Happy World Peace Day!

It's Peace Day and across the globe thousands of people are celebrating with comedy, movies, school activities, community outreach events, music, prayer vigils, and personal commitments. Peace Day was originally designated in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly as the third Tuesday in September. The UN member nations wanted this day to represent international unity through a one-day celebration of ceasefire and non-violence.

The move to make Peace Day a fixed date was a civilian initiative, undertaken on the silver screen by a British filmmaker named Jeremy Gilley. Inspired by the activities accomplished on rotating Peace Day through the dedication of individuals, organizations, and governments, Gilley decided to advocate for a fixed date for the holiday. He achieved his goal two years later, when in 2001, the UN adopted September 21 as an International Day of Peace.

But why just a day you ask? Although in recent years, organizations have pushed for weeklong events, many activists maintain that one day of peace is significant, especially in active war zones. In the words of Mary Robinson, the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and former President of Ireland, "My experience of conflict is that those who are involved in it long for even a day of peace. To have a day of cessation of violence, that to me is an idea whose time has come." Last year in 2009, all 192 UN member nations held commemorative activities, ranging from celebrations to immunization campaigns. In Afghanistan, for example, 4 million children were protected from polio through a ceasefire agreement supported by all conflicting parties. This achievement was possible through the observation of Peace Day, which not only saw a one-day 70% reduction in violence, but also improved the health of millions of kids.

But for some, Peace Day means 24 hours of very hard work. The unique circumstances of ceasefire and non-violence tips the scales in favor of those pressing for peacebuilding and long-term sustainability in war zones. This gives international mediators the upper hand in working with groups in conflict. Given a one-day hiatus of violence, mediators have taken advantage of this opportunity to engage opponents to foster more permanent peace between groups. In addition, humanitarian organizations have utilized Peace Day as a means to access citizens in volatile regions by organizing large scale efforts to promote public health and education through added resources.

So what can you do to get involved? Most organizations, such as the UN, Peace One Day, and the African Union, are encouraging people to make their own pledges for peace. Pledges are easy: let them know how you're celebrating Peace Day, and then have fun.

• Play Soccer. If you're a football nut, Peace One Day is encouraging people everywhere to have a pickup match of the beautiful game. 
• Watch Jeremy Gilley's film: the Day After Peace. Featuring some badasses like Ban Ki Moon, Angelina Jolie, Jude Law, and the Dalai Lama, this film has won awards at Cannes, and 15 other International Film Festivals. Another perk: you can get it on Netflix. 
• Go to a comedy show. Although the dates have passed for many of the cities listed, keep these in mind for next year. 
• Youth Enrichment. Whether or not you're a teacher, there are options for getting the kiddos involved. The UN is encouraging educational peace initiatives in all 192 countries today.
• Get pumped up. Listen to your favorite tunes, or try out groups like U2, Michael Franti and Spearhead, John Lennon, Bob Dylan, Marvin Gaye, and others who sing about social justice. If you are going to be in Beijing, China on October 10th, check out the International Show of Peace concert.

Happy Peace Day everyone! "One person may be small, but all together, with 6 billion people, we can make a big difference." -UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.