On the 29th of October of 2017, at 9:00 a.m., began the fourth edition of the Youth Festival for Peace, in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. After three editions in Florianópolis, the Festival began its itinerant trajectory under the blessings of the Christ the Redeemer, with the following topic: “Making new all things!”

The event, with free entrance, began with the soft and precise movements taught during a class of Tai Chi Chuan. At 10 a.m., the Mercy Mary TV transmitted worldwide the theatrical performance “United for Peace”, organized by the Community-of-Light of the New Earth: characters representing several nations, ethnic groups and cultures paraded across the stage. Laura and Enoc, from Argentina and Rose Dalia from the city of Goiania, together with other youths, interpreted very beautiful songs that radiated a lot of peace to the whole planet. Still during the transmission, there was a moment of prayer for the planet in which youths from several parts of Brazil and from Argentina prayed and spoke about the Youth Groups that are developing in their regions. The Bossa Nova, a characteristic rhythm of the “carioca” lands of Rio de Janeiro, gained lyrics with clothed in faith and love: it is the song “A Nova Bossa Nova” (The New Bossa Nova), which concluded the first live transmission, in the morning.

At noon a Round Table was held whose topic responded to the topic of the Festival “Service, a path to make new all things”. Then those present were invited to participate in the “Great Wheel” of dance and music, a group activity that has taken place since the first edition of the Festival and that is becoming its symbol of joy and fraternization. After the Great Wheel there was the blessing of the food, a moment of reverence and gratitude to the Mother Nature, who lovingly nourishes us every day. The vegan lunch was distributed to all as a celebration.

In the afternoon, the presentation of the Group of Cellos of the Social Action for Music, a group of boys and girls in situation of social vulnerability who learn music. They participated in a Carioca Ensemble, executing “classical” examples of the MPB (Brazilian Popular Music) in classical music style. The martial arts school Dojo Reiho exhibited hits and movements of the art of the samurai sword called Kenjutsu, followed by the “pocket show” of Louz Moreaux and the presentation of Prema Paz, which expressed joy in the form of music.

Besides the musical presentations, the Gallery of Art was full of paintings of several artists and also housed the stand of pure seeds, distributed for free. This place also became an interactive space of consciousness and reflection. One of the principles of the Festival, “Event 100% free from alcohol and smoke” served as the topic for a “Round Discussion of discernment”. The following question was proposed to the participants in the Round: What does your heart feel when it hears: “Event 100% free from alcohol and smoke”?

In the second live transmission by Mercy Mary TV at 5 p.m., Castello Branco and Larissa Lis offered author songs that vibrated notes of devotion and peace, besides expressing lyrics with content that respects the spiritual quest of human beings.

The Youth Festival for Peace is an undertaking of youths for youths, but also for the family and for the youth of all ages. Children can be at ease in a special space made for them, which also had the performance of a story-teller who stirred the imagination of the little ones.

To end the Festival, the ceremony of the Ecumenical Communion closed the day with an experience of the highest levels of consciousness of the participants. They are youths bolstering other youths, rescuing the spirit of ecumenism, cultivating respect for diversity and establishing the goal of the principle of unity among all beings. In this way, the Youth Festival for Peace sowed peace in the heart of the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Information:

The next Youth Festivals for Peace will be held in Recife, Brazil (January/2018), in Belo Horizonte, Brazil (April/2018) and in Buenos Aires, Argentina (July/2018).

Have additional information at www.juventudepelapaz.org and participate!