The innovative and interactive Keys to Peace Festival will begin on June 13 and run through June 15, 2008. It features a dinner and talk by Harvard University Buddhist Chaplain Lama Migmar Tseten, a Peace flag raising ceremony, Labyrinth walk, Peace
Academy classes and a “peace paddle” kayaking event.
Pre-festival events included a showing of the film “Peaceful Warrior” last Friday evening. This Friday’s (May 30) showing of “Freedom Writers” and the upcoming Student Peace Alliance (SPA) showing of the film “Pay it Forward” on June 9th is next. The SPA event includes a dinner at Coral Shores high school. Annabelle Bricker, the savvy 9th grader who founded the Coral Shore’s high school SPA chapter may be contacted at 305-852-9259 for tickets ($7) and information.
Keys to Peace is a local grass roots organization supporting the nationwide, non-partisan movement for the creation of a cabinet level U.S Department of Peace and Nonviolence (DoPN). Volunteers model the concept of what a DoPN would actually accomplish by supporting cost effective local violence prevention and Peacemaking efforts such as the Monroe County Youth Challenge Program. Organizers stress that this is not an anti-war, or anti military movement but a strictly Pro-Peace effort seeking to prevent and/or reduce both domestic and international violence. It is supported by the Student Peace Alliance (SPA) at Coral Shores High school in Tavernier, FL – the first high school chapter of the SPA in the state of Florida.
Denise Downing, local Peacemaker and organizer of the Festival said: “I am so inspired by all the local residents who have come forward to make this Keys To Peace Festival a reality. Peace flags, over 5000 of which are expected to arrive from all around the country, will share the Keys’ breezes, along with the American flag on Flag Day!” A beautiful and original Keys to Peace theme song, which was written especially for this event, will be performed live at the Festival by songwriter Rev. R.J. Starr. “ Our goal at the Keys to Peace Festival is to engage local citizens in helping us create a more Peace-able community that will enable us to peacefully transition these increasingly difficult times,” said Downing, longtime resident of Islamorada.
One of the goals of the U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence is to create a National Peace Academy on a par with the U.S. military academies to train peacemakers. Dr. Mari-Etta Stoner, Provost of the Keys Peace Academy said: “This is a practical but exciting event, not to be missed. Our many professional speakers/facilitators will share insights on how to increase inner peace, as well as peace in the family, the workplace and the community.” Most classes are geared to an adult audience.
