Peace - and so it continues

2nd-5th graders Riverview Int'l Academy, Lakeside, CA.

I learned something new last week. International Day of Peace, or Peace Day, is celebrated not only on September 21st, but continues until October 2nd, the birth date of Mahatma Gandhi. So you have several more days to join the world in focusing on peace!

I've been obsessing about peace this week. I check the International Day of Peace Facebook page every morning and every evening. I figured I can get my world news from there as people from all over the world are posting. And it's a great way to stay focused on peace. What a wonderful thing - connecting with people from around the world who share a similar goal of peace - the power of the internet and Facebook.

What do I think will happen by continuously checking the FB page? I'm not entirely sure.

Byron Bay Australia

I know that when I read the stories of peace, hope and love from around the world it makes me feel good. Then I am in a good mood and take that with me, to my family, to work...when I look at it at night I go to bed with a calm feeling in my heart. I am thinking of the stories and the faces.

But am I accomplishing anything?

On the one hand I am leading a healthier life. Stress kills - or at least weakens our immune system. I am hoping for something more then just a healthier life. I'd like to think that all my thoughts of peace are little vibrations I am sending out to the universe.

You know what it feels like when someone smiles at you, or holds the door, or does anything courteous - you feel better for a little while. It goes away. But if it keeps happening, people keep smiling and acknowledging you as a fellow human being, you keep feeling good, happy, and passing it on.

UN Chapel - International Day of Peace

So I'm hoping my new found obsession with peace is causing continuous vibrations of happiness, emanating out to the world around me, from the people I pass on the street, to the people I connect with online. Take a moment to create some peace in you and see what happens.

"May there be Peace between and within all People, Animals and Nature so that we live in balance, harmony and sacred interconnectedness with one another and with Gaia."

International Day of Peace, Harry Potter, and Star Wars

Wednesday, September 21st is the 29th International Day of Peace. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 and first celebrated as Peace Day in September 1982. In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace. By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged everyone to work in cooperation for this goal.

So what does that have to do with Harry Potter and Star Wars?

Picasso Dove of Peace

Well, I had an epiphany this weekend. After watching the new Blue Ray 'Star Wars' edition and finishing the 'Harry Potter' book series I was buzzing, thinking about how much I enjoyed both series and wondering about their messages.

They were both successful because of their message of peace? No - but maybe, kind of - sort of. It's in there, if you look close enough and it's tied to something else.

Choice - I thought. Choice.

There are many wonderful messages about growth, hope, love, faith, justice and peace in the many HP and SW books/movies. But what stood out the most to me was the gift, the freedom, of choice.

Anakin had a choice. His choice was based on fear even though he loved Padme and his mother. He chose the dark side and his choice had some dire consequences for him and those he loved. Luke had a choice. His choice to be a Jedi and stand up for freedom and justice was based on love...the love for his father and his friends. He was scared but his choice wasn't based in fear. Luke chose peace - in the end he didn't fight - and his choice had powerful and positive consequences. Harry, like Luke, was scared but brave and his choice was also based on love. Well, you know how that turned out (in case you don't I won't give it away but at one point he makes a very similar choice to Luke's and does not fight).

The choice of peace is just that, a choice. It may not be easy. Sometimes it may be scarey. And for sure you have to practice it to get better at it. But it is a choice with profound positive consequences. This is one of those amazing freedoms we have that no one can take away, but it is ours to give away.

This Peace Day take a moment to silence yourself with many others around the world and fill yourself with peace. It is your choice.

Alexandra Gnoske is an Environmental Expert. She is the Author/Illustrator of "Loui Saves the Earth" and Founder of RECYCLE ME.

Monarch-palooza or Something Like That

Last Sunday I took the kids to the North Park Nature Center (north side of Chicago) for Monarch-palooza, to see Monarchs being released for their long journey to over-winter in Mexico on the hillside of Sierra Chincua.

I guess with a name like 'Monarch-palooza' I expected they would be release dozens and dozens of butterflies, but they were releasing one every hour. However, they had a lot to teach us, so in the end I understood why it was one at a time.

First we went inside to look at all the live Monarchs in different stages of their life-cycle, and the staff explained how they take the silk and stick themselves upside down before making their chrysalis. It was great to be able to see them in their various stages to help the kids understand the process.

Common Milkweed growing in Chicago at Little Gompers

Then we went outside to see the milkweed. This is a most special plant because it is the only plant that Monarchs will lay their eggs on, so they are completely dependent on this plant for survival. The milkweed has a milky white liquid (hence the name) and it is toxic, making the Monarchs toxic and helping them avoid predators.

Milkweed plants have been eradicated from much of their native habitat due to development and farming. If you are interested in growing milkweed you can check with your local nursery or visit 'Live Monarch' to find out how to get native seeds free-paying only for postage.

Milkweed is easy to grow and native to the United States. What was really interesting was that all the insects that seem to like this plant end up with the same color scheme - orange and black.

Pointing out 6 legs to confirm Monarchs are indeed insects

Next the staff took a butterfly out of a large tent - they know the Monarchs are ready to fly and their wings are dried when they are flying around the tent. They showed us how to hold a butterfly to avoid damaging their delicate wings and how to identify male versus female (the bottom wings will have spot in the orange areas for a male, no spots for a female), and then they put a tiny sticker on the wing to help track the butterfly to that scientist can learn many important things about their migration all to make sure we continue to keep Monarchs alive and well with healthy populations.

This butterfly is a girl or female. Looking at the bottom wing.

We learned many things we didn't know: Monarchs will fly to Southern California and Florida and miss out on Mexico all together; no matter where a Monarch is, Texas, Arkansas, Illinois or Canada, once it is September they all know to head back south for the wintering grounds; Monarchs will go through 4 or 5 life cycles in one summer, migrating north, before the last generation heads back to Mexico.

Monarch-palooza inspired me. I am going to work on a butterfly and Monarch garden to make a little more habitat. I hope you can find a little space to help with Monarch habitat too.