Peace Dates

There are two January 1 events - One Day In Peace and Global Family Day. A global campaign for One Day In Peace on January 1, 2000 helped inspire a UN Resolution and a joint United States Congressional Resolution, inviting January 1 to be celebrated every year as a day of peace and sharing. If we can live for one day in peace, then we can work together to make peace last, one day at a time.

The day has also come to be known as Global Family Day - a day for peace and sharing. Communities around the world come together for a shared meal on January 1 and talk about how they can help to create a better world. What can you do to help create humanity's first day of peace, ever?

Freedom is the most basic of all human rights, and yet throughout history many individuals and nations have had to struggle to be free. For this reason, the first ten Amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the American Constitution to guarantee basic freedoms for our new nation's citizens.

The Bill of Rights was a tremendous milestone in the pursuit of freedom for all, and yet when our nation was founded, not all Americans were allowed to be free. Slavery is the ultimate loss of freedom, and it was nearly another 100 years before Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment abolishing slavery. National Freedom Day commemorates this momentous occasion on February 1, 1865.

The first article of the United Nations' Universal Declaration of Human Rights states the most important starting point for all human rights - "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights." Much progress has been made in helping to win freedom for all, throughout the world. But even though international law forbids slavery, it still exists in many parts of the world, where women and young girls and boys are trafficked as prostitutes. And even though all nations agreed to uphold basic human rights for their citizens, many people are not allowed these basic liberties. Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate the victories for freedom that have been won and to re-dedicate our commitment to work for freedom for all.

World Freedom Day is observed on November 9 to commemorate the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, freeing the people of East Berlin and uniting the German nation. July 4 is celebrated as Independence Day commemorating when the American colonies won their freedom from Great Britain. Most nations were under the rule of another nation at some time in their history, so it isn't surprising that most nations also celebrate the anniversary of the date when they won their freedom. (from http://www.betterworldcalendar.com/freedomday.htm#heropix )

PEACE DAY also known as "Peace One Day"
September 21
Help create humanity's first day of peace
on the United Nations International Day of Peace.

"Peace is a paramount mission of the United Nations. It is the basis of our existence; the essence of our identity; the course that animates everything we do. 21st September, the International Day of Peace, is the day on which we reaffirm our commitment to this quest. It is an opportunity to consider how to strengthen our system of collective security. And it is meant to be a day of global ceasefire.

I call on all countries and all people to stop all hostilities for the entire day. I urge all people around the world to observe a minute of silence at Noon.

24 hours is not long enough, but it is time enough for combatants and political leaders to consider the destruction they are visiting on their people and on their lands. It is long enough to look over the barricades and through the barbed wire to see if there is another path.

On this International Day of Peace, let us all honor those who have suffered from violence. Let us hold in our hearts the ideal of peace."

~ Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations

World Spirituality Day
December 31
This annual event is an omni-denominational
celebration of one’s own most profound and transformational personal spiritual
experiences. Such experiences lie at the
core of all great religions. This day can be
observed anywhere by oneself or with others.

DAYS DEDICATED TO PEACE

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