Category Archives: Latin America

Latin America and the Caribbean: International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

A survey by CPNN

The following 52 events in 12 Latin American countries include those listed in Google during the weeks of September 17-28 this year under the key words “International day of peace”, “Dia Internacional da Paz” and “Día Internacional de la Paz” The events also includes some listed on the facebook page of the International Cities of Peace.

About 48 events are listed in One Day One Choir and Montessori schools singing for peace, but there is no indication which events took place this year and which took place only in previous years.


Brazil, the Satsung Spring Ball, September 21

ARGENTINA, FORMOSA

The Directorate for Alternative Conflict Resolution is organizing a talk open to the general public on dialogue and good interpersonal relations, which will take place on the 21st of this month at 6:00 p.m., in the Judicial School room, on the sixth floor of the Court building, 641 San Martín street in the city of Formosa. The activity is part of the International Day of Peace that is commemorated on September 21 of each year. In the cities of Clorinda and El Colorado and with different speakers, the same talk will be replicated on the same day at the same time. . . The director of the area of Alternative Conflict Resolution, María Irma González, said that the unit under her charge intends to celebrate the Day of Peace with various inclusive activities, which will be aimed at the community in general, in order to promote dialogue, listening, empathy, and non-violence.. . . The activities will consist of making a drawing or a phrase that represents peace, which will be to design almanacs for the year 2023, which will be distributed in the different offices of the Judicial Power of the province, concluding with a release of white balloons, as a representation of peace.

ARGENTINA, JUJUY

City councilors participated in the act in commemoration of the International Day of Peace, an opportunity in which they delivered diplomas and exhibited a bell-shaped model, as a symbol of Peace, to different educational institutions in the city.

ARGENTINA, MALARGUE

Meeting of Sculptors for the International Day of Peace. From the Rotary Club Malargüe, every year they carry out activities in the department, for the International Day of Peace,

ARGENTINA, OLIVOS

Celebration of the International Day of Peace. Campaign for one million hearts and smiles for peace. Come make and exchange your origami heart to announce peace. 21 September, 10:30, 2502 Maipu Avenue, Olivos.

ARGENTINA, POSADAS

In commemoration of September 21, which is the International Day of Peace, promoted by the United Nations General Assembly in order to promote the ideals of peace in all nations and peoples of the world, the Government Secretariat of the Municipality of Posadas presents the third meeting “Posadas Dialogues for Peace” to be held in the “Tierra Sin Mal” Auditorium of the Villa Cultural La Estación . . . This event is possible thanks to the articulated work of the areas of the General Directorate of Human Rights and the General Directorate of Participatory Methods for Conflict Resolution and Citizen Strengthening, which propose a celebration of the month of Peace with a discussion that addresses the issue from different looks and looks.

ARGENTINA, RIO GRANDE

At least 30 runners will star this Sunday 18 (concentration, 8:45; start, 9:30) the 12th 5K Provincial Championship (10th International Day of Peace Run), organized by the End of the World Athletic Group (AAFM ) and the Rotary Club Isla Grande (RCIG).

ARGENTINA, USHUAIA

The activities will be first of all on September 17 at Casa Beban starting at 5:00 p.m., where the southern peace movement, the Sembrando Cultura foundation and the Municipality will promote the Peace Day “Build your own crane”, inviting neighbors to make a paper crane, a millennial symbol of happiness and part of the Children’s Peace Monument that represents Sadako Sasaki, a victim of the Hiroshima bomb. Already on September 21, at 11:00 a.m. the event will be held in the framework of the International Day of Peace and the 10th Anniversary of the Plaza Campana de la Paz, the Austral Peace movement, the Mil Milenios de Paz Foundation , the Cooperativa Sembrando Cultura and the Ministry of Culture and Education will carry out an activity in commemoration of the date.

BOLIVIA, EL ALTO

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace, Fundación CONSTRUIR participated on Thursday, September 22, 2022 in the “XIII Fair for the International Day of Peace, at an end to discrimination. Build Peace”  organized by different institutions such as SEPAMOS, CEBIAE, OMAK, CHASKI, among others. The event took place in the city of El Alto, in the vicinity of the Red cable car in the 16 de Julio area.

BRAZIL, ARANGUA

This Wednesday’s rain did not disturb the celebrations of the International Day of Peace promoted by the Casa da Fraternity together with different religious segments and society in Ararangua. The night was exciting and the atmosphere of harmony and peace between the leaders who participated was beautiful!

BRAZIL, BELEM

On the 24th of September , the League of Combatants together with the ADFA (Association of the Disabled of the Armed Forces) will hold the “ March for Peace 2022 ”, within the scope of the International Day of Peace. The March will begin at the entrance of the Museu do Combatente/Forte do Bom Sucesso, in Belém, and the route will be as usual along Avenida Brasília to the Museum of Electricity/MAAT and back, arriving at the same place next to the entrance. from the Combatant Museum/Forte do Bom Sucesso.

BRAZIL, BELO HORIZONTE

To celebrate the date and its meaning, DIÁRIO DO COMÉRCIO and Brahma Kumaris hold, on September 25 , the Walk for Peace .The event is free and open to the public, departing at 8 am from Marco Zero, in Lagoa da Pampulha , heading to the Ecological Park.The route of about 2 kilometers will be an opportunity to reflect on peace, exercise and have fun with playful surprises along the way.At the end, in the midst of nature, there will be a special closing moment with group meditation and musical presentation by the handpan player Thiago Peixoto .

BRAZIL, CAMPINAS

I MARCHA DA PEACE, JOY AND ART 2022″ , on the 25th of September 2022, also motivated by the celebration of the INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE.

BRAZIL, CURITIBA

A special invitation from Brazil for peace and the planet. Paulo Barddal, International Cities of Peace, Curitiba, Brazil, Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace

BRAZIL, FLORIANAPOLIS, SANTA CATARINA

Alesc receives seminar “Best Practices for a Culture of Peace”. Assembleia Legislativa de Santa Catarina. To celebrate the International Day of Peace, the Legislative Assembly hosted this Wednesday (21) a seminar on good practices for a culture of peace.

BRAZIL, GUAIBA

On the International Day of Peace, this Wednesday (21), students from the Gomes Jardim State Institute of Education formed a hug around the Farroupilha Cypress, a tree that is a symbol of Guaíba and a cultural heritage of the state. In the place where the Farroupilha Revolution began 187 years ago, students asked for more peace, unity, solidarity, positive energies for the city and the planet. The prayed Our Father for the 403 people who died as a result of the pandemic in Guaíba. On the way to the Historic Site, they distributed free hugs to traders and people on the streets and distributed messages and the dove of peace.

