World
Peace and Prayer Day 2008 Aotearoa
Four years since WPPD 2004, this year's WPPD will be held in
Aotearoa, aka New Zealand, hosted by a Maori community near Whangarei
Town.
From Turtle Island, to Japonesia, Aotearoa...
The sprit of WPPD connects peoples of the Pacific Ocean, in prayer
for peace, for harmony, for the healing and survival of Mother Earth,
Mother Ocean, and all living beings.
Please check the website for more information.
http://wppdaotearoa2008.blogspot.com/
To Everyone Who Supported WPPD 2004 JAPAN
We send our deepest appreciation to each and every one of you
who have made World Peace & Prayer Day 2004 JAPAN possible.
With your assistance, energy, and good thoughts, WPPD 2004 JAPAN,
held at the foothills of Mt. Fuji, gathered over 6000 people during
June 19 - June 21. The gathering was operated by nearly 700 volunteer
staff. Here, people shared their living traditions with guests from
around the world, shared their visions for the future, and prayed
together for world peace and the healing of Mother Earth. On the
day of the Summer Solstice ceremony, the area was hit by a typhoon
named "Mother of Thunder". Under the pouring rain and wind, over
3600 people gathered from 8 a.m., making a great circle around the
central fire. There were also over 200 women in the moon circle.
The ceremony was held under the ceaseless rain for over five hours.
As each person stood in line to make tobacco offering to the central
fire, their face glowed with peace and beauty. There must have been
as varied an experience as the number of people present during the
three-day period. Such experiences may be difficult to put together
in words, as they touched us deep inside.
WPPD 2004 JAPAN would not have been possible without each and every
one of you who have visited our website, came to our WPPD benefit
events, and assisted us in many ways. Fortunately, through the generous
applications for WPPD Supporter, donations, and purchase of WPPD
support goods, we have gathered enough funds to cover for the entire
operation of this admission-free gathering. The gathering was further
assisted by the hard work of 700 volunteer staff, and the donations
of supplies, food, and equipments from supporting organizations,
individuals and corporations. Thus we were able to realize this
gathering at a cost that is substantially lower than an ordinary
gathering of such scale. For this to happen, there was a long process
of people spreading the message of WPPD to places throughout Japan,
and to gain the understanding and assistance from the public. Such
efforts included countless benefit events, distribution of flyers,
and word of mouth. Over 60,000 flyers were distributed, and our
website was visited for over 80,000 times. We have nothing but deep
appreciation and respect for the good thoughts and energies of everyone
who helped us in support of WPPD.
At present, the WPPD 2004 JAPAN Office is working on the post-event
administrative work, accounting, and the sending of support goods.
As we received more applications for WPPD Supporter than we have
expected, we have ran out of our T-shirts and are awaiting for additional
production. For those of you who have applied to WPPD Supporter
or ordered our supporter goods, we ask you to kindly wait for their
production. Furthermore, after all accounting work has been completed,
we will produce a final accounting report which will be available
on this website.
We also plan on gradually updating our website. We thank you for
your patience.
Thank you again for everything you have done for us.
Sincerely,
WPPD 2004 JAPAN Office
To everyone involved in WPPD 2004 JAPAN
On June 21, Asagiri Arena, our ceremonial grounds was hit by a
typhoon, as if it was waiting exactly for this day.
The typhoon enveloped everyone with the same rain and mist, the
water trickled down over our bodies and seeped into Mother Earth.
What did we feel, as we all stood there under the typhoon for many
hours, enduring the cold?
The circle in the Arena was held together in prayer. Tears welled
up in my eyes as I saw the great circle of people across the mist,
many times.
There were countless volunteer staff who could not join the circle,
but they all enveloped and protected the circle in the Arena.
At the entrance gate, parking lot, free-food kitchen, security,
headquarters.....
And beyond that, there were many friends throughout Japan and throughout
the world who have prayed together with us.
It may be that the circle did not break not even once because of
their presence and prayers.
As I think of that, my heart is overwhelmed with gratitude and awe.
It may be that the prayers for peace and harmony made in each
person, at the Arena and elsewhere, was what showed a blue sky amidst
the typhoon, and showed us an eagle.
I send my deepest gratitude for everyone who supported WPPD 2004
JAPAN all the way through.
Let us walk the path of peace and harmony together.
Each of us is responsible for creating the world that we live.
For all our relations,
In prayer,
Yoshie Ebihara, Chair
WPPD 2004 JAPAN Office
Message from Chief Arvol Looking
Horse
In my visit to Japan, I felt we were well received by the people,
people were very generous. I was overwhelmed by the number of young
people who were concerned about the environment. They were so involved
and concerned.
Mt. Fuji was a powerful mountain. Being there was like being
home in the Black Hills. I felt the same energy from the sacred
mountain. Our ancestors have been there.
In Hiroshima, I felt that the people experienced same kind of
experience as our people, their loved ones gone through similar
suffering. I had a very humble feeling in Hiroshima. I have a lot
of respect for people who lost lives, families who mourn for their
relatives. We still have to pray for peace. The feeling of loss
can't be replaced. Living in this crucial time, with earth changes,
climate changes, we really have to work to bring our hearts together.
The faith and humility of the people empowered us as people.
We have to walk on the sacred path on earth with our relatives.
All nations, we have to pray together, as our Mother Earth is sick,
global warming is in effect.
For WPPD 2005, I hope some people can make it to the Black Hills.
But at the same time, at all sites around the world, recognize
the sacred time of June 21. Honor AWolrd Peace, global healing
will affect all person, children, to the elderly. It is about peace
and unity. We have to heal together, help one another for the future
of our children.
Scientists say we are at a point of no return.
When I say we have to heal together, in regards to our ceremony,
the wiping of the tears ceremony to Wounded Knee, we say we can't
talk with aner. We have to go through that process. We must pray,
whatever in our heart that is hurting, whether it be historic or
personal. We have to pray and let go, heal our hearts and speak
from our hearts.
In the reservation, we are dealing with young children involved
in gangs, commiting suicdie. We needt to connect with our sacred
tradtion.
In WPPD regardless of our culture we have to get back to our
body, still work together, in one prayer, all faith one prayer.
We need to respect each others culture, traditon whether your
body is used to natural medicine, we need to get back to that.
We need to act quickly, wer are losing ground, we need everyone's
attention to global warming, we need to get back to respeccting
mother earth, in every little way.
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The
lives of human beings and all living things are interconnected,
and we cannot survive without one another.