All posts by CPNN Coordinator

About CPNN Coordinator

Dr David Adams is the coordinator of the Culture of Peace News Network. He retired in 2001 from UNESCO where he was the Director of the Unit for the International Year for the Culture of Peace, proclaimed for the Year 2000 by the United Nations General Assembly.

Africa: International Day of Peace

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A survey by CPNN

The following events were listed in “Google News” during the week of September 17-14 under the key words “International day of peace” and “Journée internationale de la paix.” It is possible that there were articles in other local languages that are not listed here. For events elsewhere in the world, click here.

map of africa idp
(Click on image to enlarge)

As seen on the map above, there were articles about 16 events in 15 African countries.

Here are excerpts from the articles.

Burkina Faso: The Association of veterans, retired military, widows and orphans of war marked the event with a walk for peace. Who better than them can appreciate the value of peace?

Mali: The Malian Federation of Clubs , Centers and Associations of UNESCO, in collaboration with the GENOVICO program, commemorated the day with a panel discussion on the theme: “Culture of peace in schools and universities.”

Senegal: The world-renowned singer Youssou N’Dour sent a strong message to the world. “On 21 September 2016, I invite all nations and peoples to cease hostilities, and to eliminate causes of conflict.”

Madagascar: The ROTARY Club of Antananarivo Analamanga Ainga and the Regional Tourist Office marked the day by distributing pots of honey in the Garden of Antaninarenina. Traditionally, honey is a symbol of abundance and wholeness in the Malagasy society.

Togo: Togo- WANEP in collaboration with the Peace and Security Network for Women in ECOWAS held a round table to involve women in the peace process and development in Togo and elsewhere.

Casamance, Senegal: The Women’s platform for peace in Casamance, in the company of their sisters from Gambia, Guinea-Bissau and Sierra Leone, organized a series of activities around the theme of “The sustainable development goals as components of peace”

(Article continued in the right column)

(Click here for the original version of this article in French)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

Rwanda, Burundi and DRC: Fifteen hundred young people from Rwanda, Burundi and DR Congo met in Goma to discuss peace. They took part in workshops on peace as well as a charity concert.

Algeria: On the occasion of the international Day of peace, the wilaya of Mostaganem organized a ceremony for the Emir Abdelkader prize, given to three personalities who contributed to the promotion of peace: Federico Mayor from Spain, Raymond Chretien from Canada and Lakhdar Brahimi from Algeria.

Dungu, Haut-Uélé, DRC: Over eleven thousand young students from Dungu in Haut Uélé province were sensitized on the culture of peace, during a workshop organized by the Youth Forum for the development of Dungu.

Guinea: The Convention of non-state actors of Guinea ( CANEG) and the African Crisis Group (ACG), two organizations of the civil society, organized a forum on peacebuilding in Guinea.

Benin: The executive president of the Pan African Social Prospects Centre, Albert Tevoedjre, called on Africans to learn to live together with a view to establishing lasting peace on the continent.

Nigeria: In collaboration with Edizwine Bar, the Coalition of youth leaders of the Niger Delta organized a peace march with a concert featuring top talent and regional artists.

South Sudan: The United Nations’ Funds, Programmes and Agencies, and the peacekeeping mission organized a number of events across the country, in collaboration with the National Platform for Peace and Reconciliation (NPPR) and other non-governmental organisations; alongside the launch of the 100 days of peace activism; a platform for all voices calling for peace, healing, and reconciliation to unite and send powerful messages to leaders and calling for a peaceful resolution to the current crisis.

Liberia: Delivering the keynote address at the indoor ceremony of the International Day of Peace held at the City Hall of Monrovia, The Executive Director of the Peace Building Office, Edward Mulbah, said that while Liberia had made tremendous progress made over the years to address the root causes of the 14 years of civil war, it was important to know that there were still challenges.

