BELFAST PEACE FESTIVAL, NEVA ALLEN, DEANE PERKINS AND KATIA ANCONA

ENVISION THIS: Peace begins in the hearts, minds, voices, hands, feet and gatherings of the people.

General Eisenhower said, “People, in the long run, are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it”. Well, government, the people are gathering, speaking, singing, dancing, drumming, creating signs, walking, and learning for peace at the BELFAST PEACE FESTIVAL in Maine, Friday evening, September 5 and all day Saturday, September 6. At least on the local level, the government is listening.  A Proclamation for a Compassionate City passed by the Belfast City Council will be read on the First Church lawn (rain location in First Church sanctuary)  It announces the beginning of a city-wide effort to become a certified City of Compassion. 

Our guests today on Envision This! include Neva Allen, festival founder, Deane Perkins, Reverend of the Unitarian Universalist Church in Belfast and event speaker on non-violent communication, and Katia Ancona who is helping to coordinate and promote the event.

There will be children's events. This festival will be a true celebration of peace, with a street dance, pancake breakfast, meditation, labyrinth, sign making, a peace walk led with a large earth drum, many exciting speakers includingVeterans for Peace, a drumming circle, a labyrinth, barbecue lunch and spaghetti dinner, and evening music with Lynne Deeves, prominent Maine Singer.  Joining her will be our own Patty Heath and Mandi Thomas. A finale integrating the audience into a peaceful chorus will close this year’s Peace Festival.  Folks should go home filled with peace and joy, not fear as the major media would have us.

For event details go to http://www.belfastpeacefestival.org