Auckland, New Zealand—UN International Day of Peace 2017 was commemorated by UPF-New Zealand on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at the Parnell Peace Embassy in Auckland. The theme “Together for Peace – Respect, Safety and Dignity for All” was discussed centering on education for peace and the issue of refugee integration. Approximately 50 Ambassadors for Peace, guests and members, who appreciate the need and importance of peace, attended the event.
The program was preluded by a video presentation about the Sunhak Peace Prize 2017, which became the basis of the entire flow of the event. The evening’s speakers included: Mrs. Theresa Piraccini, principal of the Michael Park Rudolf Steiner School; Ms. Tinmama Oo, youth leader from the Youth Collective and Rev. Adel Jamati, chairman of FFWPU-NZ.
The talks given on education and refugees were complemented by video presentations of children from all over the world singing “What a Wonderful World.” The evening closed with a group singing of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie’s “We are the World.”
The participants were moved by the content of the program and many guests gave positive appreciations of what we’re trying to do as a global community of peace. We are all grateful for the opportunity to meet together as people who long to create peace and harmony with our own hands. We hope that this is but one of the many stepping stones we share together in making our dreams a reality.