HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Year 2020 has been extremely difficult for many around the globe -- not only because of the pandemic but also the compounded effects of violence: hunger, poverty, war, lack of education, dictatorial regimes, crime, injustice, and other causes of hardship and overpowering grief. We must extend our compassion. Peacemakers must innovate and work harder for global peace.Those of us in better circumstances must stand with those who face these deeep challenges.
How, against all odds, do we change the world?
Internationsl Citis of Peace may well be humanity's best hope! Why? Innovation. Hard work. Practical peacemaking. Thousands of committed volunteers.
Our delivery of Covid relief, for instance, came quickly and efficiently to 33 African communities. Peace leaders in China, Korea, Gaza are embracing the City of Peace ideal. Even in war-torn countries such as Palestine and Afghanistan, we are empowering those leaders who know the needs of their community and are choosing nonviolent solutions.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO TAKE A STAND FOR PEACE THEN TO DONATE TO THIS GLOBE-CHANGING MOVEMENT?
BE A PART. JOIN US NOW. CLICK HERE. WE THANK YOU!
307 Cities of Peace in 64 countries on all six continents, from Busan, South Korea to Bradford, England to La Paz in Bolivia and Sedona in the United States: communities are transforming their culture to one of peace through volunteer service.
This Holiday Season, we are grateful. Inspired to do more. We are blessed to have so many peacemakers around the globe as friends and colleagues. Stay safe. Stay engaged. Stay committed. |
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TRIBUTE TO MIL MILENIOS DE PAZ |
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Inés Palemoque, the founder of Mil Milenios de Paz and a Board Member of Cities of Peace, Inc., has worked tirelessly for decades to change the culture of Argentina and Uruguay to a more peaceful society. To become a City Committed to Peace, a City must make an official declaration, signed by the Mayor or Council, to dedicate their community to peace. Over 20 Cities have done that and Inés Palemoque has presented the Roerch Flag of Peace at a City ceremony to be flown each year on Peace Day.
"The Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace were created and promoted by Nicolas Roerich, in order to protect the treasures of human genius, establishing that educational, artistic, scientific and religious institutions, as well as places of cultural relevance, they were to be declared inviolable, and respected by all nations, both in times of war and in times of peace. On April 15, 1935, the Roerich Pact was signed at the White House, in the presence of the then President of the United States Franklin D. Roosevelt, by representatives of 21 governments from all over the Americas."
Due to the alliance between Mil Milenios De Paz and International Cities of Peace, each City Committed to Peace automatically becomes a City of Peace.
This month, San Lorenzo in the Province of Santa Fe, Argentina was the latest City Committed to Peace. Due to the alliance between Mil Milenios De Paz and International Cities of Peace, each City Committed to Peace automatically becomes a City of Peace. San Lorenzo became our 300th International City of Peace, providing an important milestone on our way to 1000 Cities of Peace by Year 2025.
Congratulations to Inés and all in South America who fly the Flag of Peace and endeavor toward a more perfect world. |
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NEW CITIES OF PEACE THIS QUARTER! |
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Nakivale, Uganda, 284th City of Peace |
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Jonothan Djumbe of the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda is founder of Innovation School, which is dedicated to teaching children and empowering women and men of the Settlement. As the second Refugee Camp International City of Peace, the work is very important to many who have been living in the Settlement for decades.
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Limbe, Cameroon: 285th City of Peace |
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Michael Ambe Ngwa founded the Green and Better World organization to bring greater safety, prosperity and quality of life to his community. Their mission is to provide skills to communities which will enable each and every one to contribute in making the world peaceful and friendly for all to live in.
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Gaza City, Palestine: 286th City of Peace |
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Mr. Malek Yusef Abu Amra al-Husseini, founder of the Justice and Peace Party now establishing Gaza City as an International City of Peace based on advocacy and work for nonviolent progress in Palestine. In signing the Letter of Intent from International Cities of Peace, the community organization focuses on nonviolent methods of promoting safety, prosperity, and quality of life as the consensus values of peace.
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Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe, Canada: 287th, 288th, 289th Cities of Peace |
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The Peace Leaders Collaborative of Greater Moncton is a local-global initiative that grew organically from the strength and diversity of a few passionate people talking at a kitchen table. "As part of the kitchen table conversation, we ignited a vision to create an engaging, community-wide movement dedicated to fostering harmonious relationships with ourselves, others and the natural world." The three municipalities; Moncton, Riverview, and Dieppe make up Greater Moncton. Here, you will find a fast-growing, diversified community where development strategies place citizens and the environment as key pillars to achieving sustainability.
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Kwa Dukuza-Ballito, South Africa: 290th City of Peace |
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Managay Pillay and her colleagues creaed the Luah Project, which endeavors to uplift communities who have no access to electricity. The organization and members of the group are focused on the values of improved quality of life, health and safety and security.
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St. Petersburg, United States: 291st City of Peace |
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Mayor Rick Kriseman and the citizens of St. Petersburg continue their City’s many initiatives and programs toward a growing Culture of Peace in their community. St. Petersburg Proclaimed as a City of Compassion as well as a City of Peace in order to recognize formally their intention and efforts to instill a peace culture for children and adults alike.
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Durban, South Africa: 292nd City of Peace |
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Dr Ralf Doepke of the Breath of Africa Tours & Safaris is building bridges with many programs, including the Natest Primary School, the first school President Nelson Mandela visited in 1997. Mandela was on hand to open the school library. The school is committed to peace and reconciliation through education.
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Cotonou, Benin: 293rd City of Peace |
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Gérard Metonhessa is founder of the United For The Peace of Africa (UPA) Initiative, a collaborative group of dedicated to promoting Peace and Development in Africa. They envision a world of people motivated by peace and development rather than conflict, terrorism, hatred and fear.
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Tamera, Portugal: 294th City of Peace |
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Sabine Lichtenfels, co-founder of Tamera and Head of the Global Love School, is a peace-researcher and theologist. Janni Marianne Hentrich is the Liaison for the Tamera: International City of Peace initiative. The Village provides an example and inspiration for not only the area around the land of Monte do Cerro in Reliquias, Portugal but also for others around the world interested in creating a culture of peace.
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Budaka, Uganda: 295th City of Peace |
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Michael Soikya is the founder and Executive Direct of Action for Community Welfare, a community based organization committed to improving the quality of life for orphans, vulnerable children and youth. The Basimba people of the Leopard Clan are the Katunku, Ngulya, Kaabya, Mwati, Kabolesa, Namuyonjo, Ntembe of Lupada, Naboa Sub-County, Budaka County, Budaka District who live among the Bagwere but trace their origin from Tanzania and Zambia.
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Paternoster, South Africa: 296th City of Peace |
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The citizens of Paternoster, South Africa have a long legacy of peacemaking. The town is a beautiful fishing village on the West Coast of South Africa that encourages citizens to “be aware of the plight of some of the Paternoster villagers and actively lend a supporting hand.”
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Marcaje