(Sept.21,2010) The United Nations celebrated the International Day of Peace on Tuesday
dedicating it to peace, ceasefire and non-violence. UN Secretary General Ban Ki
Moon issued a message for the day saying, “Peace is precious and it must be nurtured,
maintained and defended.” Ban explained that each year on the International Day
of Peace, he rings the Peace Bell at United Nations headquarters in New York, and
to maintain peace, he mediates between antagonists, sounds the alarm about threats,
promotes tolerance, justice and human rights, and he campaigns for harmony among
countries and peoples. Ban said this year, Peace Day is also dedicated to young
people, as this month marks the beginning of the International Year of Youth. He said
that its theme of dialogue and mutual understanding captures the very essence of
peace. Ban noted that young people today are comfortable in an interconnected world,
yet they are also vulnerable to the forces of extremism. Ban asked all governments
and partners of UN, to do more for young people and give them a world of peace and
tolerance. The UN Secretary General called on all young people to join him to
work for peace and to eradicate poverty, hunger, injustice and environmental degradation.
Stating that just five years remain to achieve the Millennium Development Goals, Ban
urged everyone, the young and the old, to help find global solutions to these global
problems.