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Buenos Aires, Argentina—On September 21, UPF-Argentina celebrated the UN International Day of Peace by launching its 2019–2020 campaign “Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow Peace.” The event, whose highlight was planting an olive tree, was promoted by the literary–ecological program “Y volverán a ser árboles” and UPF-Argentina (1). It took place near the Peace Framework monument, about 356 km from the Argentine capital.
Words were given by the writer Marita Ragozza, from the International Forum for a Culture of Peace (IFLAC), Pehuajó branch; Miguel Werner, secretary general of UPF-Argentina; and Amalia Isabel Daibes, president of the literary-ecological program “Y volverán a ser árboles,” the organizing entity of the event. At the beginning, we raised peace flags. Father Mariano (Catholic Church) and Pastor García (Mennonite Church) shared messages to reflect upon. We closed the event by ringing the Peace Framework bell.
At the end, we enjoyed the musical “Los del CIC,” which we awarded with the Universal Peace Flag, given by Andrés Melgarejo, member of UPF-Argentina’s Peace Council. The emblem was put in a banner and exhibited during the walk we later took toward the Dardo Rocha’s central square. The cultural group gave the walk a colorful touch due to their clothing, rhythm, and choreography, which stirred the interest of neighbors and participants.
The International Peace Day, coordinated by directors of the program “Y volverán a ser árboles” Esteban Fauret and Amalia Daibes, who are Ambassadors for Peace, continued in the Bernardino Rivadavia Library, where poets, writers, and guests came together. There, we showed a video reviewing the global 2019–2020 campaign “Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow Peace” (2). It was touching to see the images of all plantings done not only in many Argentinian provinces, but also in Chile, Ecuador, and Mexico. This campaign was launched in June 2018 by planting an olive tree in San Vicente, Buenos Aires province.
We also showed greetings from writer and pacifist Dr. Ernesto Kahan, from Israel, and from a member of the literary group Almafuerte of Berazategui, Marga Mangione. We gave the Universal Peace Flag to Professor Nerea Álvarez, president of the Emma de Jonas de Henderson writers circle, and to writer Marta Patti, from Los Toldos, who has planted over 50 trees. Finally, we had readings, one of them composed by Ambassador for Peace Lucrecia Potenza, director of Fundartes, who shared a poem. We closed the event with an afternoon snack, surrounded by a spirit of fellowship.
Esteban Fauret thanked the support given by Pehuajó Municipality, through the areas of Culture, Environment, Human Development, Services and Security. He praised the contribution of the Inspectorate and Community Police. We thank CIC’s Management Board and West Rotary of Pehuajó, which delivered the flags along with the police precinct led by Commissioner Mascaro. We also thank Norma Cereso, coordinator of the musical “Los del CIC,” and everyone who joined this peace initiative.
Notes:
1) Rules of participation of the campaign “Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow Peace” 2019-2020: http://librosarbolespaz.blogspot.com/p/bases.html
2) Video about the campaign “Let’s Plant Trees: Let’s Sow Peace” 2018-2019: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rghU_rd-NhI