URI Remembers

1 August 2024
URI remembers

Rev. Deborah Moldow and Monica Willard, Champions of IDP

You are part of a global network of peacemakers, everyone together creating a new culture of peace for all humanity.”  Deborah Moldow, speaking in Ireland, August 2011.

Looking back, awesome appreciation is due to Monica Willard and Rev. Deborah Moldow who helped champion observance of the International Day of Peace at the United Nations and inspired URI Cooperation Circle peacebuilders everywhere to mobilize their local peace efforts to commemorate IDP each year.

Monica and Deborah served together among the co-chairs of the International Day of Peace NGO Committee and were co-founders of the URI at the United Nations Cooperation Circle (URI-UN) with Fr. Luis Dolan. Monica served over 20 years as URI’s liaison at the United Nations and chaired the Committee of Religious NGOs. Deborah served as URI Global Council Trustee, Director of the World Peace Prayer Society and, currently, as Director of the Evolutionary Leaders Circle.

A highlight from the past! On August 16, 2011, Deborah spoke to the “Instruments of Peace” group in Ireland. Her words ring true today.

 “For me, the key to the whole idea of the IDP is that it is a global, neutral platform for an evolutionary leap - a shift in human consciousness that is happening right now. We have no time to waste, the whole of our civilization that we have built over millennia is trembling on the brink. The planet cannot sustain us anymore at the level we’ve been living. We need to make enormous changes...and changes are possible – they are starting to happen!

We don’t know all that people are doing around the planet to build a culture of peace, and mobilizing around the IDP is a way to find out...IDP is our invitation to show up and make a difference toward a culture of peace.”

Deborah’s 2011 video presentation  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzP3kiKwNIw