International Peace Day: Inspirational Ideas to Help You Celebrate

“The day the power of love overrules the love of power, the world will know peace.” – Mahatma Gandhi

Given the number of political, social and economic issues we currently face on a daily basis, the wise words of Gandhi have never seemed more pertinent. But how can we as individuals unite to make a difference on a local, national or even global level?

The International Day of Peace, also known as Peace Day, is observed worldwide each year on September 21 as a day of ceasefire and nonviolence. Established in 1981 by a unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day allows people, businesses, governments and communities to set aside differences and commit to building peace.

Join us and countless others who believe in a ‘do well by doing good’ philosophy by celebrating Peace Day tomorrow. Here are a few ideas to help you get involved:

• Take the #PeaceDayChallenge, which was launched by the United States Institute of Peace as a way to promote peace, raise awareness and inspire action. Downloadable resources, a social media toolkit, and ideas on how to get involved are available on their website.
• Watch a PeaceTalk, inspirational personal stories, ideas and solutions to resolve conflict and contribute to peace.
• Join the conversation on social media. Share your story by tweeting or posting for peace. Follow #PeaceDay, #IDP2017, #ForgiveForPeace and #TogetherforPeace to read how others are making peace possible.
• Observe a minute of silence/moment of peace at noon for those fighting and/or hoping for peace.
• Make and share a ‘recipe for peace.’ International Alert features delicious recipes from around the world because sharing a meal can ‘promote understanding, introduce us to new cultures and get people talking.’
• Explore the free Peace Education Resources available to schools and individuals around the world in the six official languages of the United Nations. The resources explore issues such as intercultural cooperation, conflict resolution and bullying.
• Attend a Peace Day event. Educational conferences, workshops, marches and community gatherings are planned worldwide. Consider holding an event in your community to raise awareness about peace issues that matter most to you if no events are in your area. 
• Make a donation to an organization working for peace and humanitarian efforts, such as UNICEF, Refugees International, the International Committee of the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders.

We live in a time when conflict, war, and uncertainty dominate the headlines. Now is the time to work together to set aside our differences. We must find practical solutions to a more peaceful world. So, tell us, how will you make peace possible?