September 21, 2012

White Dog, The Other White Dog, Another White Dog, Still Another White Dog, Yet Another White Dog, and Oh--Another White Dog join paws with the world community on this very special day devoted to strengthening ideals of  peace, both within and among all nations and peoples.

We agree with the United Nations  there can be no sustainable future without a sustainable peace. Sustainable peace must be built on sustainable development. The International Day of Peace offers people globally a shared date to think about how, individually, they can contribute to ensuring that natural resources are managed in a sustainable manner, thus reducing potential for disputes, and paving the road to a sustainable future.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982. In 2001, the General Assembly by unanimous vote adopted resolution 55/282 , which established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire. The United Nations invites all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

The International Day of Peace is marked at United Nations Headquarters with a ceremony at the Peace Bell. The Japanese Peace Bell is a United Nations peace symbol. It was presented to the United Nations in June 1954 by the United Nations Association of Japan, at a time when Japan had not yet been officially admitted to the United Nations.

Weighing 116 kg, with a height of 1 meter, and 0.6 meter in diameter at the base, the metal in the bell itself was obtained from coins collected by children from the delegates of 60 nations who were attending the 13th General Conference of United Nations Associations held in Paris, France in 1951.
The bell itself is housed in a typically Japanese structure, resembling a Shinto shrine, made of cypress wood. Inscribed on one side of the bell are the Japanese characters that say: "Long live absolute world peace!".

We ask the Universe to look upon this International Day of Peace as an attempt to "step up" and be responsible to each other, to our environment, to our future. It is a small step but much power comes from concentrated focus on peace. Join us in our prayer that the World realize that we are all--all humans and earth's creatures--ONE and that we must find a way to build a future of respect and peace. And that every being understands that they have an obligation to make that reality happen.

We wish you peace.