BRAZIL, GUARULHOS

In celebration of the International Day of Peace (September 21), the City of Guarulhos promotes the second edition of Guarulhos de Mãos Dadas pela Paz, in the main tent of Bosque Maia. The program begins with a Tai Ji Qi Gong class, a body practice that helps to strengthen breathing, which will be led by physical educator Manoel Eloildo Felix da Silva at 9:15 am. Then, at 9:45 am, there will be the Circular Dances for Peace workshop, a movement virtually created by Friedel Klokle-Eibl, a leading exponent of circular dances from the Netherlands, who invited practitioners from different countries to contribute, by holding hands in a circle, to dance for peace and for a world open to tolerance. To conclude, at 11:15 am, the construction of a human mandala will begin with the participants as a symbol of reciprocity and harmony, under the coordination of Renate Sewing de Paula, an artist from the city dedicated to the creation of mandalas. The work will be donated to one of the municipal health facilities as a decorative art and a symbol of peace.

BRAZIL, IGARASSU

Hands providing peace. Today, September 21, 2022, was one of the best experiences of my life in the construction of cultures of peace. I was invited to accompany the kids in a local school in an action for peace. The kids offered hearts, smiles and hugs to others who responded to the invitation with smiles and hugs. Peace is more than possible, it is real and it begins with each little act of the heart. Edmario Jobat, International Cities of Peace, Igarassu, Brazil, Universal Circle of Ambassadors of Peace, Living Peace International.

BRAZIL, JUAZEIRO

In order to reflect on the culture of peace, schools in the municipal education network of Juazeiro, held on the morning of this Tuesday (06), the traditional walk alluding to the International Day of Peace, celebrated in the month of September. The action is also part of the calendar of pedagogical activities of the municipality related to September 7, and receives full support from the City of Juazeiro, through the Secretary of Education and Youth (Seduc). In all, 10 municipal schools participated in the occasion, bringing together students, family members, managers, the school community and the local community.

BRAZIL, MARECHAL CÂNDIDO RONDON

Students and pedagogical team from Colégio Paulo Freire, in Marechal Cândido Rondon, carried out on the morning of this Wednesday (31 agosto) the Peace Walk, which is part of the Family at School project, carried out by the Association of Parents, Teachers and Employees ( APMF), and is sponsored by Itaipu Binacional. The purpose of the march was to promote reflection on the culture of peace. In addition, the students and the school administration delivered to the Rondonian Executive, represented by the deputy mayor Ilario Hofstaetter, a document with strategies to promote peace in the municipality. Among the measures presented to the deputy mayor is the implementation of the International Day of Peace in Marechal Rondo to generate awareness in the community about the culture of peace.

BRAZIL, PROCASA

More than 300 children, students, parents, education and health professionals took to the streets of the Procasa community, in Barreiros, this Wednesday morning (21) to ask for peace. The 7th Peace Walk is a promotion of the Municipal Basic School (EBM) Altino Corsino da Silva Flores, which invites other health and educational institutions nearby to join in this cause. . . . Each participating educational institution addressed the theme in the classroom and prepared elements to symbolize peace. EBM students Altino Corsino da Silva Flores carried paper hearts, EVA birds and smiling emojis. . . . Children from CEI Santos Dumont, on the other hand, produced mini flags with drawings and affectionate messages with white paper.

BRAZIL, SÃO JOSÉ DOS CAMPOS

The 2022 edition of the Spring Satsang, in São José dos Campos, will feature five days of celebration and experience in honor of the International Day of Peace and the beginning of the new season.  With experiences of circular dances, guided by João Paulo Pessoa and Guataçara Monteiro, the Spring Ball has as its theme the awakening of a new season. The main idea is to create a peaceful atmosphere that connects everyone who wants to participate with the essence of the Brazilian people’s culture of peace.

BRAZIL, VICENTINA

This Saturday (24), Parque Vicentina Aranha hosts the 10th edition of the Festival Te Ofereço A Paz, under the theme Reconnection. The program starts at 9 am and will take place in different areas of the Park, with more than 15 activities that encourage lightness and well-being through direct contact with people, methods, techniques and therapies that promote the search for peace on three levels. : with oneself, with the other and with nature. Conceived by psychologist Sonia Redi, the multidisciplinary festival takes place in celebration of the International Day of Peace (September 21), an initiative established by the United Nations. Among the programmed activities are yoga, reiki, quick massages, music, circular dance, lectures and experiences with bioenergetics, in addition to an exclusive space for children.

CHILE, CHIGUAYANTE

Concepcion Chiguayante School. In the context of the International Day of Peace and Nonviolence, the English Department celebrated this event at all levels of the school. The students participated in marches for peace (pre-school), creation of crafts and door decoration (basic education), work with the song “all you need is love” and creation of stickers (5th and 6th grade), creation of posters (7th to 1st grade) and discussions about types of violence in the school context and actions we can take (2nd to 4th grade)

COLOMBIA, ABBA FOUNDATION

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace 2022, Abba Colombia joins and highlights the work it is doing for peace, non-violence and non-discrimination in Colombia; for this reason, some young beneficiaries of Abba Colombia tell us about the importance of contributing to peace regardless of race, nationality, culture, economic or social status through our social media.

COLOMBIA, BOGOTA, PALACE OF JUSTICE

From this Wednesday, September 21, and until Friday, September 23, the Palace of Justice will be sheltered within the framework of the International Day of Peace and as a citizen demonstration to remember the rights to peace, a dignified life and the reconstruction of the collective memory of who have been victims of the Armed Conflict in Colombia. The Colombian house of justice will be covered with woven fabrics that were hand-made by dozens of people throughout the national territory and in 24 countries in Latin America and Europe, a sign of the commitment of those who believe in absolute peace as a path to non-repetition. In addition to the symbolic act, called Covering of the Palace of Justice, for three days there will be cultural exhibitions, academic talks and a fair of enterprises of victims of the armed conflict and signatories of the Agreement.

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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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COLOMBIA, BOGOTA, RED CROSS

Colombian Red Cross; Come and celebrate with us the International Day of Peace. Wednesday, 21 September, 2;00 PM, Bogotá Plaza Hotel. Through the synergy of the private and humanitarian sectors, we can achieve sustainability, development and peace.

COLOMBIA, MEDELLIN, UN MISSION

In Medellín, the celebration of the International Day of Peace began at the Presbítero Antonio José Bernal Londoño Educational Institution, where children painted peace. This activity, organized within the framework of the Month for Peace, will be extended during September and October in other schools and with the sons and daughters of the peace signatories in the different regions of Antioquia, with the support of Redepaz and the Mission of United Nations verification in Colombia.  

COLOMBIA, MEDELLIN, CONCERT

Every September 21, the United Nations General Assembly celebrates the Intentional Day of Peace : an opportunity to strengthen the ideas of peace and Non-Violence. To be part of the celebration, the Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra invites you to the concert “Peace, music and silence”, to invite you to look at diversity, peace and respect life. The music of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Joseph Haydn will be the protagonists of this concert that will be directed by Adrian Chamorro, Colombian director, pedagogue and soloist. 

