Let’s talk about peace

[dropcap size=small]T[/dropcap]oday (i.e. September 21), various governments, institutions, organisations and people across all countries will mark the International Day of Peace. In our world ravaged by war and enmeshed by conflict, at least devoting a day to promote and project such ideas and ideals bordering on peace is undoubtedly a right stone cast in the right direction.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1982 by Resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly, sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica. It was first observed on September 21, 1982 and since then every third Tuesday of September was annually commemorated as the International Peace Day.

In 2001, the General Assembly adopted Resolution 55/282 which declared September 21 as an annual day for peace. According to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Ban Ki-moon,  “the United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.”

The Day is inaugurated each year at the United Nations headquarters in New York with the ringing of the Peace Bell. The Peace Bell is made from coins donated from children from all continents except Africa (imagine) and the inscription on its sides reads, “Long live absolute world peace”. The bell is rung as “a reminder of the human cost of war.”