Sesc’s site is hosting a hot site about the event, with a “virtual square” for discussions.

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Started by Peace Media Movement (which seeks to bring awareness to the media about the importance of conveying the positive, stimulating news, the beautiful sounds and images about the world’s reality), the idea to work out concrete actions on peace has started to shape up.

According to a survey made in 2001 by the Peace Media Movement on the meaning of "Peace", there are few images of peace in our imagery. Except for misty and unpopulated fields, white pigeons and the sensation of an inert tranquility, there is little left in our symbolic universe denoting the presence of peace. No sound, no movement, nothing distinctly human seems to be present.

Interview made during the Peace Square inauguration

This representation seems to drive away particularly the young people, leaving the sensation in the air that nothing high, strong and active can be made to be considered an action for peace, hindering also the louder and noisier attempts to talk about peace.

On the other hand violence scenes, either explicit or implicit, are plentiful. Wars, poverty, hunger, oppression and abandonment, not to speak about urban violence, the sensation of unsafeness in the city streets, in the traffic and at work, are part of a well-known repertoire which is easily used as a reason to justify what is ‘No Peace’. So these are the fossilized images we have in our minds. These are scenes that guide us, grounding our perceptions about the world we live in and that are the first to be triggered when a setback is on. Undoubtedly, it turns out to be an nasty modeling for behavior that impoverishes our life quality, the real meaning of Peace.

Within this scenario, a new way pops up. The "March for Peace Perugia-Assisi", is carried out in Italy every two years approximately since 1961, each time with a different thematic. This march stands for the winding down of three days of conversations and plenary sessions about Peace Actions that culminate with the writing of a manifesto and a 25-kilometer march across fields and villages in Umbria, starting and finishing in public squares. Its main features are:
a) to be an active action, with lots of movement, noise and colors,
b) to be a popular act since it is the mobilization of the civil society, a public act of high resonance,
c) it is clear, critical and constructive,
d) it goes beyond religious, ethnical, and political views, and finally,
e) it seeks solidarity of the different peace expressions with more decisive collaborations from all the social sectors.

It is unnecessary to say, or explain, that although people of all ages were present, the youngsters are the majority. For these young people Peace is Action, a social action of the highest importance. They are activists, participants and in charge of the planet. All the eight Unesco’s principles are incorporated in a cheerful, shared, live manner. Sounds and images overflow and get set in the symbolic representation of each and every one in a totally peaceful way. The boys scouts organize the population, no police are needed. People engage, o invitation is necessary. Each person has their own reason to march for the World Peace.

This experiencing was the basis for the present project’s shaping up, content and collaborators.

The first World Peace Square: where, when and how it was inaugurated Top INFO TamTam 2001 Here we will find the images and documents from the different acts that took place un May, June and July 2001. It is a summary of what happened, and it also serves as a reference from the next call for the Drums for Peace. The answer to the movement has been quite varied, rich and positive. Many groups have replied to the call, ranging from students and professional musicians, to dance groups, communities’ associations, schools, enterprises... Here is a brief summary of what happened: 420 people in Africa: Senegal: Dakar Togo: Lomé (2 acts) Tanzania: Dar es Salaam Burundi: Bujumbura 250 people in Asia: Líbano: Beirut India: Bangalore           9,500 people in Europe Holanda: Harderwijk Rumania: Peles Spanish State: Catalunya: Barcelona (7 acts), Girona (2 acts), Masnou, Berga, Sant Hilari Sacalm, Figueres, l’Alforja, Santa Oliva, Olot, Súria, Sant Llorenç Savall... The others Spanish States: Albacete. 54,500 people in America: Brazil: More than 16 cities: 80 acts in Sao Paulo, Florianópolis, Río de Janeiro, Duque de Caxias, Porto Alegre, Brasilia, Salvador - BA... Argentina: Buenos Aires (2 acts), Posadas-Misiones) Uruguay: Montevideo (4 acts) Colombia: Medellín, Boyacá. Ecuador: Quito.      We highlight the participation of Brazilian groups of Pop Music and Percussion (Gereba, Bule Bule, Dinho Nascimento, Caito Marcondes, Paranga...), 1,500 teachers played the drums in Rio de Janeiro at the beginning of the school term, 50 drums and 40 musicians palyed in the square Três Poderes in Brasília, there were reports on 3 television programs, 72 different acts in the SESCs inSão Paulo, 10,000 dwellers from Heliópolis slums in São Paulo. Other groups also participated such as the Rwandi group exiled in Holland (Harderwijk); 500 students played their tunes using glass bottles in the Barcelona Cathedral; people were called to com to Plaza Mayor (Sant Hilari Sacalm). Besides this, we received reports from many other unsubscribed acts of Drums for Peace that were carried out. DRUMS ANIMATION IN BRAZIL: On May 1st 2001 the movement Drums for Peace in São Paulo – Brazil was launched at Sesc Vila Mariana. Its aim was to mobilizar musicians, artists, educators and social leadership that will commit themselves with that symbolic action, by creating every year during that period an  Intercultural Symphony for Peace, through the Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World.  The meeting was an interactive celebration of Drums for Peace and the animation of the Baiano musician Gereba, the Berimabaus Orchestra from Morro do Querosene, percussionists and dancers from the Cia Arte Tambor – Criola drums from Maranhão,    Cicinho accordeon player, the musician and artist Bené Fonteles, the playwright João das Neves and of all the participants of the world meeting of the Art and Cultural Identity Alliance – Artists’ Network in Alliance. Guests from the São Paulo city also took part: artists, educators, NGO’s leaders, representatives from the indigenous People Xavante and community leaders. We gathered a total of 170 people that committed themselves to organize peace actions during that period. The event was the first public show of the Alliance’s “Drums for Peace”. In Brazil, SESC SP (Commerce Social Service ) and the Alliance were the realizadores of Drums for Peace, with the coordination of Imagens Educação and the Alliance São Paulo Group. Sponsorship and support: Institutes Sou da Paz, Pólis, Ágora em Defesa do Eleitor e da Democracia, Ecoar, Ação da Cidadania, Cives, Ação Educativa, and Muncipal Departments of Culture and Art. Top