COLOMBIA, OCAÑA

Campaign seeks to keep children away from violence in regions of Colombia Football as a generator of social change is what inspires the Fundación Selección Colombia and Spirit of Soccer to carry out programs such as Goals that Save Lives, designed so that nearly 300 children and adolescents have a life option in sports, far of violence. The first of the football festivals was held in Villavicencio (Meta) on September 13 and 14 . . . These programs will continue in Santander de Quilichao (Cauca), on the 16th and 17th of the same month, and Ocaña (Norte de Santander), on September 20th and 21st. . . It is an effort motivated by the celebration of the International Day of Peace of the United Nations, on September 21, but one that can be sustained over time and can benefit many more minors.

COLOMBIA, PALMIRA

With cultural events, plays, sporting events and the intervention of a mural in Bolívar Park, the International Day of Peace was celebrated this Wednesday, September 21, in Palmira.

COSTA RICA

The Ministry of Justice and Peace, the Ministry of Culture and Youth, the Ministry of Public Education and the Fire Department commemorated this September 21, the International Day of Peace, with the award ceremony for the “Song for Peace” Contest. “Today we celebrate the International Day of Peace and what better way than to do it through art and youth. Song for Peace is an example of the preventive work that the Ministry of Justice and Peace has been carrying out through the Vice Ministry of Peace, thanks to the commitment and joint work with public institutions and private companies”, said Sergio Sevilla, Vice Minister of Peace. .

CUBA, HABANA

 The Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) celebrated today the award ceremony of the national contest “Children paint and write for Peace”, an act that adds to the extensive program of activities that are carried out in this day, on the occasion of celebrating the International Day of Peace .
During a simple activity, the pioneers of the Arturo Montori elementary school made drawings related to peace and learned about the results of the national contest organized by the José Martí Pioneers Organization (OPJM) and ICAP.

ECUADOR, MANABI

The Provincial Directorate of the Judicial Council (CJ) of Manabí commemorated, this Monday, September 12, 2022, the International Day of Peace, with a dialogue in which experiences were shared about the work carried out by justices of the peace in their communities. The event took place in the House of Culture of Manabí and was attended by the Provincial Director of the CJ in the Disciplinary Field, Shamir Briones, the President of the Provincial Court of Justice, Carlos Zambrano, the Public Defender, Mauro Ponce, the Manabi artists, Danny Coveña and Eduardo Mendoza, justices of the peace, representatives of social organizations, students and teachers of the San Gregorio de Portoviejo University. The Provincial Director, Shamir Briones, in his speech mentioned that the Culture of Peace is a mechanism that has been promoted by the Council of the Judiciary in order to further expand the access of citizens to the justice system, especially in communities where through this mechanism, conflicts have been resolved without the parties having resorted to the Judicial Units.

ECUADOR, PORTOVIEJO

The Directorate of the Judicial Council of Manabi commemorated the International Day of Peace, with a dialogue in which experiences of the work carried out by justices of the peace in their communities were shared. The activity took place at the Casa de la Cultura, in Portoviejo, with the participation of justices of the peace and representatives of social organizations. La Direccion del Consejo de la judicatura de Manabi conmemmoro el Dia Internacional de la Paz, con un dialogo en el que se compartieron experiencias del trabajo que realizan los jueces de paz en sus comunidades. La actividad se efectuo en la Casa de la Cultura, en Portoviejo, con la participacion de jueces de paz y representantes de organizaciones sociales.

FRENCH GUYANA

Yesterday, Wednesday September 21, 2022 was the International Day of Peace. On this occasion, the NGO Club Soroptimist International went to the Saint-Paul nursing home to celebrate this day with the residents.

GUATEMALA, ESCUINTLA

In commemoration of the International Day of Peace, administrative staff of the Departmental Directorate of Education (Dideduc) of Escuintla, teachers and students carried out a civic act in the cultural center of the municipal seat. The notes of the marimba were heard in that room, in which students from the Intercultural Normal School made various performances. The activity was replicated in different establishments in the department. One of the schools that joined the celebration was the primary school of the Cañaveral II village, in Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa.

MEXICO, BACALAR

Event poster: 21 September, International Day of Peace, May peace prevail on earth. Even free for all the family. In the Municipal Park of Badalar. 10:00 AM. Ceremony of banners. Peace declarations. Circular dances.

MEXICO, CAMARGO

The celebration of the International Day of Peace was held at the Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez Primary School. The director of the campus, Berenice de León Caro, stressed that directors, teachers, students and parents participated in this important date.

MEXICO, CANCUN

The municipal government of Benito Juárez, through the Directorate of Religious Affairs, commemorated the International Day of Peace with a significant participation of public servants who formed the word “Peace” and the symbol of the dove allusive to said message on the esplanade of the Plaza de la Reforma. The person in charge of the office of the Municipal Presidency, Lourdes Latife Cardona Muza, thanked the people who dressed in white, a color alluding to this day, which is celebrated every September 21, for their assistance. She emphasized that “with peace we will achieve a Cancun where we can all see each other as brothers and we can continue building and rebuilding the social fabric.”

MEXICO, COZUMEL

To commemorate the “International Day of Peace”, the Municipal Government, through the Education subdirectorate, held a civic ceremony this Wednesday morning called “Put an end to racism. Build peace”, with which a call is made to build a more peaceful community. Within the framework of this event that took place in the Quintana Roo park, the secretary general of the Cozumel City Council, Ociel González González, representing the municipal president, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, explained that peace is much more than the absence of a conflict, it is understanding others, it is educating the new generations to be good people, to understand that each one of us can rebuild our present and create everything we want through words, especially through our actions, since we all have the same circumstances in common, we share the same problems and the same conditions.

MEXICO, CULIACAN

Culiacan: Sinaloa will have a day of activities for peace, announces Building Spaces for Peace.
The activities will take place from September 19 to 24, since the International Day of Peace is commemorated on September 22

MEXICO, FELIPE CARRILLO PUERTO

The National System for Integral Family Development in Felipe Carrillo Puerto, carried out a Mayan ceremony on the esplanade of the Expomaya premises in the framework of the commemoration of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21, every year, to raise awareness about the importance of having an environment free of violence.

MEXICO, GUANAJUATO

Within the framework of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21 of each year, this Monday in Guanajuato began the ninth edition of the School Week for Peace 2022, which presents a program of more than 300 activities in which institutions The basic, upper middle and higher levels of the state will participate from September 19 to 23. . . . During the Week for Peace, the educational institutions of basic, upper secondary and higher education carry out cultural and recreational activities with the coordination of state and municipal agencies; through: workshops, conferences, webinars, cultural events and physical activations.

