ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
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For Progress and Obstacles, see international report by Pathways to Peace which makes an annual report of Peace Day activities, from which the following is taken:
A
Day For Peace has a website that gathers names and countries in support
of the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, and translates its
messages into many languages. A summary of responses is to be posted on
the site. (2004)
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CATT) organized a
peaceful demonstration and rally at Ministry of Defence’s Defence
Export Services Organisation (DESO), London, to mark the United Nations
International Day of Peace, followed by a procession to Downing Street
to hand in CAAT’s Fanning the Flames petition to call on the government
to stop fanning the flames of the international arms trade. (2004)
Peace
One Day sponsored a Peace Concert at Brixton Academy, London, from 8pm
- 3am on the eve of the International Day of Peace. As well as many
live performers and DJ sets Joseph Fiennes read a message from His
Holiness the Dalai Lama, Mo Mowlam gave a speech and a video address
from UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was broadcast. Their film "Peace
One Day" also premiered in New York City on IDP, 2004.
The
Sundial House, Tunbridge Wells, promoted and organized a 24-hour Vigil
of meditation and prayer for the IDP, inviting participants to sign up
and link in thought at precise times for 15 minute periods, to connect
to the global community meditating and praying for peace on that day
and to use the Great Invocation or the world prayer, "May Peace Prevail
on Earth."(2003)
World Centre Of Service: Peace through Ethical
and Spiritual values in Governance. The Baroness Edmee Di Pauli is
initiating a video series on 21 September on a variety of issues, with
the goal of educating voters who will, in turn, elect government
officials with ethical and spiritual values who will apply these in the
decision making of their legislation. (2003) In 2004, IDP was
celebrated in the evening with a ceremony at Centre-Link for several
spiritual groups, thanking the Earth for carrying us in spite of all
the pain we inflict on her and blessing her with our love. (2004)
World
Light Circle and New Life Healing Center Care Clinic, Walsall, promoted
the IDP with a mailing and wish to enhance the spirit of value for
Human Life, Mother Nature, and World Peace. (2004)
Brahma
Kumaris Wolverhampton organized a public programme on the IDP to
explore the true meaning of peace and how we achieve it personally and
then globally. (2004)
York University student Ben Macpherson,
20, walked 500 miles from Edinburgh Castle to London, arriving on Sept.
21, to coincide with the UN’s International Day of Peace. He received
BBC News coverage, as he carried a white flag to symbolize his message
for peace: "I am walking to London to raise awareness of the annual
International Day of Peace. " His initial steps were joined by local
religious leaders. (2004)
World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS)
Information about the International Day of peace went out from the
government Education Department to every school in Scotland, and
several local schools observed this day with a moment of silence or an
activity of their own devising. (2004)
Action Network Magazine,
a free distribution, 70,000-circulation magazine in the UK, published a
special edition "Countdown to Peace" for its September/October 2004
issue. The front cover photograph featured young people holding flowers
and a sign "World Peace", and the editorial invited readers to "Join
the Countdown to the International Day of Peace-September 21" and
explained the "WE THE PEOPLES" INITIATIVE, highlighted several
international events, and listed the website. (2004)
Brahma
Kumaris World Spirituality University and the United Nations
Association Wales co-sponsored an International Day of Peace event in
Cardiff at the Temple of Peace and Health,
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