May Peace Prevail On Earth News

Monday, August 10^th, 2009

Fumi Johns-Stewart, WPPS Executive Director, Deborah Moldow, WPPS, Representative at the UN and Monica Willard, WPPS Peace Representative attended the joint exhibition entitled “Against Nuclear Arms” which opened with a ceremony and reception on Monday, 10 August in the Main Gallery of the Visitors Lobby.

It will remain on display until 30 September.

The exhibitions portray the destruction and terrible damage caused by the A-bomb explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan, and decades of nuclear arms testing in the heart of Kazakhstan.  Its goal is to deepen public understanding of the devastating consequences of the use of nuclear weapons and to advance the international movement to abolish nuclear weapons.

May 28^th, 2009

Naomi Tutu, daughter of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, came to UNICEF on May 28^th at the invitation of the United Religions Initiative at the UN to speak about “Reconciliation: Healing the Wounds. The meeting, held in the lovely Danny Kaye Visitors Center, opened with a warm welcome from Stephen Hanmer, Partnerships Manager for Civil Society Partnerships Outreach at UNICEF. Deborah Moldow, WPPS, UN Representative and facilitator of URI-UN, led a meditation on opening to the heart of Africa, followed by a moment of silence and a shared prayer: “May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail On Earth.”

Monica Willard, WPPS Peace Representative and UN Representative for the United Religions Initiative, gave a brief introduction to the mission of the URI, and also the URI-UN’s focus on the 2009 International Year of Reconciliation. She then introduced a clip from a moving video about reconciliation in Rwanda entitled, “As We Forgive,” which featured Rwandan President Kigali explaining the release of thousands of prisoners who had confessed to taking part in the 1994 genocide. For more information, please see www.asweforgivemovie.com.

Deborah closed the event by asking everyone to take one of the flags of Africa that decorated the room. There were just about the same number of people as African countries (55), and all spread out into a big circle. Focusing on sending peace to each nation, the participants announced the name of the country whose flag they were holding, one by one across the continent. Then all repeated the words of the opening prayer, “May Peace Prevail in Africa. May Peace Prevail On Earth!”

Since 2002

Gift from The World Peace Prayer Society

WPPS Staff: Ann Marie Williams & Jim Dugan, WPPS, UN Rep., Deborah Moldow, WPPS Member, Reiko Kamozawa

The World Peace Prayer Society began its partnership with the UN Department of Public Information in 1998. Mr. Hasan Ferdous of DPI announced at an NGO briefing that he was planning to invite local schoolchildren to special programs in observance of several UN-designated days, such as Human Rights Day, World Environment Day and the International Day of Peace. WPPS UN Representative Deborah Moldow asked whether DPI might be interested in incorporating a ceremony for the students to raise the flags of all the UN Member States on the International Day of Peace – a tradition that has continued throughout the years.

The International Day of Peace student observance has grown to include an address by the Secretary-General, UN celebrity Messengers of Peace and live video conferencing with UN Peacekeeping sites in various parts of the world. In addition, WPPS has worked with DPI, along with like-minded NGOS Pathways To Peace and the United Religions Initiative, to increase public awareness of the International Day of Peace across the globe.

In 2002, the Society acknowledged this very special partnership by presenting the UN Department of Public Information with a six-sided Peace Pole with the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” in the six official languages of the United Nations: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. This Peace Pole was constructed with a slot so that visitors to the UN could insert their own prayers and messages for peace. The Peace Pole accepted messages at the tour desk in the center of the UN headquarters lobby for almost two years, an unprecedented amount of time for any unofficial object to be on display!

The UN Peace Pole now continues to stand vigil on the lower level of the UN, in the visitors’ area, where it quietly radiates its powerful call to all nations: May Peace Prevail On Earth!

March 24, 2009

Bishop William Swing, H.E. Fr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, President of the General Assembly and Deborah Moldow, The World Peace Prayer Society Representative at the United Nations

The founder and President of the United Religions Initiative, Bishop William Swing, visited the United Nations.

 I particularly wanted him to meet the current President of the General Assembly, H.E. Fr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann, both because he is a priest and because he is dedicated to the concept of reconciliation. The “Father” and the Bishop got along beautifully, and had a lovely exchange. At the close of the meeting, I had the opportunity to offer Fr. d’Escoto Brockmann a desktop Peace Pole. Because he is from Nicaragua, I thought he would most appreciate the Spanish, but he was intrigued by the Japanese! He has a lovely scroll over his desk with Japanese calligraphy expressing a beautiful sentiment on humility.
Deborah Moldow, WPPS Representative at the United Nations
May Peace Prevail in the United Nations!
May Peace Prevail on Earth!

March 19^th, 2009

The World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS) was a proud co-sponsor of the 12^th annual student celebration of “A Season for Nonviolence” at the United Nations on March 19^th. The event honors the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. during a 64-day “season” inaugurated by the Association for Global New Thought along with the M.K. Gandhi Center and the King family.

