UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and dignitaries joined UN staff members and others on Thursday in an annual ceremony of "Ringing the Peace Bell" to mark the 25th International Day of Peace.
"For some of us, peace is a day-to-day reality. Our streets are safe; our children go to school. Where the fabric of society is strong, the precious gifts of peace can almost go unremarked. But for far too many people in the world today, those gifts are only an elusive dream. They live in chains: a climate of insecurity and fear. It is mainly for them that this day exists."
The UN chief noted that the last few weeks had seen "tragic new escalations of conflict in several parts of the world," and stressed the many ways the United Nations works for peace from preventive diplomacy to peacekeeping missions and efforts to support democracy and promote human rights.
Annan called to observe a minute of silence in the name of peace, and drove the ringing beam into the Peace Bell,(ambiance, 2a/soundbites/0922 Bell) a gift from Japan cast from the pennies donated by children from 60 nations amid an anthem of peace sung by a choir.
A total of 193 children, dressed in their national costumes and holding the national flags of member states, witnessed the event.
World renowned Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma was appointed by Annan as a New UN Messenger of Peace and performed for the gathering.
Four other UN Messengers of Peace were also present on the occasion. They were author and journalist Anna Cataldi, Oscar-winning actor Michael Douglas, wildlife researcher and conservationist Jane Goodall, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and tennis champion and actor Vijay Armitraj.
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Director: Liu Chi