Day of the Dead

This article is about the Mexican holiday. For other uses, see Day of the Dead (disambiguation).

“Dia de los Muertos” redirects here. For the band, see Dia de los Muertos (band).

The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de (los) Muertos)^[2][3] is a holiday traditionally celebrated on November 1 and 2, though other days, such as October 31 or November 6, may be included depending on the locality.^[4][5][6] The multi-day holiday involves family and friends gathering to pay respects and remember friends and family members who have died. These celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember amusing events and anecdotes about the departed.^[7] It is widely observed in Mexico, where it largely developed, and is also observed in other places, especially by people of Mexican heritage. The observance falls during the Christian period of Allhallowtide.^[1] Some argue that there are Indigenous Mexican or ancient Aztec influences that account for the custom, though others see it as a local expression of the Allhallowtide season that was brought to the region by the Spanish; the Day of the Dead has become a way to remember those forebears of Mexican culture. The Day of the Dead is largely seen as having a festive characteristic.^[8]

Traditions connected with the holiday include honoring the deceased using calaveras and marigold flowers known as cempazúchitl, building home altars called ofrendas with the favorite foods and beverages of the departed, and visiting graves with these items as gifts for the deceased.^[9] The celebration is not solely focused on the dead, as it is also common to give gifts to friends such as candy sugar skulls, to share traditional pan de muerto with family and friends, and to write light-hearted and often irreverent verses in the form of mock epitaphs dedicated to living friends and acquaintances, a literary form known as calaveras literarias.^[10]

In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.^[11]

Origins, history, and similarities to other festivities

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Mexican academics are divided on whether the festivity has genuine indigenous pre-Hispanic roots or whether it is a 20th-century rebranded version of a Spanish tradition developed during the presidency of Lázaro Cárdenas to encourage Mexican nationalism through an “Aztec” identity.^[12][13][14] The festivity has become a national symbol in recent decades and it is taught in the nation’s school system asserting a native origin.^[15] In 2008, the tradition was inscribed in the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.^[11]

Views differ on whether the festivity has indigenous pre-Hispanic roots, whether it is a more modern adaptation of an existing European tradition, or a combination of both as a manifestation of syncretism. The beginning of the Christian observance of Allhallowtide, including All Saints’ Day and its vigil, as well as All Souls’ Day, is observed on the same days in places like Spain and Southern Europe, and elsewhere in Christendom.^[1] Critics of the Native American origin claim that even though pre-Columbian Mexico had traditions that honored the dead, current depictions of the festivity have more in common with European traditions of Danse macabre and their allegories of life and death personified in the human skeleton to remind of the ephemeral nature of life.^[16][12] Over the past decades, however, Mexican academia has increasingly questioned the validity of this assumption, even going as far as calling it a politically motivated fabrication. Historian Elsa Malvido, researcher for the Mexican Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH, or National Institute of Anthropology and History) and founder of the institute’s Taller de Estudios sobre la Muerte (Workshop of Studies on Death), was the first to do so in the context of her wider research into Mexican attitudes to death and disease across the centuries. Malvido completely discards a native or even syncretic origin arguing that the tradition can be fully traced to Medieval Europe. She highlights the existence of similar traditions on the same day, not just in Spain, but in the rest of Catholic Southern Europe and Latin America such as altars for the dead, sweets in the shape of skulls and bread in the shape of bones.^[16]

Agustin Sanchez Gonzalez has a similar view in his article published in the INAH’s bi-monthly journal Arqueología Mexicana. Gonzalez states that, even though the “indigenous” narrative became hegemonic, the spirit of the festivity has far more in common with European traditions of Danse macabre and their allegories of life and death personified in the human skeleton to remind us the ephemeral nature of life. He also highlights that in the 19th-century press there was little mention of the Day of the Dead in the sense that we know it today. All there was were long processions to cemeteries, sometimes ending with drunkenness. Elsa Malvido also points to the recent origin of the tradition of “velar” or staying up all night with the dead. It resulted from the Reform Laws under the presidency of Benito Juarez which forced family pantheons out of Churches and into civil cemeteries, requiring rich families to have servants guard family possessions displayed at altars.^[16]

The historian Ricardo Pérez Montfort has further demonstrated how the ideology known as indigenismo became more and more closely linked to post-revolutionary official projects whereas Hispanismo was identified with conservative political stances. This exclusive nationalism began to displace all other cultural perspectives, to the point that in the 1930s the Aztec god Quetzalcoatl was officially promoted by the government as a substitute for the Spanish Three Kings tradition, with a person dressed up as the deity offering gifts to poor children.^[12]

