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Peace Road 2018 Comes to Two Cities in Argentina
Written by Miguel Werner, secretary general, UPF-Argentina
Sunday, October 28, 2018
Para leer en español, haga clic aquí.
Buenos Aires, Argentina—UPF-Argentina held a peace walk in Buenos Aires city for the Peace Road 2018. “Argentina in Unity and Solidarity” was the theme of the event, which took place on October 28 (1). The starting point of the 7-kilometer (over 4-mile) walk was a square near the National Congress of Argentina and the end point was La Flor (Floralis Genérica) sculpture in the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas (2).
In addition to the main event, UPF-Argentina hosted a second Peace Road event, also a walk, in Córdoba city, the capital of the geographic heart of Argentina, Córdoba province. The walk was from the Cathedral to San Martín Square.
Buenos Aires
The Peace Road event in Buenos Aires began with a program at Mariano Moreno Square, where representatives of several organizations gave brief remarks. Mr. Humberto Benedetto, a member of the Mercosur Parliament and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), said that “We need to globalize peace.” He praised the dialogues on the Korean peninsula and discussions on it dismantling its nuclear missile sites.
Afterwards was the peace walk. The participants walked for 7 kilometers, passing by the Pink House (Casa Rosada), the mansion and office of the President of Argentina; the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral; the Obelisk; and the Palace of Justice, to La Flor (Floralis Genérica) sculpture in Plaza de las Naciones Unidas. They called out for peace and were cheered on by members of the Collegiate Association for the Research of Principles (CARP), an affiliated youth organization, as they walked. At the Palace of Justice, the participants prayed and meditated. Leading the prayer was Ambassador for Peace Mrs. Noemí Paredes, pastor of the Evangelistic Ministry “Embajadores de Cristo.” Before praying, she read a few quotes: “Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity, and honor;” “To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice;” and “Let us not become wary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
The walk concluded at La Flor sculpture, where the participants formed a circle around the flower and joined hands as a symbolic embrace of the Creation. Mr. Carlos Varga, director of UPF-Argentina, praised efforts of individuals to contribute to the vision and ideal of living as a peaceful family, beyond nation, culture and religion.
The event concluded with the participants sharing their experiences and enjoying fruit—prepared by representatives of the Women’s Federation for World Peace (WFWP) and youth volunteers—together.
Various civil society organizations, Ambassadors for Peace, and government representatives and agencies, including the secretary of transportation and the Liaison Unit of the Security and Crime Prevention Council of Buenos Aires city, supported and sponsored the event (3).
Córdoba
On November 4, UPF-Argentina held a second Peace Road event in Córdoba city. Under a blue sky and blazing sun, a group comprised mostly of young people walked around the center of the city. Starting from the Cathedral, they walked by the Municipal building; the Palace of Justice; the commercial center, Paseo del Buen Pastor; the Church of the Capuchins, the Ferreyra Palace; and the Bicentennial Civic Center.
At the Bicentennial Civic Center, the married couple Mr. Gustavo Aldasoro and Mrs. Marisa Guerra, representing the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)-Argentina, offered a prayed for the event, and asked for “public awareness of those who lead the political and social facets of the city.”
The walked concluded in San Martín Square. CARP members performed songs, which caught the attention of passerby’s who learned about the Peace Road, and afterwards, everyone celebrated the successful completion of the event with cake cutting.
(1) The Peace Road is a global initiative which seeks to connect all nations. It promotes peaceful resolution of conflicts, understanding between cultures and religions, and cooperation between nations. It also advocates the peaceful reunification of Korea, the creation of a fifth UN Headquarters in Asia, and the commitment of the international community to solve domestic and international conflicts. The initiative is based on the International Peace Highway (IPH), a transportation network proposed by Rev. and Mrs. Moon in 1981 as a way to implement world peace. The IPH would allow people to travel from the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa, to Santiago, Chile in South America. “Connecting the World through Peace” and “Realizing the Dream of One Global Family” are the themes of the initiative.
(2) To view a video about the Peace Road event in Buenos Aires city, click here.
(3) Organization and individual supporters included Red Cooperar, a network of civil society organizations; chair of the Committee on Institutional Relations, District 4895 of Rotary International; the Federación Argentina de Colectividades (FAC); the Buenos Aires club of Soroptimist International; Central Board on Historical Studies in Buenos Aires city; the NGO Acercando Naciones; Como Vas, an organization focused on Colombian culture in Argentina; Africa House in Argentina; Teachers Without Borders; the El Triunfo dance group; SADE of Southern Buenos Aires; the International Circle of Mercosur Narrators and Poets; Hispanic-Global Union of Argentinian Writers—Buenos Aires city; the North American Academy of Modern Literature, Buenos Aires; Writers Society of Buenos Aires Province – Mar del Plata branch; the Center of Argentinian and Latin American Writers; Professionals of Integral Health (PRO.SA.I.); the NGO Caminando; the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Tourism and Services of Parque de los Patricios; the Nursing Teaching Unit: Assistance Unit Dr. César Milstein-INSSP-UBA; Neurocapital Humano; Radio TV FM Diamante Buenos Aires; the radio program Diplomacia, Política y Economía; Esperanza Argentina y global; and the newspaper, El Faro del Sur.
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