International Day of Peace

Today, September 21, is the International Day of Peace. Today is a day to be inspired by the acts of love of the millions of people around the world who all share the same goal: peace.

Planting a tree at the 2009 International Peace Day at the University for Peace.

Everyone’s definition of peace is different and even amongst the most outspoken peacebuilders the importance of inner peace versus world peace is addressed regularly. I firmly believe that working for equality and justice is the most important thing anyone can do with her/his/hir life. I also believe that the journey to help others is much more difficult if you cannot first help yourself, so with that in mind, if you need to achieve some balance, love or light in your life here are some suggestions:

• At noon in your time zone, or now if it’s already passed, honor silence for one minute and reflect on what peace means to you
• Find a Yoga studio near you or find tutorial videos here to stretch and breathe and release your stress
• Explore the benefits of meditation and take a few moments out of your day to feel more grounded and centered
• Pray, if that’s your thing, or just wish well for all life around you in the universe–send out good vibes
• Contemplate the power of words after reading some peace quotes by famous thinkers, and choose your words carefully
• Check out Peace One Day if you need to be inspired by how much one person can do
• Watch the documentary Budrus FOR FREE to see what success in nonviolent action looks like
• Look for volunteer opportunities to help those around you here, or here, or check out idealist for volunteer and work opportunities doing good
• Surf through change.org and sign your heart away on petitions that really make a difference in today’s politics, then share the petitions on Facebook
• Support, through words and actions, the nonviolent activists demanding their rights in Palestine, Libya, Syria, Yemen and all over the world
• Peruse blogs dedicated to nonviolent action like In Women’s Hands, Waging Nonviolence, International Center on Nonviolent Conflict, and Peace X Peace
• Learn about Peacebuilding here, read Gene Sharp et. al’s brilliance here or go back to school and earn a Master’s Degree from The University for Peace
• Find an International Day of Peace Event near you to participate in!

Related articles

• My Blog for Peace; From Battle Parent to Peace Parent in the Autism World (autismandoughtisms.wordpress.com)
• International Day of Peace, 21 September 2011Message of the Secretary-General (eramara.wordpress.com)
• Blog For Peace (missingsparkles.wordpress.com)