In this context, the Day of the Dead began to be officially isolated from the Catholic Church by the leftist government of Lázaro Cárdenas motivated both by “indigenismo” and left-leaning anti-clericalism. Malvido herself goes as far as calling the festivity a “Cardenist invention” whereby the Catholic elements are removed and emphasis is laid on indigenous iconography, the focus on death and what Malvido considers to be the cultural invention according to which Mexicans venerate death.^[14][17] Gonzalez explains that Mexican nationalism developed diverse cultural expressions with a seal of tradition but which are essentially social constructs which eventually developed ancestral tones. One of these would be the Catholic Día de Muertos which, during the 20th century, appropriated the elements of an ancient pagan rite.^[12]

One key element of the re-developed festivity which appears during this time is La Calavera Catrina by Mexican lithographer José Guadalupe Posada. According to Gonzalez, while Posada is portrayed in current times as the “restorer” of Mexico’s pre-Hispanic tradition, he was never interested in Native American culture or history. Posada was predominantly interested in drawing scary images which are far closer to those of the European renaissance or the horrors painted by Francisco de Goya in the Spanish War of Independence against Napoleon than to the Mexica tzompantli. The recent trans-Atlantic connection can also be observed in the pervasive use of couplet in allegories of death and the play Don Juan Tenorio by 19th-century Spanish writer José Zorrilla which is represented on this date both in Spain and in Mexico since the early 19th century due to its ghostly apparitions and cemetery scenes.^[12]

Opposing views assert that despite the obvious European influence and clear adoption of symbols and traditions as well as co-option of dates and seasons, there exists some proof of pre-Columbian festivities that were similar in spirit if not substance, with the Aztec people having at least six celebrations during the year that were similar to Day of the Dead, the closest one being Quecholli, a celebration that honored Mixcóatl (the god of war) and was celebrated between October 20 and November 8. This celebration included elements such as the placement of altars with food (tamales) near the burying grounds of warriors to help them in their journey to the afterlife.^[13] Influential Mexican poet and Nobel prize laureate Octavio Paz strongly supported the syncretic view of the Día de Muertos tradition being a continuity of ancient Aztec festivals celebrating death, as is most evident in the chapter “All Saints, Day of the Dead” of his 1950 book-length essay The Labyrinth of Solitude.^[18]

Ruben C. Cordova emphasizes the zeal with which the Spanish attempted to extinguish indigenous religious beliefs and practices, such that it is often difficult to reconstruct their main features. Over time, indigenous converts became extremely devout Catholics. As Mexico modernized, the traditional practices that the Spanish had brought to the Americas survived most robustly in rural and less affluent communities, which had high concentrations of indigenous and mestizo populations. Thus archaic Spanish religious practices in marginal areas came to be mistakenly regarded as the “pure” core of primarily “indigenous” Day of the Dead festivities.^[19][20][21]

The Aztecs devoted two twenty-day months in their ritual calendar to the dead: the ninth and tenth months, which were for children and adults, respectively. Cordova argues that some recollection of these festivals “was compressed down to two days and cryptically celebrated within the Catholic liturgical calendar”, which is why, in Mexico, “unlike other Latin American countries with Day of the Dead traditions — All Saints’ Day is dedicated to children, and All Souls’ Day is dedicated to adults.”^[19]

He also notes that the same object, such as a stone skull carved by the Aztecs, would have different meanings in different religious contexts. For the Aztecs, bones—and skulls in particular—were reservoirs of enormous sacred power. A stone skull could evoke sacrifice, and the skull racks where the skulls of sacrificed captives were displayed. The Spanish could take an Aztec skull and repurpose it by placing it on a holy water font, or under a cross in a cemetery, whereby it would be transformed into a memento mori.^[19]

Regardless of its origin, the festivity has become a national symbol in Mexico and as such is taught in the nation’s school system, typically asserting a native origin. It is also a school holiday nationwide.^[15]

Observance in Mexico

Altars and installations in Mexico City museums and public spaces

In the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, the opening sequence features a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City. At the time, no such parade took place in Mexico City; one year later, due to the interest in the film and the government desire to promote the Mexican culture, the federal and local authorities decided to organize an actual Día de Muertos parade through Paseo de la Reforma and Centro Historico on October 29, 2016, which was attended by 250,000 people.^{[22][23][24][25]} This could be seen as an example of the pizza effect. The idea of a massive celebration was also popularized in the Disney Pixar movie Coco.

