Advance Media Alert: UN Secretary-General’s Message for the 2014 International Day of Peace!

Dear colleagues,

This year, with so much energy building up to the UN International Day of Peace, we are excited to share with you the official message of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon well in advance of September 21st! Not only is the message powerful and beautiful, but you have it in time to put it into your own programs and media materials.

The full text is below and can be found at http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2014/sgmessage.shtml in the various UN languages. [Please note that not all the translations are ready quite yet. If yours is not there, please check back in a day or two.]

The Secretary-General calls upon us to observe a minute of silence at noon. Let us all do that – and so much more – to show that the world stands with the United Nations, in the words of Ban Ki-moon, “so all can breathe the air of peace.”

May Peace Prevail on Earth!

Warmly,

Deborah, Monica, Michael and Shawn

Co-Chairs, The International Day of Peace NGO Committee at the United Nations

 

CELEBRATE THE UN INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE ON SEPTEMBER 21! 

Secretary-General’s Message

21 September 2014

Today is the International Day of Peace.

Each year, on this day, the United Nations calls for a global ceasefire.

We ask combatants to put down their arms so all can breathe the air of peace.

Armed conflict causes untold grief to families, communities and entire countries.

Too many are suffering today at the brutal hands of warmongers and terrorists.

Let us stand with them in solidarity.

Peace and security are essential foundations for social progress and sustainable development.

That is why, three decades ago, the United Nations affirmed the right of peoples to peace.

Throughout the coming year, we will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the United Nations.

Our organisation is founded on the pledge to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war.

We have made much progress.

But much remains to be done.

We must douse the fires of extremism and tackle the root causes of conflict.

Peace is a long road that we must travel together – step by step, beginning today.

Let us all observe a minute of silence, at noon.

Let us all reflect on peace – and what it means for our human family.

Let us hold it in our hearts and minds and tenderly nurture it so it may grow and blossom.

Ban Ki-moon