Celebrations of the UN International Day of Peace, September 21, 2009, organized by Universal Peace Federation chapters around the world

1. UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE 2009 UPF CELEBRATIONS© 2009 Universal Peace Federation

2. WHAT IS THE IDP? The International Day of Peace is a United Nations Observance held September 21st each year on to call for peace. In some cases there have even been ceasefires to mark that day. But, more often this has not been the case, and wars continue . . .

3. WHAT IS THE IDP? This year, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon called for an international focus on the topic of nuclear disarmament. UPF calls all individuals to lay down enmity and resentments if there is to be peace

4. UN-IDP LOCATIONS 2009: UPF held Day of Peace celebrations in more than 65 cities in 40 nations, with more yet to report

5. UN-IDP LOCATIONS Partial Listing AfghanistanArgentinaArmeniaAustraliaBarbadosBeninBrazilBulgariaCameroonCanadaChinaColombiaCote D’IvoireCzech RepublicDomincan Rep. D.R. CongoEcuadorEstoniaFranceGeorgiaGermanyGreat BritainIndiaIrelandIsraelMongoliaNepalNetherlandsNorwayPalauParaguayRussiaSan MarinoSt. LuciaSwitzerlandTanzaniaUnited StatesVenezuelaand more ….

6. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 SWITZERLAND GENEVA: UPF in partnership with United Nations Institute on Disarmament Research, the Permanent Mission of Indonesia to the UN and the Geneva Interfaith Intercultural Alliance (GIIA).

7. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 SWITZERLAND GENEVA: The panel discussion on disarmament, and the Ambassador for Peace Awards

8. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 INDIA DELHI: Participants at a disarmament symposium held at the UN Conference Hall in partnership with UNIC India

9. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 INDIA DELHI: The seminar explored the concept of a world without weapons and without national or religious borders.

10. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 GREAT BRITAIN LONDON: “We Must Disarm” seminar with Vijay Mehta, Chair of the World Disarmament Campaign and Action for UN Renewal

11. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 GREAT BRITAIN LONDON: Prof. Bhupendra Jasani, Dept. of War Studies at Kings College (R) addresses verification issues. Moeen Yaseen, Global Vision 2000, speaks on “military influence on economy”

12. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 D. R. CONGO KINSHASA: A disarmament seminar held at the Notre Dame de Fatima Catholic Conference Center

13. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 D. R. CONGO KINSHASA: The need to disarm is crucial in this African nation, one of the most conflicted countries in the world

14. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 VENEZUELA CARACAS: A youth Peace Concert at the “El Buen Samaritano” orphanage and senior citizens’ home.

15. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 VENEZUELA CARACAS: Volunteers of all ages joined in a day of service to beautify the grounds of El Buen Samaritano

16. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY: UPF partnered with the “Ministry of Peace” which has been observing Peace Day for many years.

17. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY: UPF’s Enrique Ledesma reads from selected religious and spiritual messages to open the Festival.

18. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 AUSTRALIA SYDNEY: The entertainment joyfully reflected Sydney’s diverse, peaceful and multicultural environment.

19. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 GEORGIA TBILISI: UPF partnered with the Ministry of Health of the Abkhazian region in a program broadcast on TV

20. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 GEORGIA TBILISI: The theme was rebuilding peace and trust between the peoples of Georgia and Russia

21. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ECUADOR QUITO: General Holger Santana and the UPF team gather 240 participants with representatives from the diplomatic community.

22. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 BARBADOS BRIDGETOWN: At an interfaith prayer service, Rev. Peter Phillips calls all citizens to be “peacemakers.”

23. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 PALAU KOROR: A friendly soccer match with players from Palau, Korea, Indonesia, Philippines ends in a 6-6 draw.

24. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 PERU LIMA: UPF program on “Building a Culture of Peace” in the National Congress. Others were held in Trujillo and Puno.

25. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 PERU LIMA: The traditional interfaith ceremony concluded with the lighting of the peace candles.

26. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 PERU PUNO: Peace March with colorful floats to promote IDP.TRUJILLO: A full house listen to the UN Declaration

27. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 DOMINICAN REP SANTIAGO: The audience at National University listens to Ban Ki Moon’s address followed by entertainment.

28. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 RUSSIA ST. PETERSBURG: Tree planting, and programs with young and old at a local high school, and senior home.

29. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 RUSSIA TVER: Meeting of the Peace Council PETROZAVODSK: Peace and Disarmament SeminarEKATERINBURG: Rally and Release of Peace Doves

30. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 RUSSIA MOSCOW: As in other nations around the world, a “Play Soccer Make Peace” program was a popular highlight.

31. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 AFGHANISTAN KABUL: UPF brings together members of different tribes to discuss how to better work together for the future of the nation.

32. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 AFGHANISTAN KABUL: The program including entertainment from Afghan Children and a clean up of the neighborhood.

33. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 COTE D’IVOIRE ABIDJAN: Imam Drame Moussa and Rev. Mambo Luc offer prayers for peace at the City Hall peace seminar.

34. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 COTE D’IVOIRE ABIDJAN: Everyone present signed the UPF Declaration in honor of the UN International Day of Peace.

35. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 NETHERLANDS DEN HAAG: A partnership with the Mashriq Student Organization at the Hague University of Applied Sciences

36. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 NETHERLANDS DEN HAAG: Presentation of Ban Ki Moon’s IDP proclamation on the need for disarmament and conflict reduction.

37. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES: Prof. Bertha Richter announces the winners of the poetry competition in support of the UN International Year of Reconciliation. More than 60 poets submitted entries.

38. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES: Sounding of the Peace Gong and Interfaith Prayers for Peace to open the Day of Peace.

39. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 CANADA MONTREAL: St. Laurent Borough Mayor Alan De Souza speaks at the IDP Festival; children release doves. Peace Festival 2009 is also planned for Ottawa.

40. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 CHINA HONG KONG: Students and Professors celebrate IDP with seminar & tea ceremony at Hong Kong University

41. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 CHINA HONG KONG: Choosin Ngaotheppitak, Head of Office, UNHCR Hong Kong spoke about “Peace Building in today’s world”

42. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 SAN MARINO SAN MARINO: Giorgio Gasperoni (L) delivers UN and UPF proclamations followed by a panel discussion.

43. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 BULGARIA SOFIA: APrayer Service for Peace and a presentation of the UPF Peace Principles

44. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 NORWAY OSLO: Disarmament seminar with Peace Research Institute, foreign policy representatives of parliament and local NGOs.

45. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ESTONIA TALLINN: A gathering of Ambassadors for Peace and local NGO friends, with a discussion of UPF and UN peace principles.

46. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 BRAZIL SAO PAULO: IDP celebrated as a partnership of United Religion Initiative, Brazilian Army Cultural Foundation, Commercial Ass’n of Sao Paulo, Universalist Forum and UPF.

47. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 BRAZIL SAO PAULO: Honorees included Cardinal Dom Odilo Scherer, General Antônio Esper, Rabbi Michel Schlegninger and Sheik Jihad from the World Association of Muslim Youth.

48. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 FRANCE VANNES: The local community collects clothing, bikes furniture, toys and school supplies for a school in Togo

49. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 GERMANY MUNICH: Reading of UN Proclamation and prayer service with Catholics, Lutherans, Muslims, Sufis & Unificationists

50. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ARMENIA YEREVAN: Teaching the children of school No. 194 about the Day of Peace, with dances and an art contest

51. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 TANZANIA DAR ES SALAAM : Peace Seminar, Awards program

52. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 CAMEROON YAOUNDÉ: Mrs. Anne NsangNkwain, Director UNIC, responds to challenges that the UN is not doing enough to limit weapons.

53. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 NEPAL KATHMANDU: Hon. Shanker Pokheral, Minister of Information and Communication speaks at a downtown rally on IDP

54. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 NEPAL KATHMANDU: UNMIN Chief Ms. Karen Landgren and UNDP Chief Robert Piper on panel with Nepali ministers and judges.

55. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 CZECH REP. PILSEN: Senator Richard Sequens speaks during the panel on resolution of Czech / German historical conflicts

56. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 CZECH REP. PILSEN: A busy entertainment program for the IDP featured dancers, choirs and an Aikido demonstration.

57. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 BENIN COTONOU: Over 350 including several governmental representatives for a seminar on disarmament.

58. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ISRAEL JERUSALEM: Native American Healing Ceremony in the ForestHAIFA: Jewish, Muslim women’s program in the Haifa City Hall

59. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 ST. LUCIA CASTRIES: UPF, the National UNESCO commission and other organizations joined a nationally televised program

60. UPF Celebrates United Nations International Day of Peace 2009 UNITED STATES DENVER: Celebration at St. Catejan Center with Hindu, Jewish, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and Baha’i groups.