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Meduza’s statement regarding the revocation of TV Rain’s Latvian broadcasting license

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from Meduza

The Latvian National Electronic Media Council has revoked TV Rain’s license. The agency has banned the network from broadcasting on cable and also plans to block access within the country to its YouTube stream. According to the council’s chairman, Ivars Āboliņš, the decision was made “in connection with the threat to national security and public order.”

(Editor’s note: Regular readers of CPNN will know that Meduza and TV Dozhd – “TV rain” in Russian – were two of the independent Russian media that reported opposition to the war in Ukraine and were therefore banned in Russia and forced to move abroad in order to keep broadcasting.)


Logo of TV Rain

We are watching these developments very carefully and with concern.

In the eight years that Meduza has already spent in Latvia, the local authorities have never once attempted to interfere in our editorial policies. We are grateful for this hospitality. We have had no reason to doubt that Latvia, which has become a second home for many here at Meduza, is aware of the vital role that the independent media plays in democratic societies.

After February 24, Latvia welcomed journalists from Russia who risked many years in prison for doing their jobs and resisting the war Russia unleashed on Ukraine. We greatly appreciated the Latvian authorities’ decision, understanding how difficult it was, given the enduring pain this country’s people still experience from Soviet occupation.

At the same time, we recognized that a mass influx of journalists from Russia in wartime conditions would likely lead to conflicts. After all, the news media created by Russians is almost always focused on Russian problems, viewing the surrounding world through this same lens. This often confuses and sometimes enrages foreign audiences, especially during a war for which Russia bears full responsibility.

Unfortunately, the situation has developed very poorly. We believe that the decision by Latvia’s National Electronic Media Council to revoke TV Rain’s license is unfair, wrong, and disproportionate to the official violations flagged by the agency.

Arguments that these violations pose a “national security threat” are unconvincing. The network’s antiwar position is obvious, as is its critical stance towards the Putin regime. TV Rain’s significance in countering Russian state propaganda is colossal. Roaring about “national security” conceals what is actually a heavy blow to free speech and ultimately to European security, as well. There can be no democracy without the independent media, above all, and an undemocratic Russia will remain a threat to its neighbors and the entire world.

Even if it was reached completely legally, the National Electronic Media Council’s decision is also an incredible gift to the Russian authorities. By banning TV Rain, Latvian officials are helping the Kremlin with something it started: the complete destruction of the Russian independent media’s infrastructure. We believe the political situation in Russia will not change if the country’s inhabitants are abandoned to propaganda. (There’s also the risk that this propaganda becomes the only information source for Russian-speaking EU citizens.)

And it’s important to remember that TV Rain is one of the few truly independent media outlets that retains a large audience inside Russia. Viewers need TV Rain. The anti-war movement needs TV Rain. Watch any of its newscasts, and you’ll see the network’s position on this repulsive war and how it views those who illegally usurped power in Russia.

Were TV Rain’s journalists wrong? Was their wording inaccurate? Yes. But all media outlets, including the highest quality publications, make mistakes, even at critical moments. In times of war, forced emigration, and polarized public opinion, the likelihood of mistakes sadly only grows. Readers and viewers, as well as fellow colleagues, evaluate our reporting, too, and these assessments can be brutal.

Journalism knows no boundaries. Free speech is a universal value, but it’s nothing if we don’t defend it and fight for it, every day, wherever we are.

We stand in solidarity with the team at TV Rain. Dear colleagues, we hope you’ll persevere, and we’ll do our best to help you through this crisis.

Meduza invites other journalists and media outlets to support this statement. If you’d like to do so, please contact us here: requests@meduza.io.

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Questions related to this article:
 
Can the peace movement help stop the war in the Ukraine?

(Continued from left column)

This statement has been signed by

the editors of Meduza
the editors of Novaya Gazeta Europe
Sabīne Sīle, editor-in-chief, Media Hub Riga
the editors of Bumaga
the editors of Provereno
the editors of Novaya Vkladka
Irina Malkova and Pyotr Mironenko, The Bell
the editors of Kit
the editors of Signal
the editors of Samizdatonline.org
the editors of Pskovskaya Gubernia
the editors of Sirena
the editors of Proekt
the editors of Dovod
the editors of DOXA
the media project Stradayuschee Srednevekovye
the editors of Mediazona
the editors of iStories
the editors of OVD-Info
the editors of Avtozak Live
Konstantin Sonin, economist
Nikolay Ovchinnikov, journalist; editor-in-chief, Volna | Latvia
vandrouki.ru, a travel company
the editors of Svobodnye Media
the Telegram channel Russian Refugees in Germany
Victor Shenderovich, writer
Stanislav Kucher, journalist
the editors of Rezonans, a Vladimir-based Internet publication
Valeriy Panyushkin, editor-in-chief, Spektr magazine
the Student Anti-War Movement project
Konstantin Gorozhanko, editor, Grazhdane Gdovskogo Kraya
the editors of Vot Tak
the editors of SOTA
Ilya Azar, journalist
the editors of Verstka
the editors of Republic
the podcast studio Libo/Libo
the editors of 7×7 — Horizontal Russia
the editors of Kholod
the editors of Astra
Ilya Krasilshchik, Alexander Polivanov, Igor Safonov, and other journalists at Sluzhba Podderzhki
the editors of Spektr
Mikhail Zygar, writer and journalist
Olga Churakova, journalist
Liza Surganova, journalist
Ilya Shepelin, journalist
the editors of Echo
the editors of RusNews
the editors of Pereulki Lissabona
the editors of Skat Media
Arkady Mayofis, founder of TV-2 (Israel)
Emil Khalikov, co-founder of Pogulyanka media (Lithuania)
the editors of Cherty
the Opyt Svobody project
Lev Ponomaryov, human rights advocate, and the Telegram channel World Progress and Human Rights
the editors of Perm 36.6
the editors of Perito
Mine gåter og spindelsinn, a Telegram channel
the editors of Khroniki.Media
the editors of Daptar
the editors of The Vyshka
the editors of Media Loft
the youth democratic movement Vesna
the editors of Groza
Mikhail Svetov and the editors of SVTV News
the editors of Pezduza
Talking Heads YouTube channel (Latvia)
the editors of Advocacy Street
the editors of Lyudi Baykala
the editors of Otkrytyi Gorod (Latvia)
the editors of February 24 Eyewitnesses
the editors of Govorit ne Moskva
the editors of It’s My City
the editors of The Guide to the Free World
the editors of The Insider and Roman Dobrokhotov, journalist
Yevgenia Albats, editor-in-chief, The New Times
the editors of The Moscow Times
Kirill Rogov, political scientist
Irina Shikhman and the YouTube channel A Pogovorit?
the editors of Re:Russia
Conflict Intelligence Team
the editors of Prodolzhenie Sleduet
the editors of Novaya Gazeta — Baltia
Ksenia Larina, journalist
the editors of The Village and Kirill Rukov, editor-in-chief
the editors of Fergana.ru
Maxim Katz, blogger and politician
the editors of Khronika Turkmenistana
Navalny LIVE YouTube channel
Jean-Michel Shcherbak, media activist
Ishchem Vykhod YouTube channel
Alexander Plyushchev, journalist
Tatyana Felgenhauer, journalist
Vitaly Mansky, film director
Natalia Manskaya, film producer
the editors of Poligon.Media
Khodorkovsky LIVE YouTube channel
Ilya Rozhdestvensky, journalist
Ivan Pavlov, lawyer
Ilya Zhegulev, journalist
the editors of Fourth Sector
Ilya Shumanov, director, Transparency International Russia
Andrei Loshak, journalist
Nataliya Gevorkyan, journalist
the editors of ROMB
the editors of Taiga.info
the editors of Popular Politics
Roskomsvoboda, an advocacy organization
Chulpan Khamatova, actress
Antero Mukka, editor-in-chief, and the editors of Helsingin Sanomat (Finland)
the editors of Krautreporter (Germany)
Pervyi Otdel, an association of attorneys and rights activists
the editors of Agentura.ru
Masha Phillimore-Slonim, journalist
Kovcheg and Anastasia Burakova, founder
Andrey Pivovarov, political prisoner
the editors of NewArmenia.am and Garik Chilingarian, editor-in-chief
The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
MR7.ru (St. Petersburg) and Elena Mikhina, editor-in-chief
Polina Shilina, journalist, Delfi (Russian edition, Latvia)
Clownstan Today
the editors of Discourse
the editors of Serditaya Chuvashiya
the editors of RSh and Maria Karlin, editor-in-chief (Switzerland)
the editors of Hromadska Pravda (Ukraine)
Russian Libertarian Party
OBC Transeuropa (Italy)
Kometa News (Moldova)
the editors of Telegi i Memasy Telegram channel
St. Petersburg Human Rights Center
the Moscow branch of Memorial, a center for human rights and historical education
Sergey Lukashevsky, director, Sakharov Center
Svetlana Gannushkina and Grazhdanskoe Sodeystvie, a non-profit foundation
the editors of Russians Against the War Telegram channel (Poland)
Russian Independent Media Archive
Russian Canadian Democratic Alliance (RCDA)
Irina Kizilova, journalist, co-organizer of Memorial Israel
Artem Liss, former editor, BBC World Service
Dmitry Elagin, film critic, Snob
Kristina Lunina and Kak Poluchitsya media
Rimma Polyak, columnist, Republic
Alexey Durnovo, writer and journalist
Andrey Novichkov, editor-in-chief, Fronde TV and Nastuplenie na Nasledie
Efim Neizvestny, contributor, Panorama
Lidia Ageeva, journalist
Natalia Galkina, journalist
Oleg Ivanov, photo-journalist
Vadim Kondakov, journalist
Andrey Rebrov, journalist
Olga Leontyeva, journalist
the editors of Equality Telegram channel
Ivan Slobedenyuk, journalist, Belsat
Anastasia Sechina and Chetvyortyi Sektor media
Maria Latsinskaya, journalist
Oleg Basalin, journalist
Nikolay Kandyshev, journalist
Victor Yukechev, journalist
Boris Tukh, journalist and film critic
the editors of TJ ne umer! satirical news
Artem Androsov, news host, RTN (New York)
Afanasy Emelyanov, journalist
Alexander Gerasimov, journalist
Anton Chernin, journalist
Ivan Fedosov, blogger
Pyotr Kozlov, journalist
Vijai Maheshwari, journalist, Politico Europe
Mark Novikov, journalist
Denis Cherdov, journalist
Vasily Zakharko, journalist
Sofia Epifanova, journalist
Kirill Alexeyev, author, Analiteg Telegram channel
Semyon Zelenovich, journalist
Angela Kalsynova, YouTube blogger
Ilya Kozin, journalist
ZIMA Magazine (London)
the editors of Oni za Voynu
the editors of Pravda o Voyne
The Voice of Reason movement
Dmitry Tolstosheyev, journalist
Evgeny Galitsky, journalist
Nina Abrosimova, journalist
Elena Samoylova, journalist
Vera Vasilyeva, journalist
Ivan Makridin, journalist, podcaster
Lev Kadik, journalist
Ruslan Totrov, journalist
Apolitichnost Gubit, a social movement
the editors of Russky Kovcheg Telegram channel
the Vornadzor anti-corruption movement
Dima Zitser, teacher
the editors of Echo of Petersburg (banned in Russia) and Ischem Vykhod, a YouTube channel
Alex Dubas, journalist
Zygmunt Dzieciolowski, journalist (Poland)
Obyektiv YouTube channel
Warsaw Local Anti-War Committee Telegram channel
Dozor v Volgograde project
The Polycrates Foundation
Alexander Artemyev, human-rights advocate
Dmitry Bayandin, attorney
Arseny Lytar, member, Russian State Duma Committee on Science and Education
Ilya Furman
Maria Klementyeva
Polina Shubentseva, activist and volunteer, Memorial
Andrey Yakimovich
Dmitry Simanovsky
Linur Arslanov
Vadim Dmitriyev
Mikhail Biryukov, attorney
Dmitry Gerasimenko
Sergey Kovalchenko
Maria Kabysh, costume designer
Timofey Andropov and the Ochnis movement
Lena Pylaeva and FreeRussiaNL
Olga Chernykova, former faculty member, Moscow State University
Alina Gnatyshina and Rossiya Buduschego (Switzerland)
Sergey Losev
Alexey Shmelev
Sergey Galin
Ekaterina Komissarova
Nikolay Matrosov
Ilya Bobrik
Alisher Artykov
Zhanna Shchukina
Igor Naginer
Alexey Volkov and the Canadian Russian Association Telegram channel
Olya Kazimirchuk
Sonya Blade
Joseph Malkin
Shimon Glazshteyn
Protokolnaya Redaktsiya project
Ivan Romanov
Elena Kvasyuk
Georgy Sushilin
Olga Degtyareva
Paul Robertus
Elena Lukyanova, attorney
Timofey Ilyushin, human rights advocate
Nikolay Golikov, artist
Alexander Kabanov, professor, University of North Carolina
Kirill Povarov
Irina Karpova
Irina Sokolovskaya
Mila Zemtsova
Andrey Kotov
Julia Ioffe, journalist (United States)
Lolita Roze (Latvia)
Mihail Gokhman (United States)
Greg Dolgopolov (Latvia)
Juris Raudulis (Latvia)
Lev Mendelson (United States)
Michael Mamontov (United States)
Eleonora Scheerseu (Germany)
Artur Heidt (Germany)
Marks Lisnanskis (Latvia)
Dmitrijs Krupņikovs (Latvia)
Dmitri Gouzévitch, historian (France)
Herta Hansena
Konstantin Kabanov
Tatiana le Roy (Belgium)
Laure Thibonnier (France)
Gennadi Kreps (Germany)
Natalia Kuzmina (Germany)
Association for Solidarity with Civil Society and the Development of Democracy in Russia, Russia of the Future (Spain)
the editors of Lenizdat.ru
Penguin Travel YouTube channel
Aiza Dolmatova, rapper
Ruslan Sokolovsky, blogger
the Iskra media training team
the KermlinRussia project team
the Smorodina: for Democracy in Russia association (Norway)
Oleksandr Tsyba
Andrey Lukashevich
Vadik Sirekanyan
Oleg Ponomarev
Sofia Gribkova
Alex Zatsman (United States)
Mykola Shpylchin
Marina Polishuk
Vladimir Yurovsky, conductor (Germany)
Olga Deryabina
Dmitry Cherne
Natalia Telegina
Vitaly Bovar
Maria Gabisov
Sofia Pulver
Nikita Petrashen
Lyudmila Kasa (Latvia)
Vladimir Rayevsky, journalist and television host
Fyodor Pavlov-Andreevich, artist and curator
and many other journalists and editors.

Revealing He Too Had Manning Leaks, Ellsberg Dares DOJ to Prosecute Him Like Assange

. . HUMAN RIGHTS . .

An article by Jessica Corbett in Common Dreams

Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg on Tuesday dared U.S. prosecutors to come after him like they have Julian Assange by  revealing  in a BBC News interview that the WikiLeaks publisher sent him a backup of leaked materials from former military analyst Chelsea Manning.

“Let me tell you a secret. I had possession of all the Chelsea Manning information before it came out in the press,” Ellsberg said to BBC’s Stephen Sackur in the on-camera interview. “I’ve never said that publicly.”

