International Day of Peace to be observed this Sunday

The New Zealand Chapter of the World Peace Bell Association will mark the International Day of Peace in Christchurch at 5.00 pm this Sunday with the reading of a message from the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

The ceremony, at the World Peace Bell Pavilion in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, marks Christchurch’s continued efforts towards ending conflict and promoting peace, a mantle the city has worn with pride for generations now.

Christchurch voluntarily became New Zealand’s Peace City in 2002 “to celebrate its peace history, as many people involved in the peace movement and some of the movement's major peace initiatives originated in Christchurch”.

“The pursuit of peace is a global movement and we here in Christchurch need to accept it and integrate it into our lives,’ says Dave Adamson, Civic and International Relations Co-ordinator with the Christchurch City Council.

The ceremony, at 5 pm on Sunday, also includes observing a moment of silence for the victims of wars and conflicts around the world and the ringing of the Peace Bell, a gift from the World Peace Bell Association, Tokyo, Japan.
The United Nations' International Day of Peace - commemorated on 21 September - is a global event when individuals, communities, nations and governments register their desire for global peace and understanding.

ENDS

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