This year’s annual global observance of the United Nations’ International Day of Peace has captured the world’s attention with over 10,000 events sponsored by thousands of organizations, and with over 200 million people participating. Singaporeans join the citizens of cities such as Hong Kong, Sydney, Paris and Los Angeles to celebrate the Day of Peace.
Singapore Celebrates
Hosted by the Jane Goodall Institute (Singapore), several local environmental, animal-welfare and humanitarian groups will gather with the public on September 21 at Mount Sophia Old School to commemorate this occasion. This year’s event will feature a parade of Giant Peace Doves followed by a concert of dance and music acts, and a recital by harp guitarist and Café Diplo Peace Ambassador Jason Carter.
The event will conclude with the Singapore premiere of the film "Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Mathaai", presented by UNIFEM Singapore, at this year's inaugural International Social Action Film Festival. It features Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai and tells the story of how one woman's inspiring determination grew into not just a global movement of environmental sustainability, but also led to improved nutrition and economic independence for rural women in Kenya.
Groups participating in the 2009 Day of Peace Singapore include UNIFEM Singapore, Cafe Diplo, SPCA, WWF Singapore, ACRES, NSS, SEC, Ci Yuan CC, Student Care Service, Cicada Tree Eco Place, OnePeople.sg, as well as several Singaporean schools.
Singaporeans can commemorate this event by observing a minute of silence at noon on September 21st, join us at the Day of Peace event or make their own Peace Doves to show their support. Dr. Jane Goodall’s Giant Peace Doves are made by volunteers and schoolchildren from reused materials and symbolize our commitment to peace. Giant Peace Doves have flown in almost 100 countries including the Coliseum in Rome, a monastery in Mongolia, the base of Mount Fuji and even the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro!
Message for Peace
As a UN Messenger of Peace since 2002, Dr. Goodall, along with other appointed messengers such as actor George Clooney and renowned writer Paulo Coelho, strives for a day of non-violence. These prominent personalities hope to inspire and rally individuals to make a difference in their communities, cities, and countries around the globe.
“International Peace Day has come around again and it’s so exciting for me to think of the number of countries where giant peace doves will be flying. If we look around the world, there’s so much violence, so it’s more important than ever that we should get together and dream about peace. Peace is possible, but unless we dare to dream of peace, then it may never happen,” said Dr. Goodall.
For information and photos of the Day of Peace, contact Vanessa Ching, volunteer (vanessaching@