Rwanda: According to the National Unity and Reconciliation Commission, the day brings together several non-governmental organisations, international peace organisations, religious leaders and the local communities under the theme, “Building Blocks for Peace: The Role of the Youth in Promoting Sustainable Peace and Development.”.

South Africa: In partnership with UN Volunteers and ACCORD, students from Boston Media House and the Tshwane University of Technology interacted with peacekeepers in gaining a better understanding of the work of the UN in conflict resolution, peace and security.

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

Mexico: Mancera opens the International Forum of ‘Mayors for Peace’

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article Excelsior (Reprinted as a non-commercial use)

Prime minister, Miguel Angel Mancera, opened the International Forum of “Mayors for Peace” aimed at combating violence worldwide. The capital is a vice-president of the non-governmental organization “Mayors for Peace”, which involves 132 cities in 161 countries.

mayors
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

The event, organized by the Secretary of Social Development of the capital, called for the promotion of peace and eradication of violence in the world, through actions such as voluntary disarmament and social inclusion.

In that respect, the Minister said that his administration carries out various actions to promote peace through social programs such as “Por tu Familia Desarme Voluntario”, “El Médico en Tu Casa”, “10 X la Infancia” and the recent creation of “Hospital de las Emociones.”

He said a permanent task is to build more egalitarian cities, where conflicts over lack of inclusion are avoided: “how to prevent violence is by avoiding the causal conflicts and by developing a long-range program that involves the environment, access to water, food and education. Regarding the environment his government is working with the Climate Leadership Group (C40), and has joined the Food Policy Agreement of Milan to favor the creation of fair and sustainable food systems.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version of this article.)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

During this forum, which is held during the International Day of Peace, five working groups and the keynote address will be developed.

In addition there will be demonstration of the destruction of weapons collected by the program “For Your Family, Voluntary Disarmament” and the exchange of war toys for educational toys.

Roundtables during the first day of work will incude: “Practices of Local Governments for a Culture of Peace”; “Challenges of Local Governments faced with new threats at the Global Level” and “The Role of Local Governments for Peace Building in Latin America and the Caribbean”.

Speakers at the forum include the coordinator of the Global Network of Safer Cities UN Habitat; the mayor of Frogn, Norway, Thore Vestby; and the director and representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Mexico, Nuria Sanz. In addition, the director of Peace Boat, Kawasaki Akira; the Mayors for Peace coordinator in North America, Jackie Cabasso; the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Mexico, Mark Manly; and the representative of Granollers, Spain, Carme Barbany. Also participating are the mayors of Cartago, Costa Rica, Rolando Rodriguez; Managua, Nicaragua, Daisy Torres; the Alderman of San Jose Costa Rica, Fernando Jimenez and Professor at the National Pedagogical University Paolo Pagliai.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Peace One Day 2015

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Excerpts from the report of Peace One Day

The Peace One Day 2015 Report found that in 2015, around 10% of the world population was aware of peace day and its activities. An estimated 1.5 billion people were exposed to Peace Day messages through activities ranging from dances to media campaigns

peaceoneday
A frame from the Peace One Day Video

2015 media campaigns:
Close to 130 million individuals were made aware of Peace Day through collaborative social media campaigns – the UN’s #ForgiveforPeace and USIP’s #PeaceDayChallenge initiatives had 2 billion impressions.

2015 faith groups:
Religious bodies and leaders, including the Catholic Church, the World Council of Churches, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the World Jewish Congress, HH Dalai Lama, Sri Karunamayi, and United Sikhs made over 300 million people aware.

2015 government & UN:
6 million people were made aware through government & UN activities, including the African Union’s Make Peace Happen campaign, and programmes across different UN agencies.

2015 corporate activities:
Corporate activities made close to 170 million aware. Burger King’s McWhopper Peace proposal to McDonald’s generated close to 9 billion impressions and was the single highest contributor towards generating awareness of Peace Day in 2015. Other majorcampaigns included Google’s homepage feature, and Coca-Cola’s Peace Day Anthem ONE.

