International Day of Peace 2009

The International Sonoran Desert Alliance, in collaboration with the local school, businesses and civic organizations, will hold its 6th annual International Day of Peace celebration in Ajo, AZ, Sept. 20 and 21.

Ajo, AZ is uniquely situated.  It is at the intersection of three very distinct nations, located  about 40 miles from the Mexican border and next door to the Tohono O’odham Nation.  Ajo is 130 miles southwest of Tucson and 110 miles from Phoenix.  Political and  religious motivations don’t drive the focus of Ajo’s  International Day of Peace celebration.  Rather, it’s the idea of community as Ajo chooses to bring its three cultures – Hispanic, Tohono O’odham and Anglo - together in a fun, celebratory way that highlights respect for its diversity, its  individuals,  families, the community, the environment and the diversity of our world at large.

The United Nations General Assembly in 1981 passed resolution 36/67 declaring an International Day of Peace; in 2001 it declared September 21 of each year the official date for international celebration and observation.  

This year in Ajo, the celebration will be a two-day event.  Kicking it off Sunday morning Sept. 20 in the Ajo Plaza, from 8:30 a.m. to noon, will be a free pancake breakfast served to the community, accompanied by live music and activities for children.  During the same time, adults and youth alike will join to create peace-themed chalk art on the Plaza sidewalks. Peace-themed  4’ x 8’ wooden murals sponsored by local businesses, designed by local artists and painted by the community - along with culturally designed decorations - will decorate the town plaza during this two-day event.      

On Monday, Sept. 21, from 3:15 to 5 p.m., the annual After School Peace Festival will be held on the Ajo Unified School District campus on Well Road.  At 4:30 p.m., festival participants will line up at the school to begin the International Day of Peace Parade to the Plaza.  Led by Tohono O’odham Chairman Ned Norris and Vice Chairman Isidro Lopez, carrying 1,000 origami peace cranes (a gift from a Japanese peace delegation), neighbors from Sonoyta, Mexico, and the Tohono O’odham Nation, will join Ajo youth and adults in the parade.  Large dove puppet kites with 15-foot wingspans, Flam Chen Stiltwalkers, dove and raven headdresses, giant Sonoran Desert “critter” puppets, peace poles and peace flags  are all featured in this colorful multicultural community parade of about 200 participants.  At 4:30 p.m. in the Plaza, the community will begin to await this whimsical and colorful parade while being entertained by a Tohono O’odham band and sampling cultural foods from vendors.  Once the parade arrives, Source Consulting Group will provide 200 djembe drums and facilitation by Kenya Masala, to poignantly proclaim peace through the language of rhythm.  Then, cultural dance troupes will thrill the crowd with their cultural costuming and lively entertainment.