The International Day of Peace is observed every year on September 21 and serves as a timely reminder of the need to strengthen the ideals of peace by observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease fire. Let’s hope that Ukraine and Russia take this day seriously and reflect on the resultant peace that will follow as a reminder to broker actual peace between themselves.
Actively Achieving True Peace
As the UN reminds us, achieving true peace goes beyond a call for cease fire between hostile nations. It means actively working towards an environment where people of all religions and races feel safe and work together for the betterment of the world and of communities. It means creating a world where everyone is treated fairly and equally. In the twenty-first century, when there has been so much stress on education and development, is that too much to ask for?
While there are certain agencies and corporations on Earth who benefit hugely and even profit from war, it is up to us, you and me, the common citizens to refuse the governments and other political invitations and motivations to go to war. This will only lead to further destruction and suffering for humankind as a whole. Every conflict can be sorted out between two parties without resorting to a senseless war. If two parties cannot come to a resolution together, a neutral third party can intervene and act as a mediator while listening to grievances from both sides impartially and seeking to resolve the conflict in a peaceful manner and in such a way that it benefits both parties.
But this is not an ideal world and as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres says:
“Racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life in every society. It continues to be a driver of persistent inequality. And it continues to deny people their fundamental human rights. It destabilizes societies, undermines democracies, erodes the legitimacy of governments, and… the linkages between racism and gender inequality are unmistakable.”
What Antonio Guterres says is so true. As people, we seem to be always living on the edge, getting worked up by rumors and media reports about clashes and differences between groups of people. Even during the recent pandemic, it was observed that certain races got preferential treatment while others were affected more adversely by the virus.
The Theme for the International Day of Peace for 2022
The theme for the International Day of Peace in 2022 is appropriately, End Racism. Build Peace. Let’s begin to honor this pledge today by treating those who work for us or under us as our equals. Begin in small ways: let them not stand while you talk to them. Offer them a seat and talk to them as equals.
Only when the world changes, one person at a time, will we make actual progress by being ready to embrace each other in the spirit of friendship and brotherhood.
And just as the United Nations headquarters will observe the traditional Peace Bell Ceremony in which the peace bell donated to the UN by the UN Association of Japan will be rung by the UN Secretary-General, let us too bring out our home temple bells and ring them at the same time in the same spirit as the UN.
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