On the Path of Peace – 1

| 25 June, 2021

Edson Lodi*

Among the events scheduled to mark the 60^th anniversary of the Beneficent Spiritist Center União do Vegetal this upcoming July 22^nd, is the broadcast of the web series No Caminho da Paz (On the Path of Peace), by the UDV Blog channel. It includes of series of interviews with civil and religious authorities as well as friends of the União do Vegetal, who pay homage and recognition to the work carried out by our institution in the name of peace and reconciliation.

The words of Mestre Gabriel, when he affirms that he created the União do Vegetal “to make Peace in the world”, were fundamental in this theme that was presented to our guests. And the series resulting from this initiative will certainly have documented relevant importance, enhancing a process that, even though still ongoing, has already presented significant victories.

Another saying by Mestre Gabriel – “we must captivate the authorities” – is imbued in all the praise people give to the institution he recreated. And when listening to the kind words spoken by so many friends, it will be worth nothing that the principles of the União do Vegetal — rooted in the highest moral, ethical and spiritual values of our Christian civilization — have been critical in captivating so many Brazilian and international authorities over the course of six decades.

We have the honor of beginning this work with an interview with Dr. Paulina Duarte, who worked as the National Secretary at the National Secretariat for Drug Policy (Senad) from 2006 to 2013. She had an important and decisive role in the formation and monitoring of the Multidisciplinary Working Group – GMT/Ayahuasca, whose activities culminated with the Resolution of the National Council on Drug Policy – Conad No. 1, on January 25^th, 2010.

*Mestre Edson Lodi is a member of the Council of General Administration of the Beneficent Spiritist Center União do Vegetal