Ex-President chairs global peace festival |29 August 2008
The festival, with the theme One family under God – towards true peace in Kenya, is a project of the Universal Peace Foundation and the Interreligious and International Federation for World Peace.
The UPF/IIFWP is a non-governmental organisation with special consultative status in the
The Kenya festival is the third in a series of 15 being held this year. In July the South American version filled the famous Olimpio stadium in Asuncion, Paraguay, and on August 9 the American festival took place at the US Capitol Grounds in Washington DC.
Launched in Manila, Philippines, the festival will move after Kenya to Mongolia, Malaysia and London.
Every Global Peace Festival celebrates three essential elements for peace-making:
interfaith harmony and cooperation, service to improve the community, and strengthening the family.
The highlights of the Kenya festival, dealing with each of these issues, include an international leadership conference at the Safari Park Hotel, a massive Nairobi River clean-up and finally a rally on the grounds of the Kenyatta International Conference Centre where tens of thousands are expected.
A peace torch will travel through Nairobi, escorted by the Kenya Police Band, and arrive at the rally ground, where the crowd is to be addressed by Dr Hyun Jin Moon, son of the international renowned peace-maker and spiritual leader; Tejan Kabbah, former President of Sierra Leone; Raila Odinga, Prime Minister of Kenya; and Mr Mancham.
Leading figures from 120 nations, of every faith, will attend the Kenya festival.
In a statement earlier this week from Brisbane, Australia, where he was holidaying with his family, Mr Mancham said: “There is a growing awareness among people throughout the world of the urgent need for innovative vision and courageous leadership if we are to resolve the critical issues of our time.
“With this in mind, our programme will introduce universal values and best practices that are necessary to create a world in which the people of every region, race, nationality, culture and religion live together in peace.
“We will consider the root cause of conflict and the ways we can move together beyond conflict, inequality and division towards reconciliation and prosperity as one family under God. We will search together for a path to development, human security and peace throughout the world.”
Mr Mancham is expected back in Seychelles on September 4.