast, we work to co-produce a series of global broadcasts for International Women's Day, Earth Day, Refugee Day, Peace Day, and Human Rights Day. The Peace Channel  www.peacechannel.com  is streaming the best of humanity 24 hours a day 7 days a week promoting peace and hope around the planet. The Peace Channel offers motivating music from the planet's leading artists, empowering advocacy from leaders in sustainable peace and prosperity, and surprising stories about ingenious individuals and organizations around the planet who are tackling humanity's most urgent challenges - and Winning! 
 
I have been honored to receive recognition for my work with Unity Foundation including: The Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Obama; Certificate of Honor from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Certificate of Honor from Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley, and letters of support from President Bill Clinton, and United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.
 

Peace Day Global Broadcast

Starting Friday, September 21, Unity Foundation's Peace Day Global Broadcast will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with more than 24 hours of entertaining performances, encouraging messages, and empowering news.  The Peace Day Global Broadcast is hosted by  PeaceChannel.com, the only streaming non-profit network that focuses 24/7 on peace, prosperity and protecting the planet.  The webcast also streams live from dozens of other peace sites, including the European Parliament's  Pledge to Peace site and  http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/resources.shtml, the official website of United Nations Peace Day.  Unity Foundation welcomes other groups to join them as peace broadcasters by embedding the stream on web pages and social media.
 
A highlight of the Peace Day Global Broadcast will be live coverage of a ceremony lighting the World Peace Flame in Ashland, Oregon at the Thalden Pavilion, Sustainability Center, Southern Oregon University. Savitri MacCuish, Executive Director of the The World Peace Flame Foundation will be traveling from The Hague, Netherlands to light the Flame with University President Linda Schott. The first World Peace Flame was lit  in Wales from seven sacred flames from five continents in 1999.  The flame reminds us of the sacred flame that burns within each human being. The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) and Pathways To Peace (PTP) support the lighting ceremony. The event is being organized by the Ashland Culture of Peace Commission.
 

"A decade ago, Unity Foundation launched the Peace Day Global Broadcast to celebrate the message that peace is really possible," explains Bill McCarthy, founder of Unity Foundation and co-founder of the Peace Day Global Broadcast.   "Since then, we've been honored by participation from world leaders and international celebrities. Our audience has grown each year.  Last year, we had more than 700,000 views in more than 130 countries.   This year, we plan to surpass a million views."
 
Buoyed by the success of the Peace Day Global Broadcast, PeaceChannel.com now hosts an additional four international day events:  International Women's Day Webcast on March 8, Earth Day Global Broadcast (with the Earth Day Network) on April 22, World Refugee Day Webcast (with USA for UNHCR) on June 22, and Human Rights Day Webcast on December 10th.  "We curate the best of humanity from YouTube along with original programming," says Darlene Shelton, executive producer for Peace Channel.  "We select entertaining videos that raise hopes and spirits, encouraging views that move us to positive action, and empowering news about individuals and groups around the world taking responsibility to solve humanity's greatest challenges." 
 
The theme of the 10th Anniversary broadcast is "The Right to Peace - The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70." The Universal Declaration - the most translated document in the world, is available in more than 500 languages.  UN Secretary-General António Guterres declares, "It is time all nations and all people live up to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which recognizes the inherent dignity and equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human race." 


Pathways To Peace at the UN!
 
Once again, George Anthony, Pathways To Peace Representative to the United Nations and his extraordinary group of youth leaders in the Emerging Global Leaders Institute (EGL), are in the UN Spotlight! George and the youth engaged in the Emerging Global Leaders have been selected to present at the UN DPI 67th Global Conference on August 22nd, 2018 . https://outreach.un.org/ngorelations/67th-dpingo-conference The title of the conference presentation is: "Role of Effective Communication in Overcoming Conflicts and Challenges in Sustainable Peace Building Development."
 
Youth leader, Katelyn Grano, Pathways To Peace UN NGO/DPI Representative, recent award winner, and EGL Steering Committee Member will be moderating the panel. Panel presenters include PTP UN Youth Representatives with various additional esteemed credentials, as well as leadership in EGL, Elizabeth Sheridan, and Karen Nortz. George will also be presenting, joined by Lindy P. Crescitelli, PTP UN ECOSOC Representative and Founder of March4OurLivesNY. Joseph and Joann Kang will take notes as official reporters for the United Nations 67th Global Conference report. 
 
The workshop will cover specific strategies and tools in effective negotiation and communication, with a goal of incorporating the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) SDG's as a unifying tool for national and global Peacebuilding through our existing organizations (PTP, Global Institute, March for our Lives, and national and International NGO's). Youth leaders will talk about The Prep 4 Peace, Education Tool Kit and challenges in promoting educational resources to a global community. John Papanier and Stephen Gironda will talk about their work, issues, and concerns. The workshop will also engage audience members.
 
