UN International Day of Peace 2011
The theme chosen by the UN for 2011 was "Peace and Democracy: Make Your Voice Heard." For a PowerPoint overview of UPF observances, click here.
- Written by: UPF - International
Readings for interfaith ceremonies
- Written by: UPF - Barbados
Bridgetown, Barbados - The Barbados National Peace Council organized a week of activities in commemoration of the International Day of Peace commencing on Sunday, September 18, with a church service at the Bethel Evangelical Church in Grazettes.
- Written by: UPF - Peru
Lima, Peru - UPF-Peru held a meeting in the Peruvian Congress on September 21 to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Three days earlier, a march for peace took place in the Comas district of Lima.
- Written by: UPF - Germany
Observances of the International Day of Peace 2011 took place in Bonn, Dusseldorf, Munich, and Stuttgart, the latter culminating with the inauguration of a “House of Religions."
- Written by: UPF-International
The International Day of Peace 2011 comes at a time when peoples and nations around the world are facing challenges of dramatic proportion. At such a time, the cry for peace seems to be drowned out by the noise of polarized political battles, and our hopes for peace dampened by everything from catastrophic financial crises, famine in the horn of Africa, to violence in our streets; and these are but of few of the sad realities that dominate today's headlines.
- Written by: UPF-Argentina
Buenos Aires, Argentina - UPF-Argentina celebrated the International Day of Peace on September 21 with an artistic, cultural and interreligious program which included awards for the winners of the annual International Poetry Competition, which was organized this year in adherence to the International Year of Youth. The theme of this year's poetry contest was "Global Family: Dialogue and Mutual Understanding."
- Written by: UPF - Thailand
Bangkok, Thailand - The Interreligious Peace Council of Thailand was inaugurated in Bangkok on the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21, 2011.
- Written by: Carolyn Handschin, UPF-Switzerland
Geneva, Switzerland - As a continuation of the series of conferences held at the United Nations in Geneva and New York, as well as in London, Bergamo, and Fribourg, Switzerland on interreligious/intercultural peacebuilding since 2008, a full-day symposium was held to commemorate the International Day of Peace in Geneva on September 23.
- Written by: Dr. T. Ashok Chakravarthy, D.Lit.
Hyderabad, India - It is with utmost delight I take the opportunity to attach my poem in commemoration of the United Nations International Day of Peace, September 21, 2011.