Film: A Bold Peace

An Award-Winning Film About Costa Rica

On the International Day of Peace, please join us for music and reflections on this year's theme: Cultivating a Culture of Peace. It has been 25 years since the United Nations released its Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. This year, we reflect on the work that remains to be done.

For inspiration, we will be screening the film A Bold Peace, an award-winning documentary film about how Costa Rica abolished its military over 75 years ago and devoted its resources instead to building a culture of peace.

There will be music before the film, a discussion afterward about what it means to build cultures of peace, and free popcorn! 

About the Documentary

From aboldpeace.com

Over 70 years ago, Costa Rica became one of the only nations in the world to disband their military and to redirect national resources towards education, health, and the environment. Since then, Costa Rica has earned the number one spot in the Happy Planet Index, a ranking of countries based on measures of environmental protection and the happiness and health of its citizens. And the World Database of Happiness, with data on 149 nations compiled by a Dutch sociologist, lists Costa Rica as number one in self-reported happiness and number one in happy life years.

A Bold Peace juxtaposes the national policy of demilitarization (since 1948-49) with their investment in education, health, and the environment. Pointed parallels and contrasts are made with recent U.S. debates over the national debt, healthcare, the environment and the escalating cost of U.S. militarism. The film features former presidents, Costa Rican government officials, as well as scholars, journalists and citizens of Costa Rica.

This event was organized with the Union of Spiritual Communities of Christ, the Boundary Peace Initiative and the Kootenay Region United Nations Association (KRUNA).