The World PeaceThe World Peace Prayer SocietyPrayer Society

at the United Nationsat the United Nations

NEW HOPE FOR PEACE!

The International Day of Peace 21 September

2008 was a breakout year for the International Day of Peace (IDP) at the United Nations in New York. The World Peace Prayer Society, with our partner NGOs Pathways To Peace and the United Religions Initiative, worked with former Under Secretary-General Anwarul Chowdhury to meet with the Under Secretary-General for Public Information, the President of the 62nd General Assembly and the President of the Security Council. WPPS co-hosted a successful event in March, where the UN Department of Public Information announced an exciting new text messaging campaign for the IDP. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a statement for the 100-Day Countdown to the IDP, giving Member States and others a historic opportunity to plan in advance for the ceasefire and other Peace Day observances. WPPS was also invited to present IDP information to the NGO community at a UN briefing in July. WPPS helped to organize the outstanding UN student observance of the International Day of Peace with the Secretary-General, and Peace Messengers Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall, Elie Wiesel, and Midori Goto, as well as live video links with UN Peace- keeping sites. The World Peace Flag Ceremony is always the stirring finale, honoring every nation with the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth.” Mrs. Ban proudly raised the flag of the United Nations and rang the WPPS Peace Bell. Entries to the 2008 Peace Pals Art Exhibition were displayed on giant screens at the UN, while the Exhibition itself had its grand gala on the IDP in Beacon, NY. MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH

CAMPUS PEACE CENTERS 21 October

The Campus Peace Centers project to link students working for a culture of peace held a round table for college students at UNICEF House in New York during the Week of Spirituality, Values and Global Concerns, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. After opening silence and a shared prayer, “May Peace Prevail on Earth,” Prof. Hal Bertilson of the University of Wisconsin-Superior spoke about the Peace Center on his campus. Then international students from Vassar College joined students from Fairleigh Dickenson University, Monmouth University, LaGuardia College and the New Jersey Institute for Technology in affirming the human right to peace and voicing their hopes for a culture of peace. See www.campuspeacecenters.net.

Supporting the United Nations with the message and prayer

“May Peace Prevail on Earth.”

2009 UN INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF RECONCILIATION

The UN General Assembly has proclaimed 2009 as the Inter-national Year of Reconciliation. The new President of the 63rd UN General Assembly, Fr. Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann of Nicaragua, called on UN Member States to practice respect and forgiveness. In his inspiring opening address on 23 September he stated: The world has reached a point at which we have no alternative—either we love one another or we all perish; either we treat each other as brothers and sisters or we witness the beginning of the end of our human species. If we choose the path of solidarity, recognizing each other as brothers and sisters, we will open up new horizons of life and hope for everyone.

May Peace Prevail on Earth

Fall/Winter 2008 www.worldpeace.org

Celebrate * Teach * Learn The Gandhi-King SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE

January 30-April 4