The University of Rhode Island’s Center for Nonviolence & Peace Studies celebrated the International Day of Peace at the Memorial Union last Thursday, September 22. This year’s URI Peace Day theme is the End of Racism and Build of Peace. The celebration was well attended despite the heavy rain.
The event is commemorated one day after its original day (9/21), which celebrates a UN resolution of 1981 that “encourages all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace,” as stated by the International Day of Peace organization.
Many students, staff, and community members visited the stalls where they could find information and resources regarding actions for Peace, denuclearization, and ending Domestic Violence. Many students also enjoyed creating their own peace flags (the photo on the right) or listening to various peace poems and songs.
The Peace Day was concluded with participants lighting candles at 6:30 pm, followed by an inspiring talk by the special guest lecturer Geshe Lobsang Gelek, a Tibetan Buddhist monk and a scholar in the College of Pharmacy Building 170. While the URI Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies appreciates all who contributed and attended this year’s URI Day of Peace, it wishes for better weather next year so that more students and community members could enjoy the celebration of peace together in person.
- Matías Pavez