MEXICO, LÁZARO CÁRDENAS

By resolution of the United Nations Organization, September 21 is the International Day of Peace, and to commemorate the Fundación el Sol, based in Mexico, two concerts for peace will be held in this city, offered by the Philharmonic Orchestra by Lazaro Cardenas. at the concert on Wednesday 21, they will award recognition to humanitarian social leaders, who are . . . those who have contributed to peace in Lázaro Cárdenas.

MEXICO, MIGUEL ALEMAN

Within the framework of the celebration of the International Day of Peace , teaching staff and students from different elementary schools, carried out different student dynamics on the fields of their respective educational institutions. . . the basic level students carried out different group dynamics under the roof of the respective schools, after providing a detailed explanation by their teachers in relation to this date, as it is the International Day of Peace .

MEXICO, SAN LUIS POTOSI

Within the framework of the International Day of Peace and with the purpose of eradicating discrimination and contributing to the prevention of crime, the Family Welfare Coordination of the State DIF offered awareness talks on the culture of peace and free environments of violence.

MEXICO, TOLUCA

The City Council of Toluca invites the population to the commemorative event of the International Day of Peace, which will take place on Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 a.m. at the Morelos Theater. With the aim of raising awareness among Toluqueños to generate a healthy coexistence and promote the Culture of Peace as a lifestyle, the General Directorates of Social Welfare and Promotion and Guidance for Social Coexistence join this world celebration, in which will highlight topics such as the Rescue of Values, Conflict Resolution and Positive Attitude.

MEXICO, VERACRUZ

In order to promote the culture of peace , the community of Colegio Keystone Riviera Veracruzana held a peaceful march in Boca del Río . Dressed in white and with some posters with messages of peace, teachers and students from kindergarten, primary, secondary and high school, accompanied by their families, marched on Vicente Fox Boulevard. Rossana de Velasco, general coordinator of the Keystone Riviera Veracruzana School, explained that this activity is carried out within the framework of the International Day of Peace, which is celebrated on September 21.

MEXICO, ZACATECAS

The Secretariat of Women of the State of Zacatecas (Semujer), will carry out, on September 21, the State Meeting of Women:  “Traveling together towards equality, love and peace” . It is organized during this day to commemorate the International Day of Peace. Women from the public administration of the state will participate in this event, as well as the media, academia and women from the business sector.  From this meeting, it will be possible to generate ties between women and promote projects in which the participation of women has an impact on the daily and social life of the state. The importance of this space refers not only to recognizing the work that women carry out day by day from different trenches, but also to open a path for new generations.

NICARAGUA, ESTELI

Within the framework of inter-institutional collaboration and social bonding, volunteer students and teachers from FAREM-Estelí commemorated the international day of peace with activities carried out at the María Auxiliadora School, in district III of the city of Estelí. The first activity was carried out with third level children; Through songs, they reflected on the importance of promoting a culture of peace. Later, a piñata was held where peaceful attitudes, respect for order and the joy of living in peace were put into practice, with the motto “children want peace”. The second activity, carried out with fifth and sixth grade students, consisted of a deeper reflection on what it means to live in peace and its importance for the development of the community. Finally, drawings alluding to peace were made and their meaning was shared in plenary. In turn, the importance of peace in our lives was emphasized.

VENEZUELA

To the rhythm of a lively batucada followed by the dance therapy girls and the children from the INCES sports initiation schools, the march to celebrate the International Day of Peace fulfilled its mission of going through the streets of the point and circle, a route that was accompanied by a group of apprentices and workers from the General Management of Culture, Sports, Recreation and Community Participation of INCES. “ Walk for peace. End racism. Build peace”, was the slogan of a day that was accompanied by institutions such as: Terrestrial Transit, the PNB, the UNES, the National Institute Against Racial Discrimination, the National Service for Voluntary Disarmament, among others.

VENEZUELA, JUAN JOSE MORA

A large colloquium was held this Wednesday, September 21, for the International Day of Peace in the municipality of Juan José Mora. . . . . During the meeting, the institutions present spoke about the contribution that each represents to the development of peace in the municipality. . . .The activity was attended by representatives of the Preventive Front, Carabobo State Police, Municipal Police, National Police, Police Chaplaincy, Senamecf, SEGNA, Idenna, MINEC, Municipal Firefighters, Rescue Group 3000, teachers from the UBV, Insalud and other institutions. who with their daily work contribute to the establishment of a sense of peace and security.

USA: House Dems Voice ‘Grave and Urgent Concerns’ Over Chilean Plebiscite Misinformation

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article from Common Dreams (licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.)

U.S. House Democrats on Friday shared their “grave and urgent concerns” to leading social media companies over right-wing misinformation about this weekend’s Chilean constitutional plebiscite being shared on their platforms.

In a letter  to Mark Zuckerberg, Parag Agrawal, and Shou Zi Chew—the respective CEOs of Facebook parent company Meta, Twitter, and TikTok—the lawmakers “strongly implore” the social media companies to “act with urgency to combat corrupt disinformation campaigns that undermine a fair and democratic process” in Chile.


Thousands of people take part in a closing rally for the “I approve” option to change the Chilean constitution in Santiago on September 1, 2022. (Photo: Lucas Aguayo Araos/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

“This Sunday, Chileans will decide whether to approve a new constitution or default to the existing version written by the Pinochet dictatorship’s military junta,” states the letter, which is signed by Reps. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Jesús “Chuy” García, Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.), and James McGovern (D-Mass).

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Question related to this article:

Is the media an arm of the culture of war?

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The lawmakers were referring to the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, who seized power in a 1973 coup supported by then-President Richard Nixon and successive administrations as well as  U.S. business interests.

“In the context of such an important and sensitive democratic process, we believe that technology corporations like yours have an obligation to ensure that their platforms do not serve to disseminate hate, lies, and disinformation across the electorate,” the letter continues. “Yet just this week Reuters reported that inaccurate information about Chile’s new constitution is widespread.”

As Common Dreams noted  Wednesday, a far-right misinformation campaign—replete with lies that the new constitution would change Chile’s flag, national anthem, and even the country’s name—could imperil its approval.

The lawmakers’ letter laments that “thousands of Twitter profiles regularly circulate patently false claims regarding the new constitution” in “an attempt to delegitimize and discredit” the proposed document.

“Even more troubling, these attacks often use hate speech to target women and Indigenous leaders,” the Democrats noted.

“We urge you to act swiftly against the spread of disinformation,” they added. “Continued inaction could abet interference in this historic referendum.”

Mexico: First “Festival of the Heroines of Independence”

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article from Page 3 (translation by CPNN)

From 5 to On September 11, the “First Festival of the Heroines of Independence” will be held in the City of Oaxaca. It will contribute to the construction of a culture of peace by recognizing the women who, with their effort, courage and even with their lives, have contributed to the foundation of our country.

Music, theater, history, cinema, poetry and gastronomy will serve as vehicles to pay tribute and make visible the women who have been systematically erased from the history of Mexico.

