Today is Global Peace
Day and had I not been on Twitter yesterday I would never have known. The following is PeaceOne Day’s official aim for the day:
For Peace Day 2012, Peace One Day is calling for and working towards a Global Truce - a day of ceasefire and non-violence observed by all sectors of society globally ... POD hopes this will be the largest reduction in global violence in recorded history, both domestically and internationally.Peace One Day was the idea of the film-maker, Jeremy Gilley, and in 2001 the United Nations announced that an official day of global ceasefire and non-violence would be held annually on 21 September.
You only have to visit their website to see that they're doing a lot of good in troubled areas but I'm afraid that it won't bring us lasting world
peace... wouldn’t it be amazing if it could! I suspect that aggression is
hardwired into our behaviour long before we’re old enough to make decisions
about war. You only have to watch a group of kids playing in the playground to
appreciate how close we all are to arguments and fighting. As an ex-primary
school teacher I know how true this is.
I couldn’t possibly say how many times I’ve made young children
face each other after a fight and say,
"Sorry!"
The words tumble from their mouths but there’s no meaning in them.
"Sorry!"
The words tumble from their mouths but there’s no meaning in them.
This is a time of year when the Jewish High Holy Days are
approaching. It’s traditional to think back over the past year. Maybe you've wronged someone. Maybe you've said something hurtful to a family member or friend. Well now
is the time to tell them you’re sorry... with words that don’t just tumble from
your mouth!
If we could all do that all the time, then maybe there would be no war and
no need for a Peace One Day movement. In the meantime I salute Jeremy Gilley
and his work. Let’s hope that it can help towards making a difference.
Only 10 days until our virtual
Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning.
From Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October.
Come to this blog for cakes, drinks, fun and lots of awards to be won.
Don't forget, we’ll be asking for donations to Macmillan Cancer Support at JustGiving.
[This event has been registered with the Macmillan Cancer Support Charity
and every penny of your donation goes to the Macmillan charity. Thank you.]
What a lovely sentiment. Thanks for sharing, Rosalind!
ReplyDeleteLovely post. I believe that small things make a big difference, as long as we keep trying...
ReplyDeleteOh, I had no idea it was World Peace Day, either. Thanks for letting me know!
ReplyDeleteWorld peace is impossible on a religious planet. There's just no tolerance between beliefs when you have millions of people involved and someone (whether it be twenty radicals in a religious nation of almost a billion people) will always turn to violence and killing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post. I hadn't heard it was World Peace Day. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteHad I not come to your site today I would not have known. This the news won't cover but they can hardly wait to embellish some tale of violence. Like you, I hope it won't always be so.
ReplyDeleteYou're right -- we are hardwired that way. But you're also right that peace starts in our own hearts and lives. We have to start somewhere!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Rosalind!
Amy
Great reminders. Tshuvah is such a beautiful practice. I hope you're gearing up for a wonderful High Holiday time. As usual, it came around too quickly. Didn't it?
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
Lovely post. I have to believe that peace will only come when Jesus defeats satan and then the world will finally be at rest. I know there are folks that disagree with my Christianity, but it is how I feel. I could never deny Jesus. Peace will come. We just don't know when.
ReplyDeleteI loved reading, Rosalind. :-)
Hi Brooke and thanks
ReplyDeleteHi Misha, I think that small things can make a difference to our individual lives but not so for the world issues. I feel so helpless when faced with those.
Hi Talli, isn’t it a shame that the BBC and other TV channels choose not to publicise such a worthwhile event.
Hi Michael, that’s the most painful part of all this mess that we’re in. Religion should be about good and yet it creates such depths of emotion that, as you say, there are some who resort to violence. How can we ever reach them?
Hi Shirley and thanks.
Hi Bridget, maybe we should bombard the BBC with information about World Peace Day next year and then they’ll have to mention it... won’t they?
Hi Amy, that’s a wise observation. Thank you.
Hi Robyn R., shona tovah to you and, yes, it does come round quickly!
Hi Robyn C. and thanks. I wish there didn’t have to be evil in the world and I pray that it will be replaced with peace. I just don’t expect it to be in my lifetime.
Thanks for telling us about World Peace Day! I'd sure like to see at least one day where there isn't any violence or war.
ReplyDeletenutschell
www.thewritingnut.com
Great points, Rosalind, and thanks for posting about this.
ReplyDeleteI fear conflict is the flip side of our social side, the one that gives us a sense of community and belonging. Peace and nature might just be mutually exclusive. Still, that doesn't mean it's not worthy of thought, attention and action.