Iconic monuments across the world were turned into art installations, including the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Austria, the Pyramids in Egypt, the Olympic Stadium in China, and Museu Oscar Niemeyer in Brazil.

In partnership with Zumba Fitness Headquarters in Miami, the #Dance4Peace campaign produced over 600 videos across 67 countries

Question for this article
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global

One day, one million strong choir on International Day of Peace

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An article from Independent Catholic News

Choirs and singers across the whole world got together to send a message of peace and unity on International Day of Peace. A million people were involved in One Day One Choir, a global choral initiative started in 2014 by singer Jane Hanson to mobilise the power of singing to unite people globally.

choir
A frame from the video of One Day One Choir

A flash mob in Trafalgar Square, London, led by choir leaders Jeremy Haneman and Tom Morley, brought together singers for an impromptu performance of songs about peace.

Among the singers was 3FF’s intercultural choir the Mixed Up Chorus, which has been involved in One Day One Choir since its founding. Eli Tamir, Mixed Up Chorus member and coordinator, said: “Music is a universal language that spans cultures and can be a powerful force for understanding. Singing on Peace Day is our way of showing that there is always more that unites us than divides us. If we can sing together, we can live well together.”

In the rest of the UK, singing started in the morning and continued throughout the day in a huge range of venues and settings – from community halls to Canary Wharf, from playgrounds to prisons, faith centres, concert halls, offices and open spaces. Bradford, Coventry, Truro and Lincoln cathedrals and York Minster dedicated their evensongs to One Day One Choir, and choirs in Cornwall, Leeds, Manchester took part. Groups, schools and colleges from 40+ countries, including Iraq, Pakistan and Iran, joined in.

Jane Hanson, founder of the project – who was at the Trafalgar Square event – created the initiative with the vision of mobilising the ‘biggest choir in the world’, using the power of singing together, for unity and peace by 2018 – the 100th anniversary year of the commemoration of WW1.

Questions for this article
FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global

Africa: CEDEAO: Women are called on to establish a durable peace

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article by Tata Sane for Le Soleil

Women have always been the fundamental actors in the search for peace. This was reiterated yesterday in the meeting organized by the Working Group, “Women, Peace and Security in West Africa”, in partnership with the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (Unowas). The activity is held in preparation for the International Day of Peace, edition 2016. It is, according to the representative of Senegal on the working group “Women, Peace and Security in West Africa,” a favorable opportunity to reflection and exchange on the mechanisms of action and intervention of women and youth to consolidate peace and sustainable security in the Sahel which has been strongly shaken recently by the threats of extremists.

cedeao
(Click on photo to enlarge.)

Diago Ndiaye believes that facing the terrorist threats that spare no nation, women must play their role in order to build a lasting peace. In his message issued on the occasion of this day, the Secretary-General of the United Nations stated that “peace can not be reduced to a simple truce. Peace means building on a global scale, a society in which people live free of poverty and everyone benefits from prosperity.” Therefore, sustainable development is essential for the establishment of a stable peace. Respect for human rights is also a prerequisite. “The lack of resources is often the cause of conflicts. Therefore, we must rely on the sustainable development program for 2030 to prevent conflicts by ensuring that no one is left behind,” added the Secretary-General.

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(Click here for the original French version of this article.)

Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

(Article continued from the left column)

A high-level panel on the role and position of women and youth in the processes and peace and security programs in Senegal was scrutinized. Considering the theme “Women’s Leadership, peace, security, conflict prevention, mediation and peacebuilding: What role for women? “Dr. Christiane Agboton Johnson recalled that the 17 sustainable development goals that have been chosen for this year all contribute to the building of peace.

