By Delinda Lombardo on
Local members of Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots environmental and humanitarian youth program joined members of the Skirball Cultural Center, USC Anthropology Department, Urban Arts Crew, TreePeople and the Ocean Institute, as well as students and members of the general public to celebrate the annual 2010 International Day of Peace on Sunday, September 19, in Los Angeles.
The event, which took place on the Santa Monica Pier, attracted more than 10,000 people who gathered to promote peace while enjoying arts and crafts, games, and exhibits featuring eco-friendly organizations and local nonprofits.
One cool activity for the kids was the Passport to Peace, an exciting and educational activity that enables participants to “travel” between booths featuring eco-friendly and peace-related exhibits while learning important lessons along the way.
The Day of Peace culminated with a Peace Parade featuring Giant Peace Dove Puppets made from reused materials.
About Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots International Day of Peace
A UN Messenger of Peace since 2002, Dr. Goodall established Roots & Shoots International Day of Peace in 2004 to encourage Roots & Shoots members and other interested individuals to promote peace in their communities and around the globe. Roots & Shoots members and friends craft Giant Peace Dove Puppets from reused materials and fly the Doves in their communities to symbolize their commitment to peace. In past years, Giant Peace Dove Puppets have flown in almost 100 countries in city parks, backyards, convention centers and even refugee camps. Held high by young hands, the Doves have spread their wings everywhere, including the Coliseum in Rome, a monastery in Mongolia, the base of Mount Fuji and even the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro.
The 2010 Roots & Shoots International Day of Peace was particularly special this year as it coincided with monumental milestone for the Jane Goodall Institute and its founder, Dr. Goodall. Fifty years ago, Goodall first set foot on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, in what is now Tanzania’s Gombe National Park. The chimpanzee behavioral research she pioneered there has produced a wealth of scientific discovery, and her vision has expanded into a global mission to empower people, particularly youth, to make a difference for all living things.
Copyright © 2010 Look to the Stars
