Luminaria Lighting in Davis

Celebrate the New Year at Luminaria Lighting In Davis

Are you looking for a progressive and meaningful way to celebrate the New Year? Would you rather spend the evening doing something inspirational with other anti-war and social justice activists rather than go to the same old tired parties and events?

I urge you to attend the “Luminarias for Peace” event on New Year’s eve in Central Park in Davis, California. High school students and their supporters will be making a huge peace sign in the park on December 31, 2007 at 6 p.m., according to David Dionisi, the author of American Hiroshima and the National Awareness officer of the Teach Peace Foundation.

I attended last year’s luminaria lighting on New Year’s Eve – and was greatly moved by the sight of 10,000 luminarias filling the park. The event, the first of its kind in this area, was the most creative and “different” New Year’s event I have ever been to. To volunteer for this year's event, simply come to Davis's Central Park at 3 p.m.

A group of inspired high school students called “Youth for Hope” organized the massive luminaria lighting last year.

“This powerful message for peace was supported by Teach Peace and people of all ages,” said Dionisi. “The light from approximately 10,000 luminarias represented both the number of people killed since September 11, 2001 and a message of hope.”

The first 3,000 candles represented causalities on 9/11 and in combat following 9/11. For Iraqi civilians, each candle represented 65 people killed for the estimated 650,000 people killed.

“While the light symbolized the horrific loss of life, it also represented the brighter peaceful future that is possible,” said Dionisi. “The students observed this when they said knowledge is light, light brings us wisdom, and light brings us hope.”

Sofia Cortopassi, Julia Cortopassi, Elisa Espinoza, Jessica Weidenfeld and other Davis High School students were inspired to take action after viewing the movie The Ground Truth. “The students summed up a powerful solution when they observed that peace is best accomplished through education and honest communication,” said Dionisi.

For more information, go to http://www.teachpeace.com/luminarialighting.htm or call David Dionisi at 530-554-7061.