21 September has been declared the International Day of Peace by the United Nations. The United Nations wish it to be a day of “global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the day”.
|Buddy Bears – a Call for Tolerance and international Understanding |The United Buddy Bears are displayed in Vienna in front of the Karlskirche from 1 September to 7 October. Originating in Berlin, this project for international understanding has won the hearts of people around the world. The more than 140 bears represent the United Nations member states and have been shown in Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and many other cities all over the world.
The friendly and likeable figures are excellent messengers for the motto of the project: “We have to get to know each other better, it makes us understand one another better, trust each other more and live together more peacefully”.
United Buddy Bears in Vienna
School Children celebrate World Peace Day |In order to bring the thought of peace to the public on World Peace Day, 300 children from a nearby elementary school will bring flowers to the water basin that lies in the centre of the circle of Buddy Bears. The quantity and diversity of the floating flowers and blossoms and the peace songs the children sing together show their hope for a peaceful future. There will be an exhibition of Buddy Bear pictures drawn by the school children beside the circle of Buddy Bears, and donations will be collected for UNICEF.
Peace One Day – a Film for Peace
The British writer, filmmaker and producer Jeremy Giller is committed to creating public awareness for International Peace Day. His film “Peace One Day“ shows the efforts of one person to make the world aware of 21 September and its significance.
A trailer of the film and background information on the project can be found on Jeremy Gillers website. It also lists the cities, countries, organisations and private individuals who all contribute to promoting the International Day of Peace.
Peace One Day: 21 September
The Peace One Day DVD is available in Vienna’s libraries.
Screening at the Vienna International Centre
The United Nations Information Service will show the film on 21 September at 1.30 pm at the Vienna International Centre.
You can reserve a seat (limited availability) via the Vienna Service Centre at the Vienna International Centre until 20 September 2006:
E-Mail: ViennaServiceOffice@unvienna.org