ACTIONS: What actions have been
undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the first half of the Decade?
|
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:
Kapiti
Interfaith Group coordinated an Interfaith Vigil for the United Nations
Day of Peace at Kapiti Uniting Parish, on Tuesday Sept 21st (2004)
Intuition-In-Service,
and the United Nations Days & Years Meditation Initiative, have
coordinated, since 2002, an international Vigil of meditation and
prayer for the 24 hours of September 21st from midnight to midnight
GMT. Over 400 participants registered, many from Latin America, thanks
to the wonderful work of Daniel Barrantes in Argentina and Maria
Cristina Pereira do Amaral in Brazil, who translated the web pages into
Spanish and Portuguese and circulated widely to email lists on the
continent. The 24 hours are divided into 15-minute periods, and
individuals or groups commit themselves (by registering on the website
to spend specific 15-minute periods in prayer or meditation for world
peace. Participants began precisely on the quarter hour by using the
Great Invocation, or the world prayer 'May Peace Prevail on Earth', or
an invocation or prayer of your choice oriented towards world peace.
Then they linked in thought with the others who are linking at the same
precise time and then with everyone in the world who is participating
in the International Day of Peace Vigil. All were invited to reflect on
the meaning of a Culture of Peace, visualise the lighted, loving
energies that can create the mental and emotional understanding and
atmosphere within which peace can flourish in ourselves, our
communities, our nations, and our world, and use the Great Invocation,
or the world prayer 'May Peace Prevail on Earth', or any invocation or
prayer that is oriented towards world peace, precisely on the quarter
hour. (2003-2004)
Nelson Peace Group invited the People of
Nelson to the Church steps on Sept. 21 between 5 and 6 p.m. to
acknowledge the United Nations International Day of Peace. Both
individuals and groups were invited to share short songs, poems,
prayers, and banners to wave, as part of the International Day of Peace
Vigil. (2004)
Operation Peace Through Unity (OPTU) Their Peace
Day activities in Wanganui included holding a Prayer Breakfast,
inviting all community members of different ages, religion, faiths and
cultures, in the "Quiet Room" at the Quakers, between 8-9 am, followed
by breakfast. All of the UN member states were mentioned and people
were encouraged to invoke, chant or pray in accordance with their own
religion and in their own language. They also linked with groups and
individuals throughout the world, and some afterwards held a moment of
silence at the sculpture. (2004)
The Triangle Center offered a
Peace Pole re-dedication ceremony and the blessing of a special plaque,
featuring the Banner of Peace symbol and the Manifesto 2000 values
statement. (2004)
Wellington World Service Meditation Group
sponsored an Interfaith Vigil of meditation, prayers, chants and
silence as a contribution to the United Nations International Day of
Peace. Locals were invited to "Pop in during your lunch break, and
contribute for a time to the peaceful radiations." The focus was held
by a variety of groups and individuals representing Buddhist, Islamic,
Christian and Jewish faiths along with various spiritual traditions.
There was no charge for the gathering, donations were welcomed, and
refreshments were provided. (2004)
|
