Sri Chinmoy:
The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

Since 1983 United Nations delegates and staff have taken a moment from their busy schedules to express their hopes for world peace by participating in the Peace Walks…

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Introduction to Peace Walks at the UN

Peace Walks were co-sponsored by a number of Permanent Representatives to the United Nations along with Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations and were held on United Nations Charter Day (26 June) and United Nations Day (24 October) each year.

During these events, nationals of the United Nations Member States walked around the UN Rose Garden, each country following in relay fashion. They carried a copy of the Preamble to the UN Charter, in eloquent testimonial to the universal desire for peace. Participants signed a copy of the Preamble to the UN Charter as a way to renew personal commitment to its ideals.

Also, in observance of the start of the General Assembly Session, a contemplative early-morning seven-mile walk for peace began and ended at UN headquarters. Other events were sometimes organized to complement these activities. For example, many years an interfaith prayer breakfast followed the walk. These were held in the Church Center for the UN or Labouisse Hall at UNICEF House on 44th Street. One year a “Lifting up the World with a Oneness-Heart ” programme was held after the walk. Delegates and staff, including James Grant, the Executive Director of UNICEF, were honoured there by Sri Chinmoy. The event was held in the small park adjacent to UNICEF (now named James Grant Plaza).

All the events mentioned above sometimes inspired similar events in various locations around the world. See details below.

A partial List of events related to the Peace Walks and Runs include

1. Peace Walk for UN Charter Day – June
2. Peace Walk for the Opening of the General Assembly – Sep
3. Peace Walk for UN Day – Oct
4. Peace  Run from Lake Success – Apr through Sep on various years
5. Seven Minutes of Silence of World Peace  (Was Oct UN Day and Recently Sep)
6. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast for Peace – Sep
7. Encouraging Peace Related supportive events world wide (Jun – Sep – Oct )

 

More Details below

See Also Part 3-03 Highlight UN Anniversaries

There are see also related galleries bellow A – G

Members of the Peace Meditation Group at the UN Supported 7 Types of Related Events and Activities in various years

A. Peace Walk for UN Charter Day – June

Commemorating the signing of the United Nations Charter in San Francisco in 1945, members of the UN community, including delegates and staff members, walked for their countries in relay fashion around an area of the UN garden. They then signed a replica of the Charter’s Preamble in the spirit of the original signing. A final international walk and ceremony gave participants an opportunity to share their commitment to the ideals of the Charter. The walk was held on or about 26 June each year from 1983 through 2001 (not held 1993-94 due to construction in the garden).

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B. The Peace Walk – September (Honoring and International Day of Peace and Opening of UN General Assembly)

Held on the UN International Day of Peace* in September, and in honour of the opening of the Annual UN General Assembly, people in dozens of cities on six continents walked, in a contemplative spirit, for the progress of the United Nations in its journey toward peace on earth. For example, in addition to the early morning event held in Manhattan, the New York UN Headquarters host city, in 1999 peace walks were held in 137 cities globally. The Peace Walk was held annually from 1986 through 2001.

More on peace walk in Manhattan ;

If peace is to be found in Manhattan, it will most likely be at 5:00 AM. So some forty UN and mission staff and other early-rising peace-lovers chose 5 AM to embark on a meditative seven-mile walk through Manhattan on 20 September to celebrate the opening of the General Assembly and the International Day of Peace. In the uncommon pre-dawn stillness, the walkers offered a moment of silent prayer for peace as they stood before the gates of the UN, then headed north on First Avenue, bearing miniature UN and national flags and singing songs dedicated to world peace.

This third annual peace walk was co-sponsored by the Permanent Missions of the:

• Bahamas, Belize,

• Burkina Faso, China,

• Mauritius, Nigeria, St Kitts and Nevis,

• Sri Lanka and Yugoslavia, and by

• Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations

• in co-operation with the Sri Chinmoy Centre of New York.

• More walkers joined the group at various meeting points on the route and, by the time they returned to UN headquarters at 8:00 AM, almost 100 individuals had participated, including five members of the Permanent Mission of China who went the whole distance.Televsion crews traced the progress of the walkers as they made their way through the wakening New York streets, and the event was seen on the evening news.Following the walk, a prayer breakfast Was held in the Church Center across the street from the Secretariat

See also: https://www.srichinmoypeacemeditationatun.org/1988/09/20/1988-peace-walk-for-international-day-of-peace-and-opening-un-general-assembly-sep-20/

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1. Peace Walk for UN Day – October

Observing 24 October 1945, the date that the United Nations came into being, a peace walk was held in the UN garden in similar fashion as the Peace Walk for UN Charter Day as described above. The Peace Walk for UN Day was held annually on or about 24 October from 1984 through 2000 (not held 1993-94 due to construction in the garden).

