A Silver Path

The following is a message from Dr Jane Goodall:

Dear Friend,

Every year, the United Nations International Peace Day is held on 21st September, when people around the world express their desire for peace. So that the majority of Roots & Shoots groups and JGI friends can be involved, I have chosen the last Saturday of every September as “Roots & Shoots Day of Peace” in support of the United Nation’s peace endeavors.

This year our day for celebrating peace will be Saturday 30th September. I do hope that you and your friends and families will join groups around the world to fly Peace Doves and celebrate the desire for peace in the human spirit!

The Giant Peace Dove puppets—”flown” by young people and the young at heart in cities, towns, and villages near and far—are a symbol and celebration of peace and peace work. Last year, peace doves flew in 69 cities in a total of 22 countries. They reached some incredible places, including top of Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania and the grounds of a monastery in Mongolia. In Nepal, more than 400 children from the Buddhist community paraded their hand-made Giant Peace Dove around the compound of their school, released balloons, sang songs, and gave Tibetan prayers. In Bahrain there was a remarkable parade led by the Bahrain Police Band and doves made by Bahrain children were included on more than 30 Gulf Air flights. In Los Angeles, almost 1,000 people came together to fly 50 peace doves during a day of festivities in Griffith Park. The L.A. event included musical concerts, guest speakers, arts and crafts, games, pet adoptions and more.

On Peace Day I was in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, with photographer Tom Mangelsen, and we flew two Giant Peace Doves along the Snake River. The morning dawned wet and very cold. But we set off anyway in two rubber rafts. Halfway through the two-and-a-half hours the rain stopped and the fall colors were glorious. Afterwards we took part in a Peace Parade with eight Giant Peace Doves and many more small doves.

This year we hope once again to see doves flying all around the globe. With these humble creations made out of recycled materials, we remind everyone that peace is possible. We celebrate all that is free and noble in the human spirit. And we celebrate all that so many people have done throughout the year—and will do next year—to create a better world.

Please join us on Saturday 30th September—your participation will mean so much to me. Together we will celebrate peace within ourselves, peace within our communities and peace around the world!

Love,

Dr. Jane

FOR PEACE DOVE PUPPET INSTRUCTIONS IN PDF FORMAT, PLEASE VISIT Dr GOODALL’S “ROOTS & SHOOTS” WEBSITE: