The University of North Florida is holding activities for Peace Awareness Week from Sunday, Sept. 30, through Saturday, Oct. 6. The activities will addressing the challenge of peace development in our personal lives, local community, nation and around the world. Many of these events are free. For more information about Peace Awareness Week events, go to www.unf.edu/thefloridacenter/CTSymposium. Activities include the following:

Art exhibition—Sunday, Sept. 30 through Friday, Oct. 5; Fine Arts Center lobby (first and second floor). Exhibition opens at 6 p.m., Sept. 30, and closes at 11 p.m. on Oct. 5. “Peace Mural” by Houng, an internationally renowned artist, and “Illuminating Peace” by Lamantia.

“The Mountain of Peace”—Sunday, Sept. 30, 7 p.m.; Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall. A musical exploring the roots of war and the challenge of peace building.

Symposium on Conflict Transformation Continues—Friday, Oct. 5, 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.; University Center. Symposium includes panel discussion, roundtables and keynote lunch speaker Frank Sanchez, president of the Patel Foundation for Global Understanding at the University of South Florida and CEO at Renaissance Steel. He will discuss “Conflict Transformation as Strength: International Applications.”

Symposium on Conflict Transformation Continues—Saturday, Oct. 6, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; University Center. Symposium includes panel discussion, roundtables a community forum on violence in Jacksonville and keynote lunch speakers Bryant Rollins and Shirley Stetson. Rollins and Stetson serve as president and vice president respectively of Mountaintop Institute, Inc. in Jacksonville. They will discuss “Conflict Transformation as Personal Information: First Things First.”

“The Earth Charter: Global Ethic for Conflict Transformation”—Monday, Oct. 1, 7:30 p.m.; Robinson Theater. Lecture by Jan Roberts, president, Earth Charter USA. The lecture will be followed by a panel of respondents and a question-and-answer session.

The Way of Nonviolence: A celebration of Gandhi’s birthday—Tuesday, Oct. 2, 5:45 p.m.; Gandhi statue, courtyard between J.J. Daniel Hall (Building 1) and Founders Hall (Building 2) on the UNF campus. Dr. Ravindra Kumar lecture, 7:30 p.m.; Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Hall.

Peace Festival on the Green—Wednesday, Oct. 3, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Thursday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Campus Green. An extravaganza of music, poetry, visual arts, speeches, food, exhibits, dialogue circles and interactive events.

UNF Paints peace—Wednesday, Oct. 3, and Thursday, Oct. 4, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Oct. 3, and 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 4; Fine Arts Center lobby and exterior porch. Interactive workshops with artist Houng.

“Echo Boom”—Wednesday, Oct. 3, and Thursday, Oct. 4, 2:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, and 10 a.m. on Oct. 4; Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall. The Jacksonville premier of surreal and provocative theater by playwright and former Atlantic Beach resident Caitlin Parrish. The performance explores themes of violence and youth culture through the lens of Columbine, 9/11 and the contemporary political and religious landscape. Tickets: $12, general public; $3, students. Tickets can be ordered after Sept. 1, from the UNF Box Office at (904) 620-2878.

Symposium on Conflict Transformation Opening Session—Thursday, Oct. 4, 7:30 p.m.; Fine Arts Center, Lazzara Performance Hall. Keynote speaker will be the Hon. Douglas Roche discussing “The Rising Global Concscience.” Rosche is an author, parliamentarian and diplomat who has specialized in peace and human security issues.