In Focus

International Day of Peace falls on September 21:

Let's usher in world peace

Peace.... the very word evokes a feeling of peace and tranquility in our minds because today peace has finally dawned in our motherland after nearly three decades of war due to the ethnic conflict. No more bombs or deaths at the hands of the LTTE.Is the dove of peace here to stay forever? Let's certainly hope so as we prepare, along with the rest of the world, to celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21.

This year's Peace Day Theme is 'Peace, Youth and Development' under the slogan 'Peace = Future'.

The International Day of Peace ("Peace Day") provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. It was established by a United Nations resolution in 1981 to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly.

The International Day of Peace, also known as the World Peace Day, is dedicated to peace, or specifically the absence of war, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone. The first time this day was celebrated was in 1981. The United Nations General Assembly declared was in a resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom and Costa Rica, the third Tuesday of September (the opening day of regular sessions of the General Assembly) as the International Day of Peace devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace.In 2001, the day was changed from the third Tuesday to specifically the twenty-first day of September.

A new resolution was passed by the General Assembly, sponsored by the United Kingdom (giving credit to Peace One Day) and Costa Rica (the sponsors of the original day) to give the Day of Peace a fixed date and declare it as a global ceasefire day.

To inaugurate the day, the "Peace Bell" is rung at UN Headquarters. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents. It was given as a gift by the Diet of Japan, and is referred to as "a reminder of the human cost of war." The inscription on its side reads: "Long live absolute world peace."

Child Peace Activist

Axil Kollist has been a peace activist from the age of six and has become a world sensation with his song 'World peace before 2021'. Here is what he has to say to the world ...

"Hello. My name is Axil Kollist. I'm a New Millennium Child because I was born in the year 2000. I was born on March 4 and my mom says I do 'MARCH FORTH' for World Peace. It is an honour to have been born at the beginning of the United Nations' International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World.' I think I will be able to change the course of history with a very simple plan. It's a GOAL for World Peace Before 2021!

'My community' is the whole Earth and the Earth is in trouble. I know that I have a very comfortable life AND freedom here in America. I also know that there are millions of people who don't. It really upsets me to think about this. My mom showed me pictures of grownups and children suffering and it breaks my heart. It especially hurts me to think about orphans who, besides not having enough food, water, clothing, bedding, medicine, school, or toys, have NO PARENTS. I try to help by sending packages and money to an orphanage in Kenya, but I'm just one little kid. There are so many other needy people.

So my mom and I came up with a plan. We decided to work for World Peace Before 2021. My mom wrote a cool song called' World Peace Before 2021' and she taught me how to sing it. I sing my song every chance I get. We designed World Peace Before 2021 bumperstickers and I started to give them away at my 'World Peace Stand.' Then I started to give them away from my webpage www.worldpeacebefore2021.com which my mom helped me start.

Because of my work towards world peace, I was given the 'Little Humanitarian of the Year 2007 Award.' (www.littlephilsophers.com) This honour brought many new invitations for me to sing my song 'World Peace Before 2021.'