.jpg)
Last year on September 11th Mayor Jamie Irons and the City Council of Morro Bay established a peace proclamation stating the from that time on, September would be the celebrated as the Month of Peace in Morro Bay. To honor the United Nations International Day of Peace, they also established September 21st as Morro Bay’s Day of Peace. A banner with these statements will hang in City Park from September 14 through September 22 to honor this.
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on September 21st. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.
The United Nations Member States adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals in 2015 because they understood that it would not be possible to build a peaceful world if steps were not taken to achieve economic and social development for all people everywhere, and ensure that their rights were protected. The Sustainable Goals cover a broad range of issues, including poverty, hunger, health, education, climate change, gender equality, water, sanitation, energy, environment and social justice.
For 2019 the United Nations theme for Peace Day is “Climate Action for Peace.” Sustainable Development Goal 13 “Climate Action” is a call for immediate action by all to lower greenhouse emissions, build resilience and improve education on climate change.
Affordable, scalable solutions such as renewable energy, clean technologies are available to enable countries to leapfrog to greener, more resilient economies.
The theme draws attention to the importance of combating climate change to protect and promote peace throughout the world. Climate change causes clear threats to international peace and security. Natural disasters displace three times as many people as conflicts, forcing millions to leave their homes and seek safety elsewhere. The salinization of water and crops is endangering food security, and the impact on public health is escalating. The growing tensions over resources and mass movements of people are affecting every country on every continent. Peace can only be achieved if concrete action is taken to combat climate change.
The great misfortune of these statements is that while the United States of America signed onto the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, they have done little to nothing on any of goals, most especially goal 13 climate change, since leaving the Paris Accords.
On 23 September, the United Nations is convening a Climate Action Summit with concrete and realistic plans to accelerate action to implement the Paris Agreement. The Summit will focus on the heart of the problem – the sectors that create the most emissions and the areas where building resilience could make the biggest difference – as well as provide leaders and partners the opportunity to demonstrate real climate action and showcase their ambition.
In the lead up to the International Day of Peace on September 21st, the United Nations calls upon all to take action to tackle climate change. Every human is part of the solution - from turning off the lights to taking public transport, to organizing an awareness raising campaign in your community.
The Friends of Yes We Can Peacebuilders joins with Pace e Bene/Campaign Nonviolence and the United Nations Climate Action for Peace to celebrate peace and nonviolence on Saturday, September 21st at a 1960s style “Love In” Peace Picnic in the Park at Tidelands Park from 11 AM to 2 PM. Bring your own picnic and a chair and join in to do a little bit of drumming with Leslie Thompson’s Drumming Circle and sing along with student singer-songwriter Amalia Fleming and Yarrow and the Peace Choir. Yes We Can Peacebuilders supports the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and works to encourage our representatives to live up to them and to work to turn around climate change here and in the world.