{"id":38783,"date":"2026-02-05T21:58:38","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T20:58:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=38783"},"modified":"2026-02-05T21:58:38","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T20:58:38","slug":"mexico-al-sharpton-and-rigoberta-menchu-to-join-merida-peace-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=38783","title":{"rendered":"Mexico: Al Sharpton and Rigoberta Mench\u00fa to Join M\u00e9rida Peace Conference"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"float: left; width: 46%;\">\n<p>DISARMAMENT &#038; SECURITY .<\/p>\n<p>An article by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht from <a href=\"https:\/\/yucatanmagazine.com\/al-sharpton-rigoberta-menchu-yucatan\/\">Yucatan Magazine<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The International Peace Conference in M\u00e9rida will feature prominent voices such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Mench\u00fa Tum and civil rights leader Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr., better known as Al Sharpton, the firebrand TV pundit and activist.  <\/p>\n<p>This regional gathering, organized by UADY, The World House Project Inc., and the Yucat\u00e1n state government, will take place at the Siglo XXI convention center.<\/p>\n<p>Over three days starting Feb. 4, civic, business, academic, government, and student leaders, as well as activists, will discuss actions to address today\u2019s challenges in peace and justice through dialogue, education, and strategic action.<\/p>\n<p><center><a href=\"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Yucatan.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Yucatan-300x219.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"219\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-38784\" srcset=\"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Yucatan-300x219.jpg 300w, https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Yucatan-768x561.jpg 768w, https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Yucatan.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<\/center><\/p>\n<p>The conference aims to build a global network for civic awareness and create social infrastructure focused on promoting peace and justice. It will also invite analysis of significant challenges and opportunities for international peace.<\/p>\n<p>Rigoberta Mench\u00fa will share her vision for building peace through human rights and social justice. Johnny J. Mack, founder of The World House Project, will present a talk on the World House vision and the metalogic of nonviolence.<\/p>\n<p>Additionally, Rosa Wolpert Kuri, a UNESCO representative, will give the presentation \u201cWithout Education, There Is No Peace.\u201d Other experts, including Francisco Javier Gorj\u00f3n G\u00f3mez, Roberto Jos\u00e9 Beltr\u00e1n Zambrano, Alberto Manuel Athi\u00e9 Gallo, and Fernando de la Mora Salcedo, will address key topics such as a culture of peace, nonviolent action in the 21st century, and current global scenarios.<\/p>\n<p>The sessions aim to identify three main focus areas: Direct Action, which uses peaceful tactics to mobilize people, challenge injustice, and create pressure for change; Cultural Transformation, which shifts mindsets and social norms through art, storytelling, education, and spiritual leadership; and Structural Change, which reforms policies, systems, and institutions to build equity, justice, and peace.<\/p>\n<p>The conference will also feature a Youth for Peace Agenda. This includes keynote speeches, panel discussions, workshops, intergenerational dialogues, and cultural activities with performances by the UADY Ballet, the University Regional Orchestra, and other musical groups.<\/p>\n<p>Members of the general public may attend the conference by completing the online registration and paying the participation fee of MX$2,800 via bank deposit or transfer, or MX$2,910 via PayPal. Deadline is Feb. 2. Visit https:\/\/conferenciadepaz.uady.mx\/.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Rigoberta Mench\u00fa<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Rigoberta Mench\u00fa grew up in a small Mayan village in Guatemala. As a young woman, she experienced injustice and violence during her country\u2019s long civil war, in which family members were killed. Her courageous work for social justice and peace was recognized globally when she received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. She used this honor to bring even more attention to the struggles of Indigenous communities everywhere. Today, she continues to travel and teach, emphasizing that lasting peace must be built on a foundation of human rights, dignity, and fairness for all people.<\/p>\n<p>Mench\u00fa remains one of the Maya world\u2019s loudest voices on social justice, enduring peace and cultural preservation. <\/p>\n<p>(Continued in right column)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"float: right; width: 46%;\">Question related to this article:<\/div>\n<div style=\"float: right; width: 46%;\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"float: right; width: 46%;\">\n&nbsp;<br \/>\n<em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=36119\">The Nobel Peace Prize: Does it go to the right people?<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>(Continued from left column)<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Program<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>World House Project 2026 International Peace Conference<\/p>\n<p>The World House Project 2026 International Peace Conference takes place over three days at the Centro de Convenciones Siglo XXI, bringing together global thought leaders, activists, and students to explore pathways toward peace and justice. The conference halls were renamed for the occasion.