The involvement of women and youth

Speaking of women’s role, Ms. Agboton remarks that all women have a role to play at different levels. However, she wondered how this can be done so that women become a force for change. “Today, after all is said and done, has this potential been realized? Women represent 50% of the population, but, nevertheless, conflicts persist. This is the meaning of my question about how they can become a force for change, “she said. The gender adviser to the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (Unowas) recalled Resolution 2250 of the United Nations on youth, peace and security.

Agathe Telou believes that this resolution comes at a time when all players require the involvement of young people in search of peace worldwide. “This resolution recognizes the efforts that young people provide to help establish peace and security in the ECOWAS space,” she advised. Mrs. Agathe Telou addressed the sub-theme “Youth, Peace and Security: Resolution 2250 of the UN Security Council.”

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, WOMEN'S EQUALITY

African Union: Call to ‘silence the guns’ on #InternationalDayofPeace

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An article from Independent Online – South Africa

Johannesburg – The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma, has called for the “silencing of the guns” in Africa as the world commemorates International Day of Peace. “Today, Africa joins the rest of the world in marking the International Day of Peace or – Peace Day. Today, the African Union is engaging its Member States, and all its partners at political, institutional, private sector, civil society and community levels, to encourage all citizens to rally to the core of ‘silencing the guns’ campaign in Africa by 2020,” read a Wednesday press release by the AUC Peace and Security department.

African Union
caption: The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Nkosozana Dlamini-Zuma, has called for the silencing of the guns in Africa as the world commemorates International Day of Peace. File picture: Salvatore Nolfi. Credit: EPA

This year’s theme for Peace Day is: “The Sustainable Development Goals; Building Blocks for Peace.”

Many AU Member States and their leaders are increasingly taking ownership of the SDGs, but more importantly of Agenda 2063: Africa’s blueprint for economic growth and social transformation.

“However, let us not forget that for as long as the gunfire continues to disrupt the tranquility of our blossoming societies and haunt the safety and security of our citizens, particularly of our women and girls, we will not achieve these noble aspirations for our people,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

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Question for this article

What has happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

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It is with this in mind that, the African Union declared 2016 the, “Year of Human Rights with particular focus on the Rights of Women”.

“It is disheartening that, in 2016, I continue to receive reports of incidences of sexual violence meted out against women and girls as a weapon of war, most recently from South Sudan, Central African Republic, Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo,” said the AUC chairperson.

“Today, I would like to reiterate the African Union’s zero tolerance of sexual and gender-based violence and exploitation. Sexual and gender-based violence has no place in our world: we must fight them relentlessly.

“As we commemorate Peace Day, the AU wishes to acknowledge efforts by Member States to minimise violence during elections,” she added.

“We continue to encourage political leaders and their supporters to use legal and peaceful means to address elections-related disputes. It is through these methods that we entrench and deepen our culture of democracy and peace on the continent.

“The AU Commission is also pleased with the establishment of the Mediation Support Unit, which will provide logistical and technical support in our mediation initiatives led by our Special Envoys.

“We will continue to enhance our initiatives in structural conflict prevention as well as increasing our post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes in countries such as South Sudan, Central African Republic and Somalia,” said Dlamini-Zuma.

The AU further commended the decision by Heads of State and Government to establish the Peace Fund, as well as to support 25 per cent of peace operation funding on the continent. This will provide predictable and sustainable funds to drive the goal of silencing the guns by 2020.

Africa, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

USA: Activists arrested at the pentagon

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An article from Pace e Bene

Twenty-one activists arrested at the pentagon demanding accountability for war crimes and an end to ongoing us wars:

WHO: On September 26, 2016, after years of unsuccessfully seeking meetings with elected and appointed government officials over the ongoing US wars, proxy wars and military occupations, armed drones, US war crimes, and the increasing Pentagon budget activists associated with the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) went to the Pentagon today once again seeking a meeting with decision-makers in the Pentagon chain of command including Secretary Ashton Carter. They told Pentagon police they wouldn’t leave until they spoke to an official in a position of authority about war crimes committed by the US and that they were following their obligations under Nuremberg to draw attention to these crimes of US government elected and appointed officials. Although the activists were nonviolent the Pentagon police placed 21 activists under arrest and charged them with “Violation of a Lawful Order”.