A number of Mexico City’s museums and public spaces have played an important part in developing and promoting urban Day of the Dead traditions through altars and installations. These notable organizations include: Anahuacalli, The Frida Kahlo Museum, The Museum of Popular Cultures, The Dolores Olmedo Museum, The Museum of the First Printing Press, and The Cloister of Sor Juana. From turn of the millennium until the imposition of the James Bond-inspired parade, remarkable large-scale installations were created on the Zocalo, Mexico City’s central square.^[26]

Altars (ofrendas)

During Día de Muertos, the tradition is to build private altars (“ofrendas”) containing the favorite foods and beverages, as well as photos and memorabilia, of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so the souls will hear the prayers and the words of the living directed to them. These altars are often placed at home or in public spaces such as schools and libraries, but it is also common for people to go to cemeteries to place these altars next to the tombs of the departed.^[7]

Plans for the day are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the three-day period families usually clean and decorate graves;^[27] most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas (altars), which often include orange Mexican marigolds (Tagetes erecta) called cempasúchil (originally named cempōhualxōchitl, Nāhuatl for ‘twenty flowers’). In modern Mexico the marigold is sometimes called Flor de Muerto (‘Flower of Dead’). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings. It is also believed the bright petals with a strong scent can guide the souls from cemeteries to their family homes.^[28][29] The common name in English, marigold, is derived from Mary’s gold, a name first applied to a similar plant native to Europe, Calendula officinalis.^[30][31][32]

Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or ‘the little angels’), and bottles of tequila, mezcal or pulque or jars of atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased’s favorite candies on the grave. Some families have ofrendas in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto (‘bread of dead’), and sugar skulls; and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased.^[27][29] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the “spiritual essence” of the ofrendas‘ food, so though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, Pátzcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. In many places, people have picnics at the grave site, as well.

Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes;^[27] these sometimes feature a Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other people, scores of candles, and an ofrenda. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar, praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased. In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing, so when they dance, the noise will wake up the dead; some will also dress up as the deceased.

Food

During Day of the Dead festivities, food is both eaten by living people and given to the spirits of their departed ancestors as ofrendas (‘offerings’).^[33] Tamales are one of the most common dishes prepared for this day for both purposes.^[34]

Pan de muerto and calaveras are associated specifically with Day of the Dead. Pan de muerto is a type of sweet roll shaped like a bun, topped with sugar, and often decorated with bone-shaped pieces of the same pastry.^[35] Calaveras, or sugar skulls, display colorful designs to represent the vitality and individual personality of the departed.^[34]

In addition to food, drinks are also important to the tradition of Day of the Dead. Historically, the main alcoholic drink was pulque; today families will commonly drink the favorite beverage of their deceased ancestors.^[34] Other drinks associated with the holiday are atole and champurrado, warm, thick, non-alcoholic masa drinks.

Agua de Jamaica (water of hibiscus) is a popular herbal tea made of the flowers and leaves of the Jamaican hibiscus plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa), known as flor de Jamaica in Mexico. It is served cold and quite sweet with a lot of ice. The ruby-red beverage is also known as hibiscus tea in English-speaking countries.^[36]

In the Yucatán Peninsula, mukbil pollo (píib chicken) is traditionally prepared on October 31 or November 1, and eaten by the family throughout the following days. It is similar to a big tamale, composed of masa and pork lard, and stuffed with pork, chicken, tomato, garlic, peppers, onions, epazote, achiote, and spices. Once stuffed, the mukbil pollo is bathed in kool sauce, made with meat broth, habanero chili, and corn masa. It is then covered in banana leaves and steamed in an underground oven over the course of several hours. Once cooked, it is dug up and opened to eat.^[37][38]

Calaveras

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (in Spanish calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for skeleton), and foods such as chocolate or sugar skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Sugar skulls can be given as gifts to both the living and the dead.^[39] Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes from plain rounds to skulls, often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones.^[29]

Calaverita

In some parts of the country, especially the larger cities, children in costumes roam the streets, knocking on people’s doors for a calaverita, a small gift of candies or money; they also ask passersby for it. This custom is similar to that of Halloween‘s trick-or-treating in the United States, but without the component of mischief to homeowners if no treat is given.^[40]

