Tag Archives: Latin America

FAO : Strong support for innovation and digital technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean

. . SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT . .

An article from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization

The 36th Session of FAO’s Regional Conference for  Latin America and the Caribbean  ended today with FAO Members in the region agreeing to join efforts to fight COVID-19 and promote sustainable agri-food systems through innovation, digital technologies, partnerships and enhanced data, particularly to strengthen food value chains and support smallholders farmers and the most vulnerable communities.


FAO Director-General QU Dongyu and Edward Centeno Gadea, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Nicaragua and Conference Chair

During the three-day virtual meeting (19 – 21 October) hosted by the Government of Nicaragua, all 33 Members, as well as representatives from civil society and the private sector, highlighted the importance of developing and applying innovative approaches to overcome the challenges facing food and agriculture in the region, particularly in relation to scaling up the use of digital tools.

“We need innovation, science and digital technologies to reach the Sustainable Development Goals,” said FAO’s Director-General, QU Dongyu, during the event, stressing that innovation and digital technologies “are the only way out for us to go forward.”

Several Latin American and Caribbean countries stressed that policies and programmes to promote digital solutions should mainly target small and medium-sized family farmers and poor and vulnerable rural communities, bridging the gaps in the rural population and leveraging their potential for inclusive and sustainable development. The International Platform for Digital Food and Agriculture, whose development has been led by FAO, was mentioned as an important tool for the exchange of experience and coordination among countries.

The Director-General noted that digital technology also contributed to make the Regional Conference a tremendous success in terms of attendance. The level of participation was unprecedented. The event was attended by one Prime Minister, three Ministers of Foreign Affairs, 50 ministers and 40 vice-ministers, and 346 other government officials, as well as 103 Observers from a wide diversity of sectors and organizations. Furthermore, close to 30,000people are estimated to have followed the Conference through digital platforms.

“The Digital FAO is more transparent, more open to dialogue, more inclusive, and, above all, more responsive to the needs and priorities of its Members,” Qu said.

Enhanced partnerships and data

The Regional Conference affirmed that in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is fundamental to strengthen partnerships, multilateralism and international solidarity. In this sense, countries welcomed FAO’s comprehensive COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme and requested support from the UN agency for the design, implementation and assessment of public policies and programmes. These, they noted, should focus  on job creation, social and productive inclusion, healthy food for the whole population, school feeding, access to water for production and consumption and increasing productivity.

“The FAO COVID-19 Response and Recovery Programme is now in motion. We must work together to minimize the impact that the pandemic will have on our food systems, livelihoods and health,” the Director-General said.

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

Question for this article:

What is the relation between movements for food sovereignty and the global movement for a culture of peace?

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The importance of data collection and analysis for the development of a new generation of public policies and programmes was also highlighted by countries, as well as agreements and alliances between the public, private, scientific, academic and civil society sectors, to promote governance of food systems that enable healthy diets and sustainable food systems.

In this context, countries supported the Hand-in-Hand Initiative to promote effective cooperation mechanisms between recipient and donor countries, as well as to mobilize resources from financial institutions and the private sector, particularly to reduce the development gaps that affect lagging rural territories in the region. The initiative is equipped with state-of-the-art tools – the Hand in Hand Geospatial Platform and the Data Lab for Statistical Innovation – to support countries and other stakeholders with data collection and analysis for decision-making and impact assessment.

Transforming food systems towards better nutrition in the region 

The Regional Conference held a special event organised by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS) to discuss ways to transform food systems and ensure healthy diets for all, entitled “Driving Transformation Toward Sustainable Food Systems and Healthy Diets.”

The region of Latin America and the Caribbean is undergoing a rapid nutritional transition. Since 2014, hunger has grown again by 13 million people, and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is likely to lead to an increase in the incidence of hunger. Today, almost 48 million people suffer from hunger in the region. At the same time, obesity levels are also on the rise affecting around 25 percent of the population.

“We need to join all our efforts and work together, now more than ever before”, said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu opening the special event. “Because, we are not on track to eradicating hunger, food insecurity and all forms of malnutrition by 2030. And because the COVID-19 pandemic comes at a time when food insecurity was already increasing in the region”.

He noted that the pandemic and the related containment measures are especially damaging for Small Island Developing States, which heavily depend on food imports, and called on the countries in the region to step up efforts to make their food systems more efficient, healthy and sustainable, stressing that agri-food systems transformation should be country-owned and country-led.

For his part, the CFS Chairperson and Permanent Representative of Thailand to the Rome-based Agencies, Thanawat Tiensin, noted that the CFS Voluntary Guidelines on Food Systems and Nutrition are currently under negotiation by all CFS members and are expected to be adopted at the next CFS Plenary session in February 2021. He urged all stakeholders including governments, parliamentarians, private sector and civil society to improve cross-sectoral policy coordination and join efforts to turn policies into action.

