All the residents of the Midcoast area, you, your friends and visitors from far and near are invited to visit and participate in this year’s Peace Fair on Saturday, Aug. 6. The fair will be held on the Brunswick mall — come rain or shine — between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m.

If you haven’t joined us over the past twelve years you may have a few questions, such as: What is a Peace Fair? Why a Peace Fair? What does a Peace Fair have to do with me?

What is a Peace Fair? Greater Brunswick’s Peace Fair is a gathering of non-profit community organizations that ask young and old to explore and consider how we might live in peace and with justice, and how our individual choices impact all of us, especially our children. Visitors are invited to participate in activities that focus on cooperation rather than competition and are asked to consider the obstacles that stand in our way, adding their ideas and imagination on how to build a peaceful and compassionate culture. We seek a culture in which the children here and across the world can thrive. In addition, the Peace Fair offers games, poetry writing, impromptu performances by children as well as music and singing by local musicians.

And yes, there will be refreshments.

Why a Peace Fair? As I attempt to answer this question I’m going to start by asking you what does the word and concept of peace — being calm, safe and tranquil — mean to you? Does calm and tranquility, a sense of safety and peace that you nurture at home extend beyond home and family to the larger community of state, nation and world? Can it? Does it? I believe that a person’s wish for and action on behalf of peaceful living surely starts at home. But does it have to stop within our own four walls? Isn’t the whole world our home?

With your participation the Peace Fair will raise and address these questions, with a special emphasis on: how to assure our children a world safe from war and violence; a world in which all are fed; where our environment is protected; where health care is granted; where education on all levels supports free and open discussion; where compassion and caring for the “other,” the stranger, is at the center our lives? You are invited to contribute your ideas in our search for solutions.

What does a Peace Fair have to do with me? Perhaps you are envisioning a collection of “peaceniks” and “do-gooders” at the fair. Perhaps those descriptions don’t resonate within you? Does the word peace conjure up visions that suggest “anti-war” marchers? Are you concerned that peace is not patriotic? All of these concerns have been raised, along with the all too often expressed statement: “there’s nothing I can do about it anyway.” Please hear me out as I beg to differ.

First of all, let’s consider that Peaceniks, do-gooders, anti-war marchers and whatever else political activists are called, are individuals, persons from all different backgrounds who most likely care about freedom, about peace and justice as much as you do. They choose not to be part of the “silent majority” but believe their voices and actions can and do make a difference. With that in mind, can we recognize that our common goal to keep our families safe has to be combined with actions that embrace the larger community, keeping the safety of all the world’s families in our policies and decision making?

I’m reminded of the famous opening words in a poem by John Donne, composed in 1624: “No man is an island, entire of itself …” I believe these words continue to address us. They remind us that we are bound to each other despite our praise of individualism.

The Peace Fair invites all fair goers to recognize and strengthen our universal connections, our common bond with humanity and nature, our common support of wellness and compassion.

You are invited to join in the promise of a day dedicated to searching for and committing to peaceful solutions.

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Christine A. DeTroy, a member of PeaceWorks, lives in Brunswick.