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International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace
Young Argentinians Participate in IAPP Mock Legislative Session
Written by UPF-Argentina
Friday, June 8, 2018
Para leer en español, haga clic aquí.
San Vicente, Argentina—The Argentina chapters of UPF and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) in cooperation with the San Vicente City Council hosted a mock legislative session for young people on June 8, 2018 at the City Council in San Vicente Partido, Buenos Aires province. The participants organized into different groups to present 12 projects related to the five areas of focus of the IAPP in Argentina, which are: education and values, dignity and human rights, public management and transparency, development and cooperation, and environment and sustainability. The session was presided over by Mrs. Adriana Boccalandro, a San Vicente city councilor who encouraged the session be organized.
The session was inspiring for the young people, who worked for weeks on the different projects. Video, audio and written messages were sent by some legislators, including by Mercosur parliamentarians Hon. Fernanda Gil Lozano, Hon. Humberto Benedetto and Hon. Osvaldo Mercuri; national senator Hon. Silvia del Rosario Giacoppo; and councilors Mrs. Mónica Lannutti (Río Cuarto, Córdoba province) and Mrs. Marianela López (Hurlingham, Buenos Aires province).
Mrs. Boccalandro worked with Mr. Emanuel Sayavedra, president of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP)-Argentina, and a member of the UPF-Argentina Peace Council, and Dr. Martín Ascheri Moyano, who offered his poem “A la Copa Mundial de Fútbol” (To the World Cup) to UPF-Argentina. His poem expresses his desire for peace in the context of the 2018 World Cup Russia.
At the beginning of the event, the City Council was given the Wiphala Peace, Peace, and Universal Peace Flags, which symbolize peaceful coexistence among peoples and cultures (1). The flags were presented and raised by Mrs. Constanza Messina Benítez, member of the dance group, El Triunfo of Ezeiza in Buenos Aires province; Ambassador for Peace Mrs. María Irene Giurlani, president of Naciones Unidas de las Letras and a member of the Circle of Poets of Boulogne Sur Mer; and Mrs. Alba Luz Tangarife, a member of the UPF-Argentina Peace Council.
An olive tree was planted at Mariano Moreno Park, which is close to San Vicente City Council, to launch the global campaign, Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow the Seeds of Peace, which is being organized by UPF-Argentina and the environmental literacy program, “Y volverán a ser árboles,” led by Ambassadors for Peace Mr. Esteban Fauret and Mrs. Amalia Daibes (2).
The event was attended by councilors and local government officials; leaders of various organizations; and young people from San Vicente, Buenos Aires city, and other cities in Argentina.
(1) Meaning of the Flags
Wiphala Flag
The Wiphala Flag is considered a symbol of peace and understanding among cultures by native peoples. It is believed to have been created more than 1,000 years ago, and is made up of seven colors distributed across 49 squares of the same size, arranged diagonally. The flag represents the Andean philosophy, symbolizing the Pachakama (Universal Order) and Pachamama (Mother Earth) doctrines, which form space, time, energy and our planet.
Peace Flag
The Peace Flag was created by artist and philosopher Nikolái Roerich in 1920. It has three magenta spheres, enclosed in a larger magenta circle, and a white background. The spheres represent the arts, science and spirituality; the magenta circle, the protection of cultural property; and the white background, truth.
Universal Peace Flag
The Universal Peace Flag was created by a group of young Argentinians who had been on the Pacis Nuntii expedition, travelling from Brasilia to Buenos Aires, during the International Year of Youth in 1985. The flag has a pale blue background and a white dove, a symbol of peace, embracing a planet earth which has no borders between countries or continents.
To read a detailed explanation of the flags, please see the end of UPF-Argentina’s report on its celebration of Argentina’s Bicentennial:
(2) Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow the Seeds of Peace Global Campaign
Environmental literacy program “Y volverán a ser árboles” and UPF-Argentina invite writers and poets; literary and educational organizations; and cultural, spiritual, social and peace organizations from around the world to organize an activity that demonstrates their commitment to the protection of the environment and peace. The program and the UPF chapter will be planting a tree to raise awareness of the environment and for peace.
“Y Volverán A Ser Árboles”
“Y volverán a ser árboles” (They Will be Trees Again) was founded in 2010 by a group of writers and poets committed to protecting the environment and promoting peace, and is based in Pehaujo, Argentina. Concerned that millions of trees are used to make books each year, they established the program to plant a tree for every book that is published. More than 1,000 writers and poets in 15 countries, including in Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Mexico; Israel and Saudi Arabia; France and Spain; and the United States, as well as the native peoples, Williches, Mapuches and Raqueles, have supported the initiative, which has been recognized by national and international organizations.
Building a Culture of Peace
The world is facing challenges, and what is needed is for all areas of society, including literature and the arts, to contribute to building a culture of peace with the vision of a better world. Through this initiative, UPF-Argentina and "Y volverán a ser árboles" seek to advance efforts to achieve coexistence, mutual respect, and harmony with nature.
Campaign Guidelines and Rules
- Literary, educational, cultural, social, and other civil society organizations; publishers; companies and individuals from Argentina and around the world are invited to participate in the global campaign, Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow the Seeds of Peace. The organizers seek a special commitment from the literature field, since it is the cellulose of some trees that is used to make paper for books. The production of this and other raw materials for books contributes to deforestation and environmental pollution.
- The tree planting should be a public event so as to encourage organizations and people, especially youth, to commit to the sustainability of planet earth and humankind.
- After planting a tree, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with photos (and videos, if available) and the following information:
Date of planting:
Venue (name of the park, square, etc.):
City and country:
Type of tree that was planted:
Name of organization or individual:
Address of organization or individual:
Email and telephone:
Other relevant details:
- The information above will help the organizers keep a record and will enable the campaign to get more recognition. It will also be useful to create a report that is going to be submitted at the celebration of the 2019 International Day of Peace (*), which will mark the end of the campaign. All participants of this project will be the special guests of this event.
- The campaign, Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow the Seeds of Peace, began on June 8, 2018 in the town of San Vicente in Buenos Aires province, with an olive tree planting in the main park in the town. The event was held to commemorate World Environment Day and as part of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP) initiative. The tree that was planted in San Vicente was the first tree to be planted for the campaign, and trees that will be planted after that three will each be assigned a number in chronological order.
- Please e-mail reports or any inquiries to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
- More information about the campaign can be found at www.librosarbolespaz.blogspot.com.ar.
- Organizers and promoters of this campaign have the right to resolve any issue not outlined in these rules. By participating in this campaign, you agree to these rules.
(*) The International Day of Peace, established in 1981 by United Nations resolution 36/67, is a day devoted to “commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.”
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