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Arun Gandhi – UN Keynote Address
A New Culture of Peace

Arun Gandhi is often asked during his speaking engagements and legacy tours what he says in “high-level” meetings to political leaders and he responds, “the same things I’m saying to you.”  The following webtv video provides a perfect example of this during his recent address at a high-level United Nations forum in New York.

In Arun Gandhi’s opening remarks, he said there is need to stop “exploiting people, religion, to gain our goals and ambitions. That is only the way we can bring peace through non-violence.”  World peace cannot be achieved unless individuals accept non-violence as a way of life, according to Arun Gandhi, grandson of the late Mahatma Gandhi.

Arun Gandhi was invited by UN General Assembly President Sam Kutesa to address a high-level UN forum declaring a New Culture of Peace on September 9, 2015 in New York.  

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Ban-Ki Moon sat next to Arun Gandhi during his address.  “Mahatma Gandhi proved that the culture of peace can change the course of history. Let us carry on this legacy until we end the terrible suffering in our world and establish lasting peace,” the UN Secretary General said in his remarks to the General Assembly high-level forum on Culture of Peace.

Ban-Ki Moon recalled his visit to India in January this year, during when he had visited the Sabarmati Ashram. “It was a privilege to tour the ashram…I recalled Gandhi’s stern warning that,There will be no lasting peace on earth unless we learn not merely to tolerate but even to respect the other faiths as our own’,” the UN Chief said.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to share a message of peace with you all today,” said Arun Gandhi

See video and hear Arun Gandhi’s full remarks at:

UN WebTv:  Mahatma Gandhi’s 5th Grandson Arun Gandhi Gives Keynote Speech at India: General Assembly 69th Session High-Level Forum on a Culture of Peace

To find out more click here

lynnea2 The Board

Lynnea Bylund is managing director of Gandhi Legacy Tours, Director of Gandhi Worldwide Education Institute, founder of Catalyst House and has nearly three decades of experience in administration, marketing and business development. She was a nationally recognized spokeswoman for the emerging alternative video and information delivery industries. She has a degree in holistic health-nutrition from the legendary and controversial health educator and activist Dr. Kurt Donsbach, she is the founder of two not-for-profit small business-based wireless trade associations and has lobbied on Capitol Hill and at the FCC where she has spoken out strongly against the cable TV monopoly, illegal spectrum warehousing and ill-conceived congressional schemes to auction our nation’s precious airwaves to the highest bidder.

Ms. Bylund is a founder and former CEO of a Washington DC telecommunications consulting and management company with holdings in several operating and developmental wireless communications systems and companies. In 1995 Lynnea became the first female in the world to be awarded a Broadband PCS operating permit – she was one of only 18 winners, along with Sprint, AT&T, and Verizon in the biggest cash auction in world history, raising a whopping $7.7 billion. Lynnea also spear-headed the successful effort to launch the first cable TV network in the South Pacific islands.

…     > Follow Lynnea on:  +LynneaBylund – Twitter – LinkedIn – FaceBook – Pinterest & YouTube 

Happy Persian New Year and
International Day of Happiness

Happy Persian Nowruz 

Eideh shoma mobarak!

“Eideh shoma mobarak ” is on everyone’s lips during the
12-day celebration, which is “Happy New Year” in Farsi.

On the Nowruz, Persians set a “haft sin ” table to gather around awaiting for the exact moment of arrival of Spring.  At that time gifts are exchanged with family and loved ones. All dress in gifts of new cloths to start the twelve-day celebration. 

Persian New Year celebration — Haft-Sin

The tradition is in harmony with the rebirth of nature, the Iranian New Year Celebration, or Nowruz, always begins on the first day of Spring.  Nowruz ceremonies are symbolic representations of two ancient concepts – the End and the Rebirth; or Good and Evil. A few weeks before the New Year, Iranians clean and rearrange their homes. 

Persians make new clothes, bake pastries and germinate seeds as sign of renewal. The ceremonial cloth is set up in each household.  Troubadours, referred to as Haji Firuz, disguise themselves with makeup and wear brightly colored outfits of satin. These Haji Firuz, singing and dancing, parade as a carnival through the streets with tambourines, kettle drums, and trumpets to spread good cheer and the news of the coming new year.        

During the Celebration there is a part of the ceremony called Chahar Shanbeh Suri where everyone jump over fire “light” for enlightenment and happiness for the upcoming year. 

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