CPNN

This year I was able to find on the internet 821 events for the International Day of Peace. Most were not written in English, but were in Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Russian, Spanish and Ukrainian.

The largest participation for the International Day of Peace, as usual, was in Western Europe, especially in Belgium (209) France (70), Italy (27) and Spain (14). To a great extent, events took place officially in the city hall of particpating cities. In Italy, the Giro d’Italia per la Pace, which involved several cities on the International Day of Peace, was scheduled to involve 129 cities during its tour over the course of several months. And in France, another similar initiative, the March for the Climate, for the Living World, for Peace and for Justice was celebrated in more than 100 cities and villages on September 26.

All but 4 of the 50 United States and all except 1 of the 10 provinces of Canada held celebrations. This year there were actions protesting the culture of war. Many protested the Israeli genocide of Palestine. Protests targeted the military base in Tucson, Arizona and the Air Force Arms Bazaar in National Harbor, Maryland. In the twin cities of Minneapolis and St Paul, the event included a virtual briefing; “Recovering from the Policy-Based Disaster of Federal Immigration Policy,” In Chicago, Codepink held a teach-in on the impact of the US invasion and occupation of Afghanistan.

Despite the breakup of the Soviet Union and the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine, the celebration of the International Day of Peace, officially encouraged in Soviet Union, has persisted until now. The 121 events included 22 in Belarus, 37 in Russia and 57 in Ukraine, mostly by the students in schools and libraries where they continued the traditions such as the making paper doves or cranes to signify peace. Some events in the Ukraine had to be carried out in bomb shelters where the children were confined durin air raids.

The 93 reports from 17 countries in Asia and Pacific were especially rich. In Japan the day was celebrated with caligraphy, tea ceremonies, bell ringing and concerts, including Japanese drumming and a performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. In India it was celebrated by a wide variety of sects and associations, including Brahma Kumaris, followers of Prem Rawat, Girl Guides and Scouts, Rotary Clubs and the National Students’ Union. In China, there were official events in Beijing, Hanchuan City, Hongkong and Wuhan with participants coming from other countries around the world.

Mexico with 29 events led the way in Latin America and the Caribbean where there were 59 events in 14 countries. The Mexican events included a Binational Summit for Peace and Justice in Ciudad Juarez, an International Congress for the International Day of Peace in Guanajuato and the the 7th International Forum on Culture and Education for Peace in Querétero. In Culiacán, the Sinaloa Public Security Secretariat organized a peace march, led by an escort and a marching band in their prison as part of the actions aimed at strengthening culture, sports and social reintegration processes within the penitentiary center.

In Africa, there were celebrations in 19 countries, not counting another 5 that were listed with the Arab states. Four events took place in Cameroon, including a national online forum, a webinar y Wem’Afrika, a service by the Presbyterian Church and a peace march coordinated by the Ministry of Youth. There were three events each in Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo and Kenya, involving, among others, the Ombudsman Institution of Chad, Synergie des Femmes pour la Paix et la Sécurité in the DRC and Kenyatta University.

We found 22 actions in 12 Arab and Middle Eastern countries. In Bahrain, the event was dedicated to coexistence between different religions and sects and was attended by representatives of Catholic, Evangelical, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist Sikh and Baha’i relgious communities. In Egypt, the Muslim Council of Elders issued a statement saying that peace is the essence of the message of Islam, and the Coptic Evangelical Organization for Social Services called for pratices and initiatives for peace.

Global initiatives for the International Day of Peace included :
11 Days of Global Unity
Creative Nonviolence at Work in the World Today
Global Week Of Action For Peace And Climate Justice
Live Peace
Masterpeace
Peace One Day
Peace Voices Map
United Religions Initiative

The work of searching for, translating, editing and putting the 821 events on line took more than 100 hours of personal labor. Other surveys, previously helpful, such as the UN event map for the International Day of Peace., Montessori schools map, One Day One Choir map, were no longer available and and Campaign Nonviolence website was reduced in scope. At my age (87), the work has become too arduous, so I will not do it next year. I hope others will take up the task.