The Brussels Declaration "Pledge To Peace" 4th Anniversary [2011 - 2015 A commitment to Peace]

An international project to promote the development of a culture of peace.
The Brussels Declaration was officially established in occasion of the conference "Peace and Prosperity, founding values of the European Union" held on 28 November 2011, at the European Parliament in Brussels. The Prem Rawat Foundation, one of the founding signatories, want to celebrate this outstanding initiative on its 4th Anniversary. 

In 2012, Mr. Rawat was appointed “Ambassador of the Pledge to Peace” by the signatories and has provided his constant support to the Brussels Declaration’s initiatives.
This declaration of intent is meant to encourage projects and actions that are aimed at promoting peace in its most universal meaning. It is inspired by the universal ideals of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity enshrined in the preamble of the "Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union”.
The Prem Rawat Foundation is proud to be part of this effort, and on the occasion of the 4th anniversary of the Brussels Declaration offers a few highlights of the latest initiatives put in place working in close collaboration with Percorsi, an Italian no-profit association that helped conceive the Brussels Declaration and is the Secretariat of the Pledge to Peace. 
 

Many of the initiatives took place in Italy, the country with the highest number of signatories of the Brussels Declaration. TPRF values them as successful examples of practical actions for peace that can be applied to an international context as well.

 
 

 

 

 
 

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Peace Week in Mazara del Vallo Italy

Mazara del Vallo, a Sicilian seaside town, is a very special example of a community that pursues the ideals of peace and respectful coexistence between different cultures and religions. 
 
 
 

The city administration has been working with the Prem Rawat Foundation involving schools, associations and many residents in a colourful and heartfelt Peace festival. 

This appointment will be become a regular appointment and will involve a growing number of towns in Mazara’s region. 

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In 2015, the City invited Prem Rawat to meet with the local signatories. The event was the occasion to further explore the practical meaning of a “city that embraces peace”.
Mazara, in fact, is an interesting model. The Pledge to Peace has inspired an entire community to wanting to make peace and human dignity an important part of the life of its citizens and inspire the actions of its administration. 

 

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 Peace in the Classroom  
 In collaboration with the Convitto Nazionale School in Rome, Italy, TPRF has helped the development of a creative contest on the topic of peace.
Students of every age participate with their artistic expressions: paintings, music, essays, dance, project works.
Now in its fourth edition, the context has shown an encouraging interest of the young generations in the culture of peace and is a model that can be replicated in other countries. 

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The initiative has been recently
endorsed by the Italian Ministry of Education and will become a national programme, open to every school in the country. 

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In June 2015, Prem Rawat paid a visit to
the Convitto Nazionale School and met with the teachers involved in the programme. 

After the meeting, he visited the school and addressed the students, answering their questions. 

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Medicine for Peace
In collaboration with the Medical Doctors Association of Palermo, Italy, TPRF supported the first “Medicine for Peace” conference.
The aim of the initiative is to gather ideas and projects fostering an approach to medicine focused primarily on human dignity. 

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The conference included the participation of leading Italian doctors and scientists, who shared their vision of a different approach to healthcare. 

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Prem Rawat addressed this qualified audience with his inspiring perspective of how medicine, among other disciplines, must look at every person with compassion, care and full awareness. 

Pagliarelli Correctional Institute Palermo  

The institute, a signatory of the Pledge, participates in TPRF’s PEP (Peace Education Programme) and invited Prem Rawat to visit the facility and address the inmates. 

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Peace Celebration in Segesta 

In June 2015, the initiatives in Sicily culminated in an international event held at the Greek Theatre of Segesta. This was a true celebration of peace, which included music and reflections in a unique setting.  

Prem Rawat shared with the audience the importance of humanity’s quest for peace, which is rooted in history. 

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The next steps
The large success of the events and initiatives organized in connection with the Pledge to Peace are encouraging TPRF to
strengthen its partnership with the other signatories of the Brussels Declaration and work closely with Percorsi, the Secretariat of the Pledge to Peace. In this joint effort towards making peace, dignity and prosperity a reality for individuals and society, the Prem Rawat Foundation wants to help transform these wonderful occasions into permanent initiatives and programmes, promoting them in a larger number of countries. It has been wonderful to work with so many people and organizations that take peace to heart, and we look forward to do so again in the future. 

“When I found out what the Pledge to Peace was really about, I thought it was different to many of the similar gatherings that have taken place in the past around peace. And the big difference for this gathering is that it’s not asking people to sign a declaration and go away. It’s not asking people simply to make speeches, and talk fine words. The whole purpose of this pledge is to get people to sign up to practical action, to proper programmes, to doing work for peace.“ 
 
Hazel Blears, former Government Minister and Member of Parliament, at the Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom, London 

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