Day of Peace Events Planned in Dubuque

On September 21 join the Dubuque Franciscans, associates, and friends around the world to pray for peace.  Dubuque will celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21 with a number of events over several days.

The focus for this year’s Day of Peace in Dubuque will be on how climate disruption impacts peace issues such as violent conflict, refugees and resource allocation in anticipation of the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Paris in December.

On Monday, September 21, at 7 p.m. in the Alumni Campus Center Ballroom at Loras College, in Dubuque, Dr. Reese Halter will deliver this year’s keynote on Climate and Peace.  Dr. Halter is an award-winning conservation communicator, voice for ecology, distinguished conservation biologist, broadcaster, public speaker, best-selling author and syndicated writer.  He has university degrees in physical geography, forest resources and a PhD in eco-stress tree physiology. Dr. Halter is the founder of Global Forest Science, a conservation institute.

The other main events in Dubuque for the Day of Peace include:

• Hike to Help Refugees, Saturday, September 19, noon-2 p.m.  Start at Loras College (outside Christ the King Chapel), touch base at University of Dubuque (outside Blades Chapel) and end at Clarke University (outside Atrium).  Co-sponsored with Iowa United Nations Association (IUNA). All proceeds raised go to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.  See www.dbqdayofpeace.org for pledge forms and more information.
• This is How We BBQ in DBQ, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-6 p.m., Kehl Center, Clarke University. Cosponsored with Clarke University, Dubuque Branch NAACP, Dubuque Community Foundation, the Dubuque Human Rights Commission, Dubuque Independent Football League, the Dubuque Police Department and Auxiliary Police and the Jule. This community barbeque is an event where residents can bond and engage with different cultures through free food catered from a variety of local vendors. There will be family-friendly music and games. More information at www.bbqindbq.org or www.facebook.com/bbqindbq.

Attendees may ride the Jule to and from these events on Sept. 19 with special event tickets. These tickets are available from the Human Rights Commission Office, the Multicultural Family Center, the Dream Center and the Jule’s new intermodal transit center. Tickets for the return trip will also be at This is How We BBQ in DBQ on Saturday. Call 563-589-4196 or visit www.juletransit.org for route and schedule information.

The public is also invited to these festival related events:
Sept. 13-26, “Eyes Wide Open – War” digital exhibit of Barbra Ilten’s photography in entry of Carnegie-Stout Public Library.
Sept. 19, 2 p.m., Meet at 22nd/Jackson St. for a hike around Banfield Bridge Area in Wisconsin.
Sept. 19, 7-9:30 p.m., Historic District Coffee House, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Dubuque (UUFD), 1699 Iowa St.
Sept. 21-25, Peace of My Mind (Portraits of Peacemakers Display), Loras College Campus Center and Library.
Sept. 22, 7-9 p.m., Iowa U.N. Association Panel Discussion on Climate Disruption (Panel TBA) Blades Hall, University of Dubuque.
Sept. 22, 7:30 p.m., Sierra Club White Pines Group Film: “Angel Azul” Swiss Valley Nature Center.
Sept. 23, 6 p.m., “Scarred Lands, Wounded Lives” documentary, UD Myers Teaching and Administrative Center room 146.
Sept. 23, 6:30 p.m., video talks by Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, UUFD, 1699 Iowa Street.
Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Veterans for Peace Speakers: Colleen Rowley and Ray McGovern, UD, Blades Hall.
Sept. 25, 7 p.m., “Journey to Freedom: A Walk Through Human Trafficking”, Roshek Building lobby. Opening keynote Dr. Teresa Downing-Matibag, executive director of Iowa’s Network Against Human Trafficking coalition. Exhibit continues through Oct. 5.
Sept. 27, noon-2 p.m., Dubuque LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) picnic at Murphy Park.
Sept. 27, 2 p.m., March to UD from Clarke, Loras, Wartburg and Grandview overpass, 2:30 p.m. Gather at Blades Chapel, UD, 3 p.m. “Guns Create a Climate of Fear” by speaker Dr. Jeremy Brigham.
Sept. 29, 6 p.m. Doors open, 7 p.m., Concert for Refugee Children, Warehouse at 10th & Jackson, $10 suggested donation. Join this family-friendly event to raise funds, awareness and solutions for issues faced by child immigrants from Central America now living in the Tri-State Area. All proceeds go toward Dubuque for Refugee Children, which helps with the medical, educational and legal expenses of these brave children.

What is the Dubuque International Day of Peace?
A group of Dubuque-area residents invites all to create a culture of peace by participating in a city-wide celebration of the U.N. International Day of Peace on September 21, 2015.  Since its 1981 inception, the Peace Day has marked humanity’s personal and planetary progress toward peace. The celebration has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world through events ranging in scale from private gatherings to public events with wide attendance.