During the event, the FAO Director-General and the CFS Chairperson were joined by Senator Jorge Pizarro of Chile, President of the Parliament of Latin America and the Caribbean (PARLATINO); Marisa Macari, El Poder del Consumidor, Mexico, Representative of the CFS Civil Society Mechanism; and Maria Nelly Rivas, Cargill, Representative of the CFS Private Sector Mechanism, as well as regional policy-makers and experts. 

The CFS was established in 1974, hosted by FAO, as an intergovernmental body to serve as a forum in the United Nations System for review and follow-up of policies concerning world food security. It is considered the most inclusive platform in the UN System.

In his closing remarks to the Regional Conference, the Chairperson and Minister for Agriculture and Livestock of Nicaragua, Edward Centeno Gadea, highlighted the importance of FAO’s work to support rural families, particularly the most vulnerable ones, and affirmed that “fighting against poverty is an act of peace.”

More information about the Regional Conference for Latin America and the Caribbean can be found here.

Latin America, SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Toluca, Mexico, establishes more than 150 Peace Centers

.. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION ..

An article from Diario Portal (translation by CPNN)

The municipal government of Toluca continues with firm steps towards its goal of building a more just society and with a culture of peace, in which the general well-being is promoted and violence is prevented. An example of this are the more than 150 Centers of Peace that it has established up to now.

Formed under the Municipal Plan for the Promotion of Peace, Development and the Environment at the initiative of Mayor Juan Rodolfo Sánchez Gómez, this project was implemented with trained people, called Agents of Peace and Development, who can meet the needs of each space promoting peace

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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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During the contingency due to COVID-19, municipal personnel have worked hard, with the necessary sanitary measures, and constituted 113 Peace Centers, 35 of them in schools including the “Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez” Elementary School in the evening shift, the Executive University of State of Mexico, the Paulo Freire School and the “David Paul Ausubel SC” Educational Institute, to name a few.

Likewise, eight children’s creches have joined including Carmen Rodríguez, Julieta Lechuga de Pichardo and Carmen Maza de Del Mazo; 12 delegations such as San Cristóbal Huichochitlán, Sánchez, Santa Cruz Atzcatpotzaltongo, San Felipe Tlalmimilolpan and La Maquinita; three churches such as the parish “San Pablo Apóstol” in San Pablo Autopan and the Capilla del Salvador in San Cristóbal Huichochitlán; 11 health centers, six clinics, six companies such as Manufactureras Qualy, three markets and the 26 libraries of Toluca.

These institutions are in addition to the Peace Centers established before the pandemic, 40 in total: 26 schools, five delegations, two churches and seven companies.

As part of the program, specialized municipal staff in the respective institution elaborate a diagnosis and the factors they wish to influence, to later establish a specific program designed to meet the needs of the population in each environment, in order to increase the factors to protect peace and to reduce risk factors.

DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION, Latin America

Five new digital media platforms for uncensored news from Colombia

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION

An article from Advox Global Voices (published under a Creative Commons Attribution-Only license (CC BY))

Colombia is one of the world’s most dangerous countries  for journalists and broadcasters.  Threats and harassment  by those involved in drug trafficking and armed groups are commonplace, and journalists frequently self-censor in order to avoid reprisals.


Photo by Ahdieh Ashrai/Flickr (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)

In addition, Colombian mainstream media’s close links to business empires and politicians undermine editorial independence, according to Reporters Without Borders. Most media outlets in Colombia are owned by only three conglomerates.

Recently, new media outlets have sprung up, challenging the traditional media monopolies. Below is a list of five independent digital media platforms in Colombia to follow.

Los Danieles, launched in April 2020

Every Sunday, three well-known journalists in Colombia, all of them named Daniel, read their columns live on social media. Their posts have become very popular: One recent video, which features the journalists Jorge Ramos and Enrique Santos Calderón  as guests, received over 65,000 views on YouTube. From November, the award-winning journalist Santos Calderón will officially remain as the fourth columnist of Los Danieles, which means “the Daniels.”

Los Danieles began after Daniel Coronell was fired in April 2020 from the Colombian magazine Semana for writing about the publication’s shareholders. On his last column  at Semana, he wrote: “Semana’s shareholders own the brand, its magnificent office building, the equipment, the furniture and fixtures, but not the information. The information is public property and can only be used for the benefit of the citizens, not for corporate retaliation.”

Coronell’s dismissal, which he announced on Twitter, sparked outrage on social media. He also gained the support of one of his colleagues, the writer and YouTuber Daniel Samper Ospina, who handed in his resignation to Semana out of solidarity with Coronell. Together they decided to set up an independent, virtual media platform and were later joined by the journalist and writer, Daniel Samper Piza.

The three Daniels named their column “Columnas sin techo” (“columns with no ceilings”), for having developed this project without sponsorships or assistance from any traditional media outlet. They say on their live broadcasts that their “techo” (roof) is made up of their following and readership, which have been increasing significantly.

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Question related to this article:

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

Journalism in Latin America: Is it turning towards a culture of peace?

