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  • Writer's pictureCGEST Staff

International Day of Peace

By Emilie Gunti

A white dove flies in front of a large gray building.
Photo by Sunguk Kim

The word peace means freedom from disturbance or tranquility. It can also mean a state or period in which there is no war or a war has ended. The United Nations established the International Day of Peace on September 21, 1981, and it has been observed across the globe annually since. The General Assembly declared it as a day of “strengthening the ideals of peace, through observed 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.” In addition to practicing ceasefires, we should ask ourselves how to establish peace for ourselves and the people within our communities. It is a reminder for us to slow down and understand why peace is important.


The day’s theme was “End Racism. Build Peace.” Peace is not just tranquility. To achieve real peace, our society must embrace equality, equity, and justice. Simply put, to have equality is to have basic respect of basic human rights for all races. Understanding true peace involves building a community in which people are treated equally. Secretary-General António Guterres states that “racism continues to poison institutions, social structures, and everyday life…it continues to be a driver of persistent inequality.” Despite our differences, we have every ability to dismantle racism with the choices we make daily.


A recent example of hate speech and violence can be seen during the rise of COVID-19 and the increase in prejudice toward minority groups, particularly East Asians. Similarly, in our circumstances, it is important to discern and realize if the people around you are truly creating a peaceful environment for everyone. If they are not, it is crucial to make a change and drive toward non-violence and unity so that we are not moving toward a world filled with hate, but rather one with peace and equality.


References:

https://www.un.org/en/observances/international-day-peace

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