International Day of Peace 2011

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Commemorations of the United Nations International Day of Peace, September 21, 2011 in 62 nations organized by Universal Peace Federation chapters. This year’s theme is “Peace and Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard,” indicating that the voices and practices of peace must not be silent or passive. We know that in too many places around the world, the voices of peace are restricted or silenced. Digital communications technologies, however, are making it increasingly difficult to suppress free expression. At the same time, we know that technologies alone cannot bring about lasting peace. Peace has its foundation in the quality of human character and human relationships. And it has been our shared moral and spiritual traditions that, throughout millennia, have taught us of our common origins, purpose and destiny. Therefore, as we celebrate the International Day of Peace, let us keep in mind that peace will emerge on the foundation of a moral and spiritual awakening. In this way, when we raise our voices to be heard, we will not have a cacophony of discord, but a symphony of harmony and good will that uplifts, encourages, respects and inspires us to act in service to others. Lasting peace and the growth in solidarity among the whole human family comes from the recognition that we are all brothers and sisters. We are one family under God. Let us also keep in mind that the basic building block of society, culture and moral character is the family. The family serves as the primary school of ethics. The family is the school where we learn to love, respect and serve others. By strengthening marriage and family, we can educate our children to respect all people, thereby establishing a culture of peace. Religion has profound relevance and significance in the effort to achieve peace and development. At the same time, we recognize that all too often religious voices have sown seeds of fear, bigotry, and narrow sectarianism, contrary to the core spirit and teachings of the founders of the great spiritual traditions. For this reason, religion has often been a voice of conflict and division. Laws alone cannot bring about political, economic and social reforms but must be undergirded by substantial educational programs aimed at promoting character education, conflict resolution, and a culture of peace. Men and women who are taught to fulfill their moral obligations and responsibilities toward others will respect and live for the greater good and fulfillment of others.

Transcript of International Day of Peace 2011

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 2011

UN International Day of Peace

One Day a Year … September 21st – millions of people around the world gather together under the banner of the United Nations International Day of Peace. This

year’s theme, inspired by the Arab Spring, was “Make Your Voice Heard.”

UPF Programs in 70 nations …• Afghanistan• Albania• Argentina • Australia• Austria• Barbados• Belarus• Benin• Brazil• Burkina Faso• Cambodia• Cameroon• Canada• C.A.R.• Colombia• Congo• Dominican

Rep.

• Ecuador• Estonia• Finland• France• Gabon• Georgia• Germany • Ghana • Guyana• Honduras• India• Indonesia• Ireland• Israel• Italy• Japan• Kenya

• Latvia• Liberia• Marshall

Islands• Mauritius• Mexico• Moldova• Nepal• Netherlands• New Zealand• Nicaragua• Nigeria• Norway• Paraguay• Peru • Russia• Rwanda• Scotland

• Senegal• Seychelles• Sierra Leone• Slovakia• Slovenia• Solomon

Islands• Spain• Sri Lanka• Switzerland• Taiwan • Thailand• Togo• United

Kingdom• United States• Uruguay• Venezuela

KABUL: Traditional Afghan songs of peace comfort people’s hearts.

UPF AFGHANISTAN

UPF ALBANIA

TIRANA AND SHKODRA: Donating school supplies for Roma orphans

UPF ARGENTINA

BUENOS AIRES: Participants in an interreligious “water of life” ceremony

UPF AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE: Sharing personal experiences in peacebuilding

UPF AUSTRIA

VIENNA: Speakers at an interreligious service

UPF BARBADOS

BRIDGETOWN: Planting trees at the A. Da Costa Edwards Primary School

VITEBSK: Conference speakers at the Regional Institute for the Development of Education address the history of burned villages.

UPF BELARUS

PORTO NOVO: A representative of the mayor of Porto Novo donates school supplies to an orphan.

UPF BENIN

SAO PAULO: Religious leaders join in ceremonies at a Peace Monument.

UPF BRAZIL

UPF BURKINA FASO

NANGREONGO: A festival of healing, unity and solidarity

Youth visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and pray for peace.

UPF CAMBODIA

YAOUNDE AND BUEA: Forums on Democracy and Peace

UPF CAMEROON

UPF CANADA

MONTREAL: Discussing religious teachings about the oneness of the human family.

UPF CENTRAL AFRICAN REP.

BANGUI: Holding peace conferences for adults and youth

UPF COLOMBIA

BOGOTA: An interreligious celebration of the Hebrew New Year

BRAZZAVILLE: New Ambassadors for Peace at a celebration in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation

UPF CONGO

BARAHONA: Organizers and honorees at a program at the Regional University Center in Barahona

UPF DOMINICAN REP.