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18. Peace Run for the United Nations – People of many countries ran together, carrying flags of their countries and of the UN in support of the United Nations work for peace. Not a race, the starting line for this 18.5 mile group run with police escort was in Lake Success, New York, early home of the UN Secretariat. After passing through Flushing Meadows Corona Park, site of the first UN General Assembly, the Peace Run proceeded to UN Headquarters in Manhattan. Participants were invited to run all or any portion of the run. This run was held annually, usually in April, from 1985 through 2000.

1999-09-sep-30-peace-run-lake-success-un-photos-1990s-need-date_Page_5.	pma-1995-peace-run-lake-success-to-un-ribbon-momento	1999-09-sep-30-peace-run-lake-success-un-photos-1990s-need-date
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17. Seven Minutes of World Peace – Initiated in 1984, people around the world shared seven minutes of silence for peace at the exact same moment on United Nations Day, 24 October, at the local time corresponding to 17.00 – 17.07 hours Greenwich Mean Time (1pm New York Time). The event sought to focus the world’s attention on the urgent need for peace in the international and interfaith spirit of the United Nations. It had no political affiliation or purpose other than to work toward and strengthen the universal human aspiration for harmony, peace and oneness among nations and peoples.

The local observances were sponsored by non-governmental organizations, United Nations Associations and others in cooperation with “Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations”. People were invited to join individually or in groups and to register their participation.

Inspiring examples of participation: in Sri Lanka, the United Nations Association organized Seven Minutes observances where over 70,000 people joined in 1986, and millions in subsequent years; in the former Soviet Union, in 1994, extensive radio and newspaper announcements inspired over 20,000 individuals to hold group or personal observances in 47 cities. This programme was held [years] …

Beginning in 2019, Seven Minutes of World Peace is now being held annually, with a revised format, on the UN International Day of Peace*, 21 September…As of 2019 the Seven Minutes for World Peace which ws originally observed since 1984 to coincide with UN Day 24 October was celebrated (for the first time) in various countries on 21 Sept. Seven Minutes of Silence for peace over many years also took place in various Secretariat offices one a week

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2001. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast for Peace – Held on or around the Opening of the UN General Assembly and UN International Day of Peace* each September, this event was held most years in Labouisse Hall at UNICEF House. Hosted by a different UN Ambassador each year, the programme included traditional prayer offerings by religious leaders of various faiths, Songs and music by Sri Chinmoy dedicated to the spiritual aspect of the UN helped create a meditative atmosphere. Sharing of a vegetarian meal followed. This Breakfast was held from 1986 through 2001. See also Part 3-09 Highlights – Interfaith Harmony & Shared Values

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1. Encouraging Peace Related supportive events worldwide (Jun- Sep – Oct )

From the 1970s there were many events around the world that the meditation students and friends of Sri Chinmoy organized, to call attention to the work of the UN and  related organizations like UNICEF or special Years like 1979 the International Year of the child (IYC). Such early public runs and bicycle relays were encouraged by Sri Chinmoy and  the meditation group at the UN. The resulting expressions of public support were shared with the UN community.  Please see also Part 3-03 UN Anniversaries for other examples of early activities.

Notes :

*The date of the International Day of Peace fell on the third Tuesday of September most years ,(which was usually the opening day of the UN General Assembly)  Some years that varied until 2002, when the date was fixed as 21 September each year by the UN General Assembly. See Part 3-03? UN Anniversaries for details on dates and history.

* fuller description is I Part 3-03

International Day of Peace – 21 Sept

Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September (An alternate date near 21 Sep in accord with local preferences and custom has sometimes been chosen) . The UN General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire.

Background

The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by the UN General Assembly. It was first celebrated to coincide with the opening of the General Assembly Session each year (third Tuesday of September). Two decades later, in 2001, the General Assembly unanimously voted to move the Day to 21 September  as a period of non-violence and cease-fire.

The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.

Peace Bell

One of the days the Peace Bell is rung during a ceremony at UN Headquarter in NY) is to announce that year’s International Day of Peace. Sometimes it is observed a few days in advance of September 21. The Peace Bell was donated by the UN Association of Japan in June 1954. The actual date for the Bell ringing event is adjusted based on UN activities planned for that time frame.

