About sixty people gathered in the São Paulo City Council Chamber Thursday 20th of September evening to commemorate the “International Day of Peace” 2012.

Reverend Christian Lepelletier, Brazil UPF Chapter Vice-president and MC opened the event welcoming all the participants.

The following leaders were called to sit at the head table:

Mrs Nelma da Silva Sa, University of Peace (UNIPAZ) São Paulo Chapter President; Mrs Ivete Belfort, Words of Peace Global (WOPG) President; Mr Gaetano Luigi, Peace Monument Project Founder http://www.marcodapaz.org.br ; Mr João Bico de Souza, Sao Paulo North District Commercial Association Director; Mr Samuel Luz, Brazil Association for the Religious Liberty President; Dr Dulce Magalhães, International lecturer and Peace activist from the UNIPAZ; Mrs Shellah Avellar, Sensorion Communication President; Mrs Damaris Moura Kuo, Chairwoman of  the Religious Freedom Lawyers Committee; Mrs Rute Cardoso, Tardo Ling Center Director and Therapist and Mr Manuel Dantas, UPF lecturer.

Following the protocol everybody stood and listened to the national anthem.

Mrs Luciana Feldman, representing Gilberto Natalini, City Councilor who helps to sponsor the event gave welcoming remarks.

The MC gave introductory remarks about the IDP and quoted from the General Secretary Ban Ki Moon speech and theme of this year 2012.

The following religious leaders were called in front to participate in the interfaith water ceremony: Bishop Marcelo Rezende representing the Liberal Catholic Church; Father Ney de Oliveira representing the Old Catholic Church; Mr Manuel Dantas representing Unificationism; Father Kyrilos Carlos representing the Orthodox Church; Sister Maria das Graças representing Candomble; Dr Dulce Magalhães representing the Bahai Faith; Sister Patricia Cantalino representing the Brahma Kumaris; Mrs Cida Medeiros representing Xamanism; Mrs Shellah Avellar representing Universalism and Mrs Rute Cardoso representing Budhism.

Dr Dulce Magalhães spoke about the importance of promoting the Culture of Peace, last may she receives the Medal of Peace in Luxembourg, during the World Peace Forum of Schengen in Luxembourg. As one of the coordinators of the World Peace Festivals organized by the UNIPAZ, including the last one realized in September in Sao Paulo. She was pleased to see many of her partners and friends coming together for this commemoration, surely all together we can build a world of peace. http://www.work.com.br/

Mrs Ivete Belfort shared about the importance to spread the message of peace through TV and media networks, she successfully opened programs in hundred cities in Brazil, she believes that, in order to change the world: “We first have to change ourselves. We want to see a better world and we believe it can happen — one human being at a time.”

Mrs Rute Cardoso spoke of the need to understand the meaning of peace. We need to know what it is to feel inner peace. Inner peace is our inner light and our best company, the most important knowledge that we can acquire. We need to change our attitudes and develop the basis of nonviolence. A very good method to do this is to meditate the words of truth to create a new culture of peace to the world.

Mr João Bico de Souza, Ambassador for the Peace Monument Project presented a short video of the history of the project initiated by Mr Gaetano Luigi, since his childhood had the dream of peace. The first monument was built in Sao Paulo, in 2000 and now they are on all the continents.

Cristian ABBA (vocals, harmonium), Alexandre Calori (Percussionist) and Denisse Iturra (vocal) performed a few songs for inner peace and unconditional love. "From heart to heart" and with "ONE VOICE", they led the audience to feel love and inner peace.

The Introductory UPF video was presented on the screen to introduce the worldwide outreach of the Universal Peace Federation and its chapters in over 150 nations.

Mr Manoel Dantas presented the power point lecture about the five Principles of Peace and Core Values sharing the vision and explaining the mission for the Ambassadors for Peace.

Mr Gaetano Luigi, who was appointed an UPF Ambassador in Montevideo in 2008, was called to the front to give the AfP Certificates for the following new Ambassadors for Peace:

Mr Fabio Antunes, holistic therapist, community advisor, specialist in dependencies, volunteer to help individuals and families victims of drug addiction.

Professor Samuel Luz, President of the Brazilian Association of religious freedom and Citizenship, member of the Lawyers Committee of religious freedom, member of the inter-religious Forum of the Department of Justice of the State of São Paulo, writer, editor and Pastor of the seventh-day Adventist Church.

Mr João Bico de Souza, Ambassador for the Peace Monument, awarded by the Brazilian Association of International Peacekeeping Forces and Chief Executive Officer of North District of São Paulo Commercial Association, business administrator and Director of the Tecnolamp Company.

Dr Manoel Jose Pereira Simao, clinical psychologist, member of the Portuguese Association of Psychology (Alubrat), one of the Sao Paulo University of peace (Unipaz) founder, member of the National Institute of research and Experiential Regressive Therapy Parton (INPTVP), one of the coordinators of the NEPER-Center for studies of Spiritual and religious Issues at the Institute of Psychiatry of the Hospital das Clínicas.

Mrs Nelma  da Silva Sa, UPF Ambassador for Peace since 2011, was called to the front to give the AfP certificates for the following new Ambassadors for Peace:

Mrs Ivete Belfort, President of Words of Peace Global (WOPG) in Brazil and the Society to Support Peace, responsible for TV programs, words of peace, which airs in more than 100 cities in Brazil, partner with the UNIPAZ which organized the 2012 Global Peace Festival in Sao Paulo. http://www.wopg.org/

Mrs Rute Cardoso, Therapist and Executive Director of the Tardo Ling Center for Human, Cultural and Philosophical Development, promotes the culture of peace with Buddhist philosophy and spirituality, lectures, meditation retreats and self healing.

http://www.rute.cardoso.nom.br/

Mrs Shellah Avellar, Director of the company Sensorion, Architect, graduated in communication processes, awarded internationally, develops communication strategies. Artist and metaphysical painter with the help of spiritual teachers receives psychographied messages. http://www.sensorion.com.br/

Mrs Cida Medeiros, Psychotherapist, specializing in family constellations and Shamanism, graduated from the School of the Dynamic Energy of the Psyche (DEP), Reiki Master, Initiated in various healing therapy to help individuals, families and groups, also a partner and volunteer at the UNIPAZ.

http://www.cidamedeiros.org/

For the closing of the event we had the surprise appearance of Malcom Forest who sung the tribute to Pope John Paul II, the song PAPA DELLA PACE. The song had its world premiere in the city of Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis, on the occasion of the inauguration of the Peace Monument. It was also presented in Rome, in a celebration where a peace monument replica was awarded to the actual Pope.

http://www.malcolmforest.com/malcolmforest/english.htm

Link to the pictures: https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos?tab=mq#photos/116318122783288436070/albums/5790766933905056113