Each year the United Nations International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21st. The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. We all have a role to play in fostering peace. We can work to dismantle the structures that entrench racism in our midst. We can support movements for equality and human rights everywhere. We can speak out against hate speech – both offline and online. We can promote anti-racism through education and reparatory justice.
2019 Theme: Climate Action for Peace (ARCHIVED)
Lake Chabot
Saturday September 21, 2019, 11:30am to 1pm
Summary of the day:
- Warm welcome and greeting of each other in 10+ languages (Good morning! and Peace)
- Delicious lunch catered by Ana Villalobos
- Blowing of the shofar (ram’s horn) by Diana Zankowsky, Congregation Shir Ami
- Short intro of the 38th annual UN International Day of Peace and our 2nd annual World Peace Day celebration at Lake Chabot. Intro by Julie Greenfield, President of the Eden Area Interfaith Council; Mona Koh, EBRPD; Leslie Brown, Samuel Merritt University.
- Welcoming blessing by Rev. Stevie Stennis, Oakland Sutter Memorial Hospital and Gurmeet Singh, Gurdwara Sahib, Hayward
- Guitar music, singing, drumming by Bruce Burger, Kokou Katamani, Diana Ray Ryan, Gerry and Noah Tenney
- Climate Action speakers including high school student, GemRay (Cenra) Gonen, San Ramon
- Breakout session to discuss ways we practice peace in our community and homes
- Warm up exercises led by Physical Therapy students, Samuel Merritt University
- 1.5 hr. walk alongside the lake, led by EBRPD Board Director Dennis Waespi
- Lake tour on the Lake Chabot Queen boat
People from diverse cultures and faith traditions came together, in a beautiful park setting, to appreciate each other, to celebrate peace, and to make resolutions to make the world a greener and better place - a more sustainable home for humans, animals, and plants.
Our sponsor: the Regional Parks Foundation.
Community partners: Eden Area Interfaith Council and Samuel Merritt University/Ethnic Health Institute.
Resources
» https://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/index2019.shtml
» https://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/sgmessage.shtml
Our Community's Pledge for Peace
- We pledge to build a just, loving, compassionate, and inclusive world that embraces diversity, including age, race, gender, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientation, religions, and political leanings.
- We pledge to see and respect each other. We welcome and value diverse cultures, faith traditions, and perspectives.
- We pledge to do more listening to better understand one another - siblings, children, parents, colleagues, neighbors, and community members.
- We pledge to reject violence including bullying and racism; and we stand in support of anyone or community being targeted.
- We pledge to protect and heal our life-giving lands, forests, rivers, oceans, wildlife, and habitats.
- We commit, every day, to do our best to be active peace builders in our schools, workplaces, communities, parks, cities, and our world.