Calaveras literarias

A distinctive literary form exists within this holiday where people write short poems in traditional rhyming verse, called calaveras literarias (lit. ‘literary skulls‘), which are mocking, light-hearted epitaphs mostly dedicated to friends, classmates, co-workers, or family members (living or dead) but also to public or historical figures, describing interesting habits and attitudes, as well as comedic or absurd anecdotes that use death-related imagery which includes but is not limited to cemeteries, skulls, or the grim reaper, all of this in situations where the dedicatee has an encounter with death itself.^[41][42] This custom originated in the 18th or 19th century after a newspaper published a poem narrating a dream of a cemetery in the future which included the words “and all of us were dead”, and then proceeding to read the tombstones. Current newspapers dedicate calaveras literarias to public figures, with cartoons of skeletons in the style of the famous calaveras of José Guadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator.^[39] In modern Mexico, calaveras literarias are a staple of the holiday in many institutions and organizations, for example, in public schools, students are encouraged or required to write them as part of the language class.^[10]

Posada’s most famous print, La Calavera Catrina (“The Elegant Skull”), was likely intended as a criticism of Mexican upper-class women who imitated European fashions. It was first published posthumously in a broadside with a text (not by Posada) that mocked working-class vendors of chickpeas.^[43]

Posada’s image of a skeletal figure with a big hat decorated with two ostrich feathers and flowers was elaborated into a full scale figure by Mexican Muralist Diego Rivera in a fresco painted in 1946–47. Rivera’s Catrina has a simple Tehuana dress and a feather boa, as well as other features that make allusions to the indigenous peoples of Mexico. Through the addition of these indigenous features, Rivera rehabilitated Catrina into a nationalist emblem.^[43]

The Catrina character has become deeply associated with the Day of the Dead. Catrina figures made of a wide range of materials, as well as people with Catrina costumes, have come to play a prominent role in modern Day of the Dead observances in Mexico and elsewhere. The Catrina phenomenon has in fact gone beyond Day of the Dead, resulting in non-seasonal and even permanent “Catrinas”, including COVID-19 masks, tattoos, permanently decorated cars, and Catrina-themed artworks.^{[39][43][44][45]} Some artists have even developed a sub-specialization in Catrina imagery.^[46]

Theatrical presentations of Don Juan Tenorio by José Zorrilla (1817–1893) are also traditional on this day.

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The Army Reserve story cannot be told without reflecting on the remarkable impact made by Hispanic Soldiers. Hispanic Americans have a proud legacy of military service dating back to the Civil War. Whether their heritage can be traced to Spain, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, or one of dozens of other Spanish-speaking countries or cultures, they’ve answered the “call to duty,” defending America with unwavering valor and honor. The theme for the 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month, “Unidos: Inclusivity for a Stronger Nation” underscores the Army’s celebration of diversity and commitment to building high performing and cohesive teams.

Today, more than 17% of America’s Soldiers are of Hispanic or Latino descent, making this the fastest growing segment of the Army. Thousands of Hispanic American Soldiers fulfill vital roles supporting Army Reserve operations around the world, continuing a legacy of professionalism, selfless service and courage that will inspire generations to come.

Battalion Command Sergeant Major (CSM) Anthony Taylor as he discusses notable achievements of Hispanic Americans in the Army Reserve. He will also talk about his Peruvian heritage, his family’s proud history of service and his dedication to helping Soldiers reach their potential.

Interview courtesy: U.S. Army Reserve

#battalioncommandsergeantmajor #anthonytaylor #hispanicheritage #usarmyreserve #strongernation #americans #society #culture #soldiers #achievements #embodiment #values #military #spain #cuba #puertorico #mexico

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Chairman of Future Trends and the Institute for Economics & Peace enlightens us with his humanitarian projects. Future Trends is a weekly media update on the more positive side of life. The Institute for Economics & Peace initiatives received 20 Billion impressions last year, that sure is Good News, it is a great service to humankind and Steve Founded it. In fact, go to approximately 11 minutes into the interview and hear some amazing research on Peace. We had an enlightening conversation.

Introducing another week of Future Trends — tracking current global news stories that provide insight into the future. This week: economies see record drops, tech giant keeps employees working from home, Serbia buys Chinese missiles and Russia prepares for mass vaccination campaign. Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here.

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ECONOMICS
Mexican, German and US economies see record drops in GDP. Both the US and German economies shrank 10% in the last quarter, while Mexico contracted by 17%. The US economy is now 33% lower than the same time last year.

More than one million Chileans seek to withdraw pensions amid pandemic. More than one million Chileans have asked to withdraw a portion of their pension funds to tap into retirement savings to buffer the economic impacts of COVID-19.

Zimbabwe’s white farmers awarded USD $3.5 billion compensation. This is widely considered as a positive move. President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said “It brings closure and a new beginning in the history of the land discourse in Zimbabwe”. The payments will be made in long-term bonds, owing to the nation’s lack of capacity to honour the commitment immediately.