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La Nueva Prensa, launched in March 2018

La Nueva Prensa, or “the new press,” whose motto is “la verdad sea dicha” (“truth be told”), is a news site created by Gonzalo Guillén.

The site has been very critical of the former right-wing president Álvaro Uribe Vélez, as well as President Ivan Duque’s government. La Nueva Prensa is supported by crowdfunding and donations by organizations.

This year, Guillén and other Nueva Prensa colleagues received death threats after reporting on the murdered drug trafficker Ñeñe Hernández, who was allegedly involved in a vote-buying scheme  in favor of President Duque at the latest elections.

Vorágine, launched in June 2020

Vorágine’s  slogan is “Periodismo Contracorriente” (“counter-current journalism”). The main aim of this new investigative journalism portal  is to highlight Colombia’s human rights violations. It was created by the journalists José Guarnizo, formerly an editor at Semana magazine, María José Jaramillo, Juan Sebastián López (Morphart), Angélica Penagos (Angie Pik), Laila Abu Shihab, Juan Pablo Barrientos, and Pacho Escobar.

Escobar stressed  that the objective of the new site, which was launched in the midst of the pandemic on June 1, is “to not do business with the state, not because that would be bad, but in order to stay independent.” The site is funded by the sale of tickets for workshops  and donations from readers.

Notiparaco, launched in December 2019

Notiparaco  is run by Levy Rincón, who invites a wide range of well-known personalities on to his live shows for open, uncensored debates on current affairs. Levy Rincón has received numerous threats but continues to conduct interviews and to speak out on social media against what he calls the dictatorship of the party led by the former president, Álvaro Uribe Vélez. Rolling Stone magazine described Levy as “one of the online personalities who speaks from the fringes without fear of those in power.”

The following video features an interview with the Colombian lawyer and activist Miguel Angel del Río, who also refers to the growing power of alternative media sources. Furthermore, del Río stresses the importance and potential of these new forms of media, as they are distinct and independent from the traditional media, which is influenced by the government. He calls for people to be critical and “to put everything under the microscope” in order to create a new model of society.

video : NOTIPARACO | Medida de aseguramiento para el Matarife ¡Por fin!

Tercer Canal, launched in March 2020

Tercer Canal’s slogan is “everything remains to be seen.” This YouTube channel features critical analyses of current affairs from a progressive perspective. It was co-founded  in March 2020 by Hollan Morris, a journalist and former candidate for Mayor of Bogotá who returned from self-exile in 2012, having left Colombia due to death threats. On his channel, he aims to “promote and value the 1991 Constitution of Colombia, a culture of peace that respects the environment and the defense of human rights.”

Through the use of a song, the following video draws attention to the Minga Indígena, a movement formed by indigenous peoples from across Colombia, in particular from the department of Cauca. At the end of October, the group traveled to the capital Bogotá with the aim of meeting President Duque, who chose not to receive them. The group demands the state puts a stop to the massacres of their communities and murders of their leaders.

Video : Vivimos juntos la travesía #LaMinga caminando la palabra.

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Colima, Mexico: Virtual Forum “University Fostering a Culture of Peace”

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from AF medios

The University Family Development Center (Cedefu) of the University of Colima, through the University Program for Culture for Peace, held the virtual forum “University Students Fostering a Culture of Peace”, with the aim of generating a space for dialogue and exchange of ideas regarding the construction of a culture of peace.

With the emphasis on the concept of “peacebuilding agents and strategies that promote a culture of peace”, the participating university students interacted by sharing their experience in this university program.

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(Click here for the original Spanish version).

Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

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In her speech, Alicia López de Hernández, general director of Cedefu, spoke about the importance of the participation of university teachers in this matter. “Students provide an example for the construction of peace. It is the students themselves who have a great challenge in this pandemic, which requires us to be at home without seeing our colleagues and teachers. Therefore, from Cedefu we unite our wills to carry out this challenge based on non-violence, self-esteem and attitude, which is what identifies university students ”.

The participating students agreed that when they speak of peace, the themes that stand out are tranquility, respect, tolerance and equality.

Present at the activity were the director of Human and Social Development of Cedefu, David Silva Martínez; the professor of the Baccalaureate 4 of the University of Colima, Octavio Juanarena Ventura, who produced the monologues Visions for peace, as well as the head of the University Program for the Culture of Peace, Fabiola Soto Estrada.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Comment by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on the Colombian Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition

… . HUMAN RIGHTS … .

A press release from the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights

“Transitional justice processes are among the most powerful instruments to overcome conflict and break with cycles of violence and impunity. This is why my Office fully supports the Colombian Comprehensive System of Truth, Justice, Reparation and Non-Repetition, which is the cornerstone of the historic Peace Agreement signed in 2016 between the Government – on behalf of the Colombian State – and the FARC-EP to put an end to more than 50 years of armed conflict.