500 school children from fourth grade to high school filled a large conference room and found the flag of one of the UN Member States at their seat. They were given permission to wave the flags every time they heard “May Peace Prevail on Earth” which quickly became a theme of the 90-minute program.

The Mission of Nicaragua to the United Nations sponsored the program, with H.E. Mrs. Maria Rubiales de Chamorro delivering a warm welcome address. She spoke about both Gandhi and King, and drew applause by noting the historic U.S. election of its first African-American president. She closed with “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” The keynote speaker was the inspiring Dr. Terrence Roberts, one of the original Little Rock Nine to integrate the Alabama school system in 1957.

Youth performers included Akash Goyal, a young Jain who gave a history of Gandhi; Laurent Milne, who wrote and performed a powerful monologue about becoming “Color Blind;” a children’s Peace Chorus led by New Jersey teacher, Mr. Ray; and the students of teacher George Anthony’s conflict resolution program at Susan E. Wagner High School on Staten Island, NY. The students delivered highly personal accounts of being bullied for their diversity and choosing nonviolence. They also ended with “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

WPPS UN Representative Deborah Moldow led everyone in the World Peace Flag Ceremony, accompanied by PowerPoint projections of regional maps, country names and photographs. Everyone participated with great joy, sending the message of peace to each region.

  For the finale, everyone stood – including the speakers – and pointed their flags at a large flag of the United Nations, envisioning a world of nonviolence for a final heartfelt, “May Peace Prevail on Earth!”Our appreciation goes to the Temple of Understanding for their outstanding organization of this stirring event, which will be long remembered by the students and educators.

Dr. Terrence Roberts of The Little Rock Nine with WPPS, UN Representative, Deborah Moldow

January 29, 2009

The United Religions Initiative at the United Nations (URI-UN), a Cooperation Circle of the United Religions Initiative, has chosen the International Year of Reconciliation as the overarching theme for its 2009 events. Kicking off this series was a double event held on Thursday, January 29^th to launch the Year of Reconciliation, along with the annual 64-day Season for Nonviolence honoring the legacies of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr., from January 30^th to April 4^th.

URI-UN chose January 29^th to welcome the Trail of Dreams, another Cooperation Circle of the URI Multi-Region, which would be in New York to walk from the United Nations to “ground zero,” the former site of the World Trade Center towers, before proceeding on the home stretch to Atlanta, where they would end their travels at the Martin Luther King Center during a ceremony respecting the day of Dr. King’s assassination.

The day’s events began with a World Peace Prayer Ceremony in the lovely chapel of the Church Center across the street from the United Nations, where the Office of the Chaplain invited URI-UN to organize the weekly ecumenical prayer service. The Trail of Dreams World Peace Walkers arrived from Nigeria, Australia and Costa Rica. Monica Willard, URI’s Representative to the United Nations and WPPS Peace Representative, introduced them and Audri Scott Williams spoke briefly about their inspiring journey.

 Everyone took part in a World Peace Prayer Ceremony with the flags of all nations to pray for peace and reconciliation in all the countries of the world. Deborah Moldow, UN Representative for the World Peace Prayer Society and facilitator of URI-UN, led the ceremony, with a “May Peace Prevail on Earth” chant provided by Native American musician Jackie Tice.

Brenda, who had joined the Trail of Dreams in Australia, closed with a message from an Aborigine elder. Deborah offered Audri a mini-Peace Pole, and Audri said the group was invited the next day to Newark, New Jersey, where they would plant two Peace Poles!

The second part of the day’s events was a monthly meeting of the NGO Committee on Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns-NY (CSVGC-NY), which was founded by URI-UN member Diane Williams and is currently chaired by URI-UN co-facilitator Audrey Kitagawa. The Trail of Dreams walkers were introduced, and described the deep philosophy underlying their journey, connecting from heart to heart with people of widely divergent cultures and religions across the globe. Language was never a barrier when everyone spoke the same language of the heart. Deborah continued the closing meditation as the flags of all nations were distributed among the 50 people in the room. She asked everyone to hold the flags tenderly, envisioning six billion people held in our hands, while Jackie Tice played her native flute.

All held the flags out as the Peace Walkers went down the aisle, followed by the representatives of the Nonviolent Peace Force, and Jun Yasuda, a longtime peace walker from the Grafton Peace Pagoda in New York State, receiving the blessings of the CSVGC-NY members in the spirit of nonviolence, reconciliation and a world at peace. All raised their voices in a joyful, “May Peace Prevail on Earth!”

 

Audri Scott receives mini Peace Pole from Deborah Moldow

 

The World Peace Prayer Society was again proud to partner with the UN Department of Public Information, Pathways To Peace and the United Religions Initiative to organize the student observance of the International Day of Peace at the United Nations in our twelfth year of collaboration.

