International Day of Peace 2011
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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
