Witness
For Justice
USA
(2005
World Peace Prayer Society Report)
Witness
for Justice: International Day of Peace
Written by Administrator
http://www.ucctest.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=317&Itemid=47
Tuesday,
06 September 2005
September
21 is a day designated by the United Nations since 1981 as a day of
witness and commitment by the citizens of the world to work for a
world of justice and peace. The World Council of Churches (WCC) has
joined in this special commemoration by calling on churches around
the world to pray for peace on September 21.’
This
year’s WCC theme is "Building communities of peace for all,"
which was chosen by the churches of Asia, that are the focus of the
WCC Decade to Overcome Violence in 2005. This theme conveys a spirit
of celebrating diversity and an understanding that "the other"
can no longer be seen as the mortal enemy.
There
are many ways that churches, synagogues, mosques, schools, community
groups, cities and towns can be involved in the International Day
of Peace. Some might write letters to the President or their elected
officials in support of Congressman Kucinich’s bill to establish a
Department of Peace or of my own vision of a monument dedicated to
peace in Washington, D.C., where there are so many monuments to war.
Some might have prayer vigils or candlelight marches. Some might have
essay or art contests with children’s visions of peace. Some might
have poetry slams or music festivals for peace. Some may choose to
plant a peace pole in their gardens or school yard or on their church
or school grounds.
Here
in the United States one way to re-commit to working for a world of
peace with justice is a new interfaith movement to eliminate nuclear
weapons. There are some 30,000 nuclear weapons around the globe, which
have more than 100,000 times the explosive power of the bombs that
were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. When the Cold War ended, many
were under the impression that the danger of nuclear weapons had also
ended. But the truth is that the danger from nuclear weapons is again
mounting as the United States continues to refuse to sign the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty and other nations, beginning with North Korea,
are seeing this as an opportunity to back away from past agreements.
Thus,
on the 60th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki,
a small interfaith group began a new movement to eliminate nuclear
weapons. It is asking people of good faith who agree with the statement
"No Country shall have nuclear weapons" to join them in
their effort to create a world of peace. In their creation statement,
they say, "So let us resolve to labor mightily for what we pray
for fervently, confident in the poet’s contention that ‘we are only
undefeated because we go on trying’..."
Whatever
each of us is doing to work for a world of peace with justice, it
is not enough. Let’s take time out on September 21 to pray for peace....and
then work to make it so.
(Note:
For more information on International Day of Peace, you can go to
the United Nations web-site at www.unitednations.gov. For more
information on the International Day of Prayer for Peace, you can
go to www.overcomingviolence.org. For more information on the
Interreligious Network to Eliminate Nuclear Weapons, you may e-mail
them at jwilbanks@fourthfreedom.org.
2005
World Peace Prayer Society Compilation
PICTORAL
ARCHIVE OF PREVIOUS PEACE DAY EVENTS
May
Peace Prevail
On Earth
