Live Peace with MY World

Those familiar with international development have likely heard of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a United Nations initiative implemented in 2000. As part of the MDGs, UN member nations agreed to a set of 8 goals, ranging from achieving universal primary education to ensuring environmental sustainability. The purpose was to meet these goals by 2015.

Now, 2015 is almost upon us. To formulate the post-MDG goals, the UN and its partners have created MY World. The site allows people from all over the world to list their own priorities for global development.

At the MY World site, you can pick the issues that are of the most importance to you. Check it out, and use your voice to do good!

Good Happens.

Pay it Forward!

Live Peace this January

January always seems to be a month of change, reflection, and new intentions. This January 2013 is also a month for awareness and advocacy!

This month has been declared National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. While slavery is often viewed as something that was abolished long ago, it still affects many people today.

According to Not for Sale, over 30 million people are in slavery today– more than in any other time period in our history.  And the 2012 Global Report on Trafficking in Persons by UNODC states that between 2007 and 2010, the percentage of child victims rose to 27%, from 20% between 2003-2006 (UNODC full report here).

Learn more about modern slavery and how you can get involved in anti-slavery efforts with organizations like Somaly Mam Foundation and Not for Sale.

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

Live Peace with UNHCR

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), also known as the UN Refugee Agency, works to support people who have been displaced from their homes and often their livelihood.

The high number of current Syrian refugees escaping violence has led to more international attention. Angelina Jolie, a UNHCR Special Envoy, recently visited the Jordan-Syria border to learn about the difficult situation exacerbated by the approach of winter.

You can support UNHCR through USA for UNHCR. One way to show your support is to purchase a Blue Key. USA for UNHCR has set a goal of selling 6,000 Blue Keys by December 31, 2012!

Learn more about USA for UNHCR and how it supports UNHCR’s mission at their website. You can also get ideas of how to make Good Happen on The Blue Key Blog!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

International Day of the Girl

Today is first official International Day of the Girl! Declared  by the United Nations, the Day of the Girl highlights the immense potential of young girls worldwide.

“The UN General Assembly, which comprises all 193 members of the UN, voted that 11 October should be recognized as International Day of the Girl Child. This is an opportunity to address the unique challenges that girls face, promote girls’ rights and to highlight the gender equalities that still persist between girls and boys.

The UN has also decided to mark this inaugural celebration of girls’ potential by bringing attention to the plight of child brides. By choosing child marriage as its theme, the International Day of the Girl will draw international attention to activists’ work and government commitments, while also calling on world leaders to support programmes and laws to end child marriage.” – Girls Not Brides

Girls are valuable, strong, creative, powerful, and have such great potential. They deserve the chance to realize that potential. Empower girls and let them thrive.

Get involved! Learn more & find resources at:

Girls Not Brides /// Half the Sky /// The Girl Effect /// The Elders

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out!

“Long live absolute world peace” Intl Day of Peace, 2010

Along with others around the world, the Center for Living Peace celebrated International Day of Peace on September 21, 2010.  Our open house offered a full day of free activities, plus yummy homemade brownies baked by our fantabulous volunteer Kathleen!  A great time was had by all!  Thank you to all of you who joined us and others elsewhere in making world peace a reality!

The Chuck Jones Center for Creativity helped children transform recyclables into artworks, and to draw inspiration from the works of Chuck Jones’ joyful cartoons.

Terry LePage attracted a crowd to her ‘teaser’ session for her upcoming series, Everyday Peacemaking: Compassionate Communication Practice Group (for Adults).  Spots are still available in this 6 week series running Tuesdays from 7-9pm.  Please call (949) 854-5500 or visit the event page to register!

Smiling Monkey Yoga for Kids provided free chances for children to investigate yoga and breathing exercises through fun, play, and imagination.

We also welcomed Blumera, selling their handbags which boast handmade hardware bearing messages such as, “It is for love that the whole universe sprang into existence, and it is for the sake of love that it is kept going.”

Victory Over Violence, a non-profit that addresses the alarming escalation of violence and the decreasing respect for life, met with visitors and offered people information.

Author Chip Royston read “Juji: Emelia Makes a Difference” at Peace Day story time in our ‘living peace’ library.  Our library contains books for children and adults, and is open Tues-Sat 9-5, plus Tues and Weds evenings.

For the final presentation of the day, UCI’s Olive Tree Initiative presented their travels to the middle east and the work they continue to do to make peace between Israelis and Palestinians abroad and at home.  We also screened the documentary film, Peace One Day (2004) by Jeremy Giley, about the history of International Day of Peace.

For more inspiration:

• Learn more about the history of International Day of Peace.
• Watch the intro to the film Peace One Day and see the commemorative 2010 concert.
• Check out the response of young people around the world to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call to take a stand for peace.
• Download a “peace recipe,” contributed by www.amareway.org for Peace Day 2010.  “It shows that living peacefully is the way to peace, and provides a recipe for that”!

Good Happens.

Peace Grl Out.