Friends Celebrate International Day of Peace

Friends are having a special gathering in Philadelphia, September 20 and 21, to celebrate the United Nations International Day of Peace. The celebration, hosted by Earlham School of Religion and supported by PYM, will include a talk by Betty Williams, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

from the September/October 2004 issue publication made possible by your contributions to the PYM Annual Fund

The celebration will begin with a facilitated panel discussion on “Pacifism in the Age of Terrorism” at 7 p.m. Monday, September 20, at the Fourth and Arch Street Meeting House. The discussion will be moderated by Signe Wilkinson of the Philadelphia Daily News. Panelists include Joey Rodger, director, Pendle Hill Peace Network; Helena Cobban, nationally syndicated columnist, author and Senior Global Affairs Fellow with the University of Virginia's Institute for Practical Ethics; Thomas Jeavons, general secretary, Philadelphia Yearly Meeting; and Lonnie Valentine, professor of Peace and Justice Studies, Earlham School of Religion. Refreshments will follow the discussion. For advanced tickets call (317) 816-9760. Ticket prices are $10 for adults and free for students. Tickets also will be available at the door.

Nobel Peace Prize winner and peacemaker Betty Williams, of Northern Ireland, will be the featured speaker at the International Day of Peace luncheon, 11:30 a.m., Tuesday, September 21, at the Down Town Club in Philadelphia. Spurred by the needless death of children in war-torn 1970s Northern Ireland, Betty Williams co-founded the Community of Peace People and works globally to protect and heal war’s most innocent victims. Her peace and justice vocation is based upon her strong faith in the love and grace of God for all the people of the world. For ticket availability, call (317) 816-9760. Ticket prices are $50 for adults and $15 for students.

The United Nations General Assembly declared September 21 an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. The United Nations is asking that all citizens around the world observe a moment of silence and hold special events and ceremonies to commemorate the day.

Earlham School of Religion, located in Richmond, Indiana, is a graduate school in the Quaker tradition, providing programs leading to a variety of ministries, including peace and justice, Christian spirituality and the ministry of writing, teaching and pastoral care and counseling. The school invites and embraces people of all backgrounds, beliefs, races and cultures to share in the journey toward serving others.