PIERRE WEIL

THEORETICAL AND/OR PRACTICAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE CADIDATE TO THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE ACTIVITIES RELATED TO THE EDUCATION FOR PEACE

Communicating with the public , through the media and other efficient means, in order to fight the problems that menace Peace

1 - Programs and interviews on the media

It has become a routine for Pierre Weil , to be interviewed by newspapers, magazines, by radio and TV stations, on the occasion of his countless seminars, conferences and congresses in Brazil, in South America and in Europe. The rhythm is, on the average, of one interview each week.

One can, however, emphasise some programs which have reached a public of various millions of watchers.

The first one was broadcast by GLOBO TV, in a program called "Bom dia, Brasil" (Good morning, Brazil), in the morning of the first day of the Gulf War. The interview dealt with the contribution of Brazil to the preservation of World Peace.

The second one was a national success, thanks to an interview in the famous JÔ SOARES Program, which is an audience champion in Brazil. Pierre Weil succeeded to lead the whole audience to sing, in the company of an orchestra and of a chorus, the Peace Anthem of UNIPEACE (See 2.6)

A TV Report GLOBO Prize, in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo State, was awarded to a program in which Pierre Weil was interviewed, together with a street kid who had been invited by him, about Peace. As he was asked about where Peace begins, the boy answered: "in my heart", after having told how he lived the violence issue, related to the drugs. The lady interviewer had to control her hiccups to be able to continue to talk...

2 - Programs in the SENATE and the CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES TVs. Pierre Weil is regularly invited to discuss issues about Education for Peace and Non-Violence, as well as to talk about the UNIPEACE programs.

These programs, started in 1998, have a steady demand for repetition, from the watchers. The first one, which began in April 1998, has been repeated more than 30 times. A set of two one-hour programs are a summary of the Art of Living in Peace, specially mounted by the studio team.

It is more than clear that these programs about Education for Peace have, besides their influence upon the great public, a key political importance, for the fact that they are implemented in the heart of Brazil's Senate. Thanks to Pierre Weil, Education for Peace penetrates the soul of Members of the Brazilian Parliament.

3 - The Peace Bell. A traditional means of communication. The International Society for the Peace Bell, with headquarters in Tokyo, after a Pierre Weil' s special visit to Japan, offered a reproduction of the Peace Bell which stays in the UM Gardens, in New York. The UM General Secretary rings it before each general assembly. The bell weighs almost a ton and it was cast, melting bronze together with the coins of all countries of the World. It was brought by the Representative of the Brazilian Ambassador in Tokyo and it was inaugurated in 1997, in the presence of Japanese and Brazilian authorities.

If we recall that the bell is one of the most ancient communications means among men, we can easily imagine the symbolic importance of the celebrations which make use of this Bell of Peace.

A special ceremonial was conceived by Pierre Weil to receive special guests and hosts. The Bell Ceremony also takes place in the beginning of each course about Peace, as well as to celebrate some special days, such as the United Nations day.