Michelle Bachelet

 

Question related to this article:

Truth Commissions, Do they improve human rights?

What is happening in Colombia, Is peace possible?

Today I met with the Truth Commission, the Special Jurisdiction for Peace and the Search Unit for Persons deemed as Missing, the three mechanisms that together form the Colombian transitional justice system. I would like to acknowledge the significant achievements of these institutions, as well as the courage of all those who continue to work for the truth to be known. They are fulfilling a fundamental and unique role in ensuring victims’ participation and the realization of their rights to truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition.

Their contribution to the consolidation of peace in Colombia is essential. I urge the State authorities to unconditionally support and cooperate with the transitional justice system, and to guarantee the full independence of its mechanisms, including financial autonomy and the ability to operate in a safe and secure environment.

Truth and accountability for the crimes committed are crucial to restore the dignity of victims and to lead to reconciliation, for the benefit of the whole of Colombian society.”

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

HUMAN RIGHTS, Latin America, United Nations,

Quintana Roo, Mexico: Judicial Power for Culture of Peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article by Christian Trejo in Diario de Quintana Roo

SOLIDARIDAD, October 19.- The Judicial Power of Quintana Roo, through the Center for Alternative Justice and the Private Certification and Mediation Unit, is conducting, in coordination with the Judicial School, the training program “Training of Trainers in culture of Peace in the classroom and community ”.

The Directorate of the Family Strengthening Center, of the State DIF, promotes these courses —which are based on activities through games— to build a culture of peace, through conflict negotiation and resolution.

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Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

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This training provided by the Judicial Power of Quintana Roo, is aimed at public servants of the different dependencies and institutions such as the State Center for Social Crime Prevention and Citizen Participation, the Secretariat of Social Development, Institute for the Development of the Maya People and the Technical Secretariat of the Social Development Hub.

This program, which began on October 5th, will conclude on October 30 with a theme and modules related to “Presentation and Generalities”, “Basic strategies for improving Coexistence and Conflict Resolution”, “Conflicts and their educational potentialities ”,“ Conflict resolution and education in values ​​”,“ Activities in the Classroom for Trainers ”.

Other topics include “Mediation between peers at School and Community”, the “Basic Concepts”, “On the Tools Used in the Peaceful Resolution of Conflicts” and “On the Phases and Stages of the Hearings.”

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

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

‘Democracy Has Won’: Year After Right-Wing Coup Against Evo Morales, Socialist Luis Arce Declares Victory in Bolivia Election

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

An article by Jake Johnson from Common Dreams (licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License)

A year after former Bolivian president Evo Morales was ousted in a military coup that installed a brutal far-right regime, Morales ally Luis Arce declared victory in the South American nation’s high-stakes presidential election early Monday after exit polls showed the socialist candidate with a large advantage over his two main competitors.


Bolivia’s leftist presidential candidate Luis Arce of the Movement for Socialism party celebrates with running mate David Choquehuanca early on October 19, 2020 in La Paz, Bolivia. (Photo: Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP via Getty Images)

“Democracy has won,” Arce, who served as Morales’ finance minister, said in an address to the nation after one exit poll showed him leading the race with 52.4% of the vote and former president Carlos Mesa in a distant second with 31.5%. Right-wing candidate Luis Camacho—an ally of unelected interim President Jeanine Añez—won just 14.1% of the vote, according to the survey.

The Washington Post reported that “if the exit poll numbers are confirmed by the official count, which was being tabulated slowly late Sunday, it would be more than enough to avoid a November runoff and claim outright victory.”

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Question related to this article:

Why was Morales ousted from Bolivia by a coup d’etat?

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Arce characterized his apparently decisive victory, which even Añez was forced to acknowledge, as a mandate to continue the policies of the Morales government, which lifted millions of Bolivians out of poverty and expanded the nation’s economy.

“I think the Bolivian people want to retake the path we were on,” Arce said Monday.

Twice postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sunday’s election was a do-over of last year’s presidential contest, which was thrown into chaos after the U.S.-dominated Organization of American States (OAS) leveled baseless allegations of “fraud” by Morales, who was eventually forced to resign and flee the country under threat by Bolivia’s military.

The coup against Morales sparked a wave of Indigenous-led protests that were violently repressed by the Bolivian military and police forces, which were granted sweeping immunity from prosecution by the anti-Indigenous Añez government.

“The OAS allegations were indeed the main political foundation of the coup that followed the October 20 election three weeks later,” Mark Weisbrot, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, wrote last month. “But they provided no evidence to support these allegations—because there wasn’t any. This has since been established repeatedly by a slew of expert statistical studies.”

From exile in Argentina, Morales on Monday celebrated Arce’s apparent victory as a “great triumph of the people.”

“Brothers and sisters: the will of the people has been asserted,” Morales tweeted. “This is an overwhelming victory… We are going to give dignity and liberty back to the people.”

DISARMAMENT & SECURITY, FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION, Latin America

Mexico: Courses and training to build a culture of peace

. EDUCATION FOR PEACE .

