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

There are less than 100 days remaining to plan and create Peace Day observances and every minute counts. On Saturday, June 13,the United Nations issued a message to mark the 100 day countdown by announcing a multimedia campaign for nuclear disarmament! We have been attending IDP planning meetings at the United Nations in New York City and are excited about the new developments for this year. We will keep you informed as plans solidify.

It was reported in the media that Mick Jagger, Nas and Joss Stone, the Slumdog Millionaire Composer and Oscar winner A R Rahman, along with reggae legend Bob Marley’s sons Damian and Stephen, and possibly U2 ’s Bono are set to team up and create an album of peace songs. It will be released on Peace Day and proceeds will go to UN programs. With the help and support of these high profile artists, the 2009 International Day of Peace is set to make headlines this year!

>24 Hour World Peace Celebration

2009 will be the most inclusive International Day of Peace celebration ever produced.

The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) website will be the host for a global telecast for the United Nation’s 24 Hour World Peace Celebration.  The site will host video presentations and streaming videos of peacebuilders from all over the world! The web content will be subtitled in dozens of languages.  In additon, the event will be broadcast over the radio and by television!

The event will feature a one hour special highlighting the official International Day of Peace ceremony at the UN Headquarters in New York with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and high profile UN ambassadors for peace.

The event was initiated by the Unity Foundation in association with Pathways to Peace and the Jane Goodall Institute’s “Roots and Shoots” program.  We will keep you updated on this event as we progress!

Celebration Earth Peace Gathering:  Okinawa, Japan

The people of the beautiful island of Okinawa, Japan have faced a tragic history of war and conflict.  However, in recent history its people have been praying and organizing for world peace. Okinawa is now the home of “Celebration Earth“, a six-month festival for peace which encourages the ‘Peace Day, Every Day’ spirit envisioned by the Culture of Peace Initiative.

The festival’s events from April 1 to September 21 are helping to establish a model of international peace and inner peace.  The Culture of Peace Initiative is collaborating by helping to connect their message and events to the world!

We encourage you to take a look at their inspiring events so far on the Celebration Earth network .

Paul Coleman, Ambassador to CPI, is the co-founder of Celebration Earth.  You may follow an account of his experiences on his blog!

Check your 2009 calendar

Most of the 2009 calendars worldwide now have the Peace Day listed, thanks to our dedicated volunteer Director of the Peace Day Calendar Program, Melvin Weiner.  Go Melvin!

Check out the new videos on our home page produced by the Unity Foundation, who we are collaborating with in organizing the 24 Hour World Peace Celebration.  Their Positive Spinprograms provide solution-oriented news,  highlighting peacebuilding and humanitarian intiatives and people living under environmental exploitation and repressive regimes.

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