People's Declaration of Calendar Reform and Moral Referendum
World Summit on Peace and Time
University for Peace, Costa Rica June 22-27, 1999
The World Summit on Peace and Time convened at the University for Peace, Costa Rica, June 22-27, 1999 (Crystal Moon 24-Cosmic Moon 1), for the express purpose of concluding the matter of Calendar Reform, (see position paper, "Calendar Reform and the Future of Civilization"). The Summit was called on behalf of the people of the Earth to ratify the Declaration of Calendar Reform, and, organized as Seven Commissions, to prepare the seven articles of Resolution to accompany the Declaration.
Over one hundred people attended the Summit, including some fifty invited Commissioners and at least an equal number of planetary kin, followers of the World Thirteen Moon Calendar Change Peace Movement. Letters of acknowledgement were sent on behalf of Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations; Federigo Mayer Zaragoza, Secretary General of UNESCO; HH the Dalai Lama; and by Jonathan Granoff of the Lawyers Alliance for World Security. Though they were not able to attend, both Dr. Alfredo Sfeir-Younis, World Bank Special Environmental Representative to the UN, and Lama Gangchen of the United Nations Spiritual Forum contributed relevant documents and statements of support.
The Summit opened with a prayer ceremony by Rev. Yusen Yamato, followed by the opening address of Dr. Rodrigo Carazo, former president of Costa Rica and founder of the University for Peace. In attendance with Dr. Carazo was Gerardo Budowski, acting Rector and representative of the newly appointed President of the University for Peace, Maurice Strong. Following her welcoming remarks, Mrs. Lloydine ArgŸelles introduced her husband, Dr. JosŽ ArgŸelles, who formally convened the Summit with a prepared statement, "Calendar Reform and the Future of Civilization," outlining the Summit's purposes and objectives. Finally, Dr. Ashok Gangadean, of the Global Dialogue Institute, the Summit's On-site Coordinator, laid out the ground rules for the Seven Commissions.
By defining the process of Deep Dialogue as the means of differentiating between egoic language and the higher "logos," Dr. Gangadean made an inspiring invitation to get to the serious task faced by each of the Seven Commissions, to write up a one-page article of resolution for each one of the seven areas covered by the Commissions: Time, Education, Wealth, Biosphere, Spirituality, Peace, and Art and Culture. Dr. Gangadean elaborated on the technique of Deep Dialogue at the mid-day meeting of the second day.
For the better part of the next four days, the Seven Commissions went to their tasks. The lunch time furnished the main central gathering point for all to come together. But it was the small groups that provided the central activity of the Summit. Each Commission appointed a facilitator and a secretary, as well as someone who was bilingual to translate between the two main languages, Spanish and English. (Other languages represented included Japanese, Russian, Bulgarian and Portuguese, as well as various Indigenous languages such as Quiche Maya, Quechua from Peru, and Mapuche from Chile.) Participation in the Commissions was more or less voluntary. Interestingly, the smallest Commissions were Wealth and Peace, while Art and Culture, Time, Education and Spirituality gathered greater numbers. The idea at first was that the Commissions would consist of an inner cadre of invited Commissioners, and an outer circle of planetary kin who were to hold the space. However after several sessions, most of the groups melted these boundaries.
On the morning of the third day, Roberto Poz, Day Keeper and priest of the Quiche Maya, from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, offered a ceremony to all the participants, who now also included long-time Chancellor of the University for Peace, and former assistant Secretary General of the United Nations, Robert Muller. This ceremony, though traditional in form, offered an opportunity for all voices to speak from the deepest place within. The result was a powerfully cathartic and catalytic event in which historical wounds and misunderstandings were brought into the open, shared and healed. Before returning to their work on the Commissions, the participants were given a personally guided tour by Robert Muller of the archeology and history of the site of the University of Peace, concluded by a walk to his near-by residence.
