World Peace Day

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The International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day, is a celebration of our shared wish for a better world.
International Day of Peace PEACE DOVE (International Day of Peace 2006) Date : September 21 Location : all UN Member States First occurrence September 21, 1981

The International Day of Peace 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 a observed by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples.

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."

History
1981 The United Nations General Assembly declared, in a resolution sponsored by Costa Rica, 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.

2001

A new resolution was passed by the General Assembly, 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.

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.

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 NonViolence in Rochdale, Greater Manchester. This was organised by Peace Parade UK.

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.

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. 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

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly. The first Peace Day was celebrated in September 1982.

In 2002 the General Assembly officially declared September 21 as the permanent date for the International Day of Peace.

By creating the International Day of Peace, the UN devoted itself to worldwide peace and encouraged all of mankind to work in cooperation for this goal. During the discussion of the U.N. Resolution that established the International Day of Peace, it was suggested that:

Peace Day should be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoplesThis day will serve as a reminder to all peoples that our organization, with all its limitations, is a living instrument in the service of peace and should serve all of us here within the organization as a constantly pealing bell reminding us that our permanent commitment, above all interests or differences of any kind, is to peace."
Since its inception, Peace Day has marked our personal and planetary progress toward peace. It has grown to include millions of people in all parts of the world, and each year events are organized to commemorate and celebrate this day. Events range in scale from private gatherings to public concerts and forums where hundreds of thousands of people participate.

Anyone, anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle at noon, or just sitting in silent meditation. Or it can involve getting your co-workers, organization, community or government engaged in a large event. The impact if millions of people in all parts of the world, coming together for one day of peace, is immense. International Day of Peace is also a Day of Ceasefire personal or political. Take this opportunity to make peace in your own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time. Imagine what a whole Day of Ceasefire would mean to humankind.

The International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day, is a celebration of our shared wish for a better world. It is an opportunity to look at the things that have been done over the year to help create a more peaceful, just and sustainable world, and to note the things that still need to be done. It's a time to rededicate our commitment to a more peaceful planet.

Peace Day is also an opportunity to spread hope for our wish to live in a world without war. All of the nations of the world agreed to the United Nations' call to create a global ceasefire on Peace Day. You can help create humanity's first day of peace. If we can live in peace for one day, we can learn to work together to create a peaceful world, one day at a time.

Keep the world in safe hands !