Ceded by the Culture Ministry of São Paulo State, the place in front of the recently inaugurated Museu do Imaginário do Povo Brasileiro (Brazilian People’s Imaginaries Museum), located in the former building that used to host DOPS (Department of Social and Political Order), was set to host a totem in front of its main entrance carrying the square’s name, the first in the world: "World Peace Square”.

The building was constructed in 1914 as a warehouse and central office of the railway Estrada de Ferro Sorocabana, hosting, in 1935, DOPS, the agency responsible for strong repression and tortures on those who opposed the military dictatorship. It is located in the Júlio Prestes complex, which is in the center of São Paulo in an area where lots of children and youngsters live at risk, suffering from drug addiction, especially crack.

It is about 8,000 square meters large and presently occupies the building parking lot. It will be improved and changed into a green square, with an acoustic shell for gigs, during the next three years by Spenco enterprise.

The square naming took place on Sunday, 22nd September 2002, date when the first even was held, from 10:00 to 18:00, with the following activities. 10:00 to 10:30 – Official opening and square naming 10:30 to 10:45 – inter-religious “blessing" 10:45 to 11:00 – assembling and explanation about the 4 workshops and a central one.

Giant Flags: drawings/writings on canvas rolls - Escola Franciscana das Monjas da Segunda Guerra
Peace Tree by the Girls Scouts: Messages registered on CD Alliance for a Responsible, Plural and United World + Shalom Salam Paz + Pólis +Ágora + Movimento Ética é Cidadania – City Psychodrama.
Girasonhos with radio and video workshops Organization Office: Peace Media and Crocevia with the square’s final small-scale model * throughout the day:
Two large screens with images of the place and the stage, phrases, photos, interviews and the Assisi march
- Fieldwork research
- Event Filming
- Snapshots by renowned photographers
- Poetry reading

Presenter: Soninha, former MTV VJ
12:00 to 12:15 – music gigs
13:00 to 13:15 – group games

Drums for Peace and Gereba Cia Arte Tambor –Creole drums from Maranhão and Grupo Paranga from São Luís do Paraitinga

Musical evening meeting: socio-psychodrama