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  Day moved to 21 September for 2003 observance. It was previously celebrated to coincide with the Opening for the General Assembly on the Third Tuesday of September.

A/RES/55/28223  International Day of Peace The General Assembly, Recalling its resolution 36/67 of 30 November 1981, by which it declared that the third Tuesday of September, the opening day of the regular sessions of the General Assembly, shall be officially proclaimed and observed as International Day of Peace and shall be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples, … achieving the broadest possible awareness and observance of the International Day of Peace among the global community, Desiring to draw attention to the objectives of the International Day of Peace, and therefore to fix a date for its observance each year that is separate from the opening day of the regular sessions of the General Assembly,

1.Decides that, with effect from the fifty-seventh session of the General Assembly,(2003)  the International Day of Peace shall be observed on 21 September each year, with this date to be brought to the attention of all people for the celebration and observance of peace;

2.Declares that the International Day of Peace shall henceforth be observed as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence, an invitation to all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities for the duration of the Day; .Invites all Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to commemorate, in an appropriate manner, the International Day of Peace, including through education and public awareness, and to cooperate with the United Nations in the establishment of the global ceasefire.111th plenary meeting7 September 2001

UN related Documents

General Assembly Resolution on International Year of Peace and International Day of Peace (A/RES/36/67)

General Assembly Resolution on International Day of Peace (A/RES/55/282)

Seven Minutes for World Peace

As of 2019 the Seven Minutes for World Peace which was originally observed since 1984 to coincide with UN Day 24 October was celebrated (for the first time) in various countries on 21 Sept. Seven Minutes of Silence for peace over many years also took place in various Secretariat offices one a week.

A. Peace Walk for UN Charter Day – June

• in UN Garden
• (on or about 26 June)

B. Peace Walk for the Opening of the General Assembly – Sep

• (International Day of Peace)
• NY city near Headquarters
• (on or about 21 September)

C. Peace Walk for UN Day – Oct

• in UN Garden
• (on or about 24 Oct) 

D. Peace  Run from Lake Success – Apr? through Sep? (Various years to confirm)

• Lake Success original (UN headquarters)  to UN Manhattan Headquarters
• Relay and Solo Runs (people could join for as little or much as wanted

Other Related Events

E. Seven Minutes of Silence for World Peace  (Was Oct – now Sep?)

• Originally on UN Day (on or about 24 Oct) 
• some locations at different times
• Some staff had regular 7 min in offices

F. Interfaith Prayer Breakfast – Sep

• Around Time of Opening of General Assembly mid September
• In connection with (immediately following) Peace Walk for the Opening of the General Assembly

G. Encouraging Peace Related supportive events world wide (Sep – Oct )

• (walks, Runs, Seven Minutes for peace.

summary

Beginning in 1985, an annual Peace Run for the United Nations from the early UN site in Lake Success to NY Headquarters drew many enthusiastic participants carrying their national flags and the great blue-and-white flag of the United Nations.

WALK for the UN

• Charter Day

• UN Day

• Opening of the UN General Assembly

• International Day of Peace

Additionally, photos and news clippings from 1983 to 2001 document delegates and staff carrying a ceremonial Preamble of the UN Charter in a nation-by-nation relay of Peace Walks around the United Nations rose garden.

These heartfelt efforts continue to offer beautiful inspiration. People take pride in celebrating their own country’s uniquely uplifting contributions by participating in inspiring global events.

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Galleries:

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Gallery A. Peace Walk for UN Charter Day – June

•  UN Garden –  about 26 June

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Gallery B. Peace Walk for the Opening of the General Assembly – Sep

• (International Day of Peace) , NY city near Headquarters, (on or about 21 September)

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Gallery C. Peace Walk for UN Day – Oct

• in UN Garden . (on or about 24 Oct) 

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Gallery D. Peace  Run from Lake Success – Apr? through Sep? (Various years to confirm)

• Lake Success to UN  Headquarters, Relay and Solo Runs

Other Related Events

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Gallery E. Seven Minutes of Silence for World Peace  (Was Oct – now Sep?)

• Originally  24 Oct, Some staff had regular 7 min in offices

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Gallery F. Prayer Breakfast – Sep

• Around Time of Opening of General Assembly mid September

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G. Encouraging Peace Related supportive events world wide (Sep – Oct )

• Walks, Runs, Seven Minutes for peace.

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