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Did you know that today, September 21, is the International Day of Peace? Michael Kwan, WiserEarth editor and outreach for Culture of Peace Initiative, has more on this important event and what you can do!

Guest post by Michael Kwan

The International Day of Peace is today!

Peace Day marks our personal and planetary progress towards building a culture of Peace, year-round. All over the world, people are marking the day by helping to build community through Peace festivals and education, concerts, city proclamations and school assemblies.

Peace Day is saving lives. Since 2007, Peace Day has been a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, and has taken place on September 21. Due to the work of relief agencies and organizations such as WHO, UNICEF and UNAMA, millions of children in conflict areas such as Afghanistan have been immunized from polio, while many more in areas such as Darfur have received life-saving aid!

Each year, the United Nations announces its theme for the day. This year, the theme is “Peace for Youth and Development”. During the Peace Day ceremony at the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said,

“You are concerned that we, your elders, have not made greater headway against these threats,” he added, noting that world leaders will gather for a summit on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), a series of targets aiming to slash extreme hunger and poverty, maternal and infant mortality, disease and lack of access to education and health services, all by 2015.

“There have been remarkable gains, but we need faster progress – much, much faster. Young people can play a central role.”

Here are some sombering facts about the importance of meeting the UN MDGs:

1.2 billion people live with less than $1 per day

800 million people are malnourished

115 million children are not enrolled in school (97% are in developing countries)

64% of the world’s illiterate are women

80% of the world’s refugee population are women

Each year, 10 million children die of preventable diseases

14% of the world’s population produces 44% of the yearly CO2 total

We all have a role to play. What is your commitment to Peace today?

Check out our group on WiserEarth, which includes profiles of participating Peace organizations. We invite you to network with other members and send a message to the whole group!

Michael Kwan

Culture of Peace Initiative Outreach

PS: Share your commitment on Facebook, or on Twitter using the #Peaceday hashtag. Our websites www.cultureofpeace.org and internationaldayofpeace.org are currently down, but please visit us soon and sign up for our newsletter!

PSS: For those in the SF Bay area, Oakland has a series of free Peace Concerts today! See www.listenforlife.org/peaceday

Photo by Cayusa

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