Assange had sent him the materials—which include  evidence  of U.S. war crimes—in case “they caught him and they got everything,” the 91-year-old explained. “He could rely on me to find some way to get it out.”

Australian-born Assange is currently detained in London and  fighting  in British and European courts against his extradition to the United States, where he could spend the rest of his life in prison if convicted under Espionage Act charges.

Inviting action by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Ellsberg said that “I am now as indictable as Julian Assange and as everyone who put that information out—the papers, everybody who handled it.”

(Article continued in the column on the right)

Question related to this article:
 
Is Internet freedom a basic human right?

Julian Assange, Is he a hero for the culture of peace?

Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

(Article continued from the column on the left)

“Yes, I had copies of it and I did not give them to an authorized person. So, if they want to indict me for that, I will be interested to argue that one in the courts—whether that law is constitutional,” he continued, referring to the Espionage Act.

Highlighting that the highest U.S. court has never held that it is constitutional to use the Espionage Act as if it were a British Official Secrets Act, Ellsberg said that “I’d be happy to take that one to the Supreme Court.”

The Espionage Act, “used against whistleblowers, is unconstitutional,” he asserted. “It’s a clear violation of the First Amendment.”

Ellsberg’s public confession comes after editors and publishers at five major media outlets that collaborated with WikiLeaks in 2010 for articles based on diplomatic cables from Manning  released  a letter late last month arguing that “it is time for the U.S. government to end its prosecution of Julian Assange for publishing secrets.”

“This indictment sets a dangerous precedent, and threatens to undermine America’s First Amendment and the freedom of the press,” the letter states. “Obtaining and disclosing sensitive information when necessary in the public interest is a core part of the daily work of journalists. If that work is criminalized, our public discourse and our democracies are made significantly weaker.”

The new Ellsberg interview also follows the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) confirming earlier this month that 51-year-old Assange has asked the tribunal to block his extradition to the United States.

Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton  told  Reuters last week that “I would imagine the U.S. wants to avoid” a case going before the ECHR for “trying to extradite a publisher from Europe for publishing U.S. war revelations when the U.S. is asking Europe to make all sort of sacrifices for the war in Ukraine.”

Nicaraguan regime sanctions audiovisual recordings`

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by Lorena Baires in Dialogo Americas (translation by CPNN)

The National Assembly of Nicaragua has approved a list of reforms to the Creative Law of the National Cinematheque and to the Law of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts, to limit the “development, public exhibition and commercialization of cinematographic and audiovisual products, as well as the confiscation of these”. With them, lawyers and filmmakers warn, the regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo will control and censor audiovisual productions in the country.

Carlos Guadamuz, defense attorney for the Costa Rica-based NGO Human Rights Collective Nicaragua Nunca Más told Dialogo, “We are concerned about all the attributions of the National Cinematheque, because it places culture and the production of audiovisual material as an initiative of the State and not as an initiative of an individual or legal entity to promote thought. It is a Law that violates the Political Constitution and places freedom of expression and thought at serious risk and vulnerability; as well as the patrimony of all the people who wish to carry out activities in the field of filming and documentation”.

As of October 13, Nicaraguan cinematography will have supervision and control with an article that establishes that “any natural or legal person, national or foreign, who intends to develop audiovisual and cinematographic activities of any kind in the national territory, must comply with the registration requirements before the National Cinematheque and have the proper authorization for the execution of such activities”. The Cinematheque may issue insurance measures to guarantee that nationals or foreigners comply with the regulations “in the making and development of cinematographic or audiovisual products,” reported the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa.

(Article continued in the column on the right)

Click here for the Spanish original of this article.

Question related to this article:
 
Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

Can “culture of peace” be mis-used?

(Article continued from the column on the left)

Ricardo Zambrano, Nicaraguan filmmaker, director and producer in exile, told Diálogo; “This is what is worrying because, in a context like Nicaragua’s, where it is already known that one cannot publish things against the regime because there are consequences, now there is is a law that not only prevents and prohibits the display of the works, but also their production,” “The filmmakers will not be able to make documentaries or films that criticize the regime. If any person, producer, tiktoker or youtuber tells their stories with a camera in the street in a way that the Cinematheque, considers is not contributing to the peace and well-being of Nicaragua, their production will be boycotted and the material confiscated”.

The Nunca Más Nicaragua Collective emphasizes that these reforms bind and force the development of film or audiovisual activities and the production of documentaries on Nicaraguan television channel 6; a state television station that only reproduces the signal of television channel 4, the main broadcaster of the propaganda system of the Ortega-Murillo regime.

The lawyer Guadamuz added, “We are concerned that these records are carried out before authorities where the processes or guarantees of due process are not fulfilled, and there is no possibility of filing complaints or using judicial instances to ensure compliance with the freedoms and human rights of Nicaraguans” .

Nicaraguan sociologist and documentalist Leonor Zúñiga also highlighted the regime’s strategy of using ambiguous concepts, such as “Culture of Peace”, to justify actions against the freedoms of Nicaraguans.

“This concept has already been used in other post-2018 rebellion laws, to justify the censorship of everything that represents a criticism of power, and therefore threatens ‘peace’,'” Zúñiga posted on Twitter. “With this, they not only control producers that require the support of the State. This authorization to the Cinematheque can prohibit any individual with a camera (Yes, TikToker) to produce something if it does not align with the ‘Culture of Peace.’

Independent Nicaraguan filmmakers shared a press release on social networks, where they call on audiovisual producers and creators in Latin America and the world to “reflect on the importance of defending creative freedom and acting collectively to guarantee that the rights of freedom of expression are respected.” expression and cultural creation that have cost so much to conquer in Nicaragua and Central America”.

The National Cinematheque is in charge of the ex-daughter-in-law of Ortega and Rosario Murillo, Idania Castillo, who would become the new inspector not only of audiovisual products in Nicaragua but also of those who are dedicated to this activity, warned La Prensa

Because ‘Publishing Is Not a Crime,’ Major Newspapers Push US to Drop Assange Charges

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article by Jake Johnson from Common Dreams

The five major media outlets that collaborated with WikiLeaks in 2010 to publish explosive stories  based on confidential diplomatic cables from the U.S. State Department sent a letter Monday calling on the Biden administration to drop all charges against Julian Assange, who has been languishing in a high-security London prison for more than three years in connection with his publication of classified documents.


Demonstration October in Berlin. Photo by Keystone

“Twelve years after the publication of ‘Cablegate,’ it is time for the U.S. government to end its prosecution of Julian Assange for publishing secrets,” reads the letter   signed by the editors and publishers of The New York Times, The Guardian, Le Monde, Der Spiegel, and El País. “Publishing is not a crime.”

The letter comes as Assange, the founder and publisher of WikiLeaks, is fighting  the U.S. government’s attempt to extradite him to face charges of violating the draconian Espionage Act of 1917. If found guilty on all counts, Assange would face a prison sentence of up to 175 years for publishing classified information—a common journalistic practice.

Press freedom organizations have vocally warned   that Assange’s prosecution would pose a threat to journalists the world over, a message that the five newspapers echoed in their letter Monday.

(Article continued in the column on the right)

Question related to this article:
 
Julian Assange, Is he a hero for the culture of peace?

Free flow of information, How is it important for a culture of peace?

(Article continued from the column on the left)

“This indictment sets a dangerous precedent, and threatens to undermine America’s First Amendment and the freedom of the press,” the letter reads. “Obtaining and disclosing sensitive information when necessary in the public interest is a core part of the daily work of journalists. If that work is criminalized, our public discourse and our democracies are made significantly weaker.”

The “Cablegate” leak consisted of more than 250,000 confidential U.S. diplomatic cables that offered what the Times characterized as “an unprecedented look at back-room bargaining by embassies around the world.”

Among other revelations , the documents confirmed   that the U.S. carried out a 2009 airstrike in Yemen that killed dozens of civilians. Cables released by WikiLeaks showed that then-Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh assured U.S. Central Command Gen. David Petraeus that the Yemeni government would “continue saying the bombs are ours, not yours.”

The media outlets’ letter notes that “the Obama-Biden administration, in office during the WikiLeaks publication in 2010, refrained from indicting Assange, explaining that they would have had to indict journalists from major news outlets too.”

“Their position placed a premium on press freedom, despite its uncomfortable consequences,” the letter continues. “Under Donald Trump, however, the position changed. The [Department of Justice] relied on an old law, the Espionage Act of 1917 (designed to prosecute potential spies during World War One), which has never been used to prosecute a publisher or broadcaster.”

Despite dire warnings from rights groups, the Biden administration has decided to continue   pursuing Assange’s extradition and prosecution.

In June, the United Kingdom formally approved   the U.S. extradition request even after a judge warned   extradition would threaten Assange’s life.

Assange’s legal team filed an appeal  in August, alleging that the WikiLeaks founder is “being prosecuted and punished for his political opinions.”

How the Islamic Revolution Gave Rise to a Massive Women’s Movement in Iran

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY . .

An article by Behrooz Ghamari Tabrizi in Counterpunch

Let me start with a straightforward proposition that is everywhere on social and mass media these days: The Islamic Republic’s patriarchal repression of women reached a tipping point after the murder in custody of Mahsa (Zhina) Amini by the Guidance Patrol on September 16, 2022. A revolt, led by young women, engulfed the entire country under the banner of women, life, freedom. At the root of this movement is the anti-women core of the Islamic regime and the struggle of Iranian women against it since its very beginning in 1979.

The whole nation — inside and outside the country, the global community, the progressive Left as well as the hawkish Right, stand in solidarity with this movement. The protests that began against the compulsory hijab and the demand for abolishment of the Guidance Patrol, has now become a full-fledged intersectional revolt for regime change in Iran, led by women.


This indeed is true that the Islamic Republic instituted draconian patriarchal policies after the revolution on 1979 that stripped the very basic formal rights that women had been granted under the ancien régime. These measures formally reduced women to second-class citizens in matters of marriage, custody, inheritance, crime and judiciary, dress code, segregation, and many other spheres of social life.  Yet, despite all this, women’s social mobility and presence in public sphere grew exponentially in the past four decades.  Ironically, this is in part an effect of the unintended consequences of these policies. Women learned very quickly how to navigate the new terrain, push the boundaries of the new institutions, and in practice gain access to rights and privileges from which the Islamic Republic deprived them. The recent revolt could not materialize without the remarkable agentive presence and mobility of women who carved out a space for ceaseless social and political engagement during the past four decades. Women are revolting because they refuse to continue the struggle in a field the boundaries of which are drawn in the dilapidated spirits of patriarchy.  Their gains have reached a hard as well as a glass ceiling that needs to be overcome.

The Iranian revolution succeeded in ending the monarchy on February 11, 1979. On February 26, only two weeks after the victory of the revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini annulled the Family Protection Law of 1967 and its 1975 amended version, which had given women more rights in divorce and matters of custody under the Shah. Since its inception, the clergy by and large had opposed the law’s basic premises, which they believed violated the Islamic views on women’s role in family.  Khomeini knew that the unity and uniformity that his leadership afforded the revolutionary movement would not remain uncontested for long after the triumph of the revolution. He knew that the spirit of Islam and the symbolic revolutionary language with which it inspired millions of Iranians of many creeds and classes needed to be translated into a body of institutional projects of postrevolutionary state-building.  So, he seized the opportunity to put women under the control of their menfolk.

Despite such overt assaults on women’s rights, most political parties continue to address women’s issues in the frame of revolutionary politics, nationalism, class struggle, and anti-imperialism.  For the first few months after the revolution, except for the National Front, the oldest liberal organization in Iran, and small Trotskyist group, Left and liberal parties remained ambivalent about women’s issues. They failed to recognize the remarkable contribution of women to the revolutionary struggle and the need to check the assault on their rights.  At the time, most of the women’s organization operated as an appendix to different political parties to further the anti-imperialist struggle and tied women’s issues to greater demands for social justice.

The establishment of the Islamic Republic proved inconsistent with fundamental women’s formal and legal rights.  Despite earlier assurances, on the eve of March 8, 1979, less than a month after the triumph of the revolution, Ayatollah Khomeini called upon the Provisional Government to uphold Islamic dress codes in its offices.  His pronouncement scandalized many who played a significant role in the revolutionary movement, including several members of his own Revolutionary Council.  This was the second time, after the abrogation of the Family Protection Law, in three weeks that issues of women’s right had become a point of contention in the postrevolutionary power struggle. That was why the festive preparations for the first postrevolutionary International Women’s Day turned into a rally with specific women’s rights demands such as the recognition of women judges and, most importantly, a call against compulsory hejāb.  Thousands of women gathered in Tehran University and the next day in front of and inside the hallways of the Ministry of Justice chanting: In the Spring of freedom, absent is the rights of women.

Instituting compulsory hejāb even in the tightly controlled parliament and implementing it throughout the country was not an easy proposition. It took another four years for the mandate to become an enforceable law. Different factions inside the government as well as influential clerics in seminaries raised questions about the wisdom of such a law, its religious justification, as well as its feasibility. Nevertheless, the new law went into effect on August 9, 1983.

The institution of compulsory hejāb and other patriarchal measures in cases of travel, marriage, custody, inheritance, criminal laws, etc. all of which formally reduced women to second-class citizens, gave yet more credibility to feminist concerns that the Islamic republic would entirely force women out of the public sphere. Comparisons were made with Reza Shah.  Some argued that whereas he liberated Muslim women by the “unveiling law” that banned the hejāb in public spaces in 1936, the Islamic Republic was now forcing women back into the private sphere where they would be subjected to the repressive domestic patriarchy.  Yet curiously – these contrasting policies produced paradoxical results on the ground. Reza Shah’s “unveiling” did not liberate women, and the Islamic Republic’s repressive measures did not imprison women at home. Ironically, it was under Reza Shah’s “unveiling law” that a great majority of women in urban areas were forced to stay at home, either because they chose not to appear in public without a veil or were not allowed to leave their homes by their fathers or husbands. Under the Islamic Republic, despite the institution of repressive anti-women laws, rather than being imprisoned in their homes, women gained unprecedented mobility in the country and year after year increased their presence in the public sphere.

These were unintended consequences, but they were quite substantial. As a consequence of the restrictions imposed on women in public places, a new system emerged of what I call patriarchy by proxy. The new laws created the possibility for a great majority of socially conservative Iranian families who were previously reluctant to see women’s participation in social affairs, to trust the new “Islamized” public sphere as an extended domain of patriarchal/religious order. The state became the ultimate guardian of patriarchy and by becoming so, paradoxically, sanctioned an unprecedented mobility among rural and urban women. Despite barring women from entering key political and judicial positions of decision-making, women entered and shaped the conditions of those spheres in significant numbers.

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Question related to this article:
 
Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

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In practice, gender politics and policy under the Islamic Republic have been far from the mere enactment of literal readings of the Qur’anic verses or a replication of women’s repression in Saudi Arabia. There is no doubt that the postrevolutionary regime instituted formal and legal apparatuses in order to constitute a homo Islamicus. But in its realpolitik, the Islamic Republic negated the anxieties that it would implement a literal reading of the Qur’an and expunge women from the pubic and restrict their lives to the domestic sphere. A quick look at the human development indexes in relation to women’s status in education, health, sports, artistic and cultural production, and civic engagement shows that the women in Iran have the most visible presence in public sphere in its history.  These changes were not the result of top-down state policies, but rather the consequence of a contentious engagement between different factions within the polity, women’s community and civic institutions, and political parties and activists.

