Buenos Aires, Argentina— On August 27, UPF-Argentina hosted the 2017 Peace Road (1) under the banner, “A Caring, United Argentina.” The opening ceremony was held in front of the National Congress.
The arrival point was the Floralis Genérica sculpture in Plaza Naciones Unidas (Recoleta). White and blue balloons were launched while the street band called “Los impresentables de Flores” danced. At the end, everyone enjoyed a delicious cake decorated with the Peace Road symbols (2) (Video review: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpALmlc1wRo).
As a gentle rain came down, the entire march was carried out without any problems. Traffic officials guided our participants along the route. We passed by three national government offices: Congress, Pink House (President’s office) and Palace of Justice (Supreme Court). In Plaza de Mayo, we were joined by some notables, including CILSA member Alejandro Fernández (CILSA is an NGO which promote the rights of people with disabilities.) In the Tribunales district, where the Supreme Court is located, Pastor Alba Rosa Contardo offered a prayer for peace. A minute of silence was observed to remember victims of injustice, then, everyone prayed according to their own tradition.
Thirty bicycle riders crossed the four cardinal points of the city: Parque Centenario, Parque Patricios, Plaza de Mayo and Recoleta (2). A group of adolescents and young people traveled the entire route (20 km).
Representatives(4) of the supporting organizations(3) joined with our group including recently appointed Ambassador for Peace Silvia Carranza, president of the executive committee of CILSA, who did most of the route in a wheelchair. In front of the National Congress, the Deputy Carolina Estebarena gave the diploma of the Declaration "of interest for the promotion and defense of human rights" of Peace Road.
Peace Road, promoted by UPF and other organizations (5), is a movement for peace and universal hope. Meetings and rallies are held throughout the world, including walks and bicycle rides with the themes: “Connecting the World through Peace” and “Realizing the Dream of One Global Family.”
Citation
(1) Peace Road is a global initiative which seeks to connect all nations. It promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts, understanding between cultures and religions, and cooperation between nations. It also advocates the peaceful reunification of Korea, the creation of a fifth UN Headquarters in Asia, and the commitment of the international community to solve domestic and international conflicts. The initiative is based on the International Peace Highway (IPH), a transportation network proposed by Rev. and Mrs. Moon in 1981 as a way to implement world peace. The IPH would allow people to travel from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, to Santiago, Chile in South America.
(2) This annual campaign was created in 2013. Argentina participated in 2015 with a walk that joined the prestigious Plaza de Mayo with a spiritually meaningful place: The Basilica of Luján, a Roman Catholic church. We held this event on June 7 with the theme “Peace and National Unity.” On October 2, 2016, we cycled through Buenos Aires in recognition of “Argentina’s Bicentennial.” The marchers passed by three branches of the government: the National Congress, the Palace of Justice and the Pink House. We also visited three temples: Catedral Metropolitana, Convento Santo Domingo and Iglesia La Piedad. These sites are notable because they contain, respectively, the remains of José Francisco de San Martín, the “Father of the Nation,” Manuel Belgrano, the designer of the national flag, and María Antonia de Paz y Figueroa, also known as Mama Antula, considered the “spiritual mother” of Argentina.
(3) Participants: Red Cooperar de Organizaciones de la Sociedad Civil de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires, which includes 20 civil society organizations of Buenos Aires (16 active members and four supporters); civil associations, cultural centers, foundations, murgas and grassroots organizations.
(4) Local support: Universidad Privada UdeMM (University of the Merchant Navy) / Acercando Naciones Asociación Civil / Mediante Procesos Participativos y Pacíficos / Asociación Civil Caminando / Asociación de Cultura Colombiana en Argentina - Como Vos (Cultural Association from Colombia) / Formando Ciudadanos Asociación Civil / Instituto de la Democracia y Elecciones (IDEMOE) / Fundación Ciudadanos del Mundo / Tong Il Moo Do / Casa de África en Argentina (African House in Argentina) / Profesionales para la Salud Integral / Cámara de Comercio, Industria, Turismo y Servicios de Parque de los Patricios / Fundación Artes, Educación y Salud / Soroptimist Internacional Buenos Aires / Unidad Docente de Enfermería: Unidad Asistencial Dr. César Milstein-INSSP-UBA / Red Regulen de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y Provincia de Buenos Aires / América Madre, Institución Cultural Internacional por la “Integración de los pueblos, por la Vida y por la Paz” / Acercando Naciones Magazine / SIC-SOCINCE - Agencia de Noticias para las Américas / Programas radiales Pasaporte Cultural / Esperanza Argentina / Diplomacia, política y economía / El Faro del Sur: La voz de las colectividades.
(5) Promoted by the Universal Peace Federation / Family Federation for World Peace and Unification / Women Federation for World Peace / CARP Youth Association
“A Caring, United Argentina”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpALmlc1wRo
“Connecting the World through Peace”: www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6Nis6MkzPI
More info: www.peaceroad.net
UPF-Argentina: