UN Secretary-General’s Message for the International Day of Peace
September 17th, 2007
The International Day of Peace is on Friday, Sept 21. Thank you to all CCs who are planing to observe the day. I am including a copy of the statement from the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, for the International Day of Peace. You may use his statement as a reading at an event you are doing and to publicize the day in your area.
Please join us in a Minute of Silence at 12 noon your time to be part of the wave of prayer embracing the Earth to call for peace, justice and ceasefires. Your prayers are especially needed this year as the Secretary-General will be holding high level talks for peace in Iraq, Afghanistan, Israel-Palestine, and Darfur over the International Day of Peace weekend.
I encourage all of us to keep in mind the quote of Native American Elder, Grandfather Harry Bird. ed. His quote is a guiding force for the Prayer Vigil for the Earth and an inspiration for the IDP. "A heartfelt prayer is more powerful than an atom bomb." May our prayers assist the high level talks for peace and show the impact of people praying together around the world for peace on the International Day of Peace and throughout the following weekend.
The URI as an organization has used the IDP as a shared time to promote prayers, meditations and actions for peace around the world. May we all be linked together this week in this shared intention.
May Peace Prevail on Earth.
Love, Monica Willard
URI NGO Representative to the United Nations
| UNITED NATIONS | NATIONS UNIES |
THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
MESSAGE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
New York, 21 September 2007
Dear friends,
Peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs. It is also the UN’s highest calling.
It defines our mission. It drives our discourse. And it draws together all of our world wide work, from peacekeeping and preventive diplomacy to promoting human rights and development.
This work for peace is vital. But it is not easy. Indeed, in countless communities across the world, peace remains an elusive goal. From the displaced person camps of Chad and Darfur to the byways of Baghdad, the quest for peace is strewn with setbacks and suffering.
September 21, the International Day of Peace, is an occasion to take stock of our efforts to promote peace and well-being for all people everywhere.
It is an opportunity to appreciate what we have already accomplished, and to dedicate ourselves to all that remains to be done.
It is also meant to be a day of global cease-fire: a twenty-four hour respite from the fear and insecurity that plague so many places.
Today, I urge all countries and all combatants to honour this cessation of hostilities. And I ask people everywhere to observe a minute of silence at 12 noon local time.
As the guns fall silent, we should use this opportunity to ponder the price we all pay due to conflict. And we should resolve to vigorously pursue ways to make permanent this day’s pause.
On this International Day, let us promise to make peace not just a priority, but a passion. Let us pledge to do more, wherever we are in whatever way we can, to make every day a day of peace.
Thank you.
Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary-General