SOCIAL
Chilean dogs sniff out COVID-19 in early stages. Chilean police are training sniffer dogs to detect the coronavirus in people’s sweat at an early stage, after a similar trial in the UK showed encouraging results.

Google will keep 200,000 employees in home offices until July 2021. This makes the search engine giant the first large US company to adopt such an extended schedule in view of the coronavirus pandemic. This sets a precedent and will likely put pressure on other tech companies.

New Japanese batteries will produce up to 10 times more energy. Japanese startup 3Dom says its lithium metal battery can currently produce twice the amount of energy than a Li-ion power source of similar weight, with advances expected in the technology in the near future.

A billion surveillance cameras will be in operation worldwide next year. China hosts 18 of the 20 most camera-controlled cities in the world. London is in 3rd place with 67.4 cameras per thousand citizens, while Hyderabad in India is in 16th place with 29.9 cameras per thousand citizens.

POLITICS
Serbian purchase of missile defense system shows ties deepening with China. Serbia has bought a new generation of medium-range, radar-guided surface-to-air missiles from China in a new sign of deepening cooperation between Beijing and Belgrade.

India freezes out Chinese companies from government bidding. Restrictions on Chinese companies seeking to supply goods or services to the government have been tighten in retaliation against Beijing over the border conflict in the Himalayas.

US Democrats on House antitrust panel scored biggest ‘Big Tech’ donations, but Republicans do well too. The CEO’s of Amazon, Facebook and Google testified before the US House committee dedicated to antitrust. They addressed lawmakers to whom their companies and employees have given donations in this election cycle. Total lobbying expenses for the last quarter by Amazon were $4.4 million.

Iran looks to partner with China, as the West steps back. The proposed 25-year cooperation deal between Iran and China is partly a result of Tehran’s disappointment at the EU’s failure to stand up to the United States.

Pakistani separatist groups unite to target China’s Belt and Road. The alliance is aimed at attacking Chinese interests in a development likely to increase security costs for Belt and Road Initiative projects in Pakistan.

CONFLICT
India has become the world’s biggest arms importer. With the delivery of the first batch of French Fighter Jets, India is upgrading its military. The forward posture adopted by the Indian Air Force is key to India’s defense capabilities.

Baghdad in turmoil after protesters killed. Anti-government protesters have taken to the streets of Iraq’s capital and other cities following the funerals of two people killed during clashes with security forces the night before. The Prime Minister, who condemned the act, demanded explanations within 72 hours.

Mexico arrests ‘El Marro’, who is blamed for a surge in drug violence. The Mexican Army and state security forces have captured the notorious drug gang leader blamed for fanning a surge in violence that has severely tested the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

DEVELOPMENT
9.6 million Sudanese are facing famine. A quarter of the population of Sudan is facing severe food shortages due to escalating food prices. This is the highest in the country’s recent history.

COVID-19 disrupting vaccination programmes. 80 million children under the age of one are unprotected from diseases. The WHO and other institutions have found that COVID-19 has disrupted the vaccinations in at least 68 countries.

Russia preparing mass vaccination against coronavirus for October. Russia’s health minister is preparing a mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 for October, local news agencies reported, after a vaccine completed clinical trials.
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International Day of Conscience from Paul Sladkus on Vimeo.

A Better World with Mitchel Rabin and…
Michael Selfridge, Director of FOWPAL Communications, and,
Reverend Paul Sladkus, FOWPAL Event Executive Producer
ABetterWorld.tv/mitchell-rabins-roundtable-on-u-n-conscience-conference-by-fowpal/ »

UN International Day of Conscience April 5, 2020

The UN International Day of Conscience has come during a Pandemic when our World Needs Life Affirmation with a Conscience for Peace and Love for ALL

Founder Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Founder of FOWPAL, Federation of World Peace on March 5, 2020 at the Second World Sustainable Development Forum, Durango, Mexico stated, “The outbreaks and rapid spread of infectious diseases also pose great challenges. To stay healthy, humans must learn to live a balanced life, coexist harmoniously with nature, and cooperate with one another.”

At a World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, co-organized by the FOWPAL and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, on September 27, 2019 at the UN headquarters. H.E. Shaikh Hussam bin Essa Al Khalifa, President of H.R.H. Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Sustainable Development Award Committee, shared a message of H.R.H. Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, regarding the UN’s adoption of Bahrain’s resolution designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

“This day will be, from now on, a new, constructive, regular and consistent way to mobilize the international community’s efforts to promote peace for security of peoples and communities and achieve sustainable development goals.”

