FOLLOW US
Day of Peace in Montevideo
Written by UPF - Uruguay
Friday, September 25, 2009
Montevideo, Uruguay - UPF Uruguay celebrated the International Day of Peace with various commemorative events that focused upon the search for peace from various perspectives. All of them took place at the Radisson Montevideo Victoria Plaza Hotel.
A cultural event on September 19 featured music and folk dances from different regions of the world, creating an atmosphere that contributed to dialogue and peace. More than 500 people participated in this festival, including distinguished figures of many cultures from the diplomatic, political, cultural, NGO, and public spheres. The theme was “Music of the Peoples for Peace.”
Musicians included:
-The Grianan Celtic traditional music group, directed by Laura Lindner and Giselle Laino
-The Russian dance and musical group from the Maxim Gorky Cultural Center, led by Jorge Drafta on the balalaika (a stringed instrument of Russian origin)
-The Gayané Armenian folk dance troop, directed by Gariné Koulouyán
-The Mexican musical group Mariachis in Concert, directed by Diego and Walter Antoine
The following speakers expounded upon the value of peace: Mrs. Graciela Rompani de Pacheco, Senator Carlos Baráibar, and Dr. Q.F. Hugo Pereira Fagúndez, President of the Red Cross in Uruguay.
The cost of admission to the concert was a package of non-perishable food, and the donations were distributed to NGOs.
On the same day, volunteer and social impact activities were held. These activities were directed by Mr. Antonio Palma, who spoke at the opening convocation. Participants both young and not-so-young spent the day organizing games for young children in an activity sponsored jointly with the municipal offices of Montevideo.
A distinguished Ambassador for Peace, Master Julio Cesar Saettone Permuy, discussed his book, Security and Insecurity, at a September 21 meeting. Presentations were given by Dr. Jorge Batlle, who was president of Uruguay from 2000 to 2005, and Senators Dr. Carlos Moreira and Dr. Alberto Scavarelli.
An Interreligious Summit for Peace on September 24 featured four presenters speaking about the search for peace from the viewpoint of religions. Speakers included Monsignor Luís Del Castillo, Secretary of the Conference of Bishops; Rabbi Ariel Kleiner, rabbi of the New Israelite Congregation in Montevideo; Mrs. Marcela Alves, a representative of Islam in Uruguay; and Mr. Tadashi Tanaka, former Director General of Soka Gakkai International in Uruguay.
In a climate of true spirituality, one could appreciate that even though peace can come through other channels, only religion touches the conscience of the individual, the community, and the nation. Only through religion can people forget grievances, forgive, and resolve to confront the future together. The mandate of religious leaders is not a mundane mandate but a divine one. For this reason, this summit was a special opportunity for an ecumenical and fraternal encounter that encouraged people to discover their value as “One human family under God.”
The distinguished Uruguayan poet and writer Mrs. Mercedes Vigil, a member of the Uruguayan Academy of Literature, Arts, and Sciences, talked about her latest book at a gathering on September 25. She expounded on the theme of peace using examples from literature and highlighting the importance of literature in transmitting universal values. Participants included distinguished academic figures and representatives of the news media.
To read UPF's Declaration on the International Day of Peace 2009, click here.
If you find this page helpful and informative please consider making donation. Your donation will help Universal Peace Federation (UPF) provide new and improved reports, analysis and publications to you and everyone around the world.
UPF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and all donations are tax deductible in the United States. Receipts are automatically provided for donations of or above $250.00.
|
Donate to the Universal Peace Federation: Your donation to support the general programs of UPF. |
Donate to the Religious Youth Service (RYS): Your donation will be used for service projects around the world. |
Donate to UPF's Africa Projects: Your donation will be used for projects in Africa. |
Related Articles
Australia
UPF-Australia Convenes Mutual Prosperity Summit
Melbourne, Australia—The Mutual Prosperity Summit focused on “Rethinking Our Economic Models.”