The Importance of International Peace Day
Proposed by the president of Costa Rica in November of 1981, the International Day of Peace was unanimously passed by the United Nations General Assembly. The International Day of Peace is a day dedicated to the cessation of all hostilities around the world and for people to engage in activities that promote global peace. Originally, the International Peace Day was set to coincide with the opening of the UN General Assembly on the third Thursday of September. The first observance was in September, 1982. However, in 2004, the General Assembly again voted unanimously to set the permanent date for September 21st. It is on this day that the global population is asked to commit to a peace world and participate in activities devoted to that goal.
The International Day of Peace is marked at noon. The Secretary General of the United Nations rings the Peace Bell with members of the General Council in attendance. The bell is made from the coins donated from children around the world and is a gift from the United Nations Association of Japan in remembrance of the horrible toll of war. It is inscribed with the words, “Long live absolute world peace”. A moment of silence begins at noon and signals the hope for world peace. The symbol adopted for International Peace Day is a dove with an olive branch in its mouth and an overlay of the continents.
Millions of people around the world participate in celebrations of Peace Day by helping others, holding prayer vigils, parades and many other activities. School children may make and display windmills with peace messages, displaying their school’s Peace Pole and reciting poetry or stories of peace. Community members may engage in interfaith or cross cultural discussions or peace education. Others may meditate on peace. There is no one way to celebrate International Peace Day as long as it furthers the goals of world peace.
Each International Peace Day has a theme to frame activities. The theme for 2016 is “The Sustainable Development Goals: Building Blocks for Peace”. Member states of the United Nations have agreed to seventeen ambitious goals to be accomplished by 2030. The goals include eliminating global poverty, sharing dwindling resources, world hunger, environmental issues and others critical to ensure all people have the means to live without want and conflict. Eliminating poverty and strengthening educational opportunities is seen as the most crucial elements to reduce conflict.
International Peace Day has prompted millions over the years to reflect on the meaning of peace and how conflict affects the world’s people. It is a day to look beyond borders, religion, and race to connect with each other for a common goal.
Peace Action
- House Makes History With Vote to End U.S. Role in Yemen War February 13, 2019(Photo: Felton Davis) Washington, D.C. — February 13, 2018 — In response to the House of Representatives passing H.J.Res. 37, legislation directing the president to withdraw U.S. support for the Saudi/UAE-led war in Yemen, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: “Building on last year’s […]
- Korea Peace Network Responds to Letter Calling for Resumption of War Drills February 8, 2019In response to a January 29, 2019 letter sent to Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan by 13 House Armed Services Committee members calling for a resumption of military exercises with South Korea, Kevin Martin, President of Peace Action and Coordinator of the Korea Peace Network, sent the following letter of behalf of the Korea Peace […]
- INF Treaty Latest Victim of Trump’s Nuclear Petulance January 31, 2019Washington, D.C. — January 31, 2018 — Ahead of the Trump administration’s expected suspension of U.S. obligations under the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty and formal announcement of its intention to withdraw from the treaty, Jon Rainwater, Executive Director of Peace Action, released the following statement: “The INF Treaty put the kibosh on a class […]
- No-First-Use Bill Would Reduce the Risk of Nuclear War January 30, 2019Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2018 — In response to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-WA) and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) introducing legislation to establish a policy that the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons first, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director for Policy and Political Affairs at Peace Action, released the following statement: […]
- Legislation Re-Introduced to End U.S. Role in Yemen War January 30, 2019Washington, D.C. — January 30, 2019 — In response to Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Mike Lee (R-UT), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Reps. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Mark Pocan (D-WI) re-introducing bipartisan, privileged resolutions to force a vote on whether or not to end U.S. support for the war in Yemen, Paul Kawika Martin the Senior […]
- A Progressive Alternative to Trump’s Dangerous Venezuela Policy January 29, 2019This article was originally published on CommonDreams.org. The Trump administration’s recent moves on Venezuela have so many historical echoes it’s a veritable déjà vu layer cake. The appointment of Elliot Abrams as U.S. Special Envoy to Venezuela last week was the icing on the cake. Abrams is an unrepentant interventionist, notorious for being found guilty […]
- Congress Can and Should Restrict the First Use of Nuclear Weapons January 29, 2019Washington, D.C. — January 29, 2018 — In response to Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) and Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) re-introducing the Restricting First Use of Nuclear Weapons Act (H.R. 669 / S. 200), legislation to prevent the president from launching a nuclear first strike without a congressional declaration of war, Paul Kawika Martin, Senior Director […]