PTP is so honored to support and promote these incredible youth leaders and the Emerging Global Leaders Institute, under the wise guidance of George Anthony and Mater Dei Prep. These youth leaders are intelligent, innovative, and unstoppable! Thank you for your leadership, your voice, and your commitment to bringing Peace to a world that is hungry for it!

Featured Program


Back to School, Childhood Stress, and 7 Floors to Balance
Many children are preparing to go back to school at this time of year. And, while returning to school can be a wonderful and exciting experience, many children also find it stressful. New students, new teachers, new classrooms, and new routines - all of it can be overwhelming! Like adults, children need tools to help them balance the stressors of being a kid in today's world. PTP's partner program, 7 Floors to Balance ® is a tool that children can learn easily and use daily to help them "get and keep their balance." Since introducing 7 Floors to Balance ® to PTP's global audience last year, the program has grown and deepened its impact.
 
Founder of PTP, Avon Mattison describes 7 Floors to Balance® as "an effective, simple, and universal program which can be easily translated into any language and delivers tangible results for both children and adults."
 
With deep roots in health, child development, and wellness, Tammy Lelie Skinner developed this innovative program to "empower children and adults with practical, instant and easy tools to achieve peace on demand. 7 Floors to Balance ® teaches children and adults a new common language to deal with their emotions and release their bothersome emotions instantly". Due to its proven effectiveness, relevance, and universality, 7 Floors to Balance ® has enjoyed broad participation in schools, after-school programs, child abuse prevention programs, and with acupuncturists, media professionals, individual families, and many others. Tammy Lelie Skinner, the founder of the program, is currently collaborating with psychotherapist Nayon Kang to deepen the impact of 7 Floors to Balance® through a pilot clinical study currently underway.
 
Operating with the science-based assumption that nervous system balance is the foundation for emotional balance and that the nervous system filters all our emotional experiences, Skinner decided to create a simple program that would help people of all ages and from all walks of life learn how to get "unstuck from limiting emotions." Then, from that point, they can alter the emotional filter that acts as the lens from which they experience life. They feel liberated knowing they have power over their thoughts and feelings and are not controlled by them. 7 Floors to Balance ® takes less than an hour to learn and helps both children and adults to identify, articulate and accept (rather than suppress) their emotions then provides them with yogic-inspired tools to immediately let go of those destructive emotions. They gain instant and practical tools to access feelings of self-compassion, creativity, empathy, self-esteem, sense of connection/cooperation with others and ultimately peace of mind and joy. To learn more: Tamara Lelie ( [email protected] ), phone 707-874-9649, or www.7floorstobalance.com
 
Quote of the Day
For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind. 
                                                                                            Ralph Waldo Emerson


Peacebuilding Around Our World: Your Pathways To Peace!
 
In our International Day of Peace (IDP) countdown newsletters, we have asked, "What's your pathway to Peace?" And, many of you have responded! Large and small actions and endeavors, all make a positive difference in our collective action to bring Peace to ourselves, our communities, our countries, and our world! Thank you for inspiring us! We will continue to mention as many of those pathways as possible as we move closer to Peace Day, September 21st. Following are a few of these submitted "pathways to Peace" - we applaud you!
 
Music, Football, and Refugee Rights
This summer, the biggest open-air free festival in Europe hosted a unique edition of the 'Let's Kick Racism Out Of Stadiums' tournament, organized by the 'NEVER AGAIN' Association. At the Pol'and'Rock Festival (also known as Polish Woodstock), the players symbolically represented countries from all over the world. In the final play-off, Poland played against Iran, while the fair play award went to Croatia. A match was also played between the 'NEVER AGAIN' Association's team together with artists involved in the 'Music Against Racism' campaign on one side and the team of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) on the other. The Commissioner, Dr. Adam Bodnar officially inaugurated the whole tournament and even personally refereed during the opening game. The festival was held in Kostrzyn on the Polish-German border from 2nd to 4th August 2018, and it drew between 500 and 700 hundred thousand people, as estimated by the organizers.

"Through the anti-racist tournament at Pol'and'Rock Festival, we wanted to remind everyone about the importance of respect and diversity in sports."
[email protected] NEVER AGAIN ASSOCIATION
 
Embodied Peacemaking
Paul Linden has been practicing and teaching aikido (a martial art dedicated to nonviolence and non-fighting) for 49 years. Paul says, "The body naturally responds to conflict with fear and anger. These powerful physical response patterns undermine our attempts to think rationally and behave calmly and peacefully."  Paul has used aikido to study the body in conflict and has developed a short sequence of very simple exercises to teach people embodied peacemaking.  "By replacing fear and anger with calm alertness and compassionate power, people can actually live up to their ideals of peace."  mailto:[email protected]
 
