International Day of Peace?

International Day of Peace??

The International Day of Peace was celebrated across the globe yesterday on 21st September 2024.

Was this celebrated? I doubt it.

Is it being implemented or is this just a check mark for the UN??

On 21st September 2024, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uganda joins the global community in commemorating International Day of Day under the theme "Cultivating a Culture of Peace."

And hope for all it means focusing on preventing conflict propelling the sustainable. Development goals promoting human rights. And tackling all forms of discrimination.

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to designate the Day as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

The International Day of Peace, on 21 September every year, is a day when we "try" to make a more peaceful world for everyone. Whenever I hear or read the word 'Try' I more or less am convinced that it is only a unsuccessful attempt and not a closure. Because trying never works.

According to the Global Peace Index (GPI), the world is not at peace and is at a crossroads. The 2024 GPI reports that:?

1) There are 56 conflicts, the most since World War II?

2) 92 countries are involved in conflicts outside their borders, the most since the GPI's inception?

3) 97 countries deteriorated in peacefulness, more than any year since the GPI's inception in 2008?

4) The gap between the most and least peaceful countries is wider than it has been at any point in the last 16 years

Global Peace Index 2022 results show that the average level of global peacefulness deteriorated by 0.03%.

Is 2024 peaceful?

In the first four months of 2024, global conflict-related deaths reached 47,000. If this rate persists, 2024 could see the highest number of conflict deaths since the Rwandan genocide in 1994. The Global Peace Index 2024 highlights a troubling trend: the world is becoming increasingly dangerous.

Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Gaza–Israel conflict. Israel–Hamas war. Red Sea crisis.

Israeli–Lebanese conflict. Hezbollah–Israel conflict. Israel–Hezbollah conflict (2023–present)

As you must be aware the following nations are at war:

Myanmar

A civil war has been ongoing in Myanmar since February 2021, when a mass protest movement against the military coup turned into an armed uprising. The People's Defence Forces, a network of civilian militias, are fighting to restore democracy. The civil war in Myanmar is one of the longest in the world

Democratic Republic of Congo

The country is facing a protracted crisis due to armed conflict, economic crisis, climate shocks, and disease epidemics. The M23 rebel group's renewed offensive in the east of the country has increased the intensity of the conflict

Israel and Palestine

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is one of the most intractable conflicts in history, with hostilities ongoing since 1948

Mali

The Mali War has been ongoing since 2012, with three sides involved. Mali is supported by many countries, while separatists, many of whom are Tuareg people, want northern Mali to become a separate country.

Ukraine

Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, starting the biggest conflict in Europe since World War II.

I might have missed few other nations..

Who holds the primary responsibility for International peace and security?

The UN Security Council

The UN Security Council has the primary responsibility for international peace and security.?

So what are they doing? sleeping ?

Who is responsible for this?

Peace is possible, but, the nations of the world would really have to want it badly enough to prioritize it over nationalism, power hunger, etc. If enough people demanded it, it would happen. Unfortunately it is unlikely to occur while the "some abusive leaders" of certain nations who are in power do not want it.

What can we do "differently" to celebrate International day of peace every day?. When I say differently it means to adopt a totally different approach not taken so far.

One of the solutions could be when 'all the nations stop manufacturing defence weapons and destroy all their existing weapons' then we may say the world is at peace and is not?at war.

Can we do this?

Why not?

Instead of weapons, produce food, grow plants, nurture friendships, protect all living beings ( not just humans but also all animals, birds, creatures) then world can definitely be at peace.

Source and data:?

Global Peace Index survey ( GPI)

United Nations

Photo Credit: United Nations ( UN International day of peace)