MESSAGES OF PEACE. INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE.
We asked Peacebuilders around the world to mark International Day of Peace this September by sharing messages of peace. These are there messages:
Dishani: Sri Lanka
“When I was 14 years old, during the 1983 riots, I witnessed Sinhalese Buddhist youth engaged in violent actions against Tamils, including murder. Later as I became older and wiser, I realised it was not their choice. Their elders who led them used them as pawns to get political advantage. When I was 21 I witnessed bodies burning on the roadside, some were my friends from university. Some youth killed their own teachers in the name of freedom and liberation. This was during the 1989 JVP insurgences, when Sinhalese youth took arms against the state. From the earliest day I can remember I have witnessed young people holding weapons; when they should have been holding pens, roses or a bat and a ball. From the age of 14, I have witnessed freedom fighters dying in the name of liberty. Their eyes were so bright, honest and hopeful. From the day I could connect with and understand politics, I have witnessed the potential of youth to accept and deal with brutal truth, with honesty. BUT we didn’t have any place or the space to capitalise on this, for a positive Social Change through Non-violence. My dream is to create that space to capitalise on honesty, creativity, fresh energy and courage to deal with the brutal truth.”
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Rasha: Sudan
“Like all Sudanese peace builders, I am hoping to live in peace for the whole country so that we live better and our kids could also live better. There is nobody in Sudan who did not suffer from war, we are all being affected by war in one way or another so if we can do something in a peaceful way; why not? This is simply how I feel.
Many donors provide funds to Sudan – but almost all of this is used to respond to the effects of conflict, if we peacebuilders can succeed in preventing conflict, then this money could be used for development.
My hopes for the future are peace, democracy, the empowerment of women and the unity of Sudan”
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Henri: DRC
“We must achieve our vision and mission – to build a world of peace, love and non violence, to transform the conflict from its negative aspects to positive, and to see people living in harmony with their differences
I hope in the next five years we will continue to grow so that we are fully prepared to respond to disaster if it does happen and so that we can pass on our experience and knowledge to help people manage disaster and ultimately so that we are able to prevent disaster before it happens,”
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