VISION

The Summer of Peace 2012 is a global celebration of and call to action for inner and outer Peace. It will occur between June 22, 2012 and end on the International Day of Peace, September 21, 2012 and will feature media campaigns, online actions, conferences, music concerts, film festivals and grassroots activities around the world.  All the activities will be designed to accelerate humanity’s shift to a culture of Peace.

The Summer of Peace 2012 aims to involve leaders from many sectors ranging from Nobel Peace Prize laureates to business, education, media, religious, military, and non-profit leaders.

Our overarching goal is to activate the largest global commitment to Peace in one season in the history of humankind mobilizing grassroots participation of people worldwide.

MISSION

The mission of the Summer of Peace 2012 is to accelerate the shift from a culture of violence to a culture of Peace.   This ambitious aim will be accomplished through collaborative efforts of numerous visionary leaders and partner organizations, including The Shift Network, Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI), Pathways to Peace, The Peace Alliance, The Global Peace Initiative of Women, International Cities of Peace and potentially hundreds of organizations.  Together, we will acknowledge and celebrate the enormous strides that have been made in the emerging science and art of Peacebuilding around the world and encourage people globally to embody personal Peace and to create acts of Peace and compassion in their homes, schools, communities, workplaces, for the environment and beyond.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

The Summer of Peace 2012 is founded on the following principles:

• Peace is a multi-dimensional process, from inside out to outside in, from bottom up to top down. A holistic approach to Peace is the most effective path to Peace.

• All sectors of society have their role in creating the foundations for Peace, from education and government to business, from religion to science.  All benefit as our culture becomes more Peaceful.
• We are all connected; each individual affects the whole and the whole affects each individual.
• The world is interconnected and interdependent, even more so today because of rapid technological advances.
• Conflict is neither positive nor negative; it is a natural result of differences.  When approached constructively conflict can be a source of growth and transformation.
• Compassion is a primary component of Peace in transforming conflict; we embrace the tenets of the Charter for Compassion.
• Gandhi said acts of love and service are much more common in this world than conflicts and quarrels.  There are tremendous efforts of Peace happening around the world and The Summer of Peace 2012 will celebrate and spotlight our collective Peace efforts and Peace pioneers who are leading the way.