At a press conference to publicize this Festival, the general director of the “Las Heroínas” Collective, Martha Toledo Mar, explained that the idea of ​​the project arose as a result of the Bicentennial Celebration of the Independence of Mexico, which only gave tribute to heroic men.

“There we realized that there was a deep historical void in the psyche of the Mexican people; It is not that those who write the history books forgot, it is not something free, it is on purpose, it is a matter of the system, of the patriarchy, ”she remarked.

This Festival, said Toledo Mar, seeks to recognize all those women with names and surnames. She mentioned that there is a record of more than 50 women who fought for independence, however, the majority of the population only remembers two: Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez and Leona Vicario.

“We believe that for a culture of peace to exist, it is necessary to recognize and give the place that corresponds to each of these women and thus reduce the historical debt. We firmly believe that what is not named, does not exist”, underlined Martha Toledo Mar. And she added that precisely for this reason, on this occasion the Festival will pay tribute in life to the historian, researcher and activist Margarita Dalton.

In a subsequent interview, the co-director of the Consortium for Parliamentary Dialogue and Equity, Yésica Sánchez Maya, stressed that it is essential for this organization to continue to influence the visibility of all the contributions of women in all structures of society; hence, she pointed out, the importance of this artistic project by Martha Toledo Mar.

“This festival seemed like a fundamental proposal to us because historically we have been unrecognized, always made invisible. This exercise of women for women is a long-term commitment to the construction of peace that seeks to generate new ways of recognizing and dignifying, through the arts, singing and creativity, to those women who were not recognized at the time,” he said.

In this sense, Sánchez Maya welcomed the support of the municipality of Oaxaca de Juárez for making available public spaces where some of the activities will take place. This will make art and culture more accessible for Oaxacans.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version.)

Questions for this article

Prospects for progress in women’s equality, what are the short and long term prospects?

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For her part, Rocío Morales, singer-songwriter and cultural manager added: “telling a story in a song is a challenge. This is documented in the book Addicted to the Insurgency by Celia Palacios which makes known and honors the women whom history does not mention.

Similarly, Jade Midori, an Oaxacan plastic artist, remarked: “I think it is very important to make women visible within social movements, not only on commemorative historical dates such as Independence, but also within historical and contemporary social struggles.”

The women to be honored by artists are:

Tonena,
Leticia Gallardo,
Martha ToledoMar,
Olympia Silvavarez,
Anastasia Sonaranda,
Evelyn Acosta,
Rosalia Leon,
Dolores Sanjuan,
Ana Diaz,
Coyolicatzin,
Reina Valenzuela,
astrid hadad,
Olinka,
Violet Parrandera,
Athena Ochoa,
Salma Corres,
Nancy Zamer
Elo Vit,
Rocio Morales and
Akna.

Toledo Mar explained that through her music, the participants will honor:

Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez,
Leona Vicar,
Gertrudis Bocanegra,
Maria Ignacia “La Güera Rodríguez”,
Altagracia Market,
Maria Manuela Medina “The Captain”,
Mariana Rodriguez del Toro
Luisa Martinez,
Antonia Nava from Catalan “La Generala”,
Rita Perez de Moreno,
The Women of Miahuatlan,
Rafaela Lopez Aguado,
Cecilia Villareal,
Maria Josepha Martinez,
Manuela Herrera and
Anonymous heroines.

As part of this Festival, two plays will also be developed at the “Juárez” Theater by the Compañía Nacional de Teatro Novohispano and the Compañía de Teatro “Lola Bravo”, in addition to 3 conferences by historians Margarita Dalton, Rebeca Orozco and Celia del Palacio; a round table, four projections of historical films and the presentation of three commemorative murals. Poetry readings, literary gatherings and themed dinners are also planned.

The “Las heroínas” Collective is made up of the Zapotec singer-songwriter and priestess Rocío Morales, the decimist and former Goddess Centéotl, Evelin Acosta, the singer and cultural manager Nohemí Mondragón, and the singer-songwriter and composer Anastasia Sonaranda.
It also includes the composer and visual artist José Luis Guzmán Wolffer, the playwright and actor Francisco Hernández, the marketer and activist Lalo Lara and the coordinator of the Institutional Program for the Culture of Peace of the Autonomous University “Benito Juárez” of Oaxaca (UABJO), Leticia Cruz Lopez.

Mexico: International Diploma in Development and Culture of Peace at the UAZ

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Express Zacatecas (translation by CPNN)

The International Diploma in Development and Culture of Peace aims for participants to reflect,in a virtual and asynchronous way, on all the factors and structural elements that are generators of violence and conflicts, so that once they are identified, they can become promoters of peace. .


UAZ

This is an initiative of a group of research professors from the Doctorate in Heritage and Culture of Peace of the Autonomous ©(UAZ) who are concerned about the context of violence and insecurity that is experienced in different areas and spheres of society, both at a national and international level. For that reason, they are training professionals for peacebuilding.

(Click here for the original Spanish version).

Question for this article:

Culture of peace curricula: what are some good examples?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

This diploma course is approached from a multidisciplinary perspective and consists of four modules: “Economy, development and culture of Peace”; “The culture of peace: recent approaches”; “State-Church Relations: conflicts and agreements” and “Community Development for the construction of a culture of peace”.

The course will take place between the months of August to December of this year. The professors Imelda Ortiz Medina, Laura Gemma Flores, Jorge Martínez Pérez and Leonardo Alonso Santoyo, will teach the modules, in which the students will learn and acquire tools so that they can look for alternatives and strategies to prevent violence and conflicts.

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

As described by the coordinator, Imelda Ortiz Medina, the first module concerns the relation of economic growth, inequality, human development and sustainability to the construction of peace. In the second module, an analysis will be made about the recent approaches to the meaning of the construction of a culture of peace. The third concerns the difference between the type of evangelization carried out by the Anglo-Saxons and the society of the Iberian Peninsula,. Finally, in the fourth module, it will be seen that the construction of peace requires community development.

The course is developed through the Economics Unit (UAE) and the academic bodies: CA-UAZ 251 “Economics, sustainability and nanotechnology” and CA-UAZ 172 “Theory, history and interpretation of Art”, of the Autonomous University of Zacatecas, with the support of the International Multidisciplinary Network on Development and the Culture of Peace.

Due to its modality, the participants will have free access to the course materials, so that they can carry out the activities in the period of each module.

Colombia: Peacebuilding in Viotá, a model that seeks to be replicated throughout the country

. . DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION . .

An article from Newslocker (translation by CPNN)

Former guerrillas, victims and public forces have created dialogue tables and worked together on local projects that provide reparation for the damages caused by the war. They are working on restorative actions in advance, before the JEP imposes its own trials. (The JEP, Jurisdicción Especial para la Paz, was established by the Peace Accords.)