From the time of revolution in 1979 to the latest reports in 2019, women’s literacy rate rose from 36% to 97.93%; share of women students in higher education rose from 15% to 60%; women’s life expectancy rose from 55 to 77; infant mortality decreased from 90 per 1000 to 10 per 1000. None of these could have been possible without a remarkable presence of women in public space and their involvement in policy planning and implementation.

The significant presence of women in the public arena created unanticipated shifts in gender relations in the country, conditions that forced even the most patriarchal factions in power to advocate unlikely propositions regarding women’s role in society. In 2006-2007 school year, women comprised 60% of incoming class of university students, and that trend continues. The conservatives of the 8th Parliament introduced legislation for affirmative action for men to catch up with women in higher education. The conservative parliamentarians, who otherwise insist that the place of women is at home to raise a virtuous family, argued that women who use resources of free public universities had to commit to a 10-year employment (public or private) after graduation. The paradox there is self-evident.

Another measure that contributed to the remarkable shift in family structure and gendered relations in public and private spheres was an aggressive family planning and population control program that was instituted in 1989. Although the Islamic Republic repealed the family planning and protection laws of the old regime soon after assuming power, in a significant shift, in 1988, the government introduced and carried out one of the most efficient family planning programs in the economically developing world.   Dictated by the perceived necessity of containing an unchecked rise in population, the program successfully reduced the population growth rate from the high of 3.4% in 1986 to 0.7% in 2007. During the same period, the number of children per family dropped from 6.5 to less than 2. Before his death in 1989, Ayatollah Khomeini endorsed the new program thus affording religious legitimacy to this ideological reversal.  As the Candadian-Iranian anthropologists Homa Hoodfar has shown, without national consensus-building, a massive mobilization of women, both by government agencies as well as non-governmental agents, promoted with effective religious justification, and offered through an efficient delivery service in birth control and contraceptives (such as distribution of free condoms), and premarital sex-education programs, this ambitious family planning project could not have been realized. Called by many “The Iranian Miracle,” the program was so successful that, fearing the emergence of an aging population, the authorities are now trying to encourage families to have more children.

The purpose of this brisk history is not to draw a sanguine picture of women’s conditions in contemporary Iran. The complexities of how government and non-governmental actors interact on these issues, how the expansion and containment of state power shape the social realities of women of different classes and ethnicities, or how religious doctrines and convictions hinder or facilitate women’s mobility cannot be fully detailed here.  Rather, I want to show that the Islamic Republic instituted policies and imposed patriarchal laws that produced unintended consequences in gender relations and women’s mobility. For an uprising to materialize, there needs to be a socially mobile, politically conscious, and subjectively free population. Iranian women have long been the fierce political actors we see on the street, not the oppressed, shadowy, veiled subjects that are the meat and potatoes of foreign misperception and paternalism. Yes, a mighty patriarchy shaped social order in Iran, like many other places in the world, but women were never its hapless captives. That image, the helpless veiled women, while effective in gathering support in global liberal feminist circles who believe that Muslim women need to be saved, does not correspond to the practice of those women’s everyday lives and fails to credit two generations of Iranian women for their political creativity.

At its core, Women-Life-Freedom is a movement for dignity and sovereignty of the subject.  It is a movement that has changed the political culture of defiance and expressions of dissent. Its radical creativity— posters, songs, graffiti, and imaginative forms of collective action, has opened in practice the possibility of thinking of politics anew. The transformative acts of insubordinate bodies and liberated souls has made party platforms and unruffled sermons ineffective and obsolete.

While Iranian women and their male allies fight against the state’s brutal crackdown, their aspiring revolt, with its novel singularities, faces instrumentalization by regional and global actors, facilitated through a misreading of Iranian women’s history of deliberate and agentive action. While the global reach of this movement through the media operates as an instrument of its effective dissemination, paradoxically, it also subjects it to a discursive violence.

We should not misread the core principles of Women, Life, Freedom as being a simple “desire for the west” by a population who are simply fed up.  Under such a misreading, a whole host of unsavory interests, from neocolonial expansionists to ethno-nationalist separatists, from delusional monarchists to all those who still lament being on the losing side of the 1979 revolution, try their best to claim ownership of this movement.  Yet Iranian women on the ground have been the very actors who historically have created the conditions of possibility for their protest.  They have opened space for themselves and their daughters in the face of a state desire for repressive patriarchy. Over decades they have succeeded to take advantage of the unintended consequences of state policies; they are not merely reacting—they are instead determined.

Today’s massive women’s movement in Iran represents one of the great achievements of the 1979 revolution—a revolution that generated hope-bearing, conscious subjects who have perpetuated themselves for more than four decades – despite and in the face of all manner of repression. The paradoxical effects of the Islamic Republic policies brought women to the centerstage of social transformation in Iran. Now that transformation has reached a point of frontal war with the state. Iranian women today hold key positions in journalism, artistic and cultural production, civic engagement, political organizing, higher education, scientific communities, local political offices, etc. Daughters of those women, irrevocably demand an extension and expansion of their mothers’ positions without any patriarchal restrictions, either by the state or inside their homes.

Those demands will only be realized through the transformation of the state, or by rethinking the meaning of the state. How this transformation will unfold and with what means is yet not known, but its inevitability is evident. How fortunate we are that these generations of women taking the lead.

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Behrooz Ghamari-Tabrizi is an Iranian-born American historian, sociologist, and professor.

Colombian government and ELN advocate for peace in Venezuela

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An article from Prensa Latina

Resuming talks between the Colombian Government and the guerillas National Liberation Army (ELN) in Caracas, Venezuela, on Tuesday (Nov 22) , demonstrated willingness to move towards peace.


(l-r) Silvana Guerrero, Aureliano Carbonell, Pablo Beltrán, Carlos Martínez and Danilo Rueda participate in the peace talks between the Colombian government and the ELN today at the Humboldt Hotel in the Waraira Repano (Avila) national park in Caracas. | Photo: EFE/ Rayner

Despite the differences that may exist, the negotiators expressed in a joint declaration their disposition, optimism, certainty, and hope to resume talks, with a political and ethical will, that have been frustrated over the years,

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(Click here for a Spanish version of this article.)

Questions related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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High Commissioner for Peace Danilo Rueda expressed certainty in achieving a satisfactory conclusion “with all the differences we may have” because we have found in the delegation a kind attitude and the compliance this time to reach peace.

The head of the ELN delegation, Pablo Beltrán, stated that the Colombians “cannot see each other as enemies,” the work we have done is reconciliation, finding common points again, and building a nation in peace and equity.

Historical Pact Senator Iván Cepeda underlined his faith and hope that the changes of the Government peace delegation are true, as we have started in a few hours to “experience tuning” with the ELN peace delegation

Cuba, Norway, and Venezuela, the guarantor countries of the peace talks, have seen the process, that began on Monday, with hope. The Colombian Government and the ELN signed for this process in Caracas on October 4 and expressed gratitude for the trust placed in them.

International Peace Bureau: 2022 MacBride Peace Prize recipients

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An article from the International Peace Bureau

Every year the International Peace Bureau (IPB) awards a special prize to a person or organization that has done outstanding work for peace, disarmament and/or human rights. These were the principal concerns of Séan MacBride, the distinguished Irish statesman who was Chairman of IPB from 1968-74 and President from 1974-1985. MacBride began his career as a fighter against British colonial rule, studied law and rose to high office in the independent Irish Republic. He was a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize 1974.

The Prize is a non-monetary one.

This year the IPB Board has chosen the following three winners of the prize:

Alfredo ‘Fred’ Lubang – as part of Non-Violence International Southeast Asia (NISEA), a Philippines based non-governmental organization working towards peacebuilding, disarmament and non-violence as well as regional peace processes. He holds a Master degree in Applied Conflict Transformation Studies and served on various boards of global disarmament campaigns. As the Regional Representative of NISEA and National Coordinator of the Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL), Fred Lubang is a recognized expert on humanitarian disarmament, peace education and decolonialization of humanitarian engagement for almost three decades. His organization NISEA served on the board of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Control Arms Campaign, a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience, a member of the International Network on Explosive Weapons and Stop Killer Robots Campaign as well as a co-convener of the Stop Bombing campaign. Without Fred Lubang’s unflagging work and commitment – especially in the face of ongoing wars – the Philippines would not be the only country that has ratified nearly all humanitarian disarmament treaties today.

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Question related to this article:

Where in the world can we find good leadership today?

How can just one or a few persons contribute to peace and justice?

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Eset Maruket Gagieva & Yurii Sheliazhenko – two activists from Russia and Ukraine, whose common goal of a peaceful world seems more important today than ever before. Eset Maruket is an experienced psychologist and activist from Russia, who since 2011 has been active in the fields of human rights, democratic values, peace and non-violence communication aiming at a more peaceful country through cooperation and cultural exchange. She holds a Bachelor degree in Psychology and Philology and is presently working as Coordinator/Project Manager in several women’s empowerment projects. In line with her voluntary positions, Eset has been constantly working towards a safer country for women and other vulnerable society groups. Yurii Sheliazhenko is a male activist from Ukraine, who has worked towards peace, disarmament and human rights for many years and is currently serving as the Executive Secretary of the Ukrainian Pacifist Movement. He is a member of the Board of the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection as well as World BEYOND War and a lecturer and research associate at the Faculty of Law and KROK University in Kyiv. Beyond that, Yurii Sheliazhenko is a journalist and blogger persistently defending human rights. Both Asya Gagieva and Yurii Sheliazhenko have raised their voices against the ongoing war in Ukraine – including in the IPB Webinar series “Peace Voices for Ukraine and Russia” – showing us what commitment and bravery looks like in the face of unjust war. 

Hiroshi Takakusaki – for his lifelong dedication to a just peace, the abolition of nuclear weapons and social justice. Hiroshi Takakusaki started his career by serving as a student and international youth movement leader and soon became involved in the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo). Working in several positions for Gensuikyo, he provided the vision, strategic thinking and dedication that fuelled Japan’s nationwide nuclear abolition movement, the international campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and Gensuikyo’s yearly World Conference. Regarding the latter, he played a leading role in bringing high-ranking United Nations officials, ambassadors and leading figures from the field of disarmament to participate in the conference. Apart from this, Hiroshi Takakusaki’s care and unstinting support for the Hibakusha as well as his ability to build unity within the social movement demonstrate his subtlety and leadership qualities. After four decades in service to the disarmament and social movements, he is presently the Representative Director of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.

United Nations High Level Forum: The Culture of Peace Bolsters the Potential for Sustainable Peacebuilding

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An article by Anwarul K. Chowdhury in Indepthnews

23 years ago today, on 13 September 1999, the United Nations adopted the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace, a monumental document that transcends boundaries, cultures, societies, and nations. It was an honor for me to Chair the nine-month long negotiations that led to the adoption of this historic norm-setting document by the United Nations General Assembly.

(Editor’s note: The Declaration and Programme of Action was drafted by UNESCO on the request of the UN General assembly and submitted in 1998.)

That document asserts that inherent in the culture of peace is a set of values, modes of behaviour and ways of life. I was highly privileged to introduce at the 53rd Session of UN General Assembly on its concluding day that resolution for adoption without a vote presenting the consensus text reached under my chairmanship.

20th anniversary of the culture of peace decision was the last in-person High Level Forum in 2019. After two years of virtual Forums, on 6 September this year, President of the 76th General Assembly Abdulla Shahid convened the in-person High Level Forum on The Culture of Peace. That was the eleventh in the series of annual Forums, the first day-long Forum being convened by the 66th President Ambassador Nassir Al-Nasser in 2012.

As his Senior Special Advisor, I had the full responsibility of organizing this pioneering initiative on 14 September. It was a huge success particularly amongst the UN’s civil society organizations which welcomed the opportunity they received to participate proactively along with the Member States and the rest of the UN system. Since then, the afternoon’s Panel Discussion has been considered as the civil society component of the Forum all these years.

Mandated by the UNGA resolutions, the Presidents of the General Assembly have been convening the annual high-level forums since 2012. The Forum provides a platform for the Member States, civil society, and relevant stakeholders to deliberate on the continuing applicability of the Culture of Peace in the contemporary contexts.

The Forum also has been the only UN gathering which was addressed by the largest number of women Nobel Peace laureates—six times out of eleven Forums. Also, the Forum’s panelists were always gender-balanced, on most occasions with more women, as was the case this year.

The Culture of Peace remains one of the key items for the General Assembly since 1997 when the Assembly decided to include a new and self-standing item to its agenda. This was followed by the UNGA resolution 52/15 of 20 November 1997 that proclaimed the year 2000 as the “International Year for the Culture of Peace” and GA resolution 53/25 of 10 November 1998, that proclaimed the period of 2001-2010 as the “International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World”.

Over the years the scope of the Culture of Peace expanded allowing adoption by the General Assembly multiple resolutions on a wide range of issues relating to various areas of its Programme of Action.

This year’s Forum theme was “The Culture of Peace: Importance of justice, equality and inclusion for advancing peacebuilding”.

It provided an opportunity to Member States, UN system and the civil society to explore and discuss ways to promote justice, equality, and inclusion for advancing peacebuilding and sustaining peace, especially through inculcation and promotion of the values of the Culture of Peace, as the concept note stated.

The concept note also underscored that “… there is no alternative to investing in peacebuilding and sustaining peace, with a view to build a common vision of a society, ensuring that the needs of all segments of the population are taken into account. Such vision encompasses activities aimed at preventing the outbreak, escalation, continuation, and recurrence of conflict and addressing root causes. At the same time, there is an urgent need to eliminate discrimination and inequalities and promote social cohesion and inclusive development, to ensure no one is left behind. In this context, as elaborated in the UNGA resolution on the Culture of Peace, empowerment of people to address the challenges in a peaceful and non-violent way is an essential component.”

The United Nations was born in 1945 out of World War II. The UN Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace was born in 1999 in the aftermath of the Cold War. Apart from the Charter, the Declaration and Program of Action is the only document which has focused so comprehensively on peace. Simply put, the Culture of Peace as a concept, as a motivation means that every one of us needs to consciously make peace and nonviolence a part of our daily existence. We should not isolate peace as something separate or distant.

Ever since the initiative taken by me in July 1997 to formally propose inclusion of a separate agenda item on the culture of peace in the UN General Assembly and its decision to do so, for the last two decades and half, my focus has been on advancing the culture of peace which aims at making peace and non-violence a part of our own self, our own values, our own personality. This has now become more pertinent amid the ever-increasing militarism, militarization and weaponization that is destroying both our planet and our people.

I believe there are two major developments that have the enormous opportunity to bolster the global movement for the culture of peace. Decision with regard to one has already been initiated while the other is still being brewed and hopefully will be ready by next week.

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Question(s) related to this article:

What is the United Nations doing for a culture of peace?