The following day, after observations and remarks on the Deep Dialogue process by Dr. Gangadean, the participants took the general afternoon session to vocalize all of their issues and concerns. While this was at times a painful and grueling process, the overall effect was highly beneficial. On the next day, the fifth day of the Summit after a Women's Healing Circle, the Commissions were all seriously at work. Finally at four o'clock in the afternoon, the final plenary session was convened for the sole purpose of hearing the Seven Articles of Resolution. The first three Commission reports were read by a single representative. However, the last four groups invited all members of the Commission to be present for the report. The response for all the reports was overwhelmingly positive.
Over the next two days, the reports were fine tuned and edited. As the Seven Articles of Resolution now stand, each one is the product of one group of Commissioners. This means that each one of the Articles is genuinely the result of the will of the people, a resolution put together, for the most part, by people who had never met or gathered in this way before. The seriousness of tone and practical suggestions put forth for implementing the Calendar Reform speak to the truth and timeliness of the Reform itself.
The final and sixth day of the Summit was the largely ceremonial conclusion and the only part of the event that did not occur at the University for Peace. Beginning with a performance by the Aztec Dancers in the patio outside, the remainder of the ceremonies occurred inside the historic Fanal Theater in downtown San JosŽ, the capital of >Costa Rica. Dr. Elisabet Sahtouris, who facilitated the Commission on the Biosphere, gave the opening address, which elaborated on biological metaphors for the current planetary rite of passage, marked by the World Summit on Peace and Time.
Following Dr. Sahtouris' Address, Mrs. Lloydine ArgŸelles formally read the Declaration of Calendar Reform which was ratified by common consent of all the participants. Dr. JosŽ ArgŸelles called forth the self-selected Leaders of the two Peace Emissary Teams, Mr. Martin Zoller of Bolivia, for the mission to the United Nations, and Mr. Vandir Natal Casagrande of Brazil, to head the mission to the Vatican. These two were joined by a third special Emissary to Libya, Mr. Reinhart Ruge Co-President of the World Parliament Association. The Rev. Yusen Yamato served as the silent witness to this solemn occasion. With the formal presentation of the "Declaration of Calendar Reform and the Peoples' Moral Referendum," (the Seven Articles of Resolution), to these three representatives, the work of the World Summit on Peace and Time entered its next phase, the notification of Calendar Reform to the World Leaders beginning with His Excellency Mr. Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Holiness Pope John Paul II of the Vatican, and His Excellency Moammar Qhadafy, President of Libya. These Missions are to be completed by Gregorian July 17, 1999, Cosmic Moon 21.
To celebrate the conclusion of the Summit, the Youth Orchestra of Costa Rica played an inspired selection of symphonic music, followed by the group Kurime, who performed folkloric ballet and traditional music of Costa Rica. After the musical performances, the Costa Rica Coordinating Committee of the World Summit was honored on stage, followed by the presentation of Certificates of Honor to all those who participated in the World Summit on Peace and Time.
The conclusions to the Summit are summarized in the formal "Declaration of Calendar Reform and Peoples' Moral Referendum." The matter of Calendar Reform has now been dealt with by representatives of the People of the Earth. This has been the only recourse possible since previously in this Century, the Nations had their opportunity and defaulted, while the Vatican had left the door open to reform. The People have now had their say affirming the moral and scientific need for a Calendar that is in harmony with the cycles of nature and which is perfectly represented by the thirteen moon 28-day Calendar of Peace.
The World Summit on Peace and Time was organized to accommodate a diverse cross-section of humanity, making as few conventional demands as possible upon their participation. Everything about the event was intended to elicit the free will response of all those in attendance. Scientists, artists, lawyers, educators, spiritual elders, indigenous leaders and people of all walks of life, young and old, were fully involved in the Summit, each one holding equal power and place. A list of all participants will be made available as soon as possible.
Truth is Love. Tolerance is Justice. Peace is Forever.
Valum Votan and Bolon Ik
Truth is Love. Tolerance is Justice. Peace is Forever.
Valum Votan and Bolon Ik