An article from Tiempo (translation by CPNN)

In order to provide support to teachers in conflict resolution and education for peace, in addition to strengthening educational communities, the State DIF, in collaboration with the Subsecretariat of Education and Sports of the North Zone , offers courses and training to improve practices and school coexistence.

The Directorate of the Family Strengthening Center, of the State DIF, promotes these courses —which are based on activities through games— to build a culture of peace, through conflict negotiation and resolution.

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

Question for this article:

Is there progress towards a culture of peace in Mexico?

Where is peace education taking place?

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Marta Rodríguez, who is the coordinator of the Family Strengthening Center, mentioned that the methodology on which they are based to impart these trainings is a form of socio-affective learning that teaches adults to resolve conflicts.

In addition, this coordination offers other activities focused on eradicating violence including suicide prevention, reflections on parenting, violence prevention, positive parenting, personal care, family life, etc.

Those interested in these courses and materials can contact the telephone 629 3300, extension 55605, or email lizbethruizdif@gmail.com.

Currently, due to the health emergency facing the country, the courses are being carried out virtually, however, once the authorities of the health sector agree, it is intended to continue with the work in person.

EDUCATION FOR PEACE, Latin America

Latin America and the Caribbean: International Day of Peace

FREE FLOW OF INFORMATION .

A survey by CPNN

The following 29 events in 12 Latin American countries include those listed in Google during the week of September 21-28 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 50 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.


Photo from Colombia Mobilizes for Peace

CORDOBA, ARGENTINA

The Núñez Center today commemorates the Day of Peace and promotes the slogan “Forging peace together.” The Núñez Center also invites the judicial community to participate in the activities organized for this week by the “Open Chair Right to Peace and Coexistence in Diversity” of the Provincial University of Córdoba (UPC). The main objective of the proposals is to raise awareness and reflect on the need for the constant and multidimensional construction of peace. The activities agenda can be accessed at the following link: http://www.upc.edu.ar/2020/09/14/semana-de-la-paz-en-la-upc-construjando-paz-en -community/

ENTRE RIOS, ARGENTINA

Karina Medina is a teacher at Juan José Paso de Colón School No. 1, which was declared an Ambassador for Peace. “With the students we work on different projects according to the needs of each group,” she told Elonce TV. “At this moment, within the virtualida, we joined a project of Thousand Milleniums of Peace, called Por la Paz Soy Capaz de and the boys completed with their own reflections.”

PUERTO MADRYN, ARGENTINA

The mayor of Puerto Madryn, together with the “Fundación Coincidir” as Ambassador of Peace in Patagonia, raised the National Pavilion and the flag of Peace in the central building of the Municipality. Regarding the commemoration, the Mayor said that “it is to continue adapting to the circumstances that we live in this world today, it is about being present as a State and accompanying foundations or people who are involved in working for the common good. And this institution is a clear example of that, that is why it is essential that we continue to provide support because they are the ones that end up contributing to improving the quality of life in our community ”.

AQUARELA, BRAZIL :

CEIM Aquarela celebrates International Day of Peace.
The projects “Peace is the people that make”, “Living the Peace” and “For More Peace in the World”, carried out various activities according to the age of each child and with the objective of encouraging attitudes of care and love for others to grow with an awareness of values ​​that promote peace . . . The project started with a proposal from the school to the family to celebrate the date with very cool activities for the whole family to participate. Each family was asked to hang a white ribbon or ribbon or whatever they had at home on the car or motorcycle. Also make a poster representing peace and put it on your house window.

BAHIA, BRAZIL :

Brahma Kumaris MeditaBK app is relaunched with concert in honor of International Day of Peace. The Peace Concert takes place on September 20, Sunday, from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm as a free online activity. With musical performances, testimonials and messages from meditation practitioners, the concert aims to provide a rescue of that peace that already exists within each one, but which is overshadowed by the influences of external events, which we have no control over.

SANTA CATARINA, BRAZIL:

The 21st of September was declared by the UN as the International Day of Peace. To mark the date, the Secretariat for Prison and Socio-Educational Administration (SAP), through the Central of Penalties and Alternative Measures (CPMA) promotes, between the 21st and September 25th, the V Meeting of Hands Holding for Peace, with free online lectures that can be followed by Instagram @sapscoficial or by SAP’s YouTube at http://bit.ly/youtubesapsc. The event has the support of the Court of Justice and the Public Ministry of Santa Catarina.

OITO EM PONTO, BRAZIL :

To celebrate the International Day of Peace, the “Caravan of Peace” initiative takes place, an event with various activities related to topics such as mental health. This Friday (18th), the program Oito em Ponto counted on the participation of the psychologist and co-creator of the movement Rethinking Madness, and also coordinator of the Caravana da Paz Brasil, Ligia Esplendore.