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Wednesday, February 4<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The conference opens with a special youth-focused morning session, the JuventudES Paz Agenda, exclusively for high school students from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Mahatma Gandhi Hall (Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 6).<\/p>\n<p>General registration begins at 3 p.m. at the Rigoberta Mench\u00fa Tum Passage, followed by the Opening Ceremony at 4 p.m. in the Martin Luther King Jr. Hall (Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 4 and 5).<\/p>\n<p>The inaugural keynote at 5 p.m. features Master Joaqu\u00edn D\u00edaz Mena, Governor of the State of Yucat\u00e1n, presenting the \u201cAllies for Life Program.\u201d This is followed at 6 p.m. by Reverend Al Sharpton, who delivers the day\u2019s second keynote address.<\/p>\n<p>Concurrent with the opening sessions, the Mandalas Peace Hub hosts a Human Rights Journey from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Malala Yousafzai Hall (Uxmal 4) and Nelson Mandela Hall (Chich\u00e9n Itz\u00e1 2 and 3).<\/p>\n<p>The first day concludes with a cultural performance at 7 p.m. featuring the UADY Ballet and University Folk Orchestra in Nelson Mandela Hall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thursday, February 5<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The day begins at 9 a.m. with a keynote address by Dr. Rigoberta Mench\u00fa Tum in Martin Luther King Jr. Hall, followed by three consecutive morning sessions: Dr. Francisco Javier Gorj\u00f3n G\u00f3mez speaks on \u201cPeace from Peace: Foundation for Building Peace\u201d at 10 a.m., and Dr. Roberto Jos\u00e9 Beltr\u00e1n Zambrano presents \u201cThe Right Time for Peace: Culture of Peace and Nonviolent Action in the 21st Century\u201d at 11 a.m.<\/p>\n<p>After a midday break from noon to 1 p.m., Dr. Johnny J. Mack delivers his keynote \u201cVision of the World House and the Metalogic of Nonviolence\u201d at 1 p.m.<\/p>\n<p>The afternoon shifts to interactive formats with panel discussions, presentations, and workshops running from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Mahatma Gandhi Hall. Simultaneously, an Intergenerational Dialogue for the Next Generation takes place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., also in Mahatma Gandhi Hall, while the Mandalas Peace Hub continues its Human Rights Journey programming in both Malala Yousafzai and Nelson Mandela Halls.<\/p>\n<p>The evening features a cultural performance by the musical group Polifon\u00eda and collaborating artists at 7 p.m. in Nelson Mandela Hall.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Friday, February 6<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The final day opens at 9:30 a.m. with Master Rosa Wolpert Kuri from UNESCO presenting \u201cWithout Education There Is No Peace\u201d in Martin Luther King Jr. Hall.<\/p>\n<p>At 10:30 a.m., Master Alberto Manuel Athi\u00e9 Gallo addresses \u201cWhere Are We Going? Between Uncertainty, Surprise, Emerging Doubts, and the New World Order,\u201d followed at 11:30 a.m. by Master Fernando de la Mora Salcedo speaking on \u201cMexico, the World, and the Culture of Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The conference concludes with a panel discussion at 12:30 p.m. titled \u201cWhere Are We Going in Building Peace and Justice in Latin America? Next Collective Steps,\u201d featuring Master Rosa Wolpert Kuri, Master H\u00e9ctor Dada S\u00e1nchez, and Dr. Jos\u00e9 Luis Espinoza Navarrete, moderated by Dr. Celia Rosado Avil\u00e9s.<\/p>\n<p>The closing ceremony takes place at 1 p.m., bringing the three-day international gathering to its conclusion.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;  &#8211;  &#8211;  &#8211;  &#8211;  &#8211;<\/p>\n<p>If you wish to make a comment on this article, you may write to coordinator@cpnn-world.org with the title &#8220;Comment on (name of article)&#8221; and we will put your comment on line.  Because of the flood of spam, we have discontinued the direct application of comments.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>DISARMAMENT &#038; SECURITY . An article by Carlos Rosado van der Gracht from Yucatan Magazine The International Peace Conference in M\u00e9rida will feature prominent voices such as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rigoberta Mench\u00fa Tum and civil rights leader Alfred Charles Sharpton Jr., better known as Al Sharpton, the firebrand TV pundit and activist. This regional &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/?p=38783\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Mexico: Al Sharpton and Rigoberta Mench\u00fa to Join M\u00e9rida Peace Conference<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,77],"tags":[20],"class_list":["post-38783","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-disarmament","category-latin-america","tag-latin-america"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38783","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=38783"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38783\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38785,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38783\/revisions\/38785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=38783"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=38783"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/english.cpnn-world.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=38783"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}