I've decided that today is a good day to write about world peace and about an initiative that celebrates that goal. I think it's all too easy with all that's going on in the world to focus on the negative and forget that there are people and organisations out there trying to make things better.
Peace One Day was started in 1999 by the British filmmaker, Jeremy Gilley, and aims to promote the idea of one day free of conflict and war. (I haven't seen it written anywhere, but I guess the goal is that if you can start with one day, why not two, and so on.) After a couple of years of meeting with heads of state, peace negotiators, NGOs, etc., Jeremy was able to convince the UN to pass a resolution declaring September 21st as a day of global ceasefire. The resolution was passed on 7th September 2001 and efforts to work towards the goal were lost a few days later.
Oh, I know what you're thinking...world peace is unattainable, a Pollyanna dream, but subsequent years of effort have shown that the world can still surprise us...
In 2007, Jeremy travelled with Jude Law to Afghanistan and managed to persuade not only NATO and Afghan forces but also the Taliban to hold a one-day ceasefire, allowing women and children to be vaccinated in hard-to-reach provinces. In Southern Sudan NGOs have used Peace Day to get additional food and vaccinations to war-torn regions. There are many other similar stories on the website.
Anyway, I'll leave it there and hope that others will continue to promote the idea. For me, it's a little like the climate change issue, we can choose to do nothing because it's just too difficult, or we can do something. I believe our kids will thank us for choosing the latter.
Oh, and how thoughtful that they should choose my birthday to celebrate the day!!
A short medical update - I completed the first of six monthly chemo treatments last week without too much drama. The dose went from 140mg during radiation up to 300mg this time and will increase to its maximum dose of 380mg next month. The side-effects were pretty much the same as before - mostly fatigue and stomach cramps - and the anti-nausea pills worked well. Now ready to get back on the bike to enjoy the beautiful fall colours.
Peace everyone!
Peace One Day was started in 1999 by the British filmmaker, Jeremy Gilley, and aims to promote the idea of one day free of conflict and war. (I haven't seen it written anywhere, but I guess the goal is that if you can start with one day, why not two, and so on.) After a couple of years of meeting with heads of state, peace negotiators, NGOs, etc., Jeremy was able to convince the UN to pass a resolution declaring September 21st as a day of global ceasefire. The resolution was passed on 7th September 2001 and efforts to work towards the goal were lost a few days later.
Oh, I know what you're thinking...world peace is unattainable, a Pollyanna dream, but subsequent years of effort have shown that the world can still surprise us...
In 2007, Jeremy travelled with Jude Law to Afghanistan and managed to persuade not only NATO and Afghan forces but also the Taliban to hold a one-day ceasefire, allowing women and children to be vaccinated in hard-to-reach provinces. In Southern Sudan NGOs have used Peace Day to get additional food and vaccinations to war-torn regions. There are many other similar stories on the website.
Anyway, I'll leave it there and hope that others will continue to promote the idea. For me, it's a little like the climate change issue, we can choose to do nothing because it's just too difficult, or we can do something. I believe our kids will thank us for choosing the latter.
Oh, and how thoughtful that they should choose my birthday to celebrate the day!!
Peace everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment