Today’s post is a guest blog from Volunteers for Peace:

Volunteers For Peace (VFP) provides an opportunity to hundreds of people every year, to work for peace throughout the year.

I participated in my first voluntary service project in 1990 in Rutland, Vermont. We were a microcosm of the world; 12 volunteers from 8 countries living together for three weeks while renovating a huge house into a half-way house. The frequent  conversations with Russians, Czechs, Germans, Slovaks, Italians and others about our dreams for the future, the environment, the cold war, the purpose of religion, and life provided a unique perspective for viewing local and international events throughout my life.

VFP offers over 3000 international voluntary service projects in more than 100 countries each year. Many of these take place in the summer months and all of them offer affordable opportunities to learn about other cultures and places while working together on a common project. Fast and deep friendships are also a part of every program and the result is a world without borders. VFP projects build a world where there is no “us” and “them” because you become one. They make it impossible to hear about a natural disaster in Thailand, or an overthrow of the President in Kazakistan, or what the French think of Americans and not wonder if your friends are involved. International programs and friendships change lives.

These international projects (you can view them at www.vfp.org) also enhance peace by attacking poverty, one of the fundamental causes of distress and violence. Programs often have participants helping provide services and structures that simply would not be possible without the time and energy of dedicated volunteers. What could be more powerful than building a school in Ghana, or helping with relief work in Haiti, building AIDS awareness in Vietnam, or helping with a drama camp for less advantaged kids in Italy?

As we move toward another International Day of Peace I am eagerly awaiting my next group of volunteers who will descend on Shelburne, Vermont for three weeks this summer. I can’t wait for the conversations, shared meals, common dreams and friendships that will grow as we work together and discover or common desires. Having organized and participated in many projects I can say it is true; wherever you are and whoever you are the most basic dream is to live in peace.

Megan Brook

Interested in Youth and Education?  We invite you to look at a Pathways to Peace Education program submitted by the Shanti Fund from 2009!

Volunteers of Shanti Fund and school administrators from Long Island collaborated to carry out Peace programs in their schools, with each school representing a unique theme from the Peace Wheel!

We would love to hear of your Peace practices! Will you share your “Peace Practice” with us on our online community?  We’ll post some of our favorites on this blog!

Activities being suggested/planned are interconnected pathways that transcend nationality, ethnicity, race, religion, age or gender.  This may be reflected in any of the following sub-themes:

1.  Peace through Culture and Diversity

2.  Peace through Economy and Business

3.  Peace through Education

4.  Peace through Environment and Habitat

5.  Peace through Governance/Law/Security

6.  Peace through Health and Relationships

7.  Peace through Literacy

8.  Peace through Media

9.  Peace through Music

10.  Peace through Religions and Spiritual Teachings

11.  Peace through Science and Technology

Read more!

13 June 2010

U N I T E D N A T I O N S
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

One hundred days from today, the world will mark the International Day of Peace – a day on which armed conflict is meant to be stilled… a day on which we appeal to combatants to observe a ceasefire… a day on which we reaffirm commitment to non-violence and the peaceful resolution of disputes.

This year’s observance, which takes place on 21 September, focuses on youth and development, under the slogan: “Peace = Future.”

Young people already play a crucial role in working for peace. Yet I know they can do even more. So this International Day comes with a challenge for young people everywhere: Expand on your work to build peace. Share your plans and ideas, with creativity and passion. The world’s concerns will soon be in your hands.

This year, the International Day of Peace coincides with the Summit I am convening to boost progress towards the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Achieving the goals is essential for ending armed conflict and building sustainable peace. I hope the voices of young people will be heard at the Summit and in the run-up to it.

Over the next 100 days, I urge young people to plan projects that can help create the conditions for peace in their communities, in their schools, in their countries. We need your voice and commitment, and we will share your stories with the world.

As we start the countdown to the International Day of Peace, we recognize two truths: Only in a peaceful environment will young people realize their full potential – and young people have the potential to start building that peaceful world today.

Every year, youth from around the world celebrate the International Day of Peace at the UN.

Dear Culture of Peace Initiative Participants (CPI),

The UN Department of Public Information, along with a number of NGOs around the world, have chosen the theme Youth, Peace and Development for this year’s observance of the International Day of Peace.  The concept behind this is to connect the Millennium Development Goals and the UN International Year of Youth with the International Day of Peace.  The Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s) are based upon the premise that development must be for peace.  A summit on the Millennium Development Goals will be held at UN headquarters Sept. 20 - 22; www.un.org/millenniumgoals .  As part of this, the Stand Up Campaign has shifted its three day worldwide mobilization to Sept. 17-19; last year over 100 million people participated in this event. www.standagainstpoverty.org

Due to the MDG summit, the UN ceremonies for the International Day of Peace will take place on Friday, Sept. 17th.  These will include the annual ringing of the Peace Bell by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the student observance, and possibly student participation in the Stand Up Campaign.

100-Day Countdown

The UN’s 100-Day Countdown to the IDP begins on June 13th.  Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will deliver a message about the International Day of Peace, during which he will ask all nations and people to prepare for this year’s observance.  Some of the UN Messengers of Peace - celebrities and world leaders - will also be involved.

Will you join us in the 100 Day Countdown?

We are asking member organizations of the Culture of Peace Initiative to conduct their own 100-Day Countdowns in order to engage your networks to also make plans for this occasion.  Among us, all segments of civil society will be involved in this process, including: religious and volunteer groups; NGO’s representating many aspects of Peacebuilding - from care of the environment to promoting human rights; educational institutions; local and grassroots organizations; families and private citizens; businesses and professionals; and the media.

This year marks the close of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace.  Let us use this occasion to set the stage for a more widespread and universal observance of the International Day of Peace in future years - observances that showcase sustainable solutions and create practical acts of Peacebuilding.

2010:  Africa’s Year of Peace and Security

The African Union has asked it’s 53 nation members to observe the International Day of Peace this year - among all nations, cultures and families.  The African Union expects that a day of ceasefire in conflict zones will allow for humanitarian relief, such as vital food, water, mosquito nets and other emergency supplies to be provided to people in those areas.  2010 is Africa’s “Year of Peace and Security” which will culminate on the International Day of Peace, and enable Africans to continue making Peace through education, awareness-raising and empowerment.

Presenting…  the CPI Report on Peace Day 2009!

Michael Johnson of Pathways To Peace presented the 2009 annual report of the Culture of Peace Initiative on the International Day of Peace to the UN in April.  This report is available at www.internationaldayofpeace.org and www.cultureofpeace.org. View the report by regions around the world! http://bit.ly/cpi_reports

CPI Online Community

In the run up to the 100 day countdown, we encourage you to make connections through the CPI online community: http://bit.ly/cpi_group.  The group includes an ever-growing list of more than 500 organization profiles and peacebuilding resources and solutions.  The group map can show you Peacebuilders and organizations from around the world, who are part of the CPI network!  Our community is hosted on WiserEarth.org, now available in French, Spanish and Portuguese!

Please join and make your presence known on - the International Day of Peace Facebook page. Can you help us reach 20,000 people this week?

Michael Johnson represented Pathways To Peace at the recent UN Summit of Indigenous Peoples on April 20 and plans to encourage indigenous cultures worldwide to observe the International Day of Peace.

You are a pathway to Peace!

Listed below are responses we received to our question, “How will you make Peace with the Earth?”.  We must all learn to live - mindful of our relationship with all living beings on the Earth, the one home we have.    We must do more to honor the Earth.  As Chief Seattle said, what we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves.

We recycle and have a compost pile for our garden. We use less and less plastic. & the plastic we get from out shopping is reused before it is recycled. We buy less and less and live more simply. We will not put chemicals on our lawn. - Dana Meckstroth-Brown

Although we live in London we have created our nature garden with a pond, bird feeders/animal homes etc and planted nothing but wild flowers to encourage the cycle. My grandchildren love it as I try to pass on the message about protecting our Earth for the future generations…. My biggest concession? I gave up my car and now we only use public transport or our bikes! Earth day should not be just one day but EVERY DAY! - Nicky Harwood Ditto Dana

In addition to my own recycling and personal shrinking footprint, we have created a Green Committee at the school where I teach. Over this school year, we have raised awareness of the elementary students there. We will hold a campus clean up on Earth day, but recycle and conserve everyday! - Esta Levine

Now, if we could only get all the businesses to get pollution under control and to recycle, we might have this thing licked! We’ve been recycling for many years, but more action is needed. - Marie Zarankevich

We have a recycling effort through our church. We have a newspaper collection every week, from the congregation and from the church office. Even picking up from a nearby nursing home, we collect printer ink cartridges for recycling. At home I use green cleaning products and learning to use Insects to keep my gardens healthy. Every little bit helps, and no matter how much you do, you can always do more. Challenge yourself to find a new green way everyday! - Bette-Jo Fordham

When I walk my dog, I (sometimes) take a trash picker thing with me and a bag to pick up the litter.. its always full before I get home! - Eva Maria Caraher

It is important to have respect for and build peace with all parts of our environment - earth, water, air, plants, animals, people and systems. To be conscious of and present in our relations with all of these….. On Earth Day I will be at the UN attending planning meetings for Peace Day - Melvin Weiner