Marker plaque completed in the cemetery of San Gabriel, Viotá. / Courtesy Dunna

The armed conflict in Viotá (Cundinamarca) left traces of terror that, over the years, have eaten away at the dreams of thousands of families. The 22nd and 42nd fronts of the extinct FARC settled there in the 1990s, making this municipality one of their most important strongholds in the Andean region around Bogotá. Entering the new millennium and for nearly four years, the Peasant Self-Defense Forces of Casanare also entered this area and tried to take control through extortion, murder and forced disappearance.

The result of the violence unleashed by these two armed groups was a balance of 12,903 victims registered by the Victims Unit. In the files of the Attorney General’s Office and the Justice and Peace courts themselves, the cases of more than 113 people considered missing were documented, of whom little or nothing was known over the years.

Even without knowing many truths about their loved ones and after a long time without being listened to by the State to seek justice, the people of Viotá have learned to forgive and see the construction of peace as the central element of their life in community. When the former FARC signed peace in 2016, the vast majority of ex-combatants who operated there stayed to complete their reincorporation process into civilian life, according to the Agency for Reincorporation and Normalization (ARN).

“The case of Viotá is rare, because the normal thing in other territories where thousands of people laid down their arms was for the former guerrillas to go to other departments where no one knew them from the past, to start a life from scratch. However, in Viotá they decided to face their crimes, live with their usual neighbors to whom they did so much harm and chose to show them that in their own home they could successfully advance a model of collective reconciliation,” said Natalia Quiñones, co-founder of the Dunna Corporation, an organization that accompanies innovative alternatives for peace in various areas of the country.

Dunna has been very close to the processes of dialogue and reconstruction of the social fabric in Viotá. There, with the support of the Embassy of the Netherlands, the Bolívar Davivienda Foundation, the Mayor’s Office and the Cundinamarca Agency for Peace and Coexistence, they managed to establish dialogue among those appearing before the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) of the ex-guerrilla with its victims, members of the public force and other inhabitants, in order to carry out restorative exercises and healing activities for the mind and body, in order to overcome the traumas and emotional discomfort left by the war.

“We have known each other forever. Now they are my neighbors and I sell them vegetables and pig feed. We do not forget what they did to us, but we accept their repentance,” said a resident of Viotá who has participated in the process.

“We have an interdisciplinary team of psychologists, yoga teachers, psychiatrists, political scientists, lawyers, sociologists and anthropologists who have been working on the development of the Viotá program to generate a reconciliation model that can be replicated at the national level. Our results there showed that 100% of those who received our attention had significant changes in trust, reciprocity, stigmatization and collective efficacy. The exercises of dialogue, restorative circle and mind-body strategies were able to reduce distrust and bring together the inhabitants of the community to address the present and the future that the community faces collectively.

In other projects with similar protocols, Dunna has obtained satisfactory results in terms of post-traumatic stress and mental health, showing that this type of model can help between 91 and 94% of the participants to successfully overcome mental health risks. derived from the trauma and to achieve emotional well-being”, added Quiñones.

In Viotá they learned to forgive with the formula of action without harm: nothing that is done on the ground or any gesture or word that is said in the spaces of dialogue and listening should re-victimize anyone. However, a feeling shared by the victims and perpetrators of the war in Viotá is that words alone are not enough to repair the many atrocities that were experienced.

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(Click here for the original article in Spanish)

Discussion question

Restorative justice, What does it look like in practice?

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

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In Viotá, the encouragement to compensate crimes against humanity and give dignity to the survivors has been a constant. It has been channeled into collective reconciliation through cooperative projects of infrastructure and memory.

The voices of peace prevail and one of them is that of José del Carmen Viracachá, a peace signer who lives in this area. Ten years ago he was convicted of war crimes and he now understands that a custodial sentence is not the best way to pay tribute to those who have suffered so much in the past. He said in an interview, “We want to make and export peace through example. Forgiveness is valuable, but it must be accompanied by concrete actions that serve people and so that they see our repentance and our commitment not to repeat anything bad. Confinement almost never fixes anything; that’s why I think that the harshness of the past must be addressed directly.

New paradigm of justice

Prison as the ultimate goal for those who committed crimes in the context of an armed conflict according to the Statutory Law of the Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP), enacted three years ago, on June 6, 2019.

An acronym appears in the document that will be talked about frequently in the coming months: the TOAR (Works, Works and Activities with Restorative content).
The Peace Agreement stipulated two types of TOARs to be developed at different stages of the post-conflict. On the one hand, there are the TOARs that are a consequence of the imposition of the JEP’s sanctions; these do not yet exist, because the court has not yet issued any ruling. They will be imposed in the cases of macro-cases 01 (taking of hostages and other serious deprivations of liberty) and 03 (extrajudicial executions). In these cases restorative activities will be required, as long as those appearing comply with the conditions of the Statutory Law; that is to say, tell complete truths, give guarantees of non-repetition and dignify their victims.

On the other hand, and returning to the case of Viotá, there are the anticipated TOARs, which consist of carrying out restoration activities (infrastructure works, construction of monuments, demining tasks or literacy tasks, among others) in advance of any imposed sanctions. These anticipated TOARs honor the rights of the victims and obtain discount benefits from a restrictive sentence of freedom when it is imposed. These restorative activities must have the endorsement of the Executive Secretariat of the JEP. During 2021, the JEP jurisdiction followed up on 64 of these projects in various departments.

During the dialogue sessions that Dunna led with the actors of the conflict in Viotá, several options were discussed for collective work to promote the historical memory of the town. What do we need to see on our streets to feel represented and respected after the conflict? How to advance a work or activity that is not forgotten by future generations? Those were some of the questions raised among the people of Viotá, who also had to take into account in order not to be frustrated that any project they thought of had to be in harmony with the development plan of the town and subject to the economic capacities of the municipality, which ultimately must pay for the expenses.

“The most difficult task was to first seek funding before putting the TOARs on everyone’s lips. The priority, of course, is to choose something that the community wants and sees in it a symbolic and restorative content; Luckily, a consensus was reached and the people were able to prioritize projects that their municipal administration could afford to pay. Viotá’s dignity is the goal and remembering those who no longer with us was the most beautiful”, explained Natalia Quiñones.

That was how all eyes were directed to the path of San Gabriel. The Viotá cemetery is located there, to which paradoxically they could not take their dead, due to the precarious access roads. The surrounding streets were destroyed, so the cemetery was not accessible. This was a headache, especially during the years of conflict and in the covid-19 pandemic.
To address this situation, peace signatories, victims, public forces and citizens built a 68-meter-long path, with which they managed to give a new face to an iconic area for this town and a sign of honor to the dead who the war took and that for so many years they could not visit as they wanted.

On March 17, 2022, the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia announced the completion and delivery of the work to open the path of San Gabriel. This marked the closure of a cycle in which Viotá does not want to repeat again, especially since it was a war that they never looked for and never understood, but that completely penetrated their homes.

