Re: Fear from Nature or from Man

It is very strange, but Sept. 11, 2001 had been designated as the 
International Day of Peace. This traditional day had begun exactly 20 years 
ago, initiated by a request from the people of Costa Rica to the United 
Nations, and it was decided at that time to host this day at or about the 
same day that the general assembly of the UN convenes each September. I am 
enclosing here an address that was prepared by the Secretary General of the 
UN, and perhaps was never given, as the UN was evacuated very shortly after 
the disaster yesterday at the World Trade Center in NY. I searched the UN web 
site and found this document posted below.

Reading these lines now is painfully haunting as we all wish for peace, yet 
are once again reminded that there are those in the world who only want the 
opposite.

Donna

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 MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY-GENERAL ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE
 
11 September 2001

 
Following is the text of a message from Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the 
occasion of International Day Of Peace (11 September):


      The International Day of Peace is a day on which we try to imagine a 
world quite different from the one we know.
 
      We try to picture those who wage war laying down their arms and talking 
out their differences.

       We try to picture all governments listening to -- and acting on -- the 
will of the people.

       We try to picture hatred turning into respect, bigotry turning into 
understanding, and ignorance turning into knowledge.
 
      And we try to picture the very root causes of conflict -- poverty, 
marginalization and greed -- giving way to development and justice.

       We do this because progress in our world does not happen without 
someone first having a vision or a dream.

       The International Day of Peace started with such a dream.  It was 
proclaimed 20 years ago by the United Nations General Assembly, at the 
initiative of Costa Rica.

       This year, at the initiative of Costa Rica and the United Kingdom, the 
Assembly decided to go one step further.  It declared that the International 
Day of Peace should be a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

       This step promises to be more than symbolic.  Where respected, it will 
have practical effect.  Where truces are observed, medical and developmental 
agencies can provide vital services to civilian victims in safety.  And even 
a one-day pause in the fighting gives us something to build on in the work to 
end conflict.

      On this International Day of Peace, let us dare to imagine a world free 
of conflict and violence.  And let us seize the opportunity for peace to take 
hold, day by day, year by year, until every day is a day of peace.
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