Rio de Janeiro World Peace Crusade

If you didn’t know, the World Peace Crusade is the biggest event held by the gypsies in all Brazil. The event is organized by Mirian Stanescon-RORANI and pays homage to Jews, Afro-descendents, Native Indians and of course, gypsies; showing support and solidarity towards the unity among all people, regardless of religion, beliefs because only by this we can accomplish world peace, at least theoretically. In 2009, they will reach the 11th event and everything remains the same, support for all people for a better and peaceful world. The celebration is organized at Parque Garota de Ipanema – Posto 7 – Rua Franciso Otavino – Arpoador on 24 May every year.

This large event is a part of the celebrations of Saint Sara Kali Day which is the patron saint of the gypsies and starts with an ecumenical gypsy mass - blessing, show, exhibitions and ethnic dances. At the 11th Rio de Janeiro World Peace Crusade you will observe the release of the Gypsy People’s primer, “The law in your hands” which was written by Mirian Stanescon Batuli and produced by the Human Rights Department and supported by the Ministry of Culture and SEPPIR.  At the event they also celebrate the national gipsy day and the 1st temple in Latin America dedicated to St. Sara Kali.

Saint Sarah is the mythic patron saint of Roma (gypsy) people and the center of her veneration is Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a place for pilgrimage for Roma in the Camargue, situated in southern France. Besides the commemoration at the World Peace Crucade, in France on the 24th May her statue is carried down to the sea in order to re-enact her arrival in France. As you can see, Saint Sarah was and still is a very important figure for the gypsies not only in France but also in Brazil and other countries that have a large minority of gypsies.

The 11th World Peace Crusade’s other objectives besides honoring Saint Sarah is to provide moral and religious support for people from all corners of the world, regardless of religious beliefs, social status and ethnic origins. The organizers of the crusade consider that only by considering people equal we all can live in a fair and peaceful world without wars, terrorism and disasters caused by humans. The World Peace Crusade has a special significance for Jews and the Afro-descends because here they can learn more about their history and especially for the Jews, the horrifying moments that their great grandfathers had to go through in order to establish the Jews as a recognized ethnic population.

All things considered, in 2009 for the 11th World Peace Crusade organiezed at Parque Garot de Ipanema, we celebrate not only the gypsies, Jews, Afro-descendets or Native Indians but also mankind itself, people from all over the world, providing ideas and solutions for a better world, a safer place for us and our children because the most important thing for mankind is peace, everything else can be resolved with patience and a little effort.