"Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

-George Santayana

This is a global call for a celebration of a Culture of Peace on the Full Moon, Saturday September 17 & 18, 2005. It is the weekend before the International Day of Peace, on 21 September.

In an age of global warming, disappearing rain forests, acid rain, a depleted ozone layer and the pollution of the air, land and waterways, it is imperative that we seek out solutions for the complex issues our planet is facing today.

Our ability to forgive is our most profound and precious gift. We believe that we can become a truly global people capable of creating "A Culture Of Peace" and celebrating our differences.

The more we open our hearts and minds to the elders of all races and cultures, and embrace their stories and their wisdom, the more truly educated we are.

Within each culture there are events to be proud of, and those we would like to forget. Instead of ignoring our inhumanities to other races and cultures, the time has come to recognize the belief systems and attitudes we still have about each other, attitudes that are rooted in prejudice, racism, inaccurate assumptions, historic hatreds and traditional conflict. By embracing the bad along with the good, we can arrive at the beginning of healing and forgiveness.

If peace is to prevail on earth, we need to encourage an accurate and truthful recording of all of our cultural histories. Knowing where they came from, our children will then be able to move from mere tolerance of differences to respect, wonder and honor of diversities. They can appreciate their own uniqueness and also see the likenesses that they share with other cultures. The outcome will be mutual respect and understanding.
Only then can we begin the steep ascent to a higher level of responsibility.

Our ability to love and to forgive is what sustains us when all else fails. Our past must be preserved as treasures and given to our future generations as a gift. Once they are understood and forgiven, we have cleared the way for a world in which our children's children's children will live without war. A world without hunger. A world without greed, racism, religious intolerance or oppression. No genocide, no atrocities, no physical or mental abuse. A clean environment in harmony with nature. A Culture of Peace.

"Whatever befalls the earth, befalls the people of the earth.
Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it.
Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself."
-Chief Seattle

To join in the celebration of this weekend of peace, you are warmly invited to create your own observance or take part in any of the following events:

Prayer Vigil for the Earth, Washington, DC

IMAGINE PEACE FESTIVAL, Amenia, NY 

International Day of Peace Vigil,

Central Park, NY

 

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!

The Wittenberg Center For Alternative Resources is a publicly supported, non-profit organization which brings environmental, spiritual and indigenous leaders together with policy makers for the purpose of creating a sustainable future for generations to come.

Reverend Betsy Stang