“This project not only benefits the people of San Gabriel; it also serves for reconciliation. The cemetery has always had a special importance and thanks to this we know that those who previously made us suffer now help us feel good about ourselves and about what we can do together towards the future”, said a resident of Viotá who preferred not to be named.

Now that the Viotá process is completed, Dunna is working in Fusagasugá and Venecia to replicate this model in Cundinamarca. They hope to expand the TOARs to more regions of Colombia and demonstrate that any peace is possible if in the communities there is a robust sense of belonging and a genuine willingness to forgive and not repeat harm.

Chihuahua, Mexico: America García proposes initiative requiring all municipalities to issue regulations on the culture of peace

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Juarez Noticias

The local deputy for Morena, América García Soto, presented an initiative to urge the 67 municipalities of the State of Chihuahua to issue regulations on the culture of peace. With this Chihuahua would become one of the pioneer states in promoting these new public policies, since there are no precedents in the Supreme Court of Justice of the nation in relation to this issue.

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(Click here for the Spanish original of this article)

Questions for this article:

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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“It is evident that we all want to live in a better, more equitable society, without violence, promoting a culture of peace, both theoretical and practical, where women and men can be assertive. That means respecting our needs, expressing our convictions, defending our rights, taking into account the other, not needing or violating, or submitting to the will of other people, “said the congresswoman in the State Congress session held this Monday (August 15).

The initiative was approved unanimously by all of the Congress members and referred for legal action.

In this regard, she recalled that just last week Ciudad Juárez witnessed one of the largest massacres in recent years, where unfortunately 11 people lost their lives, in addition to multiple damages to convenience stores, and armed clashes by of different criminal organizations.

The deputy for Morena clarified that the regulations that she proposes to be issued are based on the concept of “Culture of Peace” as defined by the United Nations “Declaration and Action Program on a Culture of Peace”, which was created with the purpose of promoting and guaranteeing equality, international citizen security, economic development and education.

Garcia Soto explained that “At the national level, there is a history of similar public policies, initiated by an elected representative and committing the different spheres of government to incorporate action plans.”

Bolivia: XVIII World Mediation Congress

… EDUCATION FOR PEACE …

An article from Corrreo del Sur (translation by CPNN)

“We are moved by the hope that another world is possible, that spending one’s life serving others is worth it…” These emotional words were expressed by the president of the University Network of Conciliation and Mediation Centers and dean of the Faculty of Law, Political and Social Sciences of the Universidad San Francisco Xavier, Fátima Tardío, during the closing ceremony of the XVIII World Mediation Congress, co-organized by the Universidad de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca in Sucre, Bolivia, the Universidad de Sonora (Mexico) and the Institute of Mediation of Mexico.

The congress took place for five days, between August 1 and 5 and brought together more than 2,000 people including exhibitors, workshop leaders, teachers and university students from different parts of the world. They came from countries such as Germany, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Spain, France, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, Portugal and Uruguay.

Its success is due to the quality of the participating professionals and also to the efforts of the teams responsible for every detail of the organization: a battalion of University officials and generous volunteers. At the level of authorities, the Vice Chancellor Peter Campos and Dean Tardío were in charge, in addition to the Director of Social Interaction and University Extension, Narda Gonzáles, and the articulating link with the Mediation Institute of Mexico, César Rojas.

THE SEED, THE CONGRESSES

“From this event will come the seed of a new way of understanding education in Bolivia, that change is possible, that utopia is possible and that it is worth fighting for a dream,” emphasized the Dean, who had previously described as “very symbolic” the fact that Vice President David Choquehuanca and the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, Ricardo Torres, were present at the closing ceremony of the congress.

Walt Disney warned of the risk of dreaming by indicating that if one has dreams, they are likely to come true…

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(click here for the original version in Spanish).

Question for this article:

Mediation as a tool for nonviolence and culture of peace

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A few weeks ago, the conflictologist from Chuquisaca, César Rojas, was in charge of the conversation “Culture of peace, mediation and journalism”, organized by the National Association of the Press (ANP), and there he expressed his hope that Sucre could host more congresses such as the which was developed between the historic building of the Faculty of Law and the modern International Center for Conventions and Culture (CICC).

Following this route, on Friday, the Vice Chancellor of San Francisco Xavier, Peter Campos, announced the letter of intent for the 400 years that this institution will celebrate in 2024: “We want our city of Sucre to be the capital of international congresses”. He made an important announcement: in 2023, in the Bolivian capital, the “First World Congress of Restorative Justice” will be installed and in 2024, the Latin American Congress of Research for Peace (CLAIP).

ONE CHANGE, ONE COMMUNITY

Also in his farewell speech, the president of the Mediation Institute of Mexico, Jorge Pesqueira Leal, awarded with the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the San Francisco Xavier University, advocated “the desire to build a change for the good of our planet ”. He said: “We have been truly cruel to our home… it is inadmissible, but it is a reality, the social injustice that we live.”

“Let’s generate that much-needed change,” he invited the crowd, which once again packed the CICC auditorium.

María Auxiliadora Moreno Valenzuela, head of the University Rights Ombudsman of the University of Sonora, on behalf of María Rita Plancarte Martínez, University rector, highlighted the work, the meeting and the learning of the congress days. “Especially important are the new processes to disseminate mediation within the framework of the culture of peace (…), the creation of a large community of mediators, as well as promoters of mediation, to improve relationships in families, schools and workplaces; also in the universities, since these are the motor and impulse of the works related to mediation”.

She expressed her conviction that the results of the congress will result in “alliances and projects that serve to create in everyone’s consciousness the need to make our environments and spaces into friendly places with positive human relationships and healthier environments.” She called on everyone to contribute to “a more egalitarian world and, with it, a more humane one.”

The Sucre congress also served to consolidate the new Ibero-American Network of Conciliation and Extrajudicial Mediation Centers, made up of 17 countries, which was underlined by its ad hoc president, José Javier Tapia Gutiérrez.

ORGANIZERS

In San Francisco Xavier, the departments or units that worked on the organization of the XVIII World Mediation Congress were: Infrastructure (30 people), Academic Commission (5), Administrative and Logistics Commission (6), Systems Area (10 engineers), Accreditors and Registration (16), Social and Cultural Commission (4 in charge of 100 Protocol students), Choristers (30). Source: Narda Gonzales, director of Social Interaction and University Extension (USFX).

Mexico: Curricular Strategy on Gender Equality to be implemented in public schools

. WOMEN’S EQUALITY .

