"Caring for the Planet: A Plan for Peace” ~12-Hour event to honor International Day of Peace

"Caring for the Planet: A Plan for Peace”

~12-Hour event featuring Imagine Peacefest, Earth Dance SLC, and Moving Planet~

Day of dance, art, meditation, discussion, and music to honor International Day of Peace

Contact Deanna Taylor, imaginepeace@imaginepeacefest.org or Tom King, 801-502-1991

Salt Lake City – 09.12.11 “Caring for the Planet: A Plan for Peace” will be held Saturday, September 24, 2011 at Library Square. The event is being held in tandem with the International Day of Peace, September 21^st, which has been established by the United Nations. It is a world-wide effort to have a day of cease-fires in conflict zones and to have peace-minded activities in calmer areas. The day's events are being organized by Imagine Peacefest, iMatter, and Earth Dance SLC.

“This day has shaped into a truly amazing event with a coalition of community organizations that have joined together to provide a day of inspirational activities for the whole family,” says Deanna Taylor, co-founder of Blue Sky Institute's Imagine annual Peacefest, organizer of the day's events. “People are beginning to realize that our planet is in a state of change and that we must join together to celebrate our progress and to continue to plan for present and future generations. This event will inspire people to take action in ways that are meaningful to them through the various mediums that will be offered.”

The day will start with the iMatter march/swing dance party that begins at the State Capitol at 10 AM and ends at Library Square, urging every level of government to “Swing into Action” on climate change. The march coincides with the Moving Planet international day of  movement.  West High School Students Sierra Adler and Sara Ma, explain their reasons for helping to plan the Swing into Action event . “I am sixteen years old and I want to be able to drink clean water, breathe clean air and look forward to a livable future with a sound economy,” says Adler.   Ma adds that “they are targeting every level of government because even big problems can be solved by implementing lots of little solutions.”

The festival will continue at noon at library square and will be filled with unique and fun experiences for the whole family, including youth and children's activities, a graffiti fest, meditation, workshops, dance, and the global prayer for peace.

Renee Shaw, organizer of the annual Earth Dance, states “The Earth Dance Celebration is a world wide event with more than 350 locations in 60 countries. The defining moment of each Earthdance event is a synchronized link-up, (5:00 PM Mtn. Time) when every event around the world plays a specially produced song called "The Prayer for Peace" at exactly the same time.”

“Peace comes in many forms and ensuring that our planet is a healthy and livable place is a critical component,” states Monica Ferreira, Westminster Roots and Shoots, co-organizer of Imagine Peacefest. “The imbalance that our planet and all of its inhabitance is experiencing is at a tipping point. We want people to join us in finding and sharing solutions.”

Schedule for “Caring for the Planet: A Plan for Peace” Saturday, September 24, 2011

10AM: iMatter/350 Moving Planet "Swinging into Action" Marade at 10AM at the State Capital (http://www.imattermarchutah.org/sept-24th-moving-planet.html)

Library Square Plaza, Downtown Salt Lake

11:15: Music by budding Salt Lake City musician Jane Lyon

12 noon:Meditation –Falun Dafa (http://www.falundafautah.com/)

12:30: Peace Dove Procession – led by youth of Westminster College Roots and Shoots

1:00-2:00:Youth Peace Day workshop (rooms downstairs) – grades 6-8

1:00-2:00:Zumba Salsa class sponsored by Artes de Mexico en Utah (http://www.artesdemexicoenutah.org)

2:00:Tar Sands Workshop in conference room A-B downstairs in library,

sponsored by Utah Tar Sands Resistance (http://tarsandsutah.blueskyinstitute.org/)

2:00-4:00:Kid’s peace tent – ages 5-10

2:00-4:00: Lindy Exchange: 2 Bands and Social Dancing!

4:00-4:30:Children/Youth Peace Day Camp Program;Graffiti Fest Winners

4:30-5:00:Dances of Universal Peace (http://www.utahdup.org/)

5:00-10:00 Earth Dance 2011 (http://www.earthdanceslc.org)

All Day:Graffiti Fest Sponsored by Free Speech Zone; The Drum Bus; Tabling; music; art; Ghandi Alliance for Peace Film fest in library auditorium; Art displays in library downstairs by local school children; Frida Kahlo art celebration in Library Atrium by Artes de Mexico en Utah,9am to 3pm: Free Bilingual (Spanish-English) Health Fair with free health screenings downstairs, library by Artes de Mexico en Utah and Comunidades Unidas; Salt Lake City Peace Fair at the Episcopal Church Center Plaza, 75 South 200 East.

More information: imaginepeace@imgainepeacefest.org or Tom King, 801-502-1991- www.imaginepeacefest.org