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First the upcoming one—recognizing that education is a foundation for peace, tolerance, human rights and sustainable development, Secretary-General António Guterres has convened a Transforming Education Summit (TES) 16th to 19th September. Its three overarching principles are Country-led; Inclusive; Youth-inspired. All very relevant to creating the Culture of Peace. The Summit provides an opportunity to mobilize greater political ambition, commitment, and action to reverse the slide on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on education of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Summit should highlight that the Point 4.7 of that Goal includes, among others, promotion of culture of peace and non-violence, women’s equality as well as global citizenship as part of the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. It also calls on the international community to ensure that all learners acquire those by the year 2030. I hope the outcome document of the Summit would reflect 4.7 of the SDG 4 with strong emphasis.

Never has it been more important for us to learn about the world and understand its diversity. The task of educating children and young people to find non-aggressive means to relate with one another is of primary importance.

Targeting the individual is meaningful because there cannot be true peace unless every one of us value peace and non-violence and practices the culture of peace in their actions. Connecting the role of individuals to broader global objectives, Dr Martin Luther King Junior affirmed that “An individual has not started living until he can rise above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns to the broader concerns of all humanity.” The UN Programme of Action on the Culture of Peace pays special attention to the individual’s self-transformation.

All educational institutions need to offer opportunities that prepare the students not only to live fulfilling lives but also to be responsible and productive citizens of the world. For that, educators need to introduce holistic and empowering curricula that cultivate the culture of peace in each and every young mind.

Indeed, such educating for peace should be more appropriately called “education for global citizenship”. Such learning cannot be achieved without well-intentioned, sustained, and systematic peace education that leads the way to the culture of peace.

The other major development was announced in 2021. At last year’s Forum during the Panel Discussion, the peace activist and globally respected Mayor Kazumi Matsui of Hiroshima and President of Mayors for Peace in his virtual participation announced that “On the 7th of July this year, Mayors for Peace adopted its new Vision, titled: “Vision for Peaceful Transformation to a Sustainable World”. One of the objectives set forth by the new Vision is to ‘promote the culture of peace’, in addition to the ongoing objectives, “realize a world without nuclear weapons,” and “realize safe and resilient cities.”

He added that “Under this new Vision, Mayors for Peace will continue making our utmost efforts toward our ultimate goal of realizing lasting world peace in solidarity with its 8,043 member cities in 165 countries and regions.” This new vision would be placed at the center of the deliberations during 10th Annual General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Hiroshima this October.

These two developments—outcome of Transforming Education Summit and the Mayors of Peace initiative on the Culture of Peace—have the potential of making the Culture of Peace a major force in sustaining peace.

In conclusion I would reiterate that women have a major role to play in promoting the culture of peace in our violence-ridden societies, thereby bringing in lasting peace and reconciliation. While women are often the first victims of any conflict, they must also and always be recognized as key to the resolution of the conflict. It is my strong belief that unless women are engaged in advancing the culture of peace at equal levels with men, sustainable peace would continue to elude us.

In various parts of the world, women have shown great capacity as peacebuilders.  They assumed activist roles while holding together their families and communities. At the grassroots and community levels, women have organized to resist militarization, to create space for dialogue and moderation and to weave together the shattered fabric of society. Through my field experiences, I am proud to recognize that involvement of women in the peace process in various conflict areas of the world has contributed immensely to ensuring longer term benefits for their present as well as future generations.

As has been rightly said, without peace, development is impossible, and without development unachievable, but without women, neither peace nor development is even conceivable.

Often, I am asked how the UN is doing in the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted by the General Assembly in 1999. I believe that the Organization should own it fully and internalize its implementation throughout the UN system.  Also, Secretary-General should prioritize the culture of peace as a part of his leadership agenda. He should make good use of this workable tool that UN possess to advance the objective of sustainable peace. Not using the tool of the culture of peace is behaving like a person who needs a car to go to work and has a car… but with a minimal interest in knowing how to drive it.

I would repeat for the umpteenth time what former Secretary-General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace laureate Kofi Annan had said: “Over the years we have come to realize that it is not enough to send peacekeeping forces to separate warring parties. It is not enough to engage in peace-building efforts after societies have been ravaged by conflict. It is not enough to conduct preventive diplomacy. All of this is essential work, but we want enduring results. We need, in short, the culture of peace.”

I continue to emphasize that The Culture of Peace is not a quick fix. It is a movement, not a revolution!

One voice creates a ripple—many ripples make a wave—collectively, our voices for the culture of peace can transform the world.

What has happened this year (2022) for the International Day of Peace

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This year we give links to 293 actions carried out in 1O countries of Western Europe and 126 in 6 countries in Eastern Europe that were once part of the Soviet Union. We link to 209 actions in 7 Canadian provinces and 44 of the 50 states of the United States. There are 64 actions cited in 16 countries of Asia and the Pacific, 52 from 12 Latin American and Caribbean countries, 74 from 30 African countries, and 28 from 15 Arab and Middle Eastern countries. See the CPNN bulletin for October for a synopsis.

Detailed data may be found on the following CPNN articles:

Europe: International Day of Peace

Ex-Soviet Countries: International Day of Peace

United States and Canada: International Day of Peace

Asia and Pacific: International Day of Peace

Arab and Middle Eastern States: International Day of Peace

Latin America and Caribbean: International Day of Peace

Africa: International Day of Peace

Europe: International Day of Peace

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A survey by CPNN

We list here 293 events in 20 European countries that were listed this year in Google during the week of September 21-28 under the key words “International Day of Peace”, “Journée Internationale de la Paix”, “Dia Internacional de Paz”, “Dia Internacional da Paz”, “Internationaler Tag des Friedens”and “Giornata internazionale della pace” or were listed on the websites of International Cities of Peace Facebook and the website of the Collectif de 21 septembre.

In France, there were events in 59 departments, more than half in the country, and in Belgium there were events in 136 municipalities.

In addition to these, over 300 events are listed on the maps of One Day One Choir and Montessori schools singing for peace, but, with the exception of 6 listed here that were new this year, there is no indication which took place this year and which took place only in previous years.

No doubt there were also many events listed on the Internet in the various national languages in Europe other than those for which we searched.

For events in European countries formerly part of the Soviet Union, click here.


Photo from Le Creusot, France

BELGIUM

The United Nations proclaimed September 21 as the “International Day of Peace” to encourage all initiatives to “promote the ideals of peace”. On this occasion, we invite the cities and municipalities of Belgium to participate in this UN appeal by hoisting the flag of peace on the municipal building(s). . . . This initiative is a campaign of the Belgian Coalition Against Nuclear Weapons. The following 136 municipalities have taken part:
Amay, Andenne, Aubange , Avelgem , Assesse, Awans, Beersel, BoechoutBouillon, Bredene, Brugge, Châtelet, Chaumont-Gistoux, Chièvres, Chimay, Komen-Waasten, De Panne, Dessel, Engis, Eupen, Florenville, Fontaine-L’Evêque, Gent, Gerpinnes, Gouvy, Ham, Hamont-Achel, Hannuit, Hensies, Herbeumont, Hoeselt, Holsbeek, Houffalize, Houthalen-Helchteren, Itter, Geldenaken, Juprelle, Kalmthout, Kasterlee, Koekelare, Kontich, Kortessem, Laarne, Terhulpen, Lanaken, Leuven, Lichtervelde, Lierde, Manhay, Marche-en-Famenne, Marchin, Meise, Meulebeke, Messancy, Moeskroen, Nijvel, Ohey, Pecq, Peer, Péruwelz, Perwijs, Blieberg, Ramillies, Roosbeek ,Rouvroy, Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse, Sainte-Ode, Sambreville, Schelle, Sint-Lievens-Houtem, Zinnik, Soumagne, Spa, Stekene, Tessenderlo, Thuin,Tinlot, Tintigny, Trooz, Tubeke, Verlaine, Wezet, Viroinval, Weismes, Walhain, Borgworm, Waver, Wichelen, Wortegem-Petegem, Zandhoven, Zonhoven, Lille, Lummen, Borsbeek, Zelzate, Oostende, Florennes, Beaumont, Belœil, Geer, Herstal, Meix-devant-Virton, Quaregnon, Rendeux, Sint-Joost-ten-Node, Morlanwelz, Overijse, Melle, Putte, Zutendaal, Herne, Vilvoorde, Frasnes-lez-Anvaing, Genepiën, Hoei, La Louvière, Manage, Pepinster, Quévy, Somme-Leuze, Stavelot, Wingene, Roeselare, Nazareth, Montigny-le-Tilleul, Bièvre, Kaprijke, Arendonk, Machelen, Ravels, Riemst, Herk-de-Stad, Brunehaut, Écaussinnes, Vorst, Léglise, Malmedy, Anhée

BOSNIA, SARAJEVO

Following a series of youth essay and art competitions organized by the OSCE and United Nations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2020 and 2021 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Dayton Peace Agreement and the country’s commitment to Agenda2030, the two organizations have gathered a selection of essays and artwork in a publication presenting young peoples’ reflections on peace in BiH. The publication, entitled The Peace Young People Wish to Build in BiH, was presented today in Sarajevo on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, and was followed by a conversation with young authors. The Peace Young People Wish to Build in BiH publication is available at the following link: The Peace Young People Wish to Build in Bosnia and Herzegovina | OSCE.

CYPRUS

Acting on this year’s theme of End Racism, Build Peace, the Association for Historical Dialogue and Research, the Home for Cooperation, The Home Café and Peace Players Cyprus join together to organise a series of activities promoting and celebrating peace. On the International Day of Peace, September 21, a series of activities, performances and presentations will take place inviting all of the communities of the island.

CYPRUS UNIONS

Turkish and Greek Cypriot unions, which are members of the World Union Federation and the Bi-Communal Peace Initiative are organizing a bi- Communal event for United Cyprus, in line with the 1st of September World Peace Day. Turkish Cypriots will gather at Kuğulu Park and Greek Cypriots will gather at Eleftheria Square at 6.30 pm and will walk to the buffer zone during the event that will take place on Thursday, September 1st 2022. The General-Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Union (WFTU) Pambis Kiritsis will be holding a speech at the 1st of September World Peace Day event to be held at the ÇetinKaya Stadium at 7.30 pm. The “Let’s Sing Together” Orchestra will give a concert at the event.

CYPRUS, NICOSIA

The International Day of Peace is coming up and like in the previous years, it’s a chance to invite everyone to run with us in Nicosia! This will be an easy 6-7km run with runners from both sides and will pass by some major streets of the whole of Old Nicosia. The event is organized by RUNITE, a group of friends from across the island who love to run together and have organized running events in different parts of Cyprus.

FRANCE, ALBI (81)

March and gathering for peace. Wednesday 21 September, from the National Garden (bust of Jean JAURES) to Place du Vigan.
From 3.30 p.m. to 6 p.m. Graphic and musical course.
Posters, texts, poems, songs, petitions, bibliographies, exchanges…
At 6:30 p.m. Gathering Place du Vigan.

FRANCE, ALENCON (61)

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, Wednesday September 21, 2022, the local committee of the Peace Movement of Alençon ( Orne ) will be present Thursday September 22 at the downtown market. In the context of the war in Ukraine , pacifists call for mobilization to “obtain social, economic, cultural, national and international peace policies inspired by the United Nations Charter and respectful of all human rights”.

FRANCE, ANGERS (49)

Two highlights for peace. Date(s): 21/09/2022 – 24/09/2022
September 21, International Day of Peace, in Angers: 2 highlights
Wednesday, September 21: 6 p.m. PLACE DE LA PAIX celebration
Saturday, September 24: 3:00 p.m. PLACE DU RALLIEMENT walk

FRANCE, ANNECY (74)

The gathering will take place this Saturday, September 24 at 2 p.m. in front of the Annecy Prefecture. First signatories: Peace Movement, PCF, Human Chain Against Hate. Stop all wars, violence, misery, injustice. Dare Peace, Cultivate Peace

FRANCE, AVAILLES LIMOUZINE (86)

At the call of the Peace Movement, let us come together to express our demand for peace: Exhibition and meeting-debate. Wednesday, September 21, 2022, International Day of Peace, 6:00 p.m., Mairie d’Availles Limouzine

FRANCE, BANDOL (83)

International Day of Peace. During two days, 20 and 21 September, many highlights will come to celebrate these days, the associations offer a space of peace to marvel, recharge, inform, dialogue & discover works of art, manual creativity, portraits of people of peace , messages of peace, stands for Unicef (peace ambassadors in schools), Omcal (many leisure activities sources of peace), Ammac (helps young people build model boats ), Agrédiance (promotion of peace through relational harmony and offers tools to manage aggression).

FRANCE, BELFORT (90)

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace (September 21), the UN urges us to build A CULTURE OF PEACE. Also, we invite you to a cinema-meditation session on Friday September 23 at 7 p.m. with the film We All by Pierre Pirard on the program.

FRANCE, BESANÇON (25)

Call for a rally for Peace as part of the celebrations of the International Day for Peace : Saturday September 24, 2022 at 11 a.m. Besancon aux Glacis (war memorial). Themes: nuclear disarmament in a context where the risk of nuclear war has never been high, the need for a ceasefire and peace in Ukraine, the consequences in France with inflation and rising prices Energy. Rally at the call of: Peace Movement, General Confederation of Labor (UL CGT), Europe Ecologie Les Verts (EELV Grand Besançon), French Communist Party (PCF Doubs), La France Insoumise (LFI), Movement against Racism and for Friendship between Peoples (MRAP), A Gauche Citoyens! (AGC!), Republican Association of Veterans Affairs (ARAC)…

FRANCE, BLOIS (41)

Sunday, September 25, we are organizing our 40th Peace Walk in Blois Departure from the Allées stadium car park. 5 Routes of 5,10,15,20,25 km. Organized by Mouvement de la Paix du Loir et Cher

FRANCE, BONNEUIL (95)

Several initiatives are programmed in Bonneuil on the occasion of the International Day of Peace.
11 h. Placement of one thousand cranes and origami made by children in leisure centers – Leo-Lagrange sports complex.
14-17 h. Football game, to live together, to speak about peace, to favor feminine and mixed practice in sports and football, to create a space for inter-generational contact.

FRANCE, BORDEAUX, LIBOURNE (33)

TOGETHER LET’S BUILD PEACE. IN BORDEAUX, GATHERING Wednesday September 21, 2022 at 6 p.m. FOREFRONT OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
COLLECTIVE WALK FOR PEACE, In LIBOURNE, the local organizations FSU, LDH, CGT call to participate in the “GLASS FOR PEACE” Parc de l’Epinette from 5:30 p.m.

FRANCE, BOULOGNE-SUR-MER (62)

War is anything but harmless. And the fact that it is not yet happening on our territory should not encourage us to ignore it. War is never the right answer, it is bad for everyone at every level. This is the message that the collective for peace wants to convey during this annual gathering. Created a few years ago, this gathering is designed to raise awareness in this complicated period on the importance of preserving peace in the world, respect for human rights, the socio-economic development of populations and the emergence of pacifist citizenship. The tree of peace is the symbol of this peace movement. In Boulogne-sur-Mer, it is personified by a Gingko Biloba, planted in 1995 near the war memorial on boulevard Eurvin, by Jean Delessalle, member of the Boulogne section of the Communist Party

FRANCE, BOURG-EN-BRESSE (01)

Saturday, September 24, about thirty activists from the PCF, the League of Human Rights, Attac, free thought, showed their support for the International Day of Peace. Gathered at 2:30 p.m. at the corner of rue Gambetta and rue Victor-Bach, the members of the “Collectif National 21 Septembre” led by Daniel Blatrix (PCF) recalled the remarks of António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations who had declared “Instead of fighting against each other, we should act to defeat our real enemies: racism, poverty, inequality, conflict, the climate crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic. » Banners unfurled and microphone in hand, peace activists recalled that the International Day of Peace has never been so important, in a world where 37 “theaters” of war are identified in different parts of the globe with a nuclear threat.

