Carlos
Emediato, Iguaçu Falls
I
hope you and your friends had beautiful celebrations on Culture
of Peace World Day.
We closed our cycle of Continental Meetings with a special event
in Iguaçu Falls in a fantastic venue called House of Americas just
in the triple border (Argentina+Brazil+Paraguay). In this triple
border two beautiful rivers are merging: Iguaçu and Paraná.
We closed the meeting on September 21st connecting our noon rituals
with other groups in Buenos Aires. We managed to have the Flag Ceremony
in a Latin America version. We got the flags from all the Latin
America countries and one representing the planet. Two Indians Chiefs
from Maçã and Ava-Guarani Nations, who live in Paraguay participated
with their groups and offered their message of peace.
All the best!!
May
peace prevail on earth.
Jessica
Shackleton, Rio de Janeiro
World Wheelchair Athletes Celebrate the International
Day of Peace
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 21st September 2005
A World Peace Flag Ceremony was held in Rio de Janeiro
at the statue of Christ. It was organised through Hiroko Atkins,
our Peace Representative in Rio de Janeiro, who worked with Mauro
Gandra Filho one of the organisers of the World Wheelchair and Amputee
Games (ABRADECAR). The games were held under the heading ‘Tribute
to Peace’ and one of the main events of the week was the flag ceremony.
This was the first time the games have been held in Latin America
and the first time a flag ceremony has been performed on Corcovado
Mountain around the base of the statue of Christ. Forty-eight athletes
representing the countries taking part in the games were present,
some of whom carried flags along with children from TASK (The Abandoned
Street Kids) part of the ABC Trust (Action for Brazil’s Street Children).
The area around the statue was decorated with the flags of the world,
the earth flag and the UN flag, hung from poles attached to the
stone balustrades. It made a wonderful backdrop to welcome the participants
and the flags looked so colourful flying in the breeze high over
the city and white beaches of Rio de Janeiro. We were lucky enough
to have the assistance of Ely Inoue, the Society’s Peace Representative
from Sao Paulo, to help with the 
ceremony and also Tatiana a friend of Hiroko’s daughter,
along with volunteers helping with the games. The flag ceremony
was in alphabetical order with the words May Peace Prevail On
Earth and Que a Paz Prevaleca no Mondo repeated every
14 countries. It helped to create an atmosphere of unity, hope and
cooperation, which were built on by 
the speeches, which followed. They emphasised the role
of sport in helping to create a sense of achievement by overcoming
all odds and excelling ones personal capabilities within a spirit
of brother and sisterhood beyond political and national boundaries.
The speakers included Remigo Maradona, the former footballer, who
gave an inspired speech emphasising the essential role of the UN
in present-day diplomacy and Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin, who instigated
and supports the ABC Trust.
The ceremony was broadcast to the Copacabana Fortress where all
the other delegates of the games had gathered to see the event as
it took place. Afterwards, Mauro Ghandra Filho, said he was hopeful
that the city of Rio de Janeiro will have an annual celebration
for the IDP as part of a week of peace action. I am sure this is
the first of many future celebrations in Rio.
Jessica Shackleton, Allanton
Sanctuary, Scotland
