This year the worldwide observances of the International Day of Peace will be more widespread and universal than ever.  There will be thousands of Peacebuilding events and activities in all nations and on all levels of society: from religious organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit organizations (human rights, environmental, cultural, civic, etc.), to governments & their agencies, businesses & professionals and the media - as well as numerous smaller observances organized by private citizens, friends, families and villages.  Hundreds of millions of people are expected to participate in these observances this year.  This is due in part because, beginning this year, the International Day of Peace is listed on hundreds of millions of calendars all over the world!

This is your opportunity to literally ’seize the day’, and create or conduct a meaningful Peacebuilding event.  It is also an opportunity to promote your particular aspect of Peacebuilding - whether it is disarmament, children’s advocacy, humanitarian relief, volunteer work or other such worthwhile cause.  Please post your events onto the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) web site:  www.cultureofpeace.org .  Note, all events posted on the CPI website, also show up on the companion International Day of Peace web site:  www.internationaldayofpeace.org .  Millions of people visit these sites, especially in September, and use them to learn about the various paths of Peacebuilding, and also to locate events all over the world.  By promoting your event and Peacebuilding projects you are helping to build a year round Culture of Peace for all of humanity.

Join the CPI community at Peacebuilding.ning.com

We encourage you to join CPI’s newly created online community space at peacebuilding.ning.com.  It is a place for Culture of Peace Initiative Participants all over the world to connect with each other - and easily share peace event pictures, videos, and blog posts!  Please document your Peace events throughout the year and see what peacebuilders around the world are doing!  Paul Coleman (Ambassador ofCPI) and his partner Konomi, have invited the Celebration Earth network to the site and are helping to administer our new CPI community.

During a Peace Day planning meeting at the United Nations an official suggested that we ask the CPI Participants who are on Twitter to follow the UN’s WMD We Must Disarm campaign.  This effort focuses on Peacebuilding through disarmament.  Here is the link:  http://twitter.com/wemustdisarm

For those who use Facebook, there is a group of thousands of supporters at:  www.facebook.com/peaceday .  There are daily posts featuring Peace Day events, videos and inspirational news.  We encourage you to share your own events, ideas,  and links by posting on our wall!

Canada recognizes the International Day of Peace

CPI participant Jean Trudell reported that the government of Canada has officially declared September 21 of each year the International Day of Peace.  His organization, Cercle de Paix, just launched a very creative way to promote the International Day of Peace.  View it on this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiSA1xHr5Ag

Burkina Faso Concert

The BARKA Foundation is planning a major event in Burkina Faso Africa in observance of the Peace Day.  Their goal is to raise funds and drill wells that will provide fresh water to villages there.  www.thebarkafoundation.org/current-projects/peacedayconcert

There are many more events, news features and ideas on our web sitewww.cultureofpeace.org.   Our goal is to make the CPI web site a valuable tool and resource for all Participants.  Plus, because the events listed there also show up on the International Day of Peace website, this site is also a resource for all of humanity to participate in this worldwide observance of Peace.

Thank you, CPI Participants, for your dedication to building a culture of Peace for future generations on Peace Day and every day.

CPI Coordinator Michael Johnson, CPI Outreach Intern - Michael Kwan
Pathways To Peace is the International Secretariat for the Culture of Peace Initiative