Majuro, Marshall Islands—In the Republic of the Marshall Islands the UN International Day of Peace was observed with interfaith ceremonies and prayers.
Candles were lit to represent Islam, Catholicism, Protestantism and Buddhism. Then four individuals performed a water ceremony, each pouring a container of water into a large bowl to symbolize the joining of different faiths.
Hon. Alfred Capelle, a former ambassador to the United Nations, said a prayer representing Catholicism. Mr. Jim Philippo, a former deputy national police commissionner, said a Protestant prayer. UPF-Marshall Islands president Rev. Kenichi Ito offered a Buddhist prayer, and Mr. Joe Talley, an IT engineer and lawyer, said a prayer representing Islam.
Then the former president of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Hon. Kessai H. Note, read the 2015 International Day of Peace message written by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and Rev. Ito read the official UPF statement on the day.
Hon. Thom Kijiner, the ambassador to Japan, read a congratulatory message, and President Note gave congratulatory remarks.
Rev. Ito gave a PowerPoint lecture about peace education and interfaith prayer.
This was followed by the awarding of Ambassador for Peace certificates to four distinguished individuals: Commissioner Jim Philippo and his wife, Mrs. Floritha Philippo, a businesswoman; Mrs. Linda Talley, a businesswoman; and Mrs. Elnina Sana, a former schoolteacher.