QUITO: Speakers include a judge and a representative of UN Volunteers.

UPF ECUADOR

UPF FINLAND

HELSINKI: A gathering to share personal visions of peace

PARIS: Panelists speak about positive aspects of multiculturalism.

UPF FRANCE

TBILISI: Georgians, Armenians, Azerbaijanis, and Russians release doves.

UPF GEORGIA

STUTTGART: Serving refreshments after an interreligious forum

UPF GERMANY

ACCRA: Religious leaders open the program with prayers for peace.

UPF GHANA

GEORGETOWN: Prime Minister Samuel Hinds gives the keynote address.

UPF GUYANA

NEW DELHI: Students from four universities compete in a two-day “Play Football Make Peace” tournament.

UPF INDIA

JAKARTA: A conference at the State Islamic University

UPF INDONESIA

DUBLIN: A multi-cultural celebration at the Lantern Centre

UPF IRELAND

JERUSALEM: Participants in a Jewish-Christian dialogue at the Church of the Dormition

UPF ISRAEL

UPF ITALY

MONZA: An interreligious prayer vigil

UPF JAPAN

TOKYO: The Afghan Ambassador to Japan describes his hopes for peace.

NAIROBI: Planting “Peace Trees” to demonstrate a commitment to peace

UPF KENYA

UPF LATVIA

RIGA: Learning meditation techniques that promote inner peace.

MARSHALL ISLANDS: Meditating for peace; former President Kessai Note

UPF MARSHALL ISLANDS

QUATRE-BORNES: Foster children put on a program for their foster parents, tutors, and benefactors.

UPF MAURITIUS

MEXICO CITY: More than 300 school children, teachers and university professors gather on the campus of the Universidad Panamericana

UPF MEXICO

UPF MOLDOVA

CHISINAU: Presentation at the College of Construction

UPF NEPAL

KATHMANDU: Interreligious prayers for peace

UPF NETHERLANDS

THE HAGUE: Representatives of five religions and four NGOs at the event

UPF NEW ZEALAND

AUCKLAND: Transcending barriers through a Bridge of Peace Ceremony

MANAGUA: Entertainment includes a traditional dance.

UPF NICARAGUA

UPF NIGERIA

JOS: Apologizing for violence done in the name of religion

OSLO: A forum at the Central Mosque on ways to counter terrorism

UPF NORWAY

ASUNCION: A toast to peace at a conference on good governance

UPF PARAGUAY

UPF PERU

LIMA: New Ambassadors for Peace from the Peruvian Congress together with the UN representative Sra. Rebeca Arias and co-sponsors

UPF PERU

MOSCOW: Laying a wreath at a Monument to the Victory over Fascism

UPF RUSSIA

KIGALI: Planting a Peace Pole in a school yard sparks new hope for peace.

UPF RWANDA

PERTH: New Ambassadors for Peace; a traditional Scottish welcome

UPF SCOTLAND

UPF SEYCHELLES

VICTORIA: A program at the National Theater

FREETOWN: Volunteers cleaning up around the Connaught Hospital.

UPF SIERRA LEONE

NITRA: Exhibiting children’s drawings about peace at a shopping center

UPF SLOVAKIA

LJUBLJANA-ŠKOFLJICA: A candlelight ceremony for peace

UPF SLOVENIA

HONIARA: Vura Community High School welcomes peace educators.

UPF SOLOMON ISLANDS

BARCELONA: A forum on “Libya: Present and Future” stirs much interest.

UPF SPAIN

UPF SWITZERLAND

GENEVA: A symposium on multiculturalism at the UN offices included a session of the Model UN Interreligious Council.

TAIPEI: Diplomats and political scientists discuss the proposal for an interreligious council at the UN.

UPF TAIWAN

BANGKOK: An interfaith water ceremony at the launch of the National Interreligious Peace Council.

UPF THAILAND

LOME: A conference on leadership and good governance

UPF TOGO

UPF UNITED KINGDOM

LONDON: Forums on peace initiatives in various parts of the world

MONTEVIDEO: Participants in an Interreligious Peace Summit

UPF URUGUAY

CARACAS: People of all ages join in a Walk for Peace.

UPF VENEZUELA

Washington DC, USA: Ambassadors to the United States, NGO leaders, and others study the UPF Peace Principles.

UPF & The WashingtonTimes Foundation

For details see http://www.upf.org/united-nations/peace-day