SANTA INES, BRAZIL :

Annually, on September 21, the International Day of Peace is celebrated, instituted by the United Nations (UN) in 1981. More than thinking about peace, the initiative aims to motivate peace actions. And, engaged in this universal movement, every year, Colégio Santa Inês proposes a reflection and an action to mobilize the school community around the theme. In 2018, a thousand books were collected; in 2019, 1,000 food kits; and, this year, the goal is to share the record of a thousand solidarity and peace actions with the hashtag # OAmorÉOLaçoQueNosUneCSI.

SANTIAGO, CHILE

This September 21, on the International Day for Peace and Non-Violence, representatives of various religious doctrines, gathered at ADIR Chile, raised a prayer of faith with the hope of looking at the world with less fear and more confidence, expressing their intention to work together for a more just and dignified society for all people. The meeting took place via Zoom of at least 15 representatives of various religious expressions. Muhammad Rumié , president of the Chilean Association for Interreligious Dialogue for Human Development, thanked the attendees for their presence and expressed the need to achieve peace as a path to understanding.

BOGOTA, COLOMBIA

Protests in Bogotá during the International Day of Peace. Within the framework of this commemoration, the Bogotá Mayor’s Office allowed 20 different marches and sit-ins to take place . According to Luis Ernesto Gómez, Secretary of the Government, the marches this Monday were cited by different social organizations in nine points of the city, and will last until four in the afternoon by different routes.
Tens of thousands of people took part in the protests that were organized by student organizations, labor unions and indigenous organizations in all of the country’s capital cities. The protests that were mainly anti-war and against police violence.

CAJICA, COLOMBIA

In commemoration of the World Day of Peace .. Women and organizations of the braidedomosmas collective are starting to weave from the different territories of Colombia. We braid for a life without VIOLENCE, for social disarmament because we continue to embrace peace.

CAQUETA, COLOMBIA :

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE AND COMMEMORATION OF THE 4 YEARS OF THE SIGNING OF THE PEACE AGREEMENT
Conversation: Latin American experiences of peace: good practices and lessons learned for the local construction of peace
Speeches interspersed with video messages for peace.

COLOMBIA

Colombians from all over the country will march today in the context of the International Day of Peace to demand that the government comply with the Havana Agreement and put an end to violence in the country. It is hoped that it will be a great day of mobilization for unionists, politicians, students, peasants, ex-guerrillas and representatives of the most diverse sectors of society in this nation to join. Senator for Human Colombia Gustavo Petro invited for a calm demonstration and guaranteed that the more people who left for the march, the more non-violence will be guaranteed. This political movement agreed to take to the streets this September 21 for life and peace and appealed to its activists to unite peacefully across the country. Meanwhile, the Political and Social Coordinator of the Patriotic March asked the authorities to allow the people to express themselves at this demonstration and demanded guarantees to prevent events against the population, such as mistreatment, harassment, abuse and rape of women, among other requests . “For the right to life and against impunity, popular resistance and social mobilization”, insisted the organization. He called for uniformed personnel not to carry weapons during the mobilization and pointed out that all personnel assigned to the Colombian National Police present during the day of the mobilization must be fully identified. The end of the massacres, which total about 60 in the year, the end of the murders of social leaders, ex-guerrillas in the process of reintegration, indigenous people, women and LGBT people, and against police brutality, will be other requirements of Colombians. The organizers of the initiative invited people to light the streets and have five minutes of silence in peace, keeping their distance, using a mask and antibacterial gel to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

MEDELLIN, COLOMBIA :

September 21, 2020, World Day for Peace. El Sol Foundation for the 6 th consecutive year sponsors the traditional artistic and cultural march for peace in Medellin City. Antioquia. Colombia. This year the Foundation with its ambassadors World Leaders for La Paz develops programs in different cities of the world.

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What has happened this year (2020 for the International Day of Peace?

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SANGRE, COLOMBIA :

The Mi Sangre Foundation, which for 14 years has been working on different projects and initiatives for peace, respect for life, reconciliation and forgiveness, is linked on the International Day of Peace with various activities throughout the country. For the Foundation, one of the great challenges in 2020 is the pandemic, which they say, “evidenced the inequalities, the huge gaps and the challenges that they do not give wait as humanity ”. For this day, the Foundation bet on the global mobilization #Whatif (in Spanish # YSí) led by the Weaving Lab, and which reaches the country through organizations such as Fundación Mi Sangre, Fundación TAAP, Fundación Gratitud, Fundación OpePA, Colombia Take care of Colombia, Ashoka, among others. With the hashtag #Ysi, this day initiatives focused on education will be promoted. “A sector in which millions of boys, girls and young people, their families and educators currently live the anxiety of studying, completing tasks and evaluations, responsibilities and goals, amid an uncertainty that grows and affects their mental health.