Pentagon
(Click on image to enlarge)

WHAT: The presence of antiwar activists today at the Pentagon follows the International Day of Peace, the over 700 actions of nonviolence around the US and other countries organized by Campaign Nonviolence calling for an end to war, poverty, and for serious efforts to address the climate crisis and environmental degradation. In addition, many of the activists had attended the World Beyond War conference held in Washington, DC at American University over the weekend entitled “No War 2016: Real Security Without Terrorism”. The attempted meeting by activists was a continuation of the over 700 events organized by Campaign Nonviolence this month in addition to carrying the message of World Beyond War to the Department of Defense and Obama Administration. The activists tried to also deliver a petition signed by over 23000 people to President Obama, Secretary Carter, and German Chancellor Merkel calling for the closing of a drone relay station at US Air Force Base Ramstein in Germany which has been linked to the deaths of innocent civilians. Activists in Germany also attempted to deliver this petition to Merkel today. Australian activists acted in solidarity at the US military base in Pine Gap and another solidary action was held at West Point, NY by others concerned about the US drone program.

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Question for this article

What happened this year (2016) for the International Day of Peace?

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WHY: Rev. Janice Sevre-Duszynska one of those arrested explained why she was at the Pentagon seeking a meeting today “The measure of a healthy society is how we treat the marginalized. How we can care for them in a just and humane manner when 56% of the federal budget goes to the Pentagon for its 800+ military bases and the killing? That fills the pockets of the weapons manufacturers!” The World Beyond War conference and Campaign Nonviolence say there is a link between poverty, war, and the environmental threat to the planet. They say that there needs to be a new way of running our planet and resolving international conflict through nonviolence. “The reason why I took action today is because I am moved by conscience by the words of the late peace activist Daniel Berrigan who said “Because we want the peace with half a heart and half a life and will, the war, of course, continues, because the waging of war, by its nature, is total – but the waging of peace, by our own cowardice, is partial.” We all need to get out of our comfort zone and away from what is convenient for us when it comes to taking action. We cannot continue on the path of more war while so many social problems exist in society. War is a threat to Mother Earth and all humanity. The way of war is not sustainable” Kilbride said.

Those arrested include Janice Sevre-Duszynska, Richard Ochs, Malachy Kilbride of Maryland, Alice Sutter, Felton Davis, and Chat Gunter of New York, Don Cunning and Manijeh Saba of New Jersey, Brian Terrell of Iowa, Phil Runkel of Wisconsin, Joan Stallard, Art Laffin and Eve Tetaz of Washington, DC, JoAnne Lingle of Indiana, Howard Mettee of Ohio, Phoebe Sorgen of California, Henry Lowendorf and James Pandaru of Connecticut, Beth Adams and Paki Wieland of Massachusetts, Nancy Gowen of Virginia.

A November 3, 2016 court date has been scheduled in the US District Court in Alexandria, Virginia. The activists said they are looking forward to their day in court.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, North America

Indonesian Vice President: NAM must be ready to meet 21th century challenges

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An article from Antara News

Indonesian Vice President Jusuf Kalla said member countries of the Non-Alligned Movement (NAM) must be able and ready to meet various challenges in the 21st century. “I need to affirm that there has been an urgent need for NAM to conduct internal reform. Reform is needed so that NAM could face the challenges in the 21st century,” he said according to a press statement from the foreign ministry received here on Sunday.

