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Day of Peace in St. Lucia
Written by Remy Taupier, UPF-St. Lucia
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Castries, St. Lucia - UPF-St. Lucia and six other local organizations signed a joint declaration to mark the International Day of Peace 2010. It was published in the two main newspapers, and excerpts were read on the radio:
St. Lucia joined the international community in the annual celebration of International Day of Peace, on September 21, 2010. The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Peace, Youth and Development” under the slogan “Peace=Future.”
Anyone anywhere can celebrate Peace Day. It can be as simple as lighting a candle or just sitting in silent meditation. The impact, if people the world over come together for one day of peace, is immeasurable.
Human conflict and the resort to arms and weapons have their roots in the breakdown of human relationships and the human failure to live up to our highest ideals and aspirations.
Violence is a symptom of a moral and spiritual failure. If we have to eliminate violence and crime, we must commit ourselves to a moral and spiritual awakening. We need to recognize that we are brothers and sisters who share a common spiritual and moral heritage under one God. We are one family under God.
Youth learn about respect, care, empathy and love primarily in their families. Learning about peace starts at home. If parents fail to be role models for their children, it’s inevitable that youth will struggle.
By strengthening marriages and families, children will naturally learn to respect their parents, their siblings and their relatives; and by extension respect all people.
Laws and punishments alone cannot change the culture of violence. We need substantial programmes aimed at enabling better parenting, character education, conflict resolution and a culture of tolerance.
As the United Nations commemorate International Day of Peace 2010, RISE St. Lucia, CAPS, the National Youth Council, FAITH and Saint Lucia National Commission for UNESCO have come together with the Universal Peace Federation to encourage everyone in St. Lucia and the rest of the world not to give into hate and violence.
Let September 21, 2010 be a Day of Ceasefire - personal or political.
Let us take this opportunity to make peace in our own relationships as well as impact the larger conflicts of our time.
Whichever your country of origin, whatever your race or religion, all human beings aspire to live in PEACE. According to the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon “Peace is one of humanity’s most precious needs and the United Nations’ highest calling.”
“Peace on Earth, Good Will toward Men” remains God’s cherished hope.
Let us join together as Saint Lucians and people of the world to celebrate the International Day of Peace;
Let us play our part (however small) in making the world a place of peaceful acts, tolerance and kindness, today (International Day of Peace), tomorrow and always.
Saint Lucia, Happy International Day of Peace!
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