Peace Festival

Start: 2021-09-16 17:00:00 UTC Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00)

End: 2021-09-26 20:00:00 UTC Eastern Daylight Time (US & Canada) (GMT-04:00)

This is a virtual event

From 16th to 26th September 2021

The Peace Festival will be held on-line.

The Peace Festival will include: exhibitions, talks, discussions, workshops, films, music and entertainment and children’s activities. Parallel online events will include short films, videos, speakers and discussion forums.

The exhibition will remain in place for nine days and be open to the public with events each day, as a celebration of peace. All groups with an interest in peace, in any of its manifestations, are invited to set up a display or stall at a minimal cost. This will be an opportunity for new connections to be made and new initiatives to arise. Please join us in helping plan and shape this important event.

Participating organisations so far:

Alternatives to Violence Program, Australia West Papua Association, Australians for War Powers Reform, Creators of Peace, HandUp Congo, Independent and Peaceful Australia Network, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, International Volunteers for Peace, Maritime Union of Australia, Marrickville Peace Group, Medical Association for the Prevention of War, Older Women’s Network, Pace e Bene Australia, Pax Christi, Peace and Conflict Studies Sydney University, Peacifica, PEN Sydney, People for Nuclear Disarmament, Religious Society of Friends NSW, Safe Ground, Sydney Knitting Nannas, Sydney Peace and Justice Coalition, Sydney Peace Foundation, Uluru Statement from the Heart, United Nations Association of Australia, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom NSW, Women’s Reconciliation Network.


Event Overview...

Our Vision

This event will showcase and celebrate a broad range of initiatives, ongoing efforts and successes in promoting peace.

We will share knowledge, inspire, increase visibility, encourage new collaborations, attract and engage young people.

Aims

  • Showcase the multitude of methods employed to work towards peace
  • Draw attention to United Nations International Day of Peace (21 September)
  • Strengthen collaboration and relationships between peace organisations, study centres and inter-related issues, eg. First Nations, Climate Change
  • Engage with young people
  • Explore a world where war is no longer an option
  • Promote the delights of living in peace
  • Promote understanding across cultures

Activities planned so far

  • Welcome to Country
  • Welcome ceremony with civic dignitary
  • Celebration activities
  • An Expo for the general public
  • Time slots to showcase each organisations
  • High profile inspirational speakers
  • Nobel Peace Medal on display
  • Talks/Lectures
  • Workshops – indigenous perspectives, alternatives to violence
  • Panel sessions
  • Films
  • Performers
  • Children’s activities

Other possible activities

  • Peace march to the venue
  • Human library
  • Meditation. Singing bowls. A minute of silence
  • T Shirts – printing
  • Schools competition – designing a peace poster

The Ambassador for Costa Rica has agreed to be our keynote speaker at Raising Peace.

This is the recent news article from the Canberra Times:

Costa Rica abolished its military. Other countries can too

A variety of other speakers are being approached.

Wage Peace Speech link will take you to Lee Rhiannon’s speech on the occasion of our Raising Peace event in 2020 – This event celebrated 100 years of SCI (IVP) and WILPF NSW.


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