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Because September 21^st fell on a Sunday this year, the UN observance was held on Friday, September 19^th. The beautiful autumn day began with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon ringing the Peace Bell in the UN Garden, surrounded by celebrity Messengers of Peace Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall, Midori Goto, and Elie Wiesel. Children raised the flags of all 192 UN Member States in a glorious display of the color and diversity of the nations of the world.

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They all proceeded to Conference Room 4, where 800 students and chaperones had seen an on-screen display of winners of the Peace Pals Art Exhibition. The students were treated to a performance of authentic didgeridoo music from Australia, before hearing greetings by the Secretary-General, the President of the UN General Assembly, the president of the International Association of University Presidents, and the Messengers of Peace.

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In addition to these exciting presenters in the room, there were also live satellite broadcasts from UN Peacekeeping sites in Afghanistan, Liberia and Sierra Leone. An uplifting rap song by Tynan Whalan of the Railroad Street Youth Project in Massachusetts was warmly received, and four impressive student projects were presented by young representatives of Roots and Shoots, World Vision, Amnesty International, and the Big Book: Pages for Peace Foundation. The youth moderator was former gang member Rudy Balles, who now works with Peace Jam, an organization dedicated to educating young leaders through the work of the Nobel Peace Laureates.

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Everyone enjoyed the grand finale, an inspiring World Peace Flag Ceremony. Students carried the flags of the Member States, while those still seated read along with the country list. In between regions, everyone chanted, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” which was also displayed on the giant screens with regional maps. Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of the Secretary-General, graciously came forward to wave the flag of the United Nations for the joyful finish. This colorful ceremony provided a perfect close to the event, honoring the spirit of the United Nations by sending a heartfelt message of peace around the world.

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The Department of Public Information has already invited the World Peace Prayer Society to partner in organizing next year’s International Day of Peace student observance, along with our work to promote the day worldwide. We are currently compiling a report for the United Nations from countless places across the globe where the International Day of Peace was marked with the prayer, “May Peace Prevail on Earth!”

June 19, 2008

T.Y.S. Lama Gangchen Tulku Rinpoche, a Tibetan Buddhist lama and healer, met WPPS UN Representative Deborah Moldow at the United Nations on Thursday, June 19th during a rare visit to New York. The two first met in 1995, when Deborah introduced the Lama to the UN community. Over the years, he has conducted World Peace Flag Ceremonies and Peace Pole plantings in several parts of the world.

Lama Gangchen led prayers for peace in the UN meditation room and at the beautiful gold stupa containing relics of the Buddha that stands outside the General Assembly Hall. Lama Gangchen, who had traveled the world with the relics and was instrumental in bringing them to the UN, placed the Peace Pole on the stupa before beginning his prayers. The small Peace Pole shone with a special glow in all the photos, and everyone prayed together, “May Peace Prevail On Earth.” Deborah offered the Peace Pole to Lama Gangchen, who promised to take it with him everywhere he goes in his travels around the world.

The World Peace Prayer Society was a proud co-sponsor of the annual UN observance of the Season for Nonviolence on March 12, 2008. Close to 700 students attended from 30 schools from New York and surrounding states.

Guest speakers included an official from the Permanent Mission of Tanzania to the United Nations, Stella Schuhmacher of the Child Protection program at UNICEF and the renowned new thought minister, Dr. Michael Beckwith, whose stirring keynote address inspired the youth to bring forth a culture of peace.

Fumi Johns Stewart, Director of WPPS, Dr. Michael Beckwith, Rickie Byers Beckwith, Molly Taylor

Songs were offered by the “Through Our Eyes” choir from New Jersey, many with disabilities. Youth speakers included Molly Taylor of the Association for Global New Thought on their new PeacePort program, and Liberian refugee William Gyude Moore, who gave a rousing talk about the future. Then 40 students from Susan E. Wagner High School recited in turn why he or she is the “Face of Peace” – in spite of all ethnic and racial stereotypes. They closed by calling out together, “May Peace Prevail On Earth!”

The grand finale was a World Peace Flag Ceremony led by WPPS UN Representative Deborah Moldow and Mrs. Rickie Byers Beckwith, featuring a special “May Peace Prevail On Earth” chant by the Through Our Eyes Choir. Michael Beckwith offered final uplifting words and a vote of thanks. The energy of excitement and possibility was undeniable in the large conference room, as the words “May Peace Prevail On Earth” rang out in the air.

For a full report, pleace click here: http://www.worldpeace.org/PDF/SNVReport2008.pdf

Submitted by Deborah Moldow, WPPS.

A Season for Nonviolence is a campaign honoring the work of Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Cesar Chavez from January 30-April 4. The World Peace Prayer Society will be a sponsor of the annual UN event for students on March 12th, which will feature a World Peace Flag Ceremony. People around the world are welcome to join us in celebrating the Season for Nonviolence with the prayer “May Peace Prevail on Earth.”