International Day of Peace

For another meaning of World Peace Day, see Institute of All Nations for Advanced Studies.
International Day of Peace
International Day of Peace
Peace dove (International Day of Peace 2006)
Observed by All UN Member States
Date September 21

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, occurs annually on September 21. It is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. It is observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples. The first year this holiday was celebrated was 1981.

To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as "a reminder of the human cost of war." The inscription on its side reads: "Long live absolute world peace."[1]

Contents

History

1981

The United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica,[2] the third Tuesday of September (the opening day of regular sessions of the General Assembly) as the International Day of Peace devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace.[3]

1982

Tuesday, September 21, 1982, was the first occurrence of the International Day of Peace.

2001

In 2001, the day was changed from the third Tuesday to specifically the twenty-first day of September. A new resolution was passed by the General Assembly,[2] sponsored by the United Kingdom (giving credit to Peace One Day) and Costa Rica (the sponsors of the original day) to give the Day of Peace a fixed date and declare it as a global ceasefire day.[4]

2005

In 2005, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called for the worldwide observance of a 24-hour cease-fire and day of nonviolence to mark the Day.[5]

2006

In 2006, then Secretary-General Kofi Annan rang the Peace Bell for the last time during his term in office. That year the UN asserted the "many ways it works for peace and to encourage individuals, groups and communities around the world to contemplate and communicate thoughts and activities on how to achieve peace. The United Kingdom held the primary public and official observation of the United Nations International Day of Peace and Non-Violence in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. This was organised by Peace Parade UK. [1]"[6]

2007

In 2007, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon rang the Peace Bell at United Nations Headquarters in New York calling for a 24-hour cessation of hostilities on 21 September, and for a minute of silence to be observed around the world.[7]

2008

There are thousands of Global Peace Day events each year. Events include Peace Day Comedy in 55 Comedy Clubs, Music concerts, Prayer Vigils, Jane Goodall's Giant Peace Dove flying in over 60 cities, school activities, UN CyberSchoolBus lessons, Pinwheels for Peace and in some cases the military putting down their weapons for the day! Search "Peace Day" for more information. Peace Day events are encouraged by the United Nations' Peace Outreach Program and are held on Peace Day September 21 (and also on the days leading up to Peace Day such as Sept 19th and Sept. 20th this year).

Note for the UK: There are hundreds of Peace Day Events in 2008 including the one listed below. For instance, Annie Lennox, Bryan Adams, John Legend are performing in Royal Albert Hall. Peace Day Comedy is in over 20 Comedy Clubs. Search "Peace Day" for more information.

2008 is also the 50th anniversary of the Peace Sign.

In 2008, The UK's third and only official and public observation of the United Nations International Day of Peace and Non-Violence will be held in Rochdale, UK. There will be an annual Peace Parade followed by several events including, a Truce International & FC UNity Football Tournament, a Peace Poem Competition, a Bake A Cake for Peace Competition and Conflict Resolution Workshops led by Foundation for Peace - the organisation founded by Colin Parry OBE (father of Tim parry who was killed in the Warrington IRA explosion in 1993). A Peace Tree will be planted and a Peace Flag raised over the Town Hall. The day's activities have cross-party support and involve a partnership of Truce International, FC Unity and Foundation for Peace led by Peace Parade UK with the support of Rochdale cultural services organisation Link4Life, and Rochdale & District Citizens Advice Bureau.

Recently an Early Day Motion was put forward in the House of Commons recognising the efforts of Peace Parade UK and called on the British Government to formally adopt September 21 as the U.N. International Day of Peace and Non-Violence.

2008 was the year PeaceInOurLiftime.org by Planting Seeds & the Kind Foundation was started, with the goal of 1 billion voices signing up for a peace certificate, creating a shift in global consciousness. A quote from their website: "This banner has been created so one billion people can actually be counted standing together for peace - to see if we can make a real difference in the real world. Why one billion? This figure is more than ten percent of the whole population - which quantum scientists say will create a shift in consciousness."

2009

As awareness expands ever more rapidly, hundreds of worldwide peace-oriented organizations continue to think globally and act locally.

