A Call To Peace Peace gathering at The World Peace Sanctuary, Wassaic, NY-USA
September 25th, 2010
A Call To Peace in honor of the International Day of Peace (IDP),
is an annual peace gathering held at The World Peace Sanctuary, headquarters of The World Peace Prayer Society and home of The Peace Pole Project.
September 21st marks the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, designated by resolution in 1982 for the purpose of highlighting efforts to end conflict, cease fire and promote peace.
Native American Prayers
We felt that this year is a particularly important year to recognize the absolute necessity of everyday peace work in our lives. The emphasis reflected in A Call To Peace 2010 theme, in relationship to IDP, with offering 4 Peace Poles, handcrafted at The World Peace Sanctuary designated for Afghanistan. Attendees were invited to submit written prayers for the people of Afghanistan. The prayers were sent along with the Peace Poles that will be dedicated in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Prayers for Afghanistan with Mr. Royesh from Marefat School, Afghanistan
The day in its entirety was truly a magnificent! Mother Nature blessed us with a perfect summer-like day as did the 74 plus youth who participated in our Program, such as the Nepalese dancers and young Chinese singers, the local Hudson Valley Girl Scouts and Peace Pals group from Connecticut!
Each year, our gathering is held under the canopy of a century-old Walnut Grove, where people join in prayer ceremony for the indigenous peoples of The United States of America. More than 200 Native American Nations were honored as each tribal name was announced and blessed by the attendees, praying May Peace Prevail On Earth for the ancestors of USA, followed with prayers for the 50 USA states and its territories.
Prayers for the 50 U.S. States
The Finale, a beautifully orchestrated World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremony, in which flag bearers carried a national flag representing the 195 countries of the world, as participants proudly proclaimed May Peace Prevail On Earth for the people and land in each country.
Prayers for the World
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS:
This year marks the 13th Annual Peace Pals International Art and Award Ceremony. Names of the winners in each of the 4 categories were announced. All artwork submissions were beautifully displayed on panels for all to enjoy.
To view the winning entries, please visit: www.wppspeacepals.org.
Guest Speakers:
Aziz Royes from Marefat High School, Kabul, Afghanistan
Gloria Waslyn, with her Peace Parrots: Merlin, Baby and Peace-nik
Pushkar Shah from Nepal -Who traveled around the world, then riding a bicycle in 143 countries to spread the message, May Peace Prevail On Earth.
Ananta Risal, Friends of Nepal
The Program was complete with entertainment:
Special songs and peace message from the Chinese-American children
Peace songs and music, provided by Chris Farrell, Aliza Hava, Caitlin Keeler, Cecelia St. King and Nathan Mandracchia
Demonstration of traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
Peace Pals Presentation from Black Rock School and Longfellow School in Connecticut
Nepalese Drums & Dance, Japanese dance and Hawaiian dance
The activities for Children and Adults, included:
Tea Ceremony
Beading, Piece by Peace, Origami Peace Cranes, Face Painting, Pinwheels for Peace
Display of Onagadori Exotic Chickens from Japan
The grove area was sprinkled with a variety of non-profit organizations and its members who came to share their work and contribution toward Peace and Harmony for All Life on Earth.
The Finale also included the release of the beautiful Monarch Butterflies by Pat du Plessis, from Rainbow’s End Butterfly Farm.
It was a very sacred ceremony and symbolic to our existence, enveloping humanity, nature and mother earth in the process of metamorphosis, reminding us that transformation is possible, as is manifesting the Universal Prayer and Message,
May Peace Prevail On Earth!
Ann Marie Robustelli
The World Peace Prayer Society, Headquarters
Wassaic, New York-USA