An article by Aura Moreno for the Estado de México

Gender stereotypes have been identified in children up to 5 years old, so when they join primary school they already have extensive knowledge about what it means socially to be a man or a woman, said Rosa María Torres Hernández, rector of the National Pedagogical University and member of the Consultative Council for the Review of Educational Content in the Matter of Gender Equality for Basic and Upper Secondary Education of the State Educational System

“These ideas are built in a society with a history that has generated unequal relationships, privileging the masculine over the feminine, according to what we know from the 2018 youth consultation of the INE and the consultation carried out by INMujeres”

In a public event, she pointed out that in recent decades gender studies have multiplied in the face of the growth of violence, especially that experienced against women.

(Article continued in right column)

(Click here for the original Spanish version)

Question for this article

Gender equality in education, Is it advancing?

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

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Gender stereotypes

The results of these analyzes have allowed us to know that children, from a young age, acquire basic concepts about gender. To address this problem, she said, the Curriculum Strategy on Gender Equality will be implemented in public and private schools at the basic and upper secondary levels in the State of Mexico.

This in a state where more than half of the students in the state public system are women and 60 percent of the enrollment of the Autonomous Mexiquense is made up of women. Practically 7 out of 10 Mexican teachers are also women.

Curricular Strategy on Gender Equality will be implemented in public schools

“One of the problems in the national territory is gender inequality and violence, especially towards girls and women of all ages, mainly indigenous women, poor women, with low schooling, sexual diversity or if they live with a disability.”

For his part, the governor, Alfredo del Mazo, added that with the matter of Gender Equality they seek to build a fairer society. He explained that they have prepared 4 books for teachers and 5 for students that will be distributed in public and private basic and upper secondary education.

(See also Unesco Recognizes the Implementation of the Subject of Gender Equality in Edoméx Schools.)

Honduras: A massive march cries out for peace in Olancho

. HUMAN RIGHTS .

An article from La Tribuna

JUTICALPA, Olancho. Representatives of public and private institutions joined the “Walk for Peace 2022”, through the main streets of this departmental capital.

Marchers called for an immediate ceasefire in the face of criminal acts that affect municipalities, delabdubg the authorities for greater security, and for the investigation and punishment of those responsible materially and intellectually for the violent acts.


The march concluded in the Municipal Plaza of Juticalpa.

The authorities, teachers, administrative staff and students of the North-East Regional University Center, CURNO, joined the “Walk for Peace 2022”.

(Click here for the original article in Spanish about this event)

Questions related to this article:

How effective are mass protest marches?

Students from the “Francisco Morazán” National Pedagogical University, UNP-FM, and from primary and secondary schools also participated.

The activity also had the organizational support of the Network of Families Living Together in Peace, with the intention of developing a culture of peace and a resounding no to violence among children and young people.

Educational institutions of all levels participated. They were supported by the authorities of CURNO, the Political Government of Olancho, the mayor of Juticalpa and the Departmental Directorate of Education of Olancho.

The “Walk for Peace 2022” was a desperate call to Olanchana society to eliminate violence and strengthen peace.

The department of Olancho, with 24,000 square kilometers ,is the largest in Honduras, similar in size to countries like El Salvador and Israel.

The department is whipped mercilessly by crimes and threats of all kinds, but the most serious thing is the environment of impunity with which those responsible for these criminal acts act, the march condemned.

According to official sources, the population in the department of Olancho is approximately 600 thousand people, almost 50 percent concentrated in the municipalities of Juticalpa and Catacamas.

Official statistics show that the municipalities of Juticalpa, Catacamas Patuca and Dulce Nombre de Culmí have the highest number of homicides between men and women.

‘Dictatorship Never Again’: Massive Pro-Democracy Protests Sweep Brazil

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ; .

An article by Brett Wilkins in Common Dreams ( licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.)

Protests—some of them massive—in defense of democracy and education and against far-right President Jair Bolsonaro’s coup-mongering were held in cities across Brazil Thursday, less than two months before the first round of the South American nation’s presidential election.


A massive pro-democracy demonstration takes place at the University of São Paulo School of Law in São Paulo, Brazil, on August 11, 2022. (Photo: Miguel Schincariol/AFP via Getty Images)
Click on image to enlarge

Demonstrations took place in at least 23 of Brazil’s 26 state capitals, as well as in the national capital of Brasília. Many of the protests featured readings of a pair of pro-democracy manifestos, including the “Letter to Brazilians in Defense of Democracy and Rule of Law.”  The missive, which has been signed by nearly one million people, was inspired by a similar 1977 document that helped bring down a 21-year, U.S.-backed military dictatorship admired by Bolsonaro, who served in its army.

During the reading event at the University of São Paulo (USP) School of Law—where large banners read “dictatorship never again” and “state of rights, always”—presidential candidates spoke out in defense of Brazil’s electronic voting system, which has been the target of baseless allegations of fraud by Bolsonaro and his allies. The right-wing president, who is pushing for paper ballots, has threatened  to reject the results of October’s first-round presidential election if he loses under the current electronic voting system.

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Question related to this article:
 
How effective are mass protest marches?

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“Defending democracy is defending the right to quality food, a good job, fair wages, access to healthcare, and education,” said Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, the former leftist president who is running again representing the Workers’ Party and leads  Bolsonaro by double digits in aggregate polling.

“[This is] what the Brazilian people should have,” da Silva added. “Our country was sovereign and respected. We need to get it back together.”

Bolsonaro mocked the massive nationwide rebuke of his rule, tweeting  that “today, a very important act took place on behalf of Brazil and of great relevance to the Brazilian people: Petrobras once again reduced the price of diesel.”

A broad range of leftist activists spoke at and about the demonstrations across Brazil.

“Running over democracy is not as simple as the militiaman imagined,” tweeted Ivan Valente, leader of the Socialism and Liberty Party (PSOL) in Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of Congress. “Bolsonaro is much closer to jail than to the coup… Brazilian society does not accept setbacks or coup bravado.”

Beatriz Lourenço do Nascimento of Black Coalition for Rights—one of the few Black faces in the room during the USP reading—recited  her group’s anti-racist manifesto during the event.

“Brazil is a country in debt to the Black population,” she asserted. “We call on the democratic sectors of Brazilian society, institutions, and people who today show emotion over the ills of racism and claim to be anti-racist: Be consistent. Practice what you speak. As long as there is racism, there will be no democracy.”

Economist and social activist João Pedro Stédile, a co-founder of the Landless Workers’ Movement (MST), said  members of the group took part in Thursday’s “historic event” in “defense of Brazilian society.”

“We are in the process of building this broad front, representing all Brazilians who defend democracy,” he continued. “Democracy involves changing the government and eliminating neo-fascism, but above all, ensuring that the working class, the people, have the rights guaranteed in the Constitution. Right to work, income, land, education, health.”

“Today’s act is just the start of a great journey of activities centered around 200 years of Brazilian independence,” Stédile added, referring to Brazil’s bicentennial on September 7. “We are organizing to continue with demonstrations and mobilizations, especially in the week of September 7th to 10th, when we take to the streets to defend democracy, sovereignty, and the Brazilian people.”