UN MISSION IN COLOMBIA :

“The commemoration of the International Day of Peace is a great opportunity to forge peace together”, with these words, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, Special Representative of the Secretary General and Head of the United Nations Verification Mission in Colombia, takes a look to the path and construction of the peace that we are trying to strengthen in our country. . . The views and ties created with international organizations are of vital importance for any peace process. For Massieu, the commitments are well defined, since “we have a collective responsibility to continue with the implementation of the Peace Agreement signed in 2016. Peace cannot be a victim of the pandemic and on the International Day of Peace we remember that implementation of the agreements is not exempt from difficulties or challenges and Colombia, with the commitment of the parties and society, is advancing on the path towards the consolidation of a better country ”.

VILLA VICENCIO, COLOMBIA

With a symbolic reforestation carried out on the hill El Redentor, the Ministry of Environment of Villavicencio joined the commemoration of the International Day of Peace.
In the act that was presided over with a Eucharist, the departmental Human Rights Secretariat, the Ombudsman’s Office and all the social and environmental actors that have surrounded the recovery activities of the hill participated.

SAN JOSE, COSTA RICA :

San José, September 21, 2020. Far from being an impediment, the national emergency as a result of Covid-19 gave special motivation to the celebration of the International Day of Peace, which served as a framework for 35 young people from all over the The country will raise their voices during the seventh edition of the “Song for Peace 2020” contest, whose motto for this year was “Distanced but united”. This year, due to the national emergency facing the country due to COVID19, the “Song for Peace” contest was held virtually

CUBA :

Within the framework of the Conference “We have Memory, Solidarity against the Blockade and Terrorism”, the provincial delegation of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples in the province of Holguín, celebrates several activities in greeting to the International Day of Peace.

ESMERALDOS, ECUADOR :

Through the Directorate of Social Action, Inclusion and Participation DASIP, the Prefecture of Esmeraldas joined the commemorative events for the International Day of Peace. One of the most outstanding actions was the symbolic delivery of white doves to the people who passed through the exterior of the Esmeraldas Prefecture building, as well as inclusive talks held in coordination with the Equality Board. “We are spreading messages of kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. We are working for a culture of peace”, said Samuel Célleri.

SAINT MARTIN, GUADELOUPE

Last Monday, September 21 took place in the courtyard of Aline Hanson school at Sandy-Ground, in the presence of Patrice Puchal, acting director of the school, teachers and of course the 320 students of the 21 classes from CP to CM2, a ceremony organized by the educational team to celebrate the International Day of Peace. The 320 students, all dressed in white, gathered in the playground before all together forming the life-size word PEACE. The pupils hung on the branches of the olive tree, a tree symbol of peace planted by the Soroptimist Club in 2009, various small symbolic messages.
Portraits of great personalities who have worked for world peace have been displayed in the establishment, such as Martin Luther King, Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi, Malcolm X and many more. Video projections were also screened in class throughout the day.

HAITI

“Let’s shape peace together” is the theme around which the United Nations system in Haiti celebrated the International Day of Peace, this Monday, September 21, 2020. This event was held online via the Zoom platform with a panel composed of representatives of the UN, government and civil society.

JAMAICA

The International Day of Peace will be celebrated on Monday, September 21 under the theme ‘’Shaping Peace Together’ and will be marked with virtual activities organised by the Violence Prevention Alliance. . . . Turning to virtual activities plan for the day, Professor Ward said that the VPA will be hosting a Facebook Live session on ‘Music in the Homes’ in collaboration with the Child Protection and Family Services Agency. The session will showcase drumming pieces by wards of the state who have benefitted from the Drum Therapy Project, which was recently implemented in six children’s homes. It is scheduled to commence at 6:00 p.m. on the VPA’ Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/vpajamaica/.Persons are encourage to log on.

FRESNILLO, ZACATECAS, MEXICO

The International Day of Peace was celebrated in the facilities of the Municipal DIF (Desarrollo Integral de la Familia). . . The municipal president, Saúl Monreal, during his message, recognized his wife, Lupita Pérez, for the social work she does on behalf of the people of Fresnillo, since, through the Municipal DIF, they started programs such as the delivery of pantries, breakfasts, among others, to help vulnerable families in El Mineral, especially during the health contingency. . . At the event, they recognized the Children’s Village as well as the local Children’s Choir and Francisco Vanegas for their commendable work in promoting values through music. Subsequently, Saúl Monreal, mayor, and Lupita Pérez, honorary president of the DIF, symbolically released the dove of peace.

MICHOACAN, MEXICO

The College of Scientific and Technological Studies of the State of Michoacán (CECyTEM), commemorated the International Day of Peace on September 21. On the 25th anniversary of the creation of the CECyTE Michoacán, in October 2016, the educational subsystem was ratified with the Mega Flag and the flagging of its 93 schools. With this ceremony, the more than 22 thousand students of the School were incorporated into the “Together We Build Peace” Program. . . .the Flag of Peace is an important element and a badge that our young students proudly carry and that is always present in our institutional life,” said the state official.

PUEBLA, MEXICO

Within the framework of the International Day of Peace and as an exercise to make visible the importance of the participation of women in the creation of safe spaces, the Secretariat of Substantive Equality (SIS) held the discussion “Women in construction of peace ”, with the participation of the teacher Tania Sabugal Torres and the doctor Gloria Abarca Obregón.
In the virtual meeting, the two specialists defined peace in the current context and its construction from the gender perspective, mentioning that the participation of women is essential for the creation of exercise proposals that add up to both social and personal spheres.

TOLUCA, MEXICO

In order to sensitize and raise awareness among Toluca people about the importance of generating a healthy coexistence and promoting the Culture of Peace as a way of life, the municipal government of Toluca , chaired by Mayor Juan Rodolfo Sánchez Gómez , joined with various activities to commemorate the International Day of Peace. . . in a virtual way the Municipal Plan for the Prevention of the Environment of Peace and Development carried out the program “24 actions X peace “, in which from 9:00 to 18:00 hundreds of homes enjoyed a circuit to children, physical activation, musical interventions, art and many surprises in terms of reforestation, animal welfare and public and tourist spaces in Toluca.

ZAPOPAN, MEXICO

On the occasion of commemorating the International Day of Peace, the DIF Zapopan, through the Ludoteca network, shared a video explaining why this date was established by the United Nations (UN). The presentation is available in the toy library account.DIFZapopan on Instragram, on the YouTube website https://youtu.be/J44HPCJHYKc; as well as on the DIF Zapopan page on the Facebook social network. This material details the objective of strengthening the ideals of peace, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of living together in harmony, of collaborating for a better environment, with greater equality and respect, is pointed out.

ZIHUATANEJO, MEXICO

Our Peace Day Celebration will begin with a virtual tour of Ixtapa Zihuatanejo and our Peace Monuments. Then, we will celebrate with videos of:
Yoga for Peace
Indigenous dancers
Music performances
Peace Pals Children’s Art Exhibition< Peace Education in our schools Tourism and Peace Fashion show with traditional Afromexican dresses Peace messages from the Scouts and youth of Club Rotary Flags of the Nations Ceremony Virtual Peace Hugs! It will be a fun, 1-hour show to enjoy with your whole family! We are going to rock!

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President of Cuba’s National Assembly rejects efforts to restore unipolar world order

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An article from Granma

“During the pandemic, and despite international opposition, the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed on Cuba by the United States for six decades has been tightened. A genocidal blockade that not only violates the human rights of Cubans, including the legitimate right to development, while denying and offending the sovereign right of other countries to sustain relations with Cuba,” stated Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People’s Power, during the recent Fifth Conference of Parliament Presidents.


Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly

During the gathering, held online, Lazo, also a member of the Party’s Political Bureau, reiterated our country’s firm commitment to the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, that constitutes the foundation of multi-lateralism and a guide for international relations conducted by states.

“The democratization of international relations, and the culture of peace,” he continued, “require both recognition and respect, by all states, of the right of peoples to choose the economic, political and social system they consider appropriate, as well adherence to the principle of non-intervention in the internal affairs of other nations.”

“Cuban parliamentarians reaffirm that a truly strong and pro-active United Nations is needed, with a transparent Security Council that it duly democratized, and also a re-vitalized General Assembly, that supports states in the sovereign construction of the future each nation itself chooses, with no interference whatsoever,” he insisted.

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Lazo, the country’s top legislative authority, rejected attempts to restore a unipolar world order; the United States’ failure to abide by international commitments the country has made; and its attacks on multilateral bodies.
He referred to Cuba’s humanist vocation and solidarity, during these difficult times for the world, providing assistance in 43 countries to support the COVID-19 battle with medical collaboration.

“The National Assembly of People’s Power of Cuba reaffirms our commitment to continue working with parliamentarians around the world in the establishment of a democratic, just international order, that responds to the demands for peace, security, stability, development and social justice for all peoples and contributes to fulfillment of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda. At the same time, we demand that developed countries supply developing countries the necessary aid to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to advance toward more sustainable patterns of consumption and production,” Lazo stated.

“Cuban parliamentarians,” he added, “also defend international cooperation as the only way to confront global problems like climate change, terrorism and migration, that undermine peace. In this spirit, we condemn violations of the Charter and international law, including threats of the use of force against sovereign states, interventions, the imposition of unilateral coercive measures, and actions meant to provoke regime change, which jeopardize the maintenance of international peace and security.”

Lazo reiterated the Cuban government’s energetic, firm position rejecting and condemning all acts, methods and practices of terrorism, in all its forms and expressions.

He also noted, “The COVID-19 pandemic makes clear the need to pay attention to migrants’ health and sanitary conditions, as well,” adding that Cuba is strongly committed to safe, orderly migration, and aspires to a change in the current situation of inequality, inequity and poverty, to support a lasting solution to migratory problems.

Referring to the Conference’s central topic, the President of Cuba’s National Assembly emphasized that the representative body’s members support the principles that guide the country’s foreign policy, as codified in the Constitution of the Republic.

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