International Day of Peace

Inherent in the prayer of the Indigenous Nations of Turtle Island is the deep knowledge that we are all connected –my people in the east say GINAWAYDAGANUC. The prayer is a celebration of the profound knowledge that we are connected with the each other, as well as with the chief elements–Mother Earth, Water, Air and Fire–the animate and inanimate, the plants and animals and the larger universe, connected energetically.

Spirit embraces and unifies us all.

Inherent in the prayer is a deep respect for both Mother Earth, the penultimate provider and nurturer, and all her children. The prayer is a constant reminder to honor this connectedness, and walk gently in the places of our differences, for those are the places of co-creation.

But across the globe, our relationship with Mother Earth and each other has been disrupted, and storms and blood despoil our world. When the new peoples arrived in this continent, they were too often motivated by greed, the realities of the day were war and genocide, and the ramifications were environmental exploitation and destruction; my ancestors were nearly all destroyed. Today, three documentaries of the present day–”Corporation,” “Fahrenheit 911″ and “An Inconvenient Truth”–show that we are embroiled in the same struggles at a global level.

We are now all feeling the impact of the environmental crisis that has resulted from the reckless exploitation of land, water and air, in escalating climate change; lands and peoples across the world are embroiled in desperate wars; and health is a primary concern across the world, no matter how privileged we might seem to be, for life itself is under attack.

Today, the Law of Nature is revealing herself as the great equalizer on all planes, with ominous implications for us all and for future generations. But still too often, we see the issues as separate. We need to realize how deeply interconnected they are in order to develop a new blueprint for our collective future. These charts illustrate this point.

Our ancestors always knew that all things were connected, and our ancient prophecies told them that one day, all the world would one day come to us to learn this. I have been the Carrier of the ancient sacred Seven Fires Prophecy Wampum Belt for almost 40 years. This prophecy, known to many peoples across the world, told of the important choices we would have to make at the time of the Seventh Fire, choices regarding our relationship with Mother Earth and each other, and that time is upon us. We have to choose wisely to ensure a meaningful heritage for all humanity and life forms.

A global shift in our value base is essential. We need to move from greed and corporate domination to generosity and sharing; from fear and war to racial harmony and peace building; and from relentless environmental exploitation to the three indigenous Rs–respect, responsibility and reverence for Mother Earth.

We need to inspire people across the world to embrace these values urgently. This is the great challenge of our times–this is what the Seven Fires Prophecy warned about. It is the task for which we have to strengthen ourselves collectively. The transformation comes from within first; then, recognizing that we are all connected, we reach out to transform our brothers and sisters and leaders. We strive to humanize institutions. I hold a vision for an Indigenous Centre where we can all come together to animate this future. (www.asinabka.com)

When we come together with one heart, one love, one mind and one determination, and breath our prayers and energy into the International Day of Peace, we will be creating the pathway to a Circle of All Nations, a Culture of Peace.

I attach my prayer for peace upon the commencement of the International Decade for a Culture of Peace for your consideration. I continue to pray for its realization.

–Megwetch

Grandfather William Commanda, a 94-year-old Algonquin Elder, is the carrier of the Sacred Seven Fires Prophecy Wampum Belt and founder of A Circle of All Nations.

This Sept. 21, please take a moment at noon to join with millions around the planet and, in your tradition, spend a few moments in praying or meditating for peace for this magical world, all the generations to come and all our relations. May peace prevail on Earth.

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A Four Directions call for the International Day of Peace

On Sunday September 21 2008, the world will observe The International Day of Peace.

This is a call to all people of spirit who wish to join in a global linkage for Peace as noon rolls across the planet on the vernal Equinox. We request that you add to your observances a minute of chanting the sound of "MA" in appreciation for the Earth, her gifts and all her children.

In all traditions, "MA" is the root sound for mother, "AH" is the sound of appreciation.

The goal is to help create a wave of healing resonance that will sweep across the planet. It is a time of great peril and trauma on this fragile world. Can we, for a moment, come together with one heart, one mind, one voice and one intention in a tone of healing?

Please in whatever spiritual tradition you are gathering for the International Day of Peace, please commit to a moment of global unity for all our relations.

For more information on the International Day of Peace and portals for this event, in the coming weeks, please go to www.internationaldayofpeace.org, www.idpvigil.com, www.uri.org, www.care2.com, www.TheTempleofSacredSound.org.

This is a co creative event. Your participation, networking and input are welcome.

"We are the ones we have waited for"

May Peace Prevail on Earth

Rev Betsy Stang
The Wittenberg Center for Alternative Resources
www.wittenbergcenter.org

bebird@aol.com

Annie B Bond, Executive Editor

Healthy & Green Living, Care2

annie@earth.care2.com

Monica Willard

United Religions Initiative UN representative

Co- Chair International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the United Nations

Deborah Moldow

The World Peace Prayer Society

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International Day of Peace Vigil www.idpvigil.org

In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly established the International day of Peace (IDP). It was in 2001, that the GA modified the resolution (A/RES/55/282) and designated September 21st as the annual date of the International Day of Peace.

The intention of the resolution is to have the entire world observe a day of peace and nonviolence. All peoples and organizations are invited to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner.

An ever-expanding number of people worldwide, representing a wide variety of religious and spiritual traditions, have committed to the task of working with other like-minded individuals and groups for an International Day of Peace Vigil with the following objective:

"To encourage worldwide, 24-hour spiritual observations for peace and nonviolence on the International Day of Peace, 21 September in every house of worship and place of spiritual practice, by all religious and spiritually based groups and individuals, and by all men, women and children who seek peace in the world."

This global 24-hour spiritual observation for peace is meant to demonstrate the power of prayer and other spiritual practices in promoting peace and preventing violent conflict. These worldwide spiritual observances will also help raise public awareness of the International Day of Peace and directly support the establishment of a global ceasefire. Individuals and groups are invited to support this worldwide initiative by committing to hold a 24-hour vigil on 21 September. www.idpvigil.org

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Letter issued by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon regarding International Day of Peace

Dear friends,

Peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs. It is also the United Nations’ highest calling.

It defines our mission. It drives our discourse. And it draws together all of our worldwide work, from peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy to promoting human rights and development.

This work for peace is vital. But it is not easy. Indeed, in countless communities across the world, peace remains an elusive goal. From the displaced person camps of Chad and Darfur to the byways of Baghdad, the quest for peace is strewn with setbacks and suffering.

September 21, the International Day of Peace, is an occasion to take stock of our efforts to promote peace and well-being for all people everywhere.

It is an opportunity to appreciate what we have already accomplished, and to dedicate ourselves to all that remains to be done.

It is also meant to be a day of global ceasefire: a 24-hour respite from the fear and insecurity that plague so many places.

Today, I urge all countries and all combatants to honour this cessation of hostilities. And I ask people everywhere to observe a minute of silence at noon local time.

As the guns fall silent, we should use this opportunity to ponder the price we all pay due to conflict. And we should resolve to vigorously pursue ways to make permanent this day’s pause.

On this International Day, let us promise to make peace not just a priority, but a passion. Let us pledge to do more, wherever we are in whatever way we can, to make every day a day of peace.

Thank you.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

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Note: If you would like to add your name and /or organization to this call, for now, please email bebird@aol.com. We will keep you updated as the websites are updated.

An Elder’s Prayer for Peace