The School Day of Peace and Non-Violence was first celebrated in 1964. It emerged from Spanish professor Llorenc Vidal’s non-governmental, independent and volunteer pioneer initiative, Non-Violent and Peaceful Education. Its objective is to educate for and about tolerance, solidarity, agreement and respect for Human Rights, non-violence and peace. On this day, primary and secondary schools turn into instruments of peace and understanding among people of distinct occupations, races, cultures and religions.
The basic message of this day is: “Universal Love, Non-Violence and Peace.”
Furthermore, January 30th commemorates the death of the national and spiritual leader of India, Mahatma Gandhi, who was shot and killed by a fanatical Hindu on January 30th, 1948.
The Peace Bell
Outside the United Nations headquarters in New York sits the Peace Bell, protected by a Japanese pagoda. It is rung mid-morning on 21st September, followed by a few moments of silence in which to think about world peace. The bell was given to the United Nations by Japan in 1954 and is cast from coins donated by the delegates attending the 1951 conference of the United Nations, collected for the bell by children. The inscription on the side of the bell is in Japanese characters and reads "Long live absolute world peace".
