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City of Austin Bringing Awareness to International Peace Day

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Tony Maples Photography

 

Not only did September 11 mark the 15th anniversary of the sobering twin towers tragedy, it also served as an opener to an 11-day celebration of global unity leading up to International Peace Day.

Motley Crew Media announced in a recent press release that “dozens of Austin area organizations are hosting special events for the public to commemorate and celebrate peace throughout 11 Days of Global Unity,” which kicked off on September 11 and will culminate on September 21 in a press conference and proclamation at Austin City Hall in celebration of International Peace Day.

City of Austin Bringing Awareness to International Peace Day

Photo: Flickr/CristinaSouza

In 1981, the United Nations established a resolution for International Peace Day — a worldwide celebration of peace. Twenty years later, the UN encouraged all people  to commemorate Peace Day through education and public awareness events that would solidify the celebration as an annual event around the world.

Citizens in the Austin area are urged to participate in the activities and events hosted by Peace Day Austin. According to the organization’s website, Peace Day Austin ” is a collaborative grassroots initiative to explore, express,  share, welcome, and celebrate what peace means to each of us as we travel from 9/11, a Day of Remembrance and Service,  to 9/21, the United Nations International Day of Peace.”

City of Austin Bringing Awareness to International Peace Day

Photo: Courtesy of Motley Crew Media

Events over the course of the celebration include “Pay Peace Forward” a citywide Peace Selfie Campaign that runs through September 21. Folks are encouraged to take selfies making the peace sign, wearing a peace t-shirt, or holding a sign and posting it on social media with the tag #PeaceDayATX.

People may also choose to become a Secret Agent of Compassion and sign up for the Compassion Games in which secret assignments that help make the world a better place are given to participants to be completed during each of the 11 days of celebration.

Amy’s Ice Cream has created special Peace Day flavors that are only available September 17 to September 21. Baked by Amy’s, the bakery division of the ice cream specialty chain, is baking up special Peace Day cookies available now until September 21.

City of Austin Bringing Awareness to International Peace Day

Photo: Courtesy of Motley Crew Media

Finally, the celebration closes out on September 21 with the official International Peace Day events beginning at 10 a.m. at Austin City Hall and includes a closing Peace Day Ceremony with a press conference hosted by Mayor Steve Adler and Austin Polic Chief Art Acevedo. Entertainment includes teen poet Sabeen Narooni and musician Jackie Venson. A global minute of silence will be

A global minute of silence will be recognized at noon, and a closing Peace Day Ceremony and International Peace Day celebration at the Asian American Resource Center is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. An artistic display of imagery will be projected on Topfer Theatre from dusk until dawn to conclude the celebration.