FRANCE, BOURGES (18)

Exhibition and Conference-debate. September 21, 2022 – 6 p.m. International Day of Peace – End Racism, Build Peace. At the Val d’Auron Media Library, Place Martin Luther King: Inauguration of the exhibition “Faces and birds of peace”
8 p.m. – The Culture of Peace, a brief history and a resource for the future. At the Natural History Museum, amphitheater, Allée René Ménard: Conference-debate with the participation of David Adams, Former Director of the Culture of Peace at UNESCO

FRANCE, CAHORS (46)

Rally for Peace on September 21, 2022 in Cahors (46) at 5.30 p.m., Fountain of Peace, Place Mitterrand. First signatories: CGT 46, Lot Committee of the Mouvement de la Paix.

FRANCE, CARHAIX (29)

Distribution of leaflets, 22/09/2022, all day.

FRANCE, CHÂTELLERAULT (86)

Animation and distribution of leaflets. As part of the International Day of Peace, an event is organized in the city center of Châtellerault on Saturday, September 24, it will be preceded by the distribution of leaflets in the city’s markets.

FRANCE, CHENOVE (21)

Peace March in Chenove (21) as part of the Peace Day. The march will follow the city’s memorial route and will end with a speech by the Mouvement de la Paix.

FRANCE, CHERBOURG-EN-COTENTIN (50)

Gathering on September 21, 2022. As every year for many years, the Channel Committee will gather at the foot of the olive tree of Peace in Equeurdreville, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.

FRANCE, CHOLET (49)

Gathering and animation for peace. September 21, 2022 from 3 p.m. (until 6 p.m.) Place Travot in Cholet. We will propose an animation to inform, exchange, sign petitions… in order to advance the culture of Peace. And we will participate in the march for PEACE, September 24: 3 p.m. PLACE DU RALLIEMENT in Angers

FRANCE, CORRÈZE, BRIVE (19)

Many events, peace trail
September 11: Association Forum in Brive
September 21: 12:30 p.m.: Citizen picnic in front of the tree of peace in Brive
September 22: Ceremony of the Tree of Peace in Argentat
September 30: Ceremony of the Tree of Peace in Ussel

FRANCE, CORSE, AJACCIO (20)

60 people gathered in Ajaccio this Wednesday, September 21 for the International Day of Peace. Many associations called for a mobilization on the theme “end racism, build a world of peace”.

FRANCE, CORSE, BASTIA (20)

In Bastia, around thirty people gathered for peace. On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, and at the call of many associations, two gatherings were organized in Corsica, notably in Ajaccio and Bastia.

FRANCE, DIJON (21)

On September 21, the International Day of Peace, around thirty citizens unfurled banners in Dijon, and a dozen in Moloy, near the CEA site in Valduc (Commissariat for Atomic Energy and Alternative Energies) which maintains and the modernization of France’s 290 nuclear weapons.
They demand :
– France’s compliance with art. 6 of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to which it acceded in 1992 and of which it violates the spirit and the letter,
– France’s accession to the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TIAN), which since January 22, 2021 has become the standard of international law,
– and, eventually, the reconversion to peaceful activities of the CEA-DAM sites, including that of Valduc.

FRANCE, EPINAL (88)

At the call of the association Vosges pour la Paix, a few demonstrators met in front of the Vosges prefecture, place Foch, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace.

FRANCE, FOIX (09)

International Day of Peace on September 21, 2022: mobilization for peace in Foix between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m.at the call of the Mouvement de la Paix, and the organizations ACAT09, AFMD, 4ACG, CGT09, Couserans-Palestine, EELV09, FSU09, LDH09, MJCF09, NPA09, PCF09, RESF09, Solidaires 09, UFAL09 and the deputy G. Lazaroo. We will distribute a flyer and have people sign the petition “cursed be war”.

FRANCE, FONTENAY-SOUS-BOIS (94)

The Popular University of Fontenay-sous-Bois invites you on Monday September 26, at 8:30 p.m. at the Le Kosmos cinema, to the screening of the documentary film La Bombe et nous (70’) by Xavier-Marie Bonnot. This film was shot in 2017, during the preparation at the UN of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TIAN) for the preparation of which the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) received the Nobel Prize for the peace. On January 22, 2021, the TIAN entered into force; it continues to be ratified by many countries. This film has the advantage of giving voice to very diverse personalities, both favorable and opposed to the TIAN. It will feed the reflection in view of the meeting-debate which will take place on November 15 at the Town Hall of Fontenay-sous-Bois, during the inauguration of the exhibition Acting for disarmament.

FRANCE, GRENOBLE (38)

March for peace September 21. Meet at 6 p.m. in front of the lion at Place de la Cymaise, in the St Laurent district (opposite the St Laurent pedestrian bridge) in Grenoble and walk to the new Place de Lavalette museum

FRANCE, GUÉRET (23)

Rally of the Mouvement de la Paix. Every year, the International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21. Wednesday, at 6 p.m., on the initiative of the Creuse Committee of the Movement for Peace, citizens were invited to join in the event. About forty people were thus gathered on the forecourt of the town hall of Guéret to defend peace, act for the climate, nuclear disarmament, social justice and living together.

FRANCE, LA CHÂTRE (36)

September 28, 2022 – 8 p.m. The Culture of Peace for a Peaceful Transition. Rue d’Olmor – Municipal hall: Conference/debate in partnership with Femmes Solidaires

LA ROCHELLE (17)

In La Rochelle, a rally and then a march in town as part of the International Day of Peace. Dozens of associations relay our appeal and some have indicated that they will be present at our side. A group of young, sometimes very young, dancers from a working-class area of the city, the Ultimatum group, will animate our gathering with music and hip-hop dances.

FRANCE, LANNION (22)

At the call of the Trégor Mouvement de la Paix, about fifty people gathered this Wednesday, September 21, on the Human Rights forecourt to say a stop to the war in Ukraine and in 36 other countries. “For its future, humanity has no choice but peace.” It is with these words that Françoise Le Loarer, spokesperson for the Trégor Mouvement de la Paix, concluded her speech, this Wednesday, September 21, at the end of the afternoon, on the forecourt of Human Rights, in Lannion.

FRANCE, LARAGNE (05)

Initiatives of the Laragne-Vallée du Buëch committee for September 21:
– Celebration around the olive tree of peace in Laragne:
Wednesday September 21 at 6 p.m. in the Jardin Jean Giono (next to the church) to commemorate the International Day of Peace together, with the participation of the Restoublons choir
– Creative workshop for young people in partnership with the MJC and the Laragne leisure center, Wednesday October 5

FRANCE, LASSERAN (32)

In the Gers, we have place original panels for peace at the entrances to villages and on the national road 21! (with many photos)

FRANCE, LE CREUSOT (71)

At the call of the Collective for Peace, around forty people gathered this Wednesday at Place Schneider as part of the International Day of Peace celebrated each year on September 21. After the gathering, the procession formed went to rue Leclerc and then took the direction of the town hall where Jacqueline Guillien read the text of the Collective for Peace. “It was particularly important to meet all of us on September 21, International Day of Peace, to affirm our common aspiration, beyond our differences in convictions and philosophical, political, religious, trade union sensibilities…. We must make our demands heard in favor of Peace, the climate, nuclear disarmament, social and environmental justice, friendship between individuals and Peoples.”

FRANCE, LE HAVRE (76)

The peace committee of Le Havre (76) organizes from September 19 to September 28, 2022:
– September 19, at 6.30 p.m.: evening at the literary café “Les Yeux d’Elsa” with our friends from Femmes Solidaires on the theme “women and peace”
– September 21, at 2:30 p.m. in Gonfreville l’Orcher, we are invited to participate in a performance of songs specially designed for the International Day of Peace by the choir of the residence for the elderly. An intergenerational meeting with the participation of children from a CM1 class with their teacher. and at 5.30 p.m. the peace march in Le Havre, at the call of the Peace Committee of Le Havre with the participation of 25 associations, trade unions and local politicians: departure from the Town Hall to go to the Oscar Niemeyer space.
– September 28 at 8:30 p.m. at the “Le Studio” cinema: screening followed by a debate, of the 1989 film “Black Rain” by Japanese Shohei Imamura. “After the bomb in Hiroshima, the horror, the trauma… life for the survivors”

FRANCE, LE MANS (72) – CONFERENCE

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace decreed by the UN on September 21, the Friends of Peace, in partnership with the group of readers of La Vie de la Sarthe, offer a conference by the historian Pierre Maucourt on Fridtjof Nansen, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1922. In the aftermath of the First World War, this Norwegian, explorer, scientist and statesman, led a visionary action in favor of refugees. A century later, its action is still relevant and can inspire all those involved in the reception of war victims, in particular Ukrainians. Details in our calendar.

FRANCE, LE MANS (72) – RALLY

In Le Mans, rally at 3 p.m. Place de la République, September 24, 2022. And exhibition from September 26 at the town hall of Allonnes.

FRANCE, MALAKOFF (92)

International Day of Peace. Rally on Wednesday September 21 at 6 p.m. for peace and against wars in the central square of Malakoff in front of the Town Hall in the form of a “circle of silence”. Animation on Sunday September 25 during the market with installations and a mini-exhibition of artists for peace. This Sunday, September 25 in Malakoff, we will celebrate this event by putting the city’s main square in the colors of peace with an installation created by artists on the theme of hands.

FRANCE, MARSEILLE (13)

THE SAILS OF PEACE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. Saturday September 24, 9:30 a.m.: Old Port in front of the central Town Hall, speeches, entertainment 11:30 a.m.: Boarding for L’Estaque – Espace Mistral – entertainment, boat trips

FRANCE, MARTIGUES (13)

As part of the UN International Day of Peace: Call for citizen rally. Wednesday September 21 – 5.30 p.m. – Jardin de Ferrieres in Martigues: Speeches,Snack, Concert of young martegals on the theme of Peace. In the afternoon, great game of peace at Canto Perdrix
Sunday 25, Peace Regatta: departure at 1 p.m. from Tholon base

FRANCE, METZ (57)

Wednesday, September 21, demonstration for peade in Metz, meet at 5:30 p.m. in front of the station for a demonstration that will end at Place des Droits de l’Homme. At the call of a collective of organizations, with the presence of the Mouvement de la Paix.

FRANCE, MONT SAINT MICHEL (50)

Flash mob for peace. Date(s): 21/09/2022. Time(s): 11:00 a.m. Meet at Mont Saint Michel at 11:00 a.m. under the ramparts and at 12:00 p.m. on the shore, in the sand towards Tombelaine.

FRANCE, MONTMÉLIAN (73)

A few supporters of peace marched this Wednesday evening, September 21, through the city to say no to racism and war.

FRANCE, MORBIHAN (56)

“Meeting for Peace” at HENNEBONT. Saturday September 24, at the initiative of the Morbihan Committee of the Mouvement de la Paix.
– at 4 p.m., opening of the “Rendez-vous de la Paix”, interventions and musical entertainment by “Duo Madachi”, Latin American music
– from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., “Marche de la Paix” between Square de la Paix and Place Foch
– from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., “Pot of Peace” room Chevassu.
with the support of: AFPS, LDH, Libre Pensée, Attac, CGT, FSU, Solidaires, PCF

FRANCE, MOULINS (03)

When the war develops all over the place, when military expenditure increases like never before in the history of humanity (2013 billion dollars in 2021), when the threat of the possible use of nuclear weapons reappears, and when world peace is threatened, it is urgent to act to say stop, that’s enough! This is why the local organizations of the national collective of marches for peace are calling the population to a rally on WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21 at 6:30 p.m. (international day of peace) place d’Allier in Moulins and invite those who wish to read texts and poems to peace to join them. Moulinois collective of marches for peace (Peace Movement, ARAC, Mrap, CGT, PCF, RESF and CCFD)

FRANCE, NANCY (54)

Two weeks of non-violence and peace in Nancy from September 21 to October 2, 2022
Tuesday September 20 at 7:30 p.m. (reception at 7 p.m.) at the MJC Lillebonne, 14 rue du Cheval Blanc in Nancy: debate on non-violence “What social, political and economic changes in the face of global warming? How to invent our Low Carbon lives?”
from September 21 to 30 during MJC opening hours, at the MJC Lillebonne, 14 rue du Cheval Blanc in Nancy: exhibition “non-violence is radical”. The objective of this exhibition is to reach people driven by a strong sense of anger but also helplessness in the face of the social and climate crisis. In particular, we want to raise awareness among young people who are now involved in demonstrations, occupations, social and environmental struggles. Official inauguration on September 21 at 6 p.m. for the International Day of Peace.

FRANCE, NEVACHE (05)

A fresco depicting a couple of migrants embracing each other has been installed in Névache for the International Day of Peace.

FRANCE, NEVERS (58)

Meeting and march for peace. Wednesday September 21 Place Carnot in Nevers, meet at 5.30 p.m. Walk to the Place de la Résistance (in front of the Prefecture) where the interventions of the Mouvement de la Paix will be read, then the many associative organizations, trade unions and political partners may express themselves.

FRANCE, NIMES (30)

Many events at the Bar Le Prolé from September 21 to October 2
Until Sept 18 Photography contest on the theme of peace
Sept 24 Café Philo with Marjolaine Pierre
Sept 26 Results of photo context and expo of best 3
Sept 29-Oct 1 Artist-painters create in public
Sept 30 show by Lou Chatell Company on climate and economy as factors for war
Oct 1 Association SERVAS presents its actions for peace
Conference-debate with Mouvement de la Paix
Debate with ARAC, Association of militants of peace
Oct 2 Showing of Film “Timbuktu”

FRANCE, OLORON (64)

To celebrate the International Day of Peace, the local group of the Movement against Racism and for Friendship among Peoples has planted an olive tree in the city of Oloron.

FRANCE, ORSAY, LES ULIS, VALLÉE DE CHEVREUSE (91)

With the Mouvement de la Paix Committee of Orsay, Les Ulis, Vallée de Chevreuse, the International Day of Peace, September 21, will be an opportunity for a meeting at 2 p.m., supervised by the referent teachers of the eco-delegates with the eco-delegates of the Lycée Blaise Pascal . . . Also, a Cine-Debate around the film “The bomb and us” on September 21 at 8:45 p.m. at the Jacques Prévert cinema.

FRANCE, PARIS, PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE (75)

Rally. Meet on Wednesday September 21, 2022 at 6 p.m. Place de la République in Paris Meet near the statue, opposite Rue du Faubourg du Temple. Don’t forget banners, flags, etc. Flyers and documents will be available for distribution.

FRANCE, PARIS, L’ARC DE TRIOMPHE

At a time when peace in the world and in Europe is once again threatened, nearly 135 young people and adults from nearly 16 different countries have decided to celebrate together this September 21 the 41st International Day of Peace 2022, under the Arc de Triomphe, by reliving together the ceremony of the rekindling of the Flame. . . Invited for this sixth edition on the initiative of the National Association of Local Reservists for Youth and Citizenship (ANRLJC), this delegation welcomed this year the defense class of the Jeanne d’Arc college in Kremlin-Bicêtre, a delegation from Saint Joseph College in Saint Cloud, a delegation of students from the ILERI Défense association and young foreigners taking part in international Rotary International exchanges in the 1660 and 1770 districts. Young people from the EPIDES of Saint Quentin and Val-de- Reuil participated with us in this ceremony.

FRANCE, PARIS, SYNAGOGUE NAZARETH

A symposium on the theme “Republic and fraternity” at the Nazareth Synagogue. The event is organized as part of the bicentenary of the synagogue and commemorates the international day of peace. The event is organized in partnership with the “Rotary International District 1660” club.

FRANCE, PAU (64)

Rally in PAU this Wednesday, September 21 at 6 p.m. in front of the Prefecture

FRANCE, PEYRIAC-MINERVOIS (11)

The kick-off will be given on Sunday September 18 with the Fête de la Paix in Peyriac Minervois . . . the troupe “La Tripe du Bœuf” will offer its show “14-18, Bleu Sombre Horizon”, an adaptation of texts taken from the war diaries of Corporal Louis Barthas and other combatant authors of the Great War . . Other initiatives are planned for that day and during the week, particularly with primary school children, on children’s rights, the environment, tolerance and non-violence. During the day, we will welcome you with pleasure at the committee’s stand, which will offer you extensive documentation and promotional items. This day received the support of the Cercle Louis Barthas and the municipality of Peyriac Minervois, a municipality that is a member of the “cities of peace” network.

FRANCE, POISSY ET CARRIÈRES-SOUS-POISSY (78)

International Day of Peace. Ceremony, exhibitions and workshops in Poissy and Carrières-sous-Poissy!

FRANCE, RENNES (35)

March for peace, departure at 6 p.m. from the Charles de Gaulle metro station, Cours des Allies. Reading of the national appeal of the collective marches for peace, demonstration and press conference.

FRANCE, ROUBAIX (59)

Rally of the Peace Mouvement de la Paix, ATTAC, JOC…Wednesday, September 21 – 6:30 p.m.Grand Place Roubaix. As part of the UN International Day of Peace at the call of the Collective of marches for Peace.

FRANCE, SAINT GAUDENS (31)

For “the international day of peace, Wednesday September 21, our organizations support the appeal of the Peace Movement and invite the people of Comminge to a rally at 6 p.m. in front of the sub-prefecture of Saint Gaudens. Press release ATTAC Comminges, BDS Comminges, COMICO (Collective Migrants Comminges), EELV GLSO, FSU Comminges, France Insoumise Comminges-Savès, Communist Party Comminges, Socialist Party St Gaudens/ Montréjeau, RESF Comminges, UL CFDT Comminges, UL CGT Comminges, UL Solidaires .

FRANCE, SAINT LÉON SUR L’ISLE (24)

Rally for peace at 11 a.m. at the town hall of Saint Léon sur l’Isle, on September 24.

FRANCE SAINT MALO (35)

Rally on September 21 Esplanade de l’Europe, behind the media library, opposite the station at 6 p.m. We will meet for the International Day of Peace to claim Peace, to demand that the weapons be silent, nuclear disarmament everywhere in the world, the reorientation of the economy towards an economy of Peace… supported by the CGT, the FSU, AFPS, ARAC and the organizations of deportees, Femmes solidaires.

FRANCE, SAINT NAZAIRE (44)

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace and Marches for Peace, the Saint-Nazaire committee calls for a rally When the war develops all over the place, when military expenditure increases like never before in the history of humanity (2013 billion dollars in 2021), when the threat of the possible use of nuclear weapons reappears, and when world peace is threatened, it is urgent to act to say stop, that’s enough! This is why the Nazaire Committee of the Peace Movement with the local organizations of the national collective * Marches for Peace calls on the population to a rally on WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21 at 4 p.m. (International Day of Peace) at the War Memorial – Seafront in Saint-Nazaire

FRANCE, SAINT SAVOURNIN (13)

A day for peace. Sunday, September 18, 2022Courtyard of the town hall and wedding hall, Pacifist exhibition, pyramid of shoes with Handicap International, discussion an petition around the TIAN, raffle, show “From operetta to opera” with Voice in G minor.

FRANCE, SAINT-ÉTIENNE (42)

Committee of Saint-Étienne – Loire 42: September 21, 2022 – 5:30 p.m.Gathering in front of the statue of Jean Jaurès, at the call of the Collectif pour les marches de la paix; Place Jean Jaurès in Saint-Étienne.

FRANCE, SAINT-JUNIEN (87)

The association “Foutez-nous la paix!“, with the help of La Mégisserie and Ciné-Bourse present, from October 17 to 30, 2022, the 3rd edition of the festival “Foutez-nous la paix!“ in Saint-Junien.

FRANCE, SAINTES (17)

Lighting of the Flame of Nuclear Disarmament followed by a Conference-Debate with Jacques Terracher, Aeronautical Technician. The civil nuclear between cracks and discomfiture and Jean-Marie Matagne, President of Citizen Action for Nuclear Disarmament (ACDN) War in Ukraine: the Apocalypse for tomorrow? PUBLIC DEBATE. Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Chernobyl, Fukushima, Zaporijia… How to neutralize the civil and military nuclear danger?

FRANCE, SARAN (45)

This Wednesday, September 21, Saran will celebrate the International Day of Peace, with the theme “End Racism, Build Peace”. The event, which the news sheds in a particular light, takes on a new dimension with many events for the general public to experience on the forecourt of the town hall.
PROGRAM
From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: Sports games, creative workshops, games, entertainment, snack offered to children
5 p.m.: Planting of the tree of peace
From 6 p.m.: Official speeches and reception
8 p.m.: Big Band concert in favor of Ukraine

FRANCE, TOMBLAINE (54)

On Sunday, September 25, on the initiative of the Mvt peace committee south 54, the CDN54 (collective against nuclear weapons) and many organizations or unions will hold a March for Peace to say: NO to all wars No to war in Ukraine! A march against poverty and for social justice. Against racism and for Solidarity. Music and songs in the afternoon.

FRANCE, TOULON (83)

SAILBOATS OF PEACE.

FRANCE, TOULOUSE (31)

Round Table for Peace and Concert, 09/21/2022, 6:00 p.m., METRO CAPITOLE at 6:00 p.m.

FRANCE, TOURNON-TAIN (26)

Schools and peace.
– Tuesday 20, the delegates of each of the 13 schools will bring the creations which will be arranged around the 13 olive trees (in containers) offered by the Tournon-Tain Peace Committee. Then at 6 p.m., official inauguration with institutional partners, teachers, children and parents as well as the Cadets de Bacchus choir.
– Wednesday 21, visits for all audiences of the various exhibitions: student creations, “Peace and Climate” exhibition and “Children’s words and drawings” exhibition.
– Thursday 22, visits organized for schools.

FRANCE, TOURS, LOCHES (37)

– Saturday September 17 in Loches: distribution of leaflets to the population on the market
– Tuesday September 20 in Tours: press meeting
– Tuesday, September 20 in Loches: meeting / debate with Edith BOULANGER around issues of Peace and Climate (exhibition at the media library)
– Saturday September 24 in Tours: gathering from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. place Jean JAURES with distribution of leaflets to the population and discussions at the call of the collective of the marches for Peace

FRANCE, VALENCIENNES (59)

Rally. Mouvement de la Paix, Valenciennes Committee – Wednesday, September 21 – 6:30 p.m., Place d’Armes – Valenciennes, As part of the UN International Day of Peace, at the call of the Collective of Marches for Peace.

FRANCE, VÉNISSIEUX (69)

For the International Day of Peace, The Vénissieux committee of the Mouvement de la Paix organizes September 21 on Wednesday afternoon
– Plantation of a Gingko Biloba, Amstrong district (Minguettes)
– Then screening of the documentary “the beginning of the end of nuclear weapons” at the Gérard Philipe cinema
– Debate and speech by the Mayor
– Friendly drink offered by the city.

FRANCE, VERDUN (55)

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the World Center for Peace in Verdun is organizing a rally on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 from 5:30 p.m. A member of the “World Union of Martyr Cities, Cities of Peace”, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, Verdun is one of the cities that have been deeply marked by war . Its landscape and its heritage still bear the traces. The World Center for Peace, Freedoms and Human Rights plays a key role in remembrance work. The gathering of this September 21, 2022 will also be the opportunity to present a new module  within the exhibition  « Drôles de paix : 1945 à aujourd’hui ». 

FRANCE, VILLEJUIF CHILDREN (94)

On this day to celebrate peace, the children of the Villejuif Leisure Centers explain to us what the word “peace” means to them: Youtube video

FRANCE, VILLEJUIF RALLY (94)

September 21, 2022 in Villejuif (94): Celebration of the International Day of Peace
– in the morning presence at the market of the Villejuif Committee of the Peace Movement, distribution of leaflets calling for the gathering
– 10:30-10:45 a.m.: march for peace
. . .
– 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.: Cooperation games at Pablo Neruda Park
Creation of a giant fresco: the children will answer the questions “in one word or in one sentence, what is peace? what is well-being? “. their answer will follow the curves of a drawing forming the dove of Peace:
– 6 p.m.: gathering around the olive tree of peace in front of the town hall, speeches by the municipality and pacifists, then inauguration of the “Cartooning for peace” exhibition at the media library.

FRANCE, VITRY SUR SEINE (94)

Evening of Friendship on September 21, 2022, Salle Makarenko, rue Grétillat in Vitry sur Seine. Exchanges Buffet, Music on the occasion of the International Day of Peace and the 60th anniversary of Algeria’s independence in partnership with the Association Ensemble pour l’avenir.

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Question related to this article:

What has happened this year (2022) for the International Day of Peace?

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GERMANY, BERLIN, ALPAKA CLAN

Berlin Alpakaclan Techno Truck World Peace Day demonstration, 17 and 18 September.

GERMANY, BERLIN ARAB COMMUNITY

The Arab-German Cener for Dialogue “Wasla” organized an artistic evening to celebrate the International Day of Peace.

GERMANY, BERLIN, INTERNATIONAL PEACE BUREAU

Event on the occasion of the UN World Peace Day at the World Peace Bell in the Volkspark Friedrichshain. Reiner Braun, Executive Director of the International Peace Bureau, will speak at the event at 16h10

GERMANY, BERLIN SPANDAU DISTRICT

On the occasion of the “International Day of Peace” of the United Nations, the district office invites you to a peace festival on Wednesday, September 21, in the town hall of the town hall, Carl-Schurz-Straße 2-6. The event is aimed at people who are interested in peace in groups, clubs, projects, associations and initiatives.

GERMANY, BERNBURG

International Day of Peace. The planting of trees is actually not a big deal and therefore takes place again and again − organized by a wide variety of stakeholders. But on Wednesday morning everything was a little different in the area in front of the town hall in the town park “Alte Bibel” in Bernburg: Kathrin Schröder from Dessau had invited to a planting ceremony. This “heart project” could be implemented thanks to the support of the Peace Tree Foundation and the federal program “Live Democracy!”.

GERMANY, BONN

“Bombed” – a word that is unfortunately becoming more and more topical today. And a play of the same name by Sarah Kane, which will be performed on September 21st and 22nd at the Euro Theater Central, on the occasion of the International Day ofPeace on September 21st.

GERMANY, DINSLAKEN

On the International Day of Peace on September 21, an event will take place in front of the town hall in Dinslaken. It will start there at 3 p.m. At this event, all painted doves will be collected and exhibited before being distributed in the Dinslaken city area. The doves were prepared by students in workshops with topics of peace, intercultural training and games.

GERMANY, LOWER SAXONY

In a campaign period between September 21st, the International Day of Peace, and the beginning of the autumn holidays on October 14th, all schools in Lower Saxony are called upon, under the motto “Lower Saxony’s schools. Klar für Frieden” to carry out campaigns and projects. Against the background of the war in Ukraine, but also in a broader context, these can address the question of what peace means – for us here in Germany and for people and societies around the world. Whether and how they shape this project is up to the school’s own responsibility and freedom of design. . . . Impressions of the actions in the form of a short report, a photo, a video clip, etc., can be sent to the function mailbox klarfuerfrieden@nibis.de and will be presented here.

GERMANY, LUNEBURG

The war against Ukraine is still raging, and numerous Ukrainian women are still fleeing to Germany, among other places. Two Lüneburg schools started an action on the international day of peace and called for peace in the schoolyard.

GERMANY, NUREMBERG

On Wednesday evening, a demonstration against the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine took place on Human Rights Street in Nuremberg. The reason for this was the International Day of Peace, which was celebrated worldwide yesterday. The organizer of the protest was the “Alliance for a Free Democratic Russia – Nuremberg”. Around 90 people took part in the demonstration.

GERMANY, ROSTOCK

September 21 is the International Day of Peace around the world. On this occasion, the Hanseatic and university city of Rostock invites you to a commemoration on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 at 12 p.m. under the linden tree of peace on Jakobikirchplatz. After a welcome by Andreas Tesche, 1st Deputy President of the City Parliament, young musicians from the Young Academy Rostock (YARO) present classical works by Johann Sebastian Bach on viola and cello as well as flute pieces by Sigfrid Karg-Elert and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach and send a musical greeting to the city.

GERMANY, VLOTHO

On the International Day of Peace, Mayor Rocco Wilken, Ralf Tschechne (Head of Social Affairs & Education/Culture) and Tatjana Bakumovski (Integration Office of the City of Vlotho) hoisted the flag of the global alliance “Mayors for Peace” (Mayors for Peace). . More than 8,170 cities belong to the network, including 830 cities in Germany.

GIBRALTAR

At Loreto Convent School The United Nations International Day of Peace is celebrated with the wider community. Our aim is to inspire everyone to think creatively and collectively on how to strengthen the ideals of peace. Pupils in Year 6 have worked hard to prepare a Peace Service to mark the occasion. Representatives from different faiths in our community came to share with our pupils in verse, dance, song and prayer. The service took place in our Palm Tree playground where our Peace Pole; a symbol of the oneness of humanity and our common wish for a world of Peace- takes a prominent position.

IRELAND, TIPPERARY

Remember that a safe and peaceful society is one of our most precious possessions, said Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment, Leo Vardakar, in a message read at a Ceremony of Reflection in St Mary’s Church, Tipperary, on International Peace Day, September 21. . . . The event in Tipperary brought diplomats, representatives of Church and State, representatives of An Garda Síochána, the local authority and local and national bodies and organisations. The ceremony was interspersed with music and song from Cahir to Sing choir, from Aoife O’Farrell of Rockwell Music Academy and from singer/songwriter Nick McCarthy. There was poetry and readings from Dr Mary Honan, Deirdre Devally, Eddie McGrath and Kuldeep Joshi. The Clare-based poet and writer, Deirdre Devally, performed one of her own compositions No Free War and also recited one of her poems She Stood Her Ground at the ceremony and she also laid a wreath at the grave of Irish poet, Ellen O’Leary, who is interred in the adjoining cemetery.

