Message from Dr. Jane Goodall:

 

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.