FOWPAL had created a major “LIVE EVENT” to be held in Times Square, New York City on April 5th, but on Monday March 9th decided to postpone this great event that was months in the making. Dr. Hong states, “It is in our conscience to have responsibility and mission to make actions and decisions that are based on Love and Peace. Postponing our major event meets our mission to care for the safety of all.”
Along with headline entertainment at the Times Square event, FOWPAL had planned to ring their Bell of World Peace and Love, which has been rung by 390 visionary leaders from 121 nations inc. 43 heads of state and government & 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates.

Please go to www.icday.org for the latest announcements on what FOWPAL will be doing for April 5th worldwide, as it will be special. We will broadcast a one-hour online program on April 5 at 12 Midnight via www.Icday.org website (Icday.org) and social media (FB, IG, Twitter, YouTube #InternationalConscienceDay) and www.goodnewsplanet.TV.

For Further information contact: Mr. Michael Selfridge Director of Communications (805) 680-0890 and Mr. Paul Sladkus, Public Relations (212) 647 1212
Photos: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1-45c44_7SOjpiW7SJbR1Ll3qCOU25OkX

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love, is joined by a panel of visionary leaders as he delivers remarks celebrating the United Nations’ adoption of a resolution designating April 5th as the “International Day of Conscience” during the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, at U.N. headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Federation of World Peace and Love)

FOWPAL (Federation of World Peace and Love) Michael Selfridge , Director of Communications shares the latest for April 5th Broadcast
www.icday.org

Dear Friends and Members,

The Times Square Concert has been postponed due to the virus
however
a GREAT CONSCIENCE SHOW is being produced to broadcast on
April 5, 2020 details forthcoming.

WE NEED TO HAVE A GOOD CONSCIENCE OF PEACE AND LOVE, TO BRING HEALING TO OUR WORLD. FOWPAL has been helping spread that mission for years, Good News applauds you:)

The UN International Day of Conscience is April 5, 2020. The event is being produced by FOWPAL (Federation of World Peace and Love), a great institution and friend for many years. Reverend Paul Sladkus, Founder of GNC will Executive Produce an up-coming important United Nations approved day. “It is the Conscience of Man/Woman that creates love or hate and the actions that go along with it”, states Paul. An inaugural event was going to be live on April 5, 2020 in Times Square, however in due respect of the Coronavirus Concerns FOWPAL has decided to postpone the live event and considering a different program. For additional information go to: www.icday.org and our www.peacedayparty.org websites.
also https://www.un.org/en/observances/conscience-day
Here is some background:

About FOWPAL Federation of World Peace and Love

In 1999, the world saw three massive earthquakes. In observation of the incredible balancing acts of nature, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, hosted an event to pray for blessings for all in September 1999 and pointed out the importance of sincere kindness and expressed his hope that the spirit of love and peace would spread around the world in a declaration titled “Love of the World, A Wish for Peace.” In 2000, Dr. Hong established FOWPAL in California, USA. FOWPAL has been dedicated to promoting love, peace, and sustainable development. To date, 390 visionary leaders from 121 nations have rung the FOWPAL’s Bell of World Peace and Love and made their wishes for peace, including 43 heads of state and government and 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates. FOWPAL aims to consolidate the wisdom and ideas of peace from global citizens to promote world peace.

About the International Day of Conscience

On July 25, 2019, during its 73rd session, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain titled, “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience,” declaring April 5th the International Day of Conscience. After the United Nations’ declaration on July 25, 2019, each month FOWPAL is engaged in various events to promote the day, including the 68th UN Civil Society Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA and events in Russia in August; celebrations in Los Angeles and San Francisco, the 17th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Mexico, and conferences at the UNHQ in New York during the 74th UN General Assembly in September; summits in Vienna and a peace trip to Turkey in October; the 20th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World in India in November; and the Grand Launch of the Alternative Development Organization Initiatives in Oslo, Norway in December.

With Peace, Love, Hope and Justice

#international #day #conscience #times #square #april #fifth #2020 #5 #peace #love #hope #justice #nonprofit #good #news #corporation #peace #party #events #united #nations #countries #saudi #arabia #environmental #products #environment #father #duffy #park #fowpal #federation #world #paul #sladkus #mohammad #bin #salman #al #saud #women #forever #liberty #internationalconscienceday #InternationalConscienceDay #icday

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Over the last 15 years, Worldfund has become an influential international network of committed global citizens who believe in the power of education.

On Thursday, June 8th, we were proud to share our accomplishments at the 2017 Education Leadership Award Dinner: 8,000 educators and nearly 4.4 million students impacted by our three programs: IAPE, LISTO and STEM.

Improving the quality of education in Latin America is not an individual task. Our gratitude for those who have been so important in supporting our programs was symbolized by honoring two outstanding individuals for their remarkable contributions to education in their countries:
Agustín Coppel Luken makes education a priority in his leadership at Grupo Coppel in Mexico.

Fábio Colletti Barbosa seeks to bring educational values to the forefront of the Brazilian national discussion.
Worldfund is thankful for the 350 friends in the room who joined us in applauding our honorees. We invite you to continue sharing your enthusiasm for Worldfund. Please take this opportunity to forward this email to a friend. It takes all of us to keep inspiring teachers to create the leaders of tomorrow.

Kelly Maurice
Executive Director
Donate

The Education Leadership Award was presented to Fábio Colletti Barbosa by Carlos Guimarães.

The Education Leadership Award was presented to Agustín Coppel Luken by Claudio X. González Guajardo.

In addition to the award ceremony, another highlight of the evening was undoubtedly getting to know Worldfund-trained STEM Brasil teacher, Paulo Henrique do Nascimento.

Click below to learn more about
Professor Paulo Henrique do Nascimento and STEM Brasil:

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The 144 citizenship candidates originate from the following 52 countries: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Canada, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cote D’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, France, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kosovo, Liberia, Mexico, Montenegro, Nigeria, Peru, Philippines, Republic of Serbia, Russia, Senegal, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, St. Kitts-Nevis, The Gambia, Togo, Turkey, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam and Yemen. Of those naturalizing, two are currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

This year, USCIS will welcome more than 10,000 new citizens in nearly 130 naturalization ceremonies between Nov. 7 and 13. Of those being naturalized, more than 250 are veterans, service members and military spouses. USCIS is asking new citizens and their families and friends to share the experience and photos at their ceremonies via Twitter using the hashtag #newUScitizen.

WHO:
USCIS New York District Director Phyllis Coven

WHEN:

Friday, November 13, 9 a.m. (media will be escorted in starting at 8:30 a.m.)
WHERE:
USCIS NY District Office
26 Federal Plaza (please use the entrance on Duane Street between Broadway and Lafayette)

CONTACT:
Katie Tichacek, USCIS Public Affairs Officer, 212-264-5098, 202-420-9581 (cell) katherine.tichacek@uscis.dhs.gov

NOTE:
Media interested in participating, please RSVP to Katie Tichacek (contact info above) no later than 9:00 am EST on November 13.

– USCIS –

News Release Nov. 9, 2015

USCIS Will Host Naturalization Ceremonies to Honor Veterans and their Families

WASHINGTON—Veterans, service members and military spouses across the country will become U.S. citizens this week as they take the Oath of Allegiance at special Veterans Day naturalization ceremonies. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will highlight the sacrifices that military members and their families have made while serving our country. From Nov. 7-13, USCIS will welcome more than 10,000 new citizens in nearly 130 naturalization ceremonies across the country and around the world. Of those being naturalized, more than 255 are veterans, service members and military spouses.

Many current and former military members and their families are eligible for citizenship, including expedited screening and overseas processing, under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Since Oct. 1, 2001, when data collection on military naturalizations began, more than 109,000 service members have become U.S. citizens, including individuals serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, South Korea, Germany, Japan and elsewhere. In 2015 alone, USCIS hosted nearly 175 naturalization ceremonies at military installations in the U.S. and abroad.

“On Veterans Day, we salute the men and women who have so courageously served our country and defended the freedoms that it was built upon. Among our brave veterans are thousands of immigrants, many of whom vowed to defend their new home even before they were citizens,” USCIS Director León Rodríguez said. “It is because of their extraordinary sacrifices, and those of their families, that we can enjoy the rights and liberties of living in this great country.”

USCIS has a robust military outreach program that provides information about immigration and naturalization to service members and veterans at military installations, Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals, universities and various military organizations. USCIS also has offices on multiple military installations, including Fort Benning, Georgia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; and Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas. These offices identify recruits who may be eligible for naturalization.

USCIS’ Veterans Day activities this year will feature a naturalization ceremony at the USS Torsk and USS Constellation, located at the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland, on Nov. 11. During this event, Dan Renaud, USCIS associate director for the Field Operations Directorate, will administer the Oath of Allegiance, and Sgt. Maj. Mercy A. Diez of the U.S. Army Band will be recognized as an Outstanding American by Choice.

Other ceremonies include events at:
· American Heroes Air Show in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 7.
· Cullman Performance Hall of Tryon Palace in New Bern, North Carolina, on Nov. 11.
· Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle, Washington, on Nov. 13.

