It's September 21, 31st International Day of Peace celebrated all around the world, with participants at many events calling for a total cessation of hostilities. This year’s theme, "Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future,” was chosen within the context of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20), which convened in June in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Celebrations at UN Headquarters in New York began with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the President of the General Assembly ringing the Peace Bell. Following this ceremony, the 15th Student Observance was held, highlighting environmental causes of conflicts and the need to address the ownership, control, management and ownership of natural resources in post conflict countries.
After ringing the Peace Bell, Ban said the UN “works for sustainable peace across the world… Today we must ring the peace bell with extra force and conviction. We need its beautiful sound to be heard above the voices of discord and extremism that have sparked violence in recent days.” Ban also stressed connections among sustainable peace, sustainable development and sustainable futures, noting that “armed conflicts attack the very pillars of sustainable development. Natural resources must be used for the benefit of society, not to finance wars.”
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