Poetry, peace circles and petitions out by Shihmen Reservoir

Tibetan freedom may be the weekend's cause celebre but at least one group of Taipei denizens is more concerned with peace in the Middle East. Taipei Peace People have been tireless in their campaign to raise the local collective conscience and have organized their biggest event yet: the Hoping for Hoping Music Festival (渴望和平音樂會) tomorrow at Kunlun Herb Garden (崑崙葯用植物園) in Lungtan, Taoyuan County.

The day will start at 4pm with activities for kids and families, such as face painting, T-shirt designing, water games and a kids' drum circle. The bands starts at 6pm, with no fewer than a dozen acts, including Biung, Kembo, the Mooks, The Smoking Cones, Flyingfish Cloudleopard, Milk and more.

The organizers are asking that everyone who comes for the early activities stay until 6pm and that everyone coming for the music arrive by 5pm for a sunset peace circle in the park. A "family photo" will be taken and placed on Taipei Peace People's Web site.

Other events taking place during the day and into the evening will be a reading of the Greek comedy Lysistrata, poetry readings and monologues.

But one of the main features for day-trippers will be the verdant venue itself, a lush green valley adjacent to the Shihmen Reservoir.

Music, fun and nature aside, Taipei Peace People have organized the event for a purpose: to tell the world of their desire for peace. "It'll be fun," said Lynn Miles, one of the organizers who recently burned his US passport outside the American Institute in Taiwan. "But the important thing is that we provide this collective opportunity for people to voice their desire for peace."

To that end, Miles has drafted the Kunlun Declaration, demanding that the world's governments "return to sanity, or else give up all pretense of representing the people.

While visiting Kunlun is literally a walk in the park, getting there can be more of a hassle. Shuttle buses to the park will run from the Lungtan interchange of the Second North-South Highway approximately every half--hour during peak times. For full details on the best ways to get to Kunlun, visit http://www.taipeipeacepeople.com/getting2kunlun.html.

If you wish to stay the night in the park, cabin accommodations are available for NT$1,500. Alternatively, plenty of space is available for camping.

If you'd like to volunteer to help out with facilitating the event, call Sean at 0953956631.