Peace Day - September 21

Calling All Schools
Join the United Nations in Celebrating
The International Day of Peace
21 September

PeacePals | Plant a Tree for Peace | Pinwheels For Peace | Service for Peace

The United Nations General Assembly designated 21 September as the International Day of Peace, a day of cease-fire and peace-building activities to be celebrated around the world. On Peace Day each year, young people in countries all over the world take a Minute of Silence at 12 noon in their time zone to support the United Nations in its mission of world peace. Will your school participate?

What do we do?
At 12 noon, the principal, a teacher, or a student announces to everyone in the school:

“We will now celebrate the International Day of Peace by taking a Minute of Silence. Please visualize a world of peace and plenty enjoyed by all who share our beautiful planet. We will close this Minute of Silence together with the words May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

After one minute, the announcer says, “Let us say together May Peace Prevail on Earth.” (They do so.) “Thank you everyone for adding your voice to help build a Culture of Peace for the new millennium.” Your announcer may prefer to use his or her own words.

What else can we do?
Simple actions to build peace, such as:

Ring a bell	Organize a Peace Walk
Light a candle	Visit a hospital or nursing home
Sing a peace song	Volunteer for a litter pick up or other service project
Have a group meditation	Plant a Peace Pole
Make a new friend	Request a school conflict resolution program
Plant a Tree	Make Pinwheels for Peace

Who else is doing this?
Your school will be participating along with schools in the following countries - and more:

Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belize
Benin
Brazil
Canada

Chile
China
Congo
Costa Rica
Ethiopia
Finland
France
The Gambia
Germany

Ghana
Haiti
Hungary
India
Israel
Italy
Japan
Lithuania
Malaysia

The Netherlands
Nigeria
Pakistan
The Philippines
The Russian
Federation
Samoa
Sierra Leone
Slovakia

South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
Switzerland
The United Kingdom
The United States
Zambia

Peace Pals, c/o WPPS, 26 Benton Road, Wassaic, NY 12592
Email peacepals@worldpeace.org and let us how your school participated!

PDF File to print flyer (1.4 M)

	PINWHEELS FOR PEACE More than 1350 schools and groups around the world participated last year in the Pinwheels For Peace program to celebrate Peace Day, creating and displaying 1/2 million pinwheels for peace to inspire their communities to imagine whirled peace - This year many more will participate. (www.pinwheelsforpeace.com)
	SERVICE FOR PEACE Volunteering for a service project in your community on the International Day of Peace is a tangible way to make a difference for a more peaceful, just and sustainable world. (http://serviceforpeace.org/IDP2005.htm)
	TREES FOR PEACE Any school can join the more than 300 schools in 90 countries that participate in the ENO Schools program (Environment Online) to plant trees at 12 Noon for the International Day of Peace as a symbol for environmental protection and international co-operation in the field of environmental education, cultural diversity, tolerance and peace. (http://eno.joensuu.fi/treedatabase.htm)
	PEACE IN SCHOOL Show children the pathways to peace by highlighting peace in classroom studies, having a special assembly and/or observing the 12 Noon Minute of Silence, as well as participating in The 9th Annual International Peace Pals Art Competition and Exhibition, whose winners will be announced at a ceremony in In Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (www.worldpeace.org/peacepalscontests.html)
	PLANT ROCKS FOR PEACE Ellen Manko in Santa Cruz has created a lesson plan for an International Day of Peace school/family/church activity of decorating peace rocks and 'planting' them as a way to facilitate classroom discussions on peace, cultural diversity, global connection and social responsibility. (RTF file - 4.1K)

In previous years, kids have played a major role in Peace Day celebrations and activities. This year, kids and youth can do even more to help create a Global Ceasefire and the first day of peace ever.

Learn about peace and become a peacemaker and peacebuilder. Kids can help teach their families about the importance of peace.

Kids can also play a big part in helping to convince Mayors, Governors and Heads of State to declare Proclamations for Peace. Get your class or your family to write a letter to your Mayor and Governor asking them to declare a Proclamation for Peace Day (Don't forget to send them a copy of the sample proclamation). When your Mayor makes a Proclamation, help to organize a Peace Assembly or a Peace Fair where your Mayor can present the Proclamation to your community.

Write letters for peace. Volunteer in your community. Spread the word that together we can help create a Global Ceasefire and Day of Peace in our homes, our communities and between nations. Kids can help make it happen!

Read the free online picture book, The International Day of Peace available online in 11 langauges. Can you help translate it into another language (Contact PforPeace@aol.com)?

Perform The International Day of Peace Play. Contact PforPeace@aol.com if you can help translate it into another language.