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~ By Susan Rehling
Unity is at the core of any effort towards peace. With that in mind, the Bahá'ís of Encinitas organized and hosted a celebration for United Nations Peace Day at the Encinitas Public Library, open to the public at no charge. The event exceeded the library capacity of 130 persons and welcomed guests of all backgrounds and ages. The program was delivered by Bahá'ís and members of several other religions.
Since 1981 when it was first established by the United Nations General Assembly, the International Day of Peace has been celebrated throughout the world on the 21st of September. Also known as Peace Day, it is devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace and marking an end to conflict and violence. This year, 2023, the theme was “Rebuilding Together for a Sustainable Future.” In its universal call to action, the United Nations (UN) recognized that Unity is at the heart of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) because achieving any single goal requires achieving them all. And this is only possible when people themselves unite for change to give humanity and our planet a beautiful, sustainable future.
The evening began with a Land Acknowledgement by Dr. John Bathke. Printed programs were given to the audience along with an information card listing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals defined by the UN on the front side. On the back of the cards were listed 13 local organizations that provide service to the community at large and offer opportunities for volunteer service.
A brief introduction to the 17 goals was presented using beautiful slides. The program then focused on four of the 17 goals – goals that are currently being supported by the local Bahá'í community. Using slides, videos and personal accounts, four guest speakers described the focused goals: #3 Good Health and Well Being, #5 Gender Equality, #10 Reduced Inequalities, and #16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
The program also included a “soul food” segment where two youth alternated reading short descriptions of each SDG, and quotes from various religions, philosophies, and notable authors. These quotes emphasize the unifying effort needed to achieve success in reaching the goals. The program interspersed musical entertainment, poetry, and performances, including a poem written by a youth member of Kids for Peace. Bahá'í prayers were sung by local youth who also composed the music, a pledge prayer was recited by children from the Kids for Peace organization, and the prayer “Strive” from ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was performed by a “children’s choir” in American Sign Language. The program ended with a lively violin performance by well-known violinist, Bethany Grace.
Contact: Baha'is of Encinitas