Concert for Peace Sept. 13th

Concert for Peace Sept. 13th
Heart Phoenix
September 2008

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by a United Nations Resolution and it is celebrated on September 21 of each year. The observance is to be a day of strengthening the ideals of peace and alleviating tensions and causes of conflict the world over and to cooperating with the United Nations in establishing a global ceasefire.

More than 1700 organizations in over 175 nations are planning Peace Day activities with a wide array of actions that contribute to a culture of peace.

I am so grateful to live in Gainesville, a city that continues to grow a healthy, dedicated and diverse peacebuilding community. All through the year, there are people who actively give of themselves to assure that others may have a more meaningful existence.

And so it is when I and others speak of the lack of peace, we are not limiting it to international conflicts but we take into account the struggle of so many of us to improve the quality of our lives at home, our institutions, our environment, our government and our planetary future.

In Gainesville, we use the days leading up to September 21 as an opportunity to offer a variety of events to inspire, educate, celebrate and transform our city and the world.

The Peace Forum which is a collaborative body of folks from many different local organizations meets monthly at the Civic Media Center and this group has helped to focalize the various strategies that each group uses to fulfill their mission.

On September 13 at the Downtown Plaza several peace organizations have come together in yet another collaborative effort to produce a free Concert for Peace from 5 PM -- 10 PM. This is a landmark occasion for the City of Gainesville and will feature live music, a unique on-screen peace presentation, informative booths and food and refreshments.

Contact: , 352-494-6235, or 352-375-3539

The North Central Florida Department of Peace Campaign is planning their annual "Walk for Peace" walkathon! It's a fun, creative, dynamic way to raise awareness of and funds for the campaign to establish a Cabinet Level U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence. This walk will be on September 20 at 9 AM starting at Westside Park, walking to the graffiti wall where we will have a hands on experience and then back to the park. Contact:

It's very exciting for us to see the benefits of local peacebuilders working together hand in hand to manifest the world we all long to live in.