Youth Peacebuilders in Uganda
The Youth for Peace and Development Uganda is a charity organisation based in Uganda, East Africa, currently operating within Ankole and Kigezi regions. In pursuit of his Master's Degree in Conflict Analysis and Inclusive Development, Edgar Buryahika researched the economic adaptation challenges of women refugees. Through his research and reflection, he concluded that society leaders are greatly to blame for this and other suffering. "Leaders have failed to forgive, sacrifice, dialogue, tolerate, respect and forego for the sake of creating peace in the societies they lead." Edgar resolved to put his efforts into creating Peace by mentoring youth to become leaders who cherish Peace. Edgar joined with other dedicated colleagues to establish Youth for Peace and Development Uganda. Youth for Peace and Development Uganda is seeking partners and support. [email protected]   [email protected]
 
Unifyre : 10 minutes of Global Silence on Peace Day
Unifyre is uniting millions of people across the globe in 10 minutes of synchronized silence at 9 a.m. Pacific time on Peace Day. Pathways to Peace is joining Unifyre and many other Peacebuilding organizations in support of this powerful opportunity to lift global consciousness for Peace through the largest synchronized moment of silence in history.
Junilyn Maravilla, Peace Day Outreach Assistant, [email protected]
 

Israeli-Palestinian Youth Offer Free Citizen Journalism Program
YaLa Young Leaders is an Israeli-Palestinian movement that advocates for peace and dialogue between young Israelis, Palestinians, and youth from all over the Middle East and North Africa. Their flagship program is the Citizen Journalism Program, a free 4-month online training for youth from the region to learn journalism, storytelling, photo and video making skills to maximize their potential as activists ( http://yalaacademy.org ). YaLa Young Leaders is currently recruiting for the next semester of the program. You won't want to miss this amazing opportunity, so jump in now! Here is a quick overview of how you can learn more and get involved:
Attention Changemakers! This is your opportunity to make your voice heard on social media and become part of an amazing community of young activists. Apply now to YaLa Academy's School of Citizen Journalism and train to be a Citizen Journalist and Activist. Our program will allow YOU and other participants from the Middle East and North Africa, to learn from professional journalists, bloggers, photographers, peace activists and more. The program is online and totally FREE! The best students will be invited to a regional conference in Jordan! To find out more: www.yalaacademy.org/apply  YaLa Young Leaders [email protected]
 
Conference in India, "Birthing The New Humanity
Conference in India, "Birthing The New Humanity," and the Importance of Preconception, Infancy, and Early Childhood for Life-long Health
Following the great success of last year's conference, "Birthing The New Humanity: Science, Wisdom & Mother Earth" will take place once again in India and is co-convened with Dr. Payel Biswas Soo from Bengaluru. The conference will take place in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India from November 30 - December 2, 2018. Dr. Evita Fernandez of Fernandez Hospital, Hyderabad, India is confirmed as a Keynote Speaker. The conference will continue the timely and much needed platform for discussion, sharing of best practices and consciousness raising on this vitally important subject. 

In its recent May 2018 document, "Nurturing Care" the World Health Organisation (WHO),  UNICEF and its partners state:     
"We now understand that the period from pregnancy to age 3 is the most critical, when the brain grows faster than at any other time; 80% of a baby's brain is formed by this age. For healthy brain development in these years, children need a safe, secure and loving environment, with the right nutrition and stimulation from their parents or caregivers. This is a window of opportunity to lay a foundation of health and wellbeing whose benefits last a lifetime - and carry into the next generation." http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/272603/9789241514064-eng.pdf

If we change the beginning of the story, we change the whole story.

According to conference organizers, "Overwhelming evidence shows that the foundation for life-long health is laid during the primal period from preconception to early infancy and yet this is not known by the vast majority of health professionals, organisations, governments or the public at large." Many NGO's and United Nations organizational partners are joining and supporting the conference to learn about and increase public awareness and action on this important topic.



Get Involved!

Established in 1981 by unanimous United Nations resolution, The International Day of Peace (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. The International Day of Peace (Peace Day) is celebrated around the world, in your community, and perhaps in your work. You can check out ways to get involved by accessing the website: https://internationaldayofpeace.org . And, if your organization is sponsoring Peace Day activities, please add those activities to the Peace Day map on the site.


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] . No more than a paragraph please (and a few sentences is even better)! We will continue to share some of the submitted pathways in our upcoming Peace Day newsletters.

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.
 
For more information about Pathways to Peace, please visit our website:  www.pathwaystopeace.org 

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.

The Theme for the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2018
"The Right to Peace"

This year's #peaceday celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "The Right to Peace- The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70."
 



This newsletter comes to you from Pathways To Peace (PTP),  steward of the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) newsletter. PTP is 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 heartfelt thank you from the Pathways To Peace Team! 

Thank You!


Pathways To Peace, P.O. Box 1057, Larkspur, CA 94977