Nikhil Gomes
Peace is the hope of every nation, the promise of every politician, the pulse of every religious tradition, the goal of every prayer.
Peace is the bold, courageous, and ultimate response to the notion that violence provides any viable solution to the conflicts of our world.
In 1981, the United Nations General Assembly declared the third Tuesday of September as International Day of Peace.
This day coincided with the opening day of the annual sessions of the General Assembly. The purpose of the day was, and still remains, to strengthen the ideals of peace around the world.
In 2001, two decades after establishing this day of observance, the Assembly moved the date to be observed annually to September 21.
Beginning in 2002, September 21 marks not only a time to discuss how to promote and maintain peace among all peoples but also a 24-hour period of global ceasefire and non-violence for groups in active combat.
Peace is possible. Throughout history, most societies have lived in peace most of the time. Today, we are much less likely to die in war than our parents or grandparents.
Since the establishment of the United Nations and the creation of the Charter of the United Nations, governments are obligated not to use force against others unless they are acting in self-defense or have been authorized by the UN Security Council to proceed.
Life is better in a world where peace exists and, today, we look to those who have been peacemakers and peacekeepers to learn what we can each do individually to make the world a more peaceful place.
Nowadays, as we struggle to defeat Covid-19, your voice is more important than ever.
In these difficult times of physical distancing, this International Day of Peace will be dedicated to fostering dialogue and collecting ideas.
The world will be invited to unite and share thoughts on how to weather this storm, heal our planet and change it for the better. Even though we may not be able to stand next to each other, we can still dream together.
The theme of this year for the International Day of Peace is “Shaping Peace Together.”
Celebrate the day by spreading compassion, kindness and hope in the face of the pandemic. Stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred.
Today’s celebration provides a globally-shared date for all humanity to commit to Peace above all differences and to contribute to building a Culture of Peace.
Peace is a stress-free state of security and calmness that comes when there's no fighting or war, everything coexisting in perfect harmony and freedom.
However peace can be big and small, seen in entire countries or brief moments. After a war, two countries may sign a peace treaty, agreeing to not fight anymore.
“In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety,” says the Lord.
The Good News: Put your trust in God; only He can keep you truly safe. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”
Pope Francis said “Peace is a path of hope, a path on which one advances through dialogue, reconciliation and conversion.”
He often points to the importance of discernment.
So, let us build a peaceful world and stay in unity. When you make peace with yourself, you make peace with the world.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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