The purpose of our AMS Newsroom is to communicate with employees, clients and friends about things that may be of interest. We talk about what is going on at AMS, what is going on in the communities we operate in and what’s happening in the world we share. News is global and news is local, and news can inspire us to dream of a better world. All of this as we try our best to B the Change we wish to see in the world.
The International Day of Peace is celebrated on September 21 around the world. It is also called World Peace Day. It is a commemorative day established by the UN in 1981, first celebrated in 1982. The UN answers the question, “Why do we mark International Days,” as follows:
“International days and weeks are occasions to educate the public on issues of concern, to mobilize political will and resources to address global problems, and to celebrate and reinforce achievements of humanity. The existence of international days predates the establishment of the United Nations, but the UN has embraced them as a powerful advocacy tool.”
The website goes on to say about World Peace Day: “It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and people.”
The UN Peace Bell
On the 21st of September every year, the UN Peace Bell is rung at UN headquarters in New York. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from around the world. The inscription on the side says, “Long live absolute world peace.”
Over the years the Secretary Generals have called for peace in their own way. In 2005 Kofi Annan called for the worldwide observance through a 24-hr. ceasefire and day of nonviolence. In 2006 he rang the peace bell for his last time and asked once again for a ceasefire. The next year Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for a 24-hr. cessation of hostilities and a minute of silence to be observed around the world. In every year that followed the bell has been rung and a message given by the Secretary General.
Last year UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said, “Peace is needed today more than ever. War and conflict are unleashing devastation, poverty, and hunger, and driving tens of millions of people from their homes. Climate chaos is all around. And even peaceful countries are gripped by gaping inequalities and political polarization.”
His comments certainly ring true. How can we help bring an end to war and conflict? Does it help to pause for a moment of silence on September 21 and say a little prayer for an end to war? Well, one thing for sure… it doesn’t hurt.
We invite readers to visit the UN website and enjoy a video called “Peace begins with me.” The article describes the video as follows: “The poem pays tribute to the strength and resilience of communities affected by conflict as well as those who help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.” Link HERE.
Peace is not just the absence of conflict but also the presence of justice, equality, and respect for human dignity. These are our AMS B Corp values. Everyone deserves to have and find peace. We encourage readers to pause for a moment in the busy day today, September 21, to imagine a better world with justice, equality and respect for human dignity. Peace begins with me.
Here’s a little gift for all of us – Youtube video of a beautiful song HERE about peace.