On Friday, May 18, leaders from several major religions gathered together in a circle at Kingston's City Park near the historic Murnay Tower to pass the torch while sharing prayers for peace in solidarity with the goals of the World Harmony Run.

A special native smudging ceremony, conducted by Aboriginal representative Mitchell Shewell from the Katarokwi Friendship Centre, enabled all present to draw smoke from a fire of sacred herbs over their heads, eyes, ears, mouth, heart and body in a traditional rite of purification.

Mitchell then offered gratitude to all men and women, as well as the creatures and plants of the earth, citing their unique and special gifts to humanity, and prayed for respect and peace for all created beings.

Next was Reverend Bill McAuslan from the Crossroads United Church, offering a Christian prayer for peace and harmony.

Jane and Ruth from the Zen Group in Kingston presented a text on peace from the writings of the Buddha, who taught how to attain peace and enlightenment within our own minds and among one another.

Imam Sikander Hashmi, representing the Islam Society of Kingston, started by reciting Rumi's Prayer followed with a Muslim prayer for peace from the sacred writings of the great Prophet Mohammed.

Paramita Jarvis, representing the Sri Chinmoy Meditation Centre of Kingston, offered a brief selection from the teachings of Sri Chinmoy, founder of the World Harmony Run and many other initiatives to promote peace, harmony and oneness in the world-family: "Peace itself is strength. The outer world can be under your control when you have peace of mind. Wherever you go, you will make your own peace. The world is something very huge, but each person represents the world. You and I create the world by the vibrations that we offer to the world. If we can invoke peace and then offer it to somebody else, we will see how peace expands from one to two persons and gradually to the world at large."

Cantor Michael Rumack, from Beth Israel Sinagogue, invoked a deep feeling of peace in all present by singing of a Jewish prayer. His beautiful song needed no translation.

Karine, who is visiting Kingston from Bolivia, represented the Gnostic Christian faith with a short prayer for inner serenity and peace.

The shared prayers truly demonstrated that all religions and spiritual paths support the ideal of harmony and peace within our homes and communities as well as among the diverse population of this planet.

Following the interfaith prayer circle, we all walked with the torch to City Hall, where Deputy Mayor Sandy Berg welcomed us and read out a formal proclamation of World Harmony Run Day in Kingston from Mayor Gerretsen, which encouraged all citizens to honour and recognize the goals and events of the World Harmony Run.

Video Mesage from Davidson Hepburn, President (2009 - 2011) of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for 25th Anniversary of the World Harmony Run and a vision for the decade: "Toward a Oneness-World". With FRENCH subtitles.

Full Text of the 25th annversary message and link to 25 language informal Translations: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/25

• Youtube video on African experience which illustrates IYY slogan "Our Year Our Voice" International Year of Youth - Zambia World Harmony. They surprisingly mention Presidents and UN Secretary-General in a unique way!

• Listen to the World-Harmony-Run song: 2 min version // 6 min

Team Members:
Paramita Jarvis (Canada), Hladini Wilson (Canada), Mahamuka (Canada), Diego (Canada), Sarvagata Ukrainskyi (Ukraine), Dimitriy Dudko (Ukraine), Manoshri Sykorova (Slovakia)

Harmonemail:
You can send a message to the runners or read the messages.