Let's Observe Gandhi's 140th Birthday in a Special Way

My group, Interfaith Paths to Peace is doing an event on Friday at noon in downtown Louisville asking people to stop using words as 'weapons of mass destruction."

We will mark the occasion from 12:10 p.m. o 1 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral (in Bishops Hall) 425 South Second Street in Louisville, by lighting candles and reflecting on non-violence and especially the need to stop using words as "weapons of mass destruction" as we have seen in the media so much lately. The event is free and open to the public.

Here are the details:

On Friday, October 2, 2009 (Mohandas Gandhi's birthday), Interfaith Paths to Peace in cooperation with a number of other local organizations will host a special noontime observance of International Day of Non-violence. This special ceremony will be held from 12:10 p.m. until 1 p.m. in Bishops Hall at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral at 425 South Second Street in Louisville.

The observance will consist of a lighting of candles and a silent reflection on the urgent need for each of us to disarm ourselves from the violent and hurtful language we often use in dealing with each other, especially in light of recent news about hate language and personally abusive words being used in the public arena.

Those present for the observance will be invited to take an annually renewable vow of non-violence that includes a pledge to disarm from the use of violent language in dealing with others. The event will conclude with a special Tibetan Chant for Non-Violence vocalized by the Venerable Geshe Sangay Gyatso, Louisville's resident Tibetan monk.

Event organizer Terry Taylor, Executive Director of Louisville-based Interfaith Paths to Peace, says, "

At a time when civility has seemingly disappeared from our public discourse on important issues, the need for a declaration of a verbal "cease fire" is imperative. And I can think of no better time to focus on that urgent need than Gandhi's birthday, the day that is observed around the world as the International Day of Non-Violence."

About the International Day of Non-Violence.

The International Day of Non-Violence is marked on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi, leader of the Indian independence movement and pioneer of the philosophy and strategy of non-violence.

According to General Assembly resolution A/RES/61/271 of 15 June 2007, which established the commemoration, the International Day is an occasion to "disseminate the message of non-violence, including through education and public awareness." The resolution reaffirms "the universal relevance of the principle of non-violence" and the desire "to secure a culture of peace, tolerance, understanding and non-violence."

Introducing the resolution in the General Assembly on behalf of 140 co-sponsors, India’s Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr. Anand Sharma, said that the wide and diverse sponsorship of the resolution was a reflection of the universal respect for Mohandas Gandhi and of the enduring relevance of his philosophy. Quoting the late Mohandas Gandhi.