On September 21st, CELEBRATE Libraries for Peace (L4P) Day in observation of International Day of Peace with the world community.

Librarians, libraries and friends are INVITED to:

1. ADD  your celebration to the L4P map & our L4P Facebook community.  Tour the map to find celebrations worldwide.
   
2. JOIN US this year to discuss How can libraries support “The Right to Peace”?  (download flyer <PDF> or <jpg> AND see below for more L4P celebration ideas).

The International Day of Peace is observed around the world each year on September 21st. The United Nations General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. The theme for the International Day of Peace in 2018 is “The Right to Peace – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights at 70”.  The theme celebrates the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

While Article 3 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”, it does not include a separate article on the “Right to Peace”. This is why the United Nations asks: What does “The Right to Peace” mean to you? and we ask: How can libraries support “The Right to Peace”?

• DISCUSS THE TOPIC directly on this padlet;
• SHARE YOUR IDEAS with us on social media with hashtags: #librariesforpeace #peaceday and #standup4humanrights; and
• PARTICIPATE IN AN ONLINE FORUM on September 21st; 9 am CT – Chicago Time (see https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/ for your local time) with BARBARA J. FORD, Mortenson Distinguished Professor Emerita, Past ALA President and Co-Founder of the UNESCO Center for Global Citizenship (connect with us using Chrome at go.illinois.edu/mortenson-online).

In the lead up to the International Day of Peace on 21 September, the United Nations calls upon all to take action:

1. You can support SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions by seeking  peaceful resolution of conflict when disagreements arise around you.  You can be part of the solution by taking small steps. You can prevent an injustice at school or in your community by adopting a non-violent approach to problem solving and reporting potential crimes, including online bullying.
2. You can promote human rights by collecting and promoting videos of as many articles as possible in as many languages as possible. Record yourself reading one of the 30 articles of the Declaration in any of the 135 languages currently available and share your video with your friends.
3. You can engage by speaking up when others are at risk and stand with others’ human rights at work, in school and around the dinner table.
4. You can reflect how each of us can stand up for rights, every day.

Peace Day Ideas from Libraries Around the World

Create

• In the Relindial Cartonera project, developed by the IFLA RELINDIAL (Religions: Libraries and Dialogue) Special Interest Group, a librarian brings people of diverse origins together to create a book made in recycled materials.
• In Australia, students in Gillie, Queensland created artwork to illustrate words associated with peace: cooperate, kindness, love, friendship, etc. The art was displayed in the school library.
• A school library in the Canary Islands celebrated peace day with crafts, a reading group, karaoke, and games. They created a video called “Peace Day’s Every Day in the Library.”
• Many campus communities in the United States invite students to make a paper crane or dove and write a message of peace on it.
  • http://iue.libguides.com/1000cranes / http://iue.edu/blogs/library/2014/11/17/i-will-write-peace-on-your-wings/
• Indiana University Library provided origami paper and asked students and faculty to help them create 1,000 paper cranes. This activity was inspired by a Japanese tradition that states if 1,000 paper cranes are created, the maker is granted a wish. The library asked students to wish for peace.
  • The Peace Crane Project
  • Some libraries have also had patrons sign the Peace Crane Pledge before making a peace crane.
• Hosting a poetry slam for peace or Poems for Peace event is another way to celebrate in the United States.

Watch

• Short Peace Day videos were distributed nationwide in Portugal. Public libraries shared the videos on their websites and through social media.
• Broadcast the Peace Day Global Broadcast throughout the day and invite students to stop by and listen. Peace Cast TV is also popular.
• Screen a movie or documentary relating to Peace Day or the specific theme that year. The Peace One Day film is an example.

Learn/Connect

• The Municipal Library in Romania hosted a discussion titled “Peace without nuclear weapons” organized by Pro Vita Universale.
• The University of Khartoum Peace Research Institute in Sudan launched an “Anti-War campaign” and celebrated the opening of the Resource Library for the Peace innovation Hub, which is now open to the community.
• Duquesne University Library has an International Day of Peace Libguide with information about current conflicts around the world, social justice websites, and a list of events for peace day.
• Duquesne University held an “International Students Speak” Peace Day event and invited international students to engage in a conversation with the campus community.
• Many libraries have hosted Peace Day lectures with notable speakers involved in human rights work.
• The Sun Japanese Culture Center and the Universal Peace Federation in Moldova organized a series of educational activities in libraries and schools. Library patrons made 1000 paper cranes, which symbolized their hope for peace in Ukraine. The activity started at Trolleybook, an old trolley bus that was transformed into a children’s library. Then, it moved onto to public libraries, schools, and university libraries.
• American University is conducting a 2016 International Day of Peace Competition for SIS undergraduate and graduate students to execute a plan that will bring about 24 hours of nonviolence in Washington D.C. and create the momentum to sustain peace beyond September 21st.

Join

• In Canada, Greater Victoria Public Library held a Peace Day meet-up before a peace lecture at a local church.
• In Rwanda, Kuki Indiho Rwanda Orphans Support Project organized various Peace Day events around the country. Kigali Public Library held one of the opening events, but they don’t provide information on what they did for the event.
• Peace as the Protection of the Creation is the theme of the 8th International Poetry Contest in Argentina.
• The Fargo Public Library in the United States celebrates peace day with educational programs, presentations, and performances.
• The United States Institute of Peace organized the Peace Day Challenge, starting with the Twitter hashtag #PeaceDayChallenge. See the site for more details.
• The Dalai Lama was in Washington to promote a worldwide “peacebuilding” campaign, which he participated in by leading a workshop in India with 28 young activists from conflict zones around the world, especially from Africa and the Middle East.
• Many libraries have hosted a Global Feast for Peace with food from different cultures. Examples: https://www.facebook.com/GlobalFeast
• Many campus communities promote signing a Peace Pledge. One example is the pledge from internationaldayofpeace.org.
• Create a Peace and Justice Display in the library.
• Hold a moment of silence for peace and/or candle lighting ceremony. Pathways to peace sponsors a global minute of silence at noon on international peace day.
• Host a campus march for peace and unity.
• The Dayton Metro Library hosted a Burundian Drumming Group and partnered with Abolition Ohio to host a Human Trafficking Exhibit.
• LaPlace Library in Louisiana hosted a Peace Day Open House. The event included videos, displays, and open discussions on World Peace. They also started a social media campaign and encouraged patrons to take a picture with signs that said “I have a right to peace” and “We all have a right to peace.”
• The library at Pennsylvania College of Technology displayed flags from the U.N and many of its member countries for Peace Day: http://pctoday.pct.edu/library-flag-display-commemorates-international-day-of-peace/
• Providence Community Library joined with the Peace Flag Project to offer Peace Flag making workshops. The flags were displayed in the library.
• A Peace Day celebration took place on the field outside the Wrexham Library. Participants were encouraged to bring food to share, and everyone brought items they no longer needed for a stall where community members could take items for free. They also provided live music, activities for kids, and a storytelling booth. The theme of the day was “sharing and peaceful cooperation.”