In 2021, Sept. 21 was designated as an International Day of Peace by the United Nations General Assembly, in an effort to inspire global movement towards a world of nonviolence.
Yet there is no peace. The war in Ukraine rages. Countries such as Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mozambique, Niger, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Yemen are all experiencing some form of insurgency. Civil wars are also prevalent around the world.
Overall, there are 32 countries currently in conflict. While the severity and duration of these conflicts differ, they all significantly impact affected populations and usually result in a very high number of casualties and humanitarian crises.
Think hunger, disease, displacement, poverty, loss of livelihood and environmental degradation. These too are the products of war.
We have the ability and the capacity to build societies worldwide where people can live in peace, enjoy their homes, friendships, excellent nutrition, nature and education and grow up without the fear of war.
Yet our leaders will not lead. Our politicians globally are enmeshed in pandering to military, oil, gas, mining and industrial interests rather than the interests of their own citizens. We should all cry shame for this reality!
We ask readers to consider attending the International Day of Peace event at St. Saviour’s Anglican Church in Nelson on that day with the theme of Actions for Peace.
As the saying goes, let’s make love, not war.
Sandra Hartline
Nelson