International Day of Peace 2011

The International Sonoran Desert Alliance, in collaboration with the local school, businesses and civic organizations, will hold its 8th annual International Day of Peace celebration in Ajo, AZ, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011.

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.  

On Sunday, Sept. 18, a community wide kickoff will be held in the historic Ajo Plaza decorated with peace-themed 4’ x 8’ wooden murals sponsored by local businesses, designed by local artists and painted by the community.  An ice cream social accompanied by live mariachi music by Randy Albaugh, voice/guitar, and Ajo's Divas and Devo group will begin at 6:30 PM until 8:30 PM.

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21 IS THE MAIN EVENT!

That afternoon,  local school youth will join youth from the Tohono O’odham Nation and Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico  in an After School Peace Festival on the Ajo school campus on Well  Rd. and prepare for their peace parade to the Ajo  Plaza.

At 4:30 PM, the band starts playing and food vendors begin selling as crowds gather in the beautifully decorated historic Ajo Plaza to await the whimsical and colorful parade’s arrival at about 5:30 PM.  Led by representatives from the Tohono O’odham Nation, Sonoyta, Sonora, Mexico and the U.S., the parade begins with the 1,000 origami peace cranes (a gift from a Japanese peace delegation) and includes performances by  large dove puppet kites with 15 – foot wingspans, dove and raven headdresses, giant Sonoran Desert “critter” puppets, peace poles and dance troupes in their colorful cultural dress.  Once the parade arrives in the plaza, the evenings entertainment begins with Kenya Masala of Source Consulting Group of Austin, TX facilitating a community “jam” using  200 “boom whackers” and drums to poignantly proclaim peace through the language of rhythm.  Then Flam Chen Stiltwalkers of Tucson, Batucaxe Brazilian Dancers of Tucson, Ballet Folklorico de Ajo, COBACH band of Sonoyta, and other troupes will thrill the crowd with their cultural costuming and lively entertainment. 

2011 Sponsors:
APS $2000
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. $2000
Cultural Crafts Group at ISDA $1000
Olsens Marketplace - IGA Sponsor of the Community Ice Cream Social