Lima, Peru - Ambassadors for Peace in Peru gathered together on September 21 to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace 2008. This was the third occasion on which the Universal Peace Federation-Peru had organized such an event, with the previous ceremonies being held in the Peruvian Congress.
Unfortunately, this year it was not possible due to recent restrictions imposed by the parliament on public gatherings in the Palace of the Congress.
The evening event attracted an audience of almost 200 people from all walks of life who came to share their hopes and aspirations for peace. The varied program included music, dance, and a theatrical performance, as well as the traditional interfaith candle lighting ceremony, a minute of silence, and speeches by the current President of UPF-Peru, Arq. Luis Huarcaya, and Maestro Tahuiro, an indigenous community leader.
Amongst the audience were some distinguished guests—Arq. Jose Rosas, President of the Ethics Committee of the Peruvian Architects Association; former Congressman Lic. Valdez; former Mayor of Jesus Maria, Lic. Paquito Izquierdo; President of the Intercultural Society, Dra. Izaguirre; past President of UPF-Peru, General Hector Jhon Caro; and a second past President of UPF-Peru, Pastor Orestes Sanchez.
The religious community, in particular, was represented by Amautha Willakoq Tahuiro, who is concerned with preserving and disseminating the spiritual heritage of the Inca and Pre-Inca traditions; Evangelical Pastor Luis Acero; Pentecostal Pastor Orestes Sanchez; Imam Khalil Muhammad of the Islamic Association in Peru; and Francisco Cutipa of the Family Federation for World Peace-Peru.
The program included performances by Pachacamac, a famous international folk music group, and by OSIRIS, an independent theatrical group who offered a presentation entitled “Breaking the Chains for Peace.”
The audience was delighted with the presentations and expressed their thanks to UPF for organizing this evening program.
To read UPF's Peace Declaration and reports of observances in other nations, click here.