NAM
Click on photo to enlarge: (L-R, first row) President of El Salvador Salvador Sanchez Ceren, President of Ecuador Rafael Correa, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, the President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, President of Bolivia Evo Morales and the President of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea Kim Yong Nam during a photo call of leaders and delegates of the countries participating in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit in Margarita, Venezuela, 17 September 2016. EPA/MIGUEL GUTIERREZ

He said the main challenges being faced by NAM at present is not a cold war but inequality and development gap between NAM member countries and internal conflict as well as conflict among NAM member countries.

To face the challenges the Indonesian vice president said NAM members need to reaffirm the principles and basic values of NAM. He also said NAM must pay attention to current realities.

“The principles and basic values of NAM are still very relevant and if they are implemented correctly they will make NAM successful in facing various challenges in the 21st century and its visions,” he said.

Kalla said in the future NAM must focus on its cooperation programs.

He said multi-lateral cooperation must remain NAMs focus and in view of that improvement of NAMs contribution in the UN especially in promoting settlement of conflicts peacefully must be increased.

In connection with that the vice president said Indonesia plans to bid for non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the period of 2019-2020.

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Secondly, he said, NAM must strengthen its global culture of peace especially through inter-civilization dialogs.

Thirdly, he said, NAM members must strengthen good governance and democracy that could help efforts to minimize terrorism, radicalism and extremism potential.

Fourthly, he said, NAM must increase development cooperation especially through South-South cooperation and he considered it very important to meet the 2030 development agenda.

Besides presenting cooperation that NAM must focus on, the Indonesian vice president said NAMs 120 member countries represent 60 percent of the UN members, and so have a big bargaining power.

“This should help NAM make a success in meeting its visions and contributing to international efforts to overcome global challengers,” he said.

Vice President Jusuf Kalla alos said NAM still had an obligation that it has to pay which is supporting Palestine to get its independence.

In connection with that he again called on NAM members to give full support to Palestinian independence including through Israel-Palestine peace process to materialize the two-state solution.

The 17th NAM summit from September 13-18 on the island of Margarita, Venezuela, carried a theme of “Peace, Sovereignty and Solidarity for Development.

A number of heads of state and governments of member countries attended the meeting.(*)

[Editor’s note: Heads of state included Salvador’s President Salvador Sanchez Ceren, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa, Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani, Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Bolivia’s President Evo Morales, North Korea’s nominal head of state Kim Yong Nam, Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe, and Cuba’s Raúl Castro, most of whom are in the accompanying photo. Most media coverage of this event was very negative, saying that it was a foreign policy disaster for Venezuela president Maduro, and this is one of the few very reports that gave some of the content of the discussions.]

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, global

History Made: New England Ocean Treasures Protected!

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

A blog by Brad Sewell, Natural Resources Defense Council

President Obama made history today [September 15]. He established the nation’s first marine national monument in the waters of the continental United States: the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, located about 150 miles of the coast of Cape Cod. The monument will forever protect the rich diversity of marine wildlife that inhabits these undersea canyons and seamounts from harmful commercial activities, like mining, drilling, and fishing. It will build a reservoir of ecological resilience in the region, helping to protect and restore fish and other wildlife populations and to minimize the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification. 

NRDC
Map of Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. Credit: The Pew Charitable Trusts

What the President has done is epic. He has permanently protected a highly vulnerable ecosystem roughly the size of Connecticut, creating a “blue park” right off our most populous coastline. And he increased by twenty times the amount of ocean habitat in federal waters of the continental U.S. that has this sort of complete protection.

And what an ocean gem the canyons and seamounts are! As the science shows, America’s newest monument is exceptional for its diverse and abundant deep sea corals—73 different species in all, and for its marine mammals, like squid-eating sperm and beaked whales, as well as its seabirds and sea turtles. And, of course, fish also abound here, from bizarre deep sea species that you’ve never heard of to those kings of the food chain: sharks, tunas, and swordfish.

The monument encompasses three submarine canyons, Oceanographer, Gilbert, and Lydonia. They are exceptionally large and plunge deeper than the Grand Canyon. The canyons contain particularly abundant and diverse coral colonies and have a rich history of scientific exploration.

