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Day of Peace Observed in Tbilisi
Written by Vitaly Maksimov, UPF-Georgia
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tbilisi, Georgia - The celebration of the UN International Day of Peace was organized by the Universal Peace Federation in partnership with the NGO "Georgia – help for refugees" and the Foundation of Intercultural Relations "Future Stars" on September 18 at the Mushtaid Park in Tbilisi. The event was sponsored by the UN office in Georgia and directors of the park. The program was covered by three television channels - Rustavi 2, Maestro, and Pik.
About 200 children of internally displaced families, poor families, pupils and coaches of Kyokushin Karate Seibukai Federation took active part in celebration.
The program began with the traditional Minute of Silence for a ceasefire and the peace in the world, then as a sign of mutual love, friendship, and peace participants exchanged hugs with their neighbors.
The Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Abkhazia Tamaz Khubua and the President of the Georgian Kyokushin Karate Seibukai Federation Gocha Kakabadze gave congratulatory remarks.
The Chairman of Universal Peace Federation Vitaly Maksimov shared about history of the UN International Day of Peace and the personal responsibility of each individual to seek and establish peace in our families and communities.
“Although there is no object in the world weaker and softer the water, it can destroy the hardest thing,"- the ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu said. With the hope that their joint efforts will break down the walls of misunderstanding and international hatred, representatives of Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia, dressed in traditional clothes, held a ceremony by pouring water into a common bowl. At the end of the event, children planted a tree and watered it, energized by the program.
After this ceremony George Khubua, representing the families of internally displaced people from Abkhazia, solemnly read a message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
Despite many difficulties, there are many young people in Georgia who are promoting peace on earth through building up their will and developing character by practicing martial arts. The winner of the competition in the Kyokushin Karate Seibukai in Japan, three-time champion of the Caucasus, and seven-time champion of Georgia, Lasha Ozbetelashvili, was appointed a Young Ambassador for Peace and presented with a valuable gift.
With great enthusiasm, children answered the quiz questions about peace and read poems they had written. The correct answers and initiatives were awarded prizes. Everybody wanted to take part in competitions; no one wanted to remain a mere spectator. After that, volunteers worked with the children to make pinwheels out of colored paper and origami sculptures of doves and cranes.
The program was filled with musical performances and dances presented by young talents. A special round of applause was given to the African dancer, whose energy made everybody rise from their seats and join the dance.
Participants set free a pair of white doves; children received gifts and signed the declaration of peace. They made a determination to practice living for the sake of others as brothers and sisters – members of one human family.
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Two days later, UPF-Georgia conducted a training on "Culture of Peace: Learning to solve conflicts" at School #136 for 10th grade Russian and Georgian speaking pupils. Fifty children and teachers learned about the cause of conflicts, human behavior in conflict situations, ways to solve conflicts, and the importance of character development as a foundation for peacebuilding.
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