ITALY, NATIONAL POST OFFICE

Poste Italiane dedicates to International Day of Peace , which is celebrated on 21 September of each year, a colorful postcard themed, a must for all fans and collectors of the sector. In Molise , the postcard is already available in the post offices with a philatelic counter in Campobasso Centro (via Pietrunto), Termoli (corso Mario Milano) and Isernia Centro (via XXIV Maggio). In addition, from Monday 19th to Saturday 24th September , there will also be a special cancellation dedicated to the anniversary . The postcard is also available online at the post office website, in all the post offices with philatelic counters in the national territory and in the Spazio Filatelia in Rome, Milan, Genoa, Turin, Trieste, Venice, Verona, Florence and Naples.

ITALY, NATIONAL PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS FOR PEACE WITH CARE

International Day of Peace: today a network of organizations and local authorities is launching a national program of civic education and care for the younger generations in numerous Italian schools called “For peace with care”. It is an innovative teaching tool, specially designed so that young and very young people can release their positive energies and their intelligences. This is to encourage the formation of aware, capable and responsible citizens. The program “For peace with care” 2022-2023 is promoted by the National Network of Schools for Peace, National Coordination of Local Authorities for Peace and Human Rights, Peace Table, “Antonio Papisca” Human Rights Center. And, again, Unesco Chair “Human Rights, Democracy and Peace” of the University of Padua, Eis- Higher Education School “Educating to encounter and solidarity”Of the Lumsa of Rome.

ITALY, AREZZO

Simone Cristicchi will be the protagonist on the stage of the Petrarca Theater, on 21 September , of the evening event with which Arezzo celebrates the International Day for Peace promoted by the United Nations. From 9.15 pm the music of Cristicchi and the testimonies of the children of Rondine will alternate to let the dove of Peace fly from Tuscany.

ITALY, ASSISI TO PERUGIA PEACE MARCH

Six months of war and no serious diplomatic peace initiative. The Promoting Committee of the Perugia Assisi Peace March launches an appeal for a grassroots mobilization to be carried out on the next International Day of Peace which is celebrated on 21 September . “If governments do not take the initiative, aware and responsible citizens must do so. Today, August 24, is six months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. Six months of killings, murders, infanticides, femicides, wounded, mutilated, displaced persons, refugees, suffering, despair, destruction, rubble ».

ITALY, ASTI

 In a world tormented by dozens of conflicts that have continued for years in global indifference and more than six months after the beginning of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, the coordinators of the PerugiAssisi Peace March and the Peace Table, have called for this date a national mobilization. . . . The Asti Welcoming Network , continuing its commitment to peace that has already seen it organize various initiatives and principals in recent years and in particular since the beginning of the Russian invasion in Ukraine, has joined the appeal and invites all citizens to participate in the Presidium for Peace to be held in Piazza San Secondo on Wednesday at 6 pm (the international Day of Peace).

ITALY, BEDONO

The Montessori school La Casa di Irma di Bedano celebrated the UN International Day of Peace with a unique exhibition created with the technique freely inspired by the Caviardage method. The technique involves the creation of a poem starting from an existing text (‘Education and Peace’ by Maria Montessori) from which each child has extrapolated the most significant words for him, illustrating it with different artistic expressions. The more than one hundred students of the Institute, divided between kindergarten, elementary and middle school, together with teachers and parents gave life to an unforgettable afternoon on Peace, a very important theme in Montessori philosophy and never so current.

ITALY, BOLOGNA

6th INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE – “The World I Want” 
– 21/09 6.00 pm Peace Garden of Porta Cento
– 21/09 SOCIAL CENTER “LUIGEN” aperitif of peace and fried gnocchini
– 22/09 at 21.00 tombola della Pace
– 23/09 at 18.00 MAGI ‘900 MUSEUM: The man of peace
– 24/09 PINACOTECA“ G. CAMPANINI “THE SCHOOLS: exhibition of the works dedicated to peace carried out by the children / young people of kindergartens and primary schools 
– 25/09 CHIESA Ss. TRINITA guided tours to remember the Peace Day by the volunteers of the FAI GROUP of Pieve di Cento

ITALY, BOVILLE ERNICA

State Comprehensive Institute Boville Ernica. We inaugurate the new school year by organizing, on 21 September, the International Day of Peace promoted by the UN.

ITALY, FIRENZE

The International Day of Peace 2022 , which falls on Wednesday 21 September, is celebrated as part of the “Festival of the Florentine Cultural Associations”, with a double event in the name of Father Ernesto Balducci as a messenger of peace on the centenary of his birth and spread throughout the territory of the universal values of UNESCO.

ITALY, GALLIERA VENETA

Galliera Veneta: AN OLIVE TREE FOR PEACE – Wednesday 21.09.2022 – Olive tree planting ceremony on the occasion of the International Day of PEACE.

ITALY, MILANO

Wednesday 21 September 2022 at 8.45 pm, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, the Sala Puccini of the Milan Conservatory will host ” 21settembre2022 hall program “, a musical event organized by our Area Members Committees of Baggio, Corsico, Zoia, Quinto Romano Settimo , Bareggio, Rho, Palmanova, Piazzale Lodi, Rogoredo, Arona and Bonola, in collaboration with the  Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Milan  and  Musical Evenings .

ITALY, PINEROLO

The conference on the International Day of Peace, a meeting scheduled for the ExtraOrdinario Festival 2022 , will be held on Wednesday 21 September at 5:00 pm in the hall of the Social Club of Pinerolo . The Piedmont-Valle d’Aosta section of Amnesty International, the Opificio 121 association and the Mosaico Refugees participate in the event organized by the City of Pinerolo and Controtempo Theater, the organizing company of the ExtraOrdinario Festival . Danilo Franti of Controtempo Theater presented the motivations and contents of the Pinerolese conference on Peace open to everyone and everyone live at Café Bleu .

ITALY, PISA DISCUSSION

Discussion for the International Day of Peace. Close down the war, construct the peace. 21 September, 21:15, Parco del Cappuccini Acii Persone Comunità, Pisa. Sponsors: Peace and cooperation table, ANPI provincial committee Pisa, ACLI provincial Pisa, ARCI committee of Pisa, ARCI valdera, CGIL Pisa, CISL pisa, UIL Pisa

ITALY, PISA, SCHOOL

Classes 1 A and 2 A of the Nicola Pisano plexus celebrated the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE wearing the rosette of PEACE created in the classroom.

ITALY, REBIBBIA

Lazio Women was the protagonist today of the event ” Let’s take the field for peace” , organized in Rebibbia, mainly in the Women’s Prison . The initiative was held on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, and saw mixed teams between Biancocelesti and 324 inmates play in a tournament, who wore the ills of Athletic Rights. The event ended with the participation of some artists and singers. Dr. Mezzaroma , wife of the President of Lazio Lotito , experienced the day as follows:“We lived a day in the name of sharing, sport and reflection on some issues that are too often forgotten. Lazio intends not to leave this event a dead letter, but to commit itself, together with the institutions that are represented today by the director, Alessia Rampazzi, and by the commander of the Institute, Dario Pulsinelli, in carrying out other projects. Everyone is obliged to grant a second chance ” . These are the words of the Lazio Women captain Castiello : “We wanted to give a morning of happiness to all the people present here, this is what counts for us, a different way to train the sporting spirit”.

ITALY, ROME, COLOSSEUM

Peace Run, the longest running relay for peace, the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Italia Association and the I Colori per la Pace / Colors for Peace Association will respond today at 6pm to the United Nations appeal , celebrating the International Day of Peace with the “Colors of Peace” initiative to be held in the context of the Colosseum Archaeological Park, a symbolic place for years for appeals for peace and environmental sustainability. . . . For the occasion, 1000 drawings inspired by the theme of peace, made by students from over 130 nations, will be exhibited in Piazza del Colosseo and on the Via Sacra. . . .  After lighting, the torch of Peace will pass to torchbearers of various nationalities ready to travel the Italian section of the Peace Run which will end on September 27 in Florence. The artistic program of the evening will see the intervention of the boys of the “Europa inCanto” choir, already winners of the European Creative Europe program, who will sing the Italian anthem first and then the Puccini romanza “Nessun Dorma”. Mezzosoprano Valentina Volpe Andreazza will subsequently perform Beethoven’s “Hymn to Joy” to conclude the ceremony with Maestro Nicola Piovani’s “Beautiful That Way”. 

ITALY, ROME, VILLA FARNESIA

The Villa Farnesina Art Museum celebrates the International Day of Peace with the launch of the new video “La Trregua”, as part of the RightsLab project in collaboration with Iulm University of Milan. In the short, the two protagonists and the abandoned space of a factory evoke war scenarios, where the ruins symbolize our condition of provisionality. The images convey the idea of how remote is the possibility of the truce itself, of the interruption of conflicts and of the dream of peace. Rights Lab is a series dedicated to human rights and fundamental freedoms created by IULMovieLAB, by IULM students of the second year of the Master’s Degree in Television, Cinema and New Media; the artistic supervision is by Giuseppe Carrieri. Video on the Italian Vimeo channel

ITALY, VETRALLA

MINISTRY OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION AND RESEARCH, REGIONAL SCHOOL OFFICE FOR LAZIO, COMPREHENSIVE INSTITUTE “A. SCRIATTOLI . Our Institute, on Wednesday 21 September 2022, will promote educational, training and information for the dissemination of the culture of PEACE, particularly significant interventions in this moment of crisis and uncertainty. Therefore all teachers are invited to carry out interventions aimed at spreading the culture of PEACE, through reflections, reading dedicated passages, etc.

LUXEMBOURG, COLLEGE FRANÇAIS

On the International Day of Peace, the students in the Fifth and Sixth Grades of the College français elaborated cartoons of imaginary human figures in order to promote peace and to combat racism.

MONACO, NATIONAL COUNCIL

As part of the celebration of the UN International Day of Peace, the National Council of Monaco welcomed several Champions for Peace, in particular Venuste Niyongabo, Olympic champion in the 5000m, and Fiorina Berezovsky, chess champion, to discuss peace and sports with youth representatives. . . . In the presence of Stéphane Valeri, President of the National Council, Joël Bouzou, President/Founder of Peace and Sport and Marine Grisoul, President of the Commission, Education, Youth and Sports, the Champions for Peace announced the various actions carried out by the association, recalling the determining role of sport for peace. . . . In Burkina Faso, Togo, Colombia, India, Mali, Morocco, Burundi and Rwanda, peace through sport is taught through our “Peacemakers Project”. Since May 2021, thousands of children have benefited from ready-to-use peace-through-sport sessions, delivered by hundreds of peace educators trained by Peace and Sport. Currently, representatives of Peace and Sport are also present in Colombia, on the occasion of the 13th edition of the Friendship Games, which will take place from September 23 to 25.

NORTHERN IRELAND, MAGHERAFELT

St Brigid’s Primary School, Magherafelt. Today marked the 20th Anniversary of the UN initiative ‘International Day of Peace.’ To celebrate this special day Primary 7 discussed how best to have peace in a world where there is inequality, injustice and war. We want to take a stand against racism and we want to treat everyone fairly to make this world a better place. Take a look at some of our recipe’s for Peace and perhaps take some time this evening to pray as a family for Peace in our World. 

NORWAY, OSLO

Morning Beat // World Peace Day Special
Where: Oslo Street Food
When: Wednesday, 21/09/2022, 07:00-10:00
Morning Beat is a sustainable cultural project, where degradable glitter, live DJs and various art/music elements are united in dance and end with a vigorous yoga class!

PORTUGAL, ALCABIDECHE

Escola Basica, Ibn Mucana. To commemorate the International Day of Peace and Gratitude on September 21, 9th D students participated in the LivingPeace initiative. The idea was to build origami doves and, in the ICT discipline, they created logos using different digital tools. These doves will be sent by post to a school in Poland, which has also done the same activity.

PORTUGAL, ALGARVE

“For an environment of Peace” is the title of the exhibition that will open on September 15, at 5:30 pm at the António Rosa Mendes Library, on the Gambelas Campus. This is an initiative integrated in the celebrations of the International Day of Peace which is marked on 21 September. The exhibition is free to enter and will be open until the 30th of September.

PORTUGAL, AMADORA

Agrupamento de Escolas Cardoso Lopes. The 1st students marked the International Day of Peace by reading and illustrating the work “The Book of Peace” by Todd Parr. With the illustrations, they built a beautiful panel that was embellished with a painting of the peace symbol. The symbol was also used to create necklaces that “spread” peace throughout the community! To end this day in beauty, the students were presented with a white dove, offered by the students of the 4ºC. 

PORTUGAL, FARO

“For an environment of Peace” is the title of the exhibition that will open on September 15, at 5:30 pm at the António Rosa Mendes Library, on the Gambelas Campus. This is an initiative integrated in the celebrations of the International Day of Peace which is marked on 21 September. The exhibition is free to enter and will be open until the 30th of September.

PORTUGAL, GUIMARÃES

The João de Meira School Group marks this Wednesday the International Day of Peace dressed in White. Under the motto “End Racism. Build Peace», that student community made clear a “no to racism”, in a demonstration in which it intended to show that it is united for peace. Youtube video of their demonstration.

PORTUGAL, IDANHA-A-NOVA

The 21st of September was the World Day of Peace. At Escola EB1 da Zebreira, the educational community came together to mark this day. Students and teachers gathered in the School Library, where visualized a story alluding to the theme and made a bracelet “Peace Bracelet”. At the end of the activity, the children formed a circle. depicting a symbol of union for PEACE.

PORTUGAL, LISBOA

Católica celebrates International Day of Peace with SACRU. “Fostering peace while tackling racism relies on an inclusive policy approach”. This is what Ana Evans, professor at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP), states in the article written within the scope of the International Day of Peace, in collaboration with the Strategic Alliance of Catholic Research Universities (SACRU). Under the theme “There is no harmony in racism”, the alliance of Catholic research universities, of which UCP is a founding member, gathered the opinions of various specialists to mark this date.

PORTUGAL, MIRANDA DO CORVO

The City Council of the Municipality of Miranda do Corvo will mark the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21, with the realization of several initiatives during this week. The city joined the Municipalities for Peace Movement on 05.03.2021, committing to the 10 Commitments for Peace. The Movement of Municipalities for Peace was created in 2016, as part of a joint initiative by the Municipality of Seixal and the Portuguese Council for Peace and Cooperation, with the founding municipalities defining a set of commitments for Peace. In the commitments assumed, it is recognized that Peace is essential to human life and a fundamental condition for progress, well-being, democracy, the freedom of peoples and a better world for humanity. 

PORTUGAL, PAREDES DE COURA 

Teachers and students of the second cycle of the Paredes de Coura School Group celebrated the International Day of Peace this Wednesday. For this purpose, a human logo was built on the school’s sports grounds. The symbol chosen was the one used in the late 1950s by a British peace movement during the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.

PORTUGAL, QUARTEIRA

The students of the EB 2.3 School in Quarteira celebrated this Wednesday, September 21, the International Day of Peace by spelling the word peace in a frame with their bodies. According to the organization, this was a «very interesting activity», with good feedback and that «involved the entire educational community».

PORTUGAL, SANTAREM

The 21st of September is celebrated annually as the International Day of Peace. The Escola Profissional do Vale do Tejo (EPVT) did not want to fail to mark this date . . . The date served as a motto for the 11th year students of the Multimedia Technical Professional course to carry out some work. Within the scope of the Integration Area subject and, with the support of the professor of the technical area of the course, the students developed visuals for social networks, with illustrations and images alluding to peace. 

PORTUGAL, SÃO JOÃO DA MADEIRA

More than 800 people, including students, assistants and teachers, joined the walk “united for peace”, promoted by the Agrupamento de Escolas Dr. Seraphim Leite.  The initiative began at the group’s headquarters school. . . . . The mayor was present at the concentration of students in the renovated Praça Luís Ribeiro, transforming that place into a giant “peace”. 

PORTUGAL, SILVES

The International Day of Peace (September 21) will be marked in Silves with a march, to be held in locations throughout the county.  The initiatives take place on the 21st and 22nd of September and between elements of the Senior Sports classes and pre-school students, the marches will «gather about two hundred participants dressed in white for Peace».

PORTUGAL, SOBRAL DE MONTE AGRAÇO

The 21st of September is the International Day of Peace and the Municipality of Sobral de Monte Agraço joined this symbolic date, with the raising of the flag of the Municipalities for Peace Movement in the Paços do Concelho building, with the presence of the Vice -Mayor Luís Soares and Councilor Carla Alves, who praised the importance of continuing efforts to pursue peace around the world. Also within the scope of this event, the children from the Kindergartens of the Basic Schools of Sapataria and Sobral de Monte Agraço enrolled in the Extension of Time Service, created a “Peace Mural”, based on the phrase “Living in Peace is…”. It should be remembered that the Municipality is part of the Movement of Municipalities for Peace and the Network of Educating Cities, and it is within this scope that this activity was promoted, promoting education for peace among children.

PORTUGAL, VIANA DE ALENTEJO

On the 21st, as part of the commemorations of the International Day of Peace, at 2:30 pm, the initiative “Conversas à volta da paz” will take place, in a joint organization of the Municipality of Viana, the UCC of Viana do Alentejo and Terras Dentro – CLDS4G. One of the highlights of this cultural week is the presentation of the Archaeological and Heritage Charter of the Municipality of Viana do Alentejo, by archaeologist Ulrico Galamba, at Paço dos Henriques, in Alcáçovas, at 18:30. The penultimate day of the event ends with a night walk for peace, with departure scheduled for Praça da República, in Viana do Alentejo, at 9:00 pm.

PORTUGAL, VILA VERDE

Santa Casa de Vila Verde celebrated Peace Day at the nursery with children from Ukraine.

ROMANIA, SLANIC PRAHOVA

Video of celebration of International Day of Peace

SLOVENIA, CERJE

Slovenia marked International Day of Peace with a ceremony at the Cerje Peace Memorial today. This year the rally honored the late writer Boris Pahor and the 95th anniversary of the patriotic anti-fascist organization TIGR, which was set up in the 1920s to fight the Fascists in the western region of Primorska. This year’s keynote speaker was French Slovenian philosopher, photographer and activist Evgen Bavčar who in his keynote address said that he wished that Slovenia would remain an oasis of peace just like Pahor envisioned it. The ceremony was held in Cerje, around 10 kilometres south of Nova Gorica, which is known for a watchtower-like memorial to the defenders of Slovenian territory, that was completed in 2011 at the initiative of TIGR.

SPAIN, ALICANTE

September 21 is the International Day of Peace. Casa Mediterráneo joins this commemoration with a classical music concert by a young symphony orchestra made up of a selection of young students from the different higher music conservatories of the Valencian Community and directed by Pascual Cabanes, expressly configured for this event. The concert, made up of a popular, entertaining and varied repertoire, has the collaboration of the High Performance Music School (ESMAR), the Consolat de Mar music store in Benaguasil and the Llíria Town Hall. The performance will take place on Wednesday, September 21 at 8:00 p.m. at Casa Mediterráneo, open to the public until full capacity is reached and broadcast online at a YouTube link.

SPAIN, ANDUJAR

Motivated by the International Day of Peace, the art world of the area, and by extension the Andalusian, made a plea last Wednesday night for a more just and humanitarian world in the city, just now that we live in times of anxiety and instability. The old church of Santa Marina hosted the I Anduxar Cultural Act for Peace, with the motto ‘Put an end to racism. Build peace’. A cast of musicians, poets, painters and photographers joined their efforts to promote the creation of bridges of understanding, friendship and universal fraternization between towns and their people. This event was organized by the Anduxar cultural association and the ITIMAD Literary Artistic Association of Seville participated. The Royal International Academy of Art and Literature and the departments of Tourism and Culture of the Andújar City Council also collaborated in this initiative. . . . The president of Anduxar, Juan José González, indicated that 25 pictorial and photographic works were presented, with their corresponding texts that were read by their authors.  . . . This event was well attended by the public. 

SPAIN, BARCELONA, GRESOL SCHOOL

This Wednesday, September 21, is the International Day of Peace and at Gresol we are celebrating the week of peace with many activities for students. We have created different workshops related to doves and pinwheels. The Dove is a symbol of peace and the pinwheel is a symbol of childhood, of things that blow in the wind… that flow… they remind us of a time when things were simple, happy and peaceful. To celebrate the week of peace, all the students have come to the schoolyard to create a giant peace symbol. This is visible from the air and reminds us how important it is to end wars and violence, and to live happily, safely and in peace with the whole community. In addition to these amazing activities, students are learning songs, having discussions, and giving presentations on what peace is and how it is achieved. They are exploring peace on all its different levels: peace with themselves, peace with their classmates, peace in their communities, world peace…

SPAIN, BARCELONA, ICIP

On Wednesday 21 September, coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of Peace, the International Catalan Institute for Peace presented the ICIP Peace in Progress Award 2022 to the Basque associative network in favor of peace. . . . These award-winning initiatives include several organizations that have played a key role in advancing towards resolution of the conflict, such as the Permanent Social Forum, the now-dissolved Coordinadora Gesto por la Paz and Elkarri/Lokarri. Also included are organizations that work for peace education and the promotion of coexistence and human rights, through the Forum of Associations for Peace and Human Rights Education, where Gernika Gogoratuz, Baketik and Bakeola play an important role. The award also recognizes the Gernika Peace Museum Foundation, Foro Ciudadano Donostia, UNESCO Etxea, the Fernando Buesa , Emagune, the Ahotsak women’s network, Eskubidez, the experiences of dialogues with victims such as Encuentros Ciudadanos-Memoria Lab, the Encuentros Restaurativos between ETA prisoners and victims, and the BatzART! initiative.

SPAIN, BARCELONA, SAGRADA FAMILIA

On  September 21, International Day of Peace, and also coinciding with the celebration of Sunday September 25, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, the Delegation of Social Pastoral calls for a liturgical celebration and, immediately afterwards, a concert for the peace. The liturgical celebration will take place inside the Basilica at 7:00 p.m. and will be presided over by Monsignor Javier Vilanova, auxiliary bishop of Barcelona. At the end, there will be a concert for peace by various choirs, made up of both Ukrainian refugees and Ukrainians from the Ukrainian Catholic community of Barcelona.

SPAIN, BELMONTE DE MIRANDA

Next Wednesday, September 21, the children of Belmonte de Miranda will enjoy the fun storytelling “Womagis escapes from the book” . Designed for ages four and up, this storytelling will also be a creative workshop on cultural diversity, through which the International Day of Peace will be celebrated . This unique event, which will take place in the company of Mar Rojo, will be held at the town’s Sociocultural Center, starting at five in the afternoon.

SPAIN, BURJASSOT

On September 21, the International Day of Peace, the Burjassot Municipal Libraries team has scheduled a new free activity of reading animation on the same day 21 at 6:00 p.m. in the Children’s Library .  . . The activity will begin with a reading aloud session of the books “Different but equal” and “Carla. We are all different”, thus focusing on the theme this year, “End racism. Build peace.” Once this first part is over, values such as respect for life, ways of thinking, different cultures… Each and every participant will be able to give their opinion and, together, each of the impressions will be shared. To end the animation, with reflection also on SDG 16, an artistic origami workshop will be held .

SPAIN, CANTABRIA

Entreculturas, which is a member of the Cantabrian Coordinator of NGDOs, has launched a didactic unit with material to teach in classrooms about the values of peace and coexistence. The launch is made on the occasion of  the International Day of Peace  2022, which was celebrated on September 21. Under the title of ‘A world in peace’ , the guide includes a compilation of didactic units to work on the culture of peace and develop knowledge, values and social and civic competences that allow the people who work on them to actively commit to  coexistence , conflict resolution and the creation of a culture of  peace in their environments and globally.

SPAIN, IRUN

On the occasion of the celebration of the International Day of Peace, which is commemorated next Wednesday, September 21, several initiatives organized by the Values and Human Rights area of the Irun City Council will be carried out in Irun.

September 21:
– 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: BALIOEN LORATZEA: II Forum meeting between young and old people
– 5:00 p.m.-7:30 p.m.: USOA-PALOA: Completing the figure of peace with drawings
September 22:

- 7:00 p.m.: CINEMA: “The Breadwiner” (2017) animated film

SPAIN, LUGO

For the International Day of Peace, in UNED Lugo on September 21 at 12:00 a debate forum will be held with the title “Dialoguing for Peace: Meetings with the university community” with the participation of UNED, Diaconia, ACNUR, ACCEM, Caritas , Misevi Spain and refugees and natives of Lugo.

SPAIN, MADRID, ADASEC

ADASEC – Asociación de Ayuda Social Ecologica y Cultural de España. Commemorative activity of the International Day of Peace. ONLINE event. Free admission

SPAIN, MADRID, BASILICA

The Basilica of San Francisco el Grande (San Buenaventura, 1) will host the Music for Three Souls concert on Friday, September 16, at 8:15 p.m. Convened on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, which is commemorated on September 21, it will be offered by JOIRE, the Young Spanish Interreligious Ensemble, made up of professional Spanish musicians and singers representing the three Abrahamic monotheistic religions.

SPAIN, MATARO

The City Council of Mataró (Maresme) will commemorate the legacy of Nelson Mandela for the International Day of Peace , which will be celebrated on September 21. To highlight his figure and the values ​​of peace and social cohesion for which he fought, the consistory will organize, in collaboration with the Barcelona Provincial Council, a talk that will end with a music show. The Nave Gaudí is the place where this central event will be held, which will be called “ The legacy of Nelson Mandela ”. The conference will be given by the president of the Euro-Africa Center, Divaika Kiemba Come, and the ambassador of the Republic of South Africa in Spain and Andorra, Sankie Mthembi-Mahanyele. The event, in which the councilor for Cooperation and Development, María José Pérez, and the mayor, David Bote, will participate, will end with the show “CabareTango”, the true black history of Tango! with poems about Mandela and music.

SPAIN, NAVARRA

The Federation of Choirs of Navarra -Nafarrroako Abestazen Elkartea continues to celebrate the International Week of Peace 2022 with the premiere this Wednesday on its social networks of the work ‘Zatoz’. . . an audiovisual work composed by Josu Elberdin, directed by Itziar Bueno Zamarbide and accompanying Rinaldo Zhok on piano with the participation of three female choirs such as the Tiebas Choir, the Tudela Joaquín Gaztambide Choir and the Elkhos Vocal Group. . . . “A work whose text speaks of unity, coexistence, and the use of the smile as an indestructible weapon”, sums up the director of the Tiebas Choir and preparer of ‘Zatoz’. Click here for the video.

SPAIN, TOLOSA

More than 140 choristers from four choirs from Colombia, Madrid and the Basque Country will sing this Saturday for Peace in Tolosa, as part of the celebration of the 20th UNESCO International Day of Peace in the town of Gipuzkoa. . . . The day will kick off with a round table to be held at the TOPIC, which will analyze the relationship between art, youth and peace. . . . Simultaneously, and thanks to the collaboration of UNIMA Euskal Herria, TOPIC will offer workshops in the morning to learn how to make paper puppets, aimed at children, and ‘Doves of Peace’ will be built, based on the work of Néstor Basterretxea, that will be used in the Cultural March for Peace in the afternoon, which will tour the streets of the Old Town of Tolosa starting at 4:30 p.m. The march will be led by a giant Basterretxea Peace Dove puppet, built by his son Jonan Basterretxea, and will also include the participation of institutional representatives, and the guest choirs will perform live on the street at various points along the route . The march will culminate in the Plaza Euskal Herria, where the Madrid Youth Choir and the Cecilia Espinosa Choir will perform. To finish, all the groups will sing together the work ‘Zatoz!’, composed by Josu Elberdin for the occasion and which will premiere that same day.

SWITZERLAND, GENEVA

The 10th edition of the PeaceTalks will take place on the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2022, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. Organized in a hybrid way, it will welcome both face-to-face and online participants. “What does peace mean to you?”, the theme of the very first Geneva PeaceTalks will be revisited by the speakers this year to mark this 10th edition. In parallel, the one chosen by the UN for the International Day of Peace, “End racism. Building peace”, will be the watermark of the event. . . Each Geneva PeaceTalks speaker will share their own perspective on peace. She or he will share their experiences and insights to inspire individuals to think about the meaning of peace and spark a discussion about how each and every one of us can contribute to a world we can be proud of.

UNITED KINGDOM, ANDOVER

A community group based in Andover is planning to lead children and young people in a procession in Harmony Woods as part of UN’s International Day of Peace. Andover Trees United will hold the event from 9.45am to 11.30am on Wednesday, September 21. This is an event that Andover Trees United has celebrated alongside education programme ‘Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots’ every year since 2018.

UNITED KINGDOM, BRADFORD

Community leaders across Bradford have come together to mark International Day of Peace.  The Global Peace event took place on 21st September at Tong Park Hotel in Bradford and was organised by Georgi Majid who is the President of the Global Peace Journey.  The day is devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples. 

UNITED KINGDOM, GUERNSEY

International Day of Peace Concert on Wednesday 21st September at 7:00pm in St Joseph’s Church. Featuring the Festiva Choir and Les Encores Children. Followed by refreshments and Guernsey Gache! Join us for this truly ecumenical evening of song, scripture, and worship.

UNITED KINGDOM, ISLE OF MAN

A group of Ukrainian children have joined a choir of 300 school pupils on the Isle of Man for World Peace Day. Pupils from 16 primary schools gathered at Tynwald Hill to celebrate the United Nations’ International Day of Peace. The choir sang a number of songs, including The Beatles’ All You Need Is Love, John Lennon’s Imagine and Padjey Colum Killey, which translates from Manx as St Columba’s Prayer. Almost 100 Ukrainians have applied to relocate to the island since March. . . . Among the pupils performing were also children from the Bunscoill Ghaelgagh, the only school in the island where children have lessons solely in Manx.

In addition to the events listed above, there were 6 new events in Europe to celebrate the International Day of Pea:re not listed last year:

Czech Republic: Brno
Germany: Nordrhein-Westfalen
Italy: Rome
Poland: Katowice slask
Portugal: Lisbon
Slovakia: Dolny Kubin

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