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Question for this article:

If we can connect up the planet through Internet, can’t we agree to preserve the planet?

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The four seamounts, Physalia, Bear, Retriever, and Mytilus, are the only ones in the U.S. Atlantic. They rise up through the water column and function like ocean oases in the deep sea. The monument covers nine different major, interconnected habitat types, from the continental shelf edge down to the abyssal plain. Because of this mosaic of habitats, and the complex geologic features and current patterns, the area is a biologic hotspot, providing food, shelter and nursery habitat for many species. This will benefit wildlife populations in the region as a whole, including commercially valuable fish and crustacean species. 

Short videos featuring the canyons and seamounts and their wildlife can be seen here and here.

If we are going to protect and restore our oceans, and rely on them as a source of food and enjoyment even as pressures and threats mount, the type of bold, trailblazing action that the President took today is exactly what we need. In particular, we need to build ecological resilience and protect genetic diversity to insulate marine populations against climate change and ocean acidification. With New England ocean waters already undergoing some of the greatest temperature increases on the planet, this action is none too soon. Last week, the nations and organizations at the IUCN World Conservation Congress urged world leaders to protect 30% of the planet’s oceans by 2030. The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is an excellent step in answering this call. 

So, Mr. President, thank you!  

And a huge thanks as well to Senator Blumenthal and the Connecticut Congressional delegation for being steadfast champions of the monument.

Finally, the designation would not have happened but for the outpouring of support from a broad and diverse coalition. Over the last year, 300,000 citizens have voiced support to the Administration. They have been joined by Mystic and New England Aquariums, along with a host of other aquarium and marine institutions, over 145 scientists, 100 New England businesses, dozens of state and federal elected officials, dozens of state and national religious groups, fishermen, marine mammal research groups and whale watch operators, dive groups, and conservation organizations. 

A day to celebrate indeed!

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article)

North America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

United Nations: Inauguration of the Parliamentary Multi Track Initiative Council for the SDG’s and the Culture of Peace

TOLERANCE AND SOLIDARITY .

An article from Cotidianul (abridged)

At the UN headquarters in New York on September 14, the conference entitled “Inauguration of the Parliamentary Multi Track Initiative Council for the SDG’s and the Culture of Peace” was organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics. Emil Constantinescu [former President of Romania] was the chairman of the conference and gave the opening speech entitled “Global Peace Initiative from the Levant, the foundation for a new culture of peace,” his press office announced in a statement.

Romanian

The presidium of the conference included Ambassador Ion Jinga, Permanent Representative of Romania to the United Nations, Ambassador Katalin Bogyay, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations, Lily Valchanova Liaison Officer UNESCO, Garry Jacobs, president of the World Academy of Art and Science and the World University Consortium, and S. Bekerman, secretary general of the Interparliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics.

Participants in Sessions 1 and 2, led by President Constantinescu included Giandomenico Picco, former Under-Secretary General of the United Nations and adviser to the Oxford Research Group, Master Jun Hong Lu, president and director of the Oriental Media Buddhist Association, Rabbi Elie Abadie, Director of the Jacob E. Safra Institute of Sephardic Studies at Yeshiva University, Imam Agha Jafri, founder of the American Muslim Congress, Wafik Moustafa, president of the Conservative Arab Network, Dr. Lahoucine Khabid, president of the Atlas Center for Diplomatic Studies, ZH Khurram, secretary general of the International Youth Forum, Dr. Boris Pincus, President of Religions in Dialogue, and Rabbi Yaakov D. Cohen, founder of the Institute for Noahide Code. . .

