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A Valentines Day of Love & Peace
January 25, 2006
I got this email from a friend Federico who had attended an Idealist.org meeting I put together in Brooklyn back in 2000. He's someone who's genuinely committed to building a culture of peace, and has a cool idea for a Valentine Peace Project that imagines a Valentine's Day that is a about "love, peace and global unity as a growing possibility in today's interconnected world.
You know I'm a dreamer (and I'm not the only one), so I recommend checking out the site, submitting a poem, or reading some of the other submission, and showing the love on February 14.
The Valentine Peace Project
Imagine all the people . .
Imagine a Valentine’s Day that is not only about romantic love or for lovers.
Imagine a Valentine’s Day that is about love, peace and global unity as a growing possibility in today’s interconnected world.
The Valentine Peace Project will take place this Valentine’s Day, involving students, artists, individuals, and groups committed to peace throughout the diverse communities of the city of Los Angeles and
beyond. The goal is to expand the framework of this romantic holiday into an opportunity for vision,
community and connection. As one expression of the day, volunteers throughout the city will be
distributing carnations with attached peace poems. The poems, written by Los Angeles area kids, adults,
families and others, are submitted through the Project website .The poems reflect an expanded possibility for Valentine’s Day and encompass themes of peace, sharing, and love in a wider sense. This is an opportunity to express or envision images of a more peaceful world, a unified global community or share experiences of connectedness with friends, family and
strangers alike.
Imagine a commuter on this day, or a pedestrian, or a student given a flower with words to brighten up the day – words from someone in their community – and the chance to realize the connections which occur in our every day.
Is this what makes peace a possibility in the world?
Why not create a Valentine’s Day signaling this possibility?
Inform others about the Project. Make it an opportunity for peace education - contact us for a lesson plan. Inform florists. Plan a day filled with carnations and poetry. Tell students and children
about the project. Get the media involved. Participate in carnation distribution. Develop your
own expression of an expanded vision of Valentine’s Day to include peacemaking along with love. Poems
submitted will be displayed on the website and distributed on Tuesday, February 14, 2006.
You can contact Federico Hewson at 310-339-6602 or fhewson@valentinepeaceproject.org
The Valentine Peace Project is a Project of Community Partners.
Posted by Colin at January 25, 2006 10:16 AM