In addition, 12 recruits will become new citizens at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California, through the Naturalization at Basic Training Initiative. Developed with the Department of Defense, this program allows enlisted service members to complete the naturalization process during basic training.

USCIS invites new citizens, and their families and friends, to share their experiences from the ceremonies through Twitter and other social media using the hashtag #newUScitizen.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis), Facebook(/uscis), and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

– USCIS –

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Leah Poller has exhibited her work worldwide in galleries, museums, institutions, and public spaces since 1998. She has won many distinguished awards and her work is in major international collections. She has lectured extensively on curating, collecting, and motivational/behavioral studies related to the creative life.

PLACES Arnot Museum • Museo Regional Michoacano • Edward Dean Museum • Casa Diego Rivera • Washington Square Windows at NYU • Grounds for Sculpture • Kisrnet Gallery • Mexican Culture Institute of New York • Claypool Young Museum – Ofivalmo • Capital One Bank • National Building Museum • Portals Gallery • Centro Cultural Sefaradi • Mercedes Benz Gallery of New York • Association for Spirituality and Psychotherapy • Fleet Bank • Galleria Dante • Centro Cultural San Angel • Galerie Treger • Instituto Nacional de Antropologia y Historia • North Fork Bank • Duveen Gallery • Fordham University – Stamford Connecticut Art Walk • South Bend Indiana Art Museum • Yin Yang Social Laboratory of New York SOFA • Washington DC Project for the Arts • National Museum of American Art • Greater Reston Arts Center

CITIES Paris • Mexico City • Phoenix • Soho • Naples • Guadalajara • New York • Mexico City • Miami Beach • Los Angeles • Stamford • Palm Springs • Tucson • Bethesda • Washington • Boca Raton • Tribeca • South Bend • Morehead • Seattle • Chicago • Akron • Boulder • Morelia • Cherry Hill • Harrison

AWARDS Artist’s Equity • Pen and Brush • South C. Lorrilard Wolfe Institute • South Bend Indiana Museum • Washington Project for the Arts • National Galleries of the Smithsonian Institute.

COMMISSIONS Lionel Vielot, dancer • Thamir Al Kaisi, French artist • Michelle Kombluh, portrait of a young girl- Laura Alexis, French cinema actress • Dany Meadows, French author • Serge Ber, art specialist • Enrique Guzman de Acevedo, Latin American correspondent to the White House • Ever Gordon, Jamaican poet and jazz musician.

COLLECTIONS Soaring Words, international children’s charity • John Demaio, Esq, attorney • Alain Baudry, French Editor • Dr. Maurice Tran Dinh Cahn • Mr Serge Ber, antique dealer • Laura McCann, CEO of Zweave, Inc. • John Hechinger, CEO, Hechinger Corp. • Edilberto Reyes, CPA • Dr. and Mrs. A. Wise • Madeline McConnell, Art Consultant • Jayson and Tassi Arnster, Attorneys • Marite Bonnal, Author • Kenneth Kombluh, CEO, Marketing Pilot, Inc. • D. Doane, CEO, Customs Foods • Amal Warren, Jeweler to the Royal Family of Abu Dhabi • Olivier Dieudonne, Investment Banker • Dr. Francois Elmai, DDS • Mr. and Mrs. David Cohen • Jerome Bonnouvrier, CEO, DNA Model Agency • David Ramsey, Bell Laboratories • Julien David, financial consultant • Frederique Morrel and Aaron Levine, artists • Michelle Kornbluh, Executor Director, Public Issuance CFF.

AFFILIATIONS National Museum of Women • Association for International Artists • National Artist’s Equity • Women’s Caucus for the Arts • Washington Sculpture Guild • Association des Sculpteurs (France) • Friends of the Museum of the Americas – Pen and Brush (New York) • Who’s Who of American Women • Artists’ Round Table.

BIBLIOGRAPHY “Appreciation of Leah Poller and her Beds” by Cliff Johns,“The Potomac” • “Fabrica de Suenos”, “El Informador” • “De Manhattan a Mexico” by Argelia Castello, la Voz de Michoacan • “De la cama al museo”, Acentro • “Leah’s Bed’s” by Cate McLare, Boca Sentinal • “Global Frontunners”, Profile Magazine • “Casting Your Bed in Bronze”, The Artist’s Magazine • “Exhibit celebrates surrealist’s fascination with Bedfellows”, Spotlight Chicago • “Bed Puns” by Fred Camper, Chicago Reader • “A Question of Culture” by Mitchell Snow, Eyewash • “The Symbolic Bed”, Eyewash.

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