Speech given by Emil Constantinescu:

Global Peace Initiative from the Levant, the foundation for a new culture of peace

At its annual conference in 2011 in Berlin, the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy launched a project for a new type of relations between nations and states based on understanding instead of military pressure or economic conditions. . . It seems that this kind of relationship that gives peace a chance in the globalized world can find inspiration in the ancient world of the Levant. This is not only because the Levant was the cradle of cultural diplomacy, but also because many civilizations including the Egyptian, Jewish, Assyrian, Babylonian, Phoenician, Greek, Arabic empires Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman empires were created in the Levant where they expanded exchanges of goods and ideas. South-East Europe has long been in contact with North Africa and the Middle East, and the people who live here have a long and extensive experience in intercultural dialogue.

In 2012, the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics took up the initiative and expanded it globally. In 2013, at the end of the conference organized in Bucharest with a wide range of religious, academic and parliamentary representatives, a joint project was set up for the initiative. Considering that the Global Peace Initiative from the Levant could serve as a benchmark and model to achieve peace in all areas of conflict around the globe, on 24 and 25 June 2013, the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics organized a conference at United Nations headquarters in New York dedicated to promoting this initiative. The Romanian Parliament endorsed it with a message of support.

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Question for this article

Religion: a barrier or a way to peace?, What makes it one or the other?

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In March 2014, the Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics organized a new conference in New York together with the Foundation for the Culture of Peace, headed by Federico Mayor.

It is planned to present the Global Peace Initiative from the Levant to the Congress of the United States, the British Parliament, the Knesset of Israel and to many other parliaments, including those of Japan and Palestine. . . .

This project, dedicated to promoting a culture of peace, invites the participation of researchers and scholars in the humanities, theologians, writers, artists, architects, musicians to build a space of knowledge and understanding through co-operation and mutual respect. A culture of peace is based on a new type of relations, not only between states, but especially between peoples who share common values that were born long before the current nation-states.

The time has come for cultural diplomacy and recognition of the old legacy of the Levant, an alternative reading of the history of this region, especially prior to the wars and conflicts of the present millennium. It offers a new approach, emphasizing what we have in common and what can unite us: principles, values ​​and skills practiced in the past, that can now be harnessed to ensure not only the stability of this region as a whole, but also building a model of cooperation and trust for all countries. It does not mean that we should deny our past, but to assume it in its tragic dimension. . .

For quite some time international organizations such as UN, UNESCO and civil society have been trying to create a political culture of security through negotiation and cooperation. To promote peace and understanding in the world they have been looking for the lowest common denominator around which we can agree. It is a welcome step and especially in the face of the many immediate threats.

My belief is that we should propose much more. If we want to achieve true peace and understanding between people we should not focus on the lowest common denominator, but to refer to the highest common denominator – faith.

Modern and postmodern societies of the 20th century have promoted equal rights and freedoms regardless of racial and ethnic differences and equal opportunities for women. But all this tends to divide society rather than unifying it. A peace based on a common ideal would be ideal, although it is a difficult task, not a peace imposed under the pressure of fear, but a peace springing from the depths of consciousness of millions of people. The treasure of the philosophical, literary, artistic millenary history of the Levant can help inspire a spiritual revolution with a profound knowledge of the human being who has been torn for millennia in the struggle between the aspiration to love one’s neighbor and the tendency to use power to oppress them or to oppress others in their own interest. We can turn this vast pedagogy of suffering into a pedagogy of reconciliation.

Twenty years ago, millions of people in Eastern Europe with empty hands, were ready to fight and die for freedom and democracy against the greatest war machine in history. In a new millennium, we can rediscover faith. Not to use it one against another, as has been done throughout the long history of mankind, but to understand our purpose on Earth. Peace is the name of God, whether we are Christian, Muslim, Jewish or faiithful to Asian religions. Only human arrogance has made us forget the Lord’s message, whatever name we give it to him in the language or our faith.

If the Levant, the cradle of the great monotheistic religions, will carry out a political and visionary project adapted the great challenges of today, it will contribute not only to a new identity of the area, but also hdlp to create a different concept of the future world called into a new humanism.”.

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