In Honoka'a, a small former sugar cane plantation town on Hawaii's Big Island, the 3rd Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace took place September 20 at 12:00 noon HST, featuring eclectic island entertainers such as hula halau, cirque performers, bon dancers and belly dancers, Taiko and Native American drummers, ukulele, jazz, marimba and rock music. www.PeaceDayParade.org [2]

Working with international peace organizations such as Peace In Our LifeTime/Planting Seeds [3] and virtual reality site Second Life [4], the Festival was broadcast live via global streaming video on the internet to potential audience of 1.5 million viewers in the US, London, Amsterdam, South Africa, Brazil, Canada and elsewhere.

In Colorado, the 3rd Annual Parade & Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace also takes place September 20 at 12:00 noon MST. They will be flying Peace Doves to celebrate with over 100 other countries and The Jane Goodall Institute's Roots and Shoots Volunteer Groups.

In 2009, four Rotary World Peace Fellows created www.millionactsofpeace.com to challenge one million people from around the world to commit to doing one act of peace.

Over 60 Worldwide Comedy Clubs will participate in the 2009 "Stand-Up For International Peace" Peace Day Comedy in recognition of the United Nation's 21 September Peace Day. This event is designed to bring much needed awareness and media attention to Peace Day.

Sackville Secondary School of East Grinstead made lots of Peace Cranes that day and are stil continuing to make them,. They also made a heart out of students on the playground

2010

On Hawaii's Big Island, the multi-cultural 4th Annual Parade and Festival for the United Nations International Day of Peace takes place Sunday September 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Honoka'a Town on the eastern Hamakua Coast. This unique Peace Day event, called a "moving stage," presents traditional marching bands, Bon dancers, Taiko drum groups and hula halau (troupes), along with African marimba, 'ukulele orchestra, jazz bands, rock & roll, cirque performers, stilt-walkers, modern dancers, tumblers and more. The community festival afterward will be linked via live webcast to international Peace Day celebrations in the U.K. and elsewhere around the globe. www.PeaceDayParade.org [5]

Stamp controversy

A diplomatic stir occurred in 2004 when Lions Clubs International sponsored a contest to select a set of posters to be used for commemorative stamps issued by the United Nations of America. A poster by 13 year-old Taiwanese junior high school student Yang Chih-yuan was announced as one of the winners. However, it was later announced Yang's poster would not be used. Taiwan media reports, Taiwan Lions Club and the government of Taiwan claimed the decision not to use the poster resulted from pressure from China.[8] The government of Taiwan (Republic of China) later issued a stamp containing the image.[9] Critics claimed that the rejection of the student's painting on purely political grounds did not reflect the ideals of the International Day of Peace,[10] while the UN issued a statement that "due to an internal misunderstanding and miscommunication, Mr. Yang's proof got publicized in error as one of the six stamps intended to be issued."[8]

Catholic Church

Since 1968, the Roman Catholic Church has been observing a World Day of Peace on January the first of every year.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Secretary-General's Message on the International Day of Peace 21 September 2002". http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2002/sg210902.htm. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 United Nations General Assembly Resolution 282 session 55 International Day of Peace on 7 September 2001
  3. ↑ United Nations General Assembly Resolution 67 session 36 International Year of Peace and International Day of Peace page 1 on 30 November 1981
  4. ↑ United Nations General Assembly Verbotim Report meeting 111 session 55 page 2, Sir Jeremy Greenstock United Kingdom on 7 September 2001 (retrieved 2008-08-23)
  5. ↑ "International Day of Peace 2005". http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2005/. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  6. ↑ "International Day of Peace 2006". http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2006/. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  7. ↑ "International Day of Peace 2007". http://www.un.org/events/peaceday/2007/. Retrieved 2008-01-06. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 Taipei Times Row erupts over local boy's stamp design
  9. ↑ Office of the President, Republic of China News Release: President Chen Receives the Painter of International Day of Peace Stamp Yang Chih-yuan
  10. ↑ Taipei Times Chunghwa Post announces intent to use student art

External links