Peace walk for United Nations Charter Day
SOME 275 UN staff and delegates from 80 countries joined in the second Peace Walk for United Nations Charter Day, which was held on 25 and 26 June in the North Garden. By walking through a marked area of the Garden with their countrymen, in silence and re-dedication, they commemorated the 39th anniversary of the signing of the Charter. At the end of each lap, each participant, also signed a copy of the Preamble to the Charter as a symbol of renewed support.
Following the final lap through the Garden — during which nationals from all countries walked together — a closing ceremony was held on the Visitors Plaza.
Here, Sri Chinmoy led a silent meditation for peace, and representatives of India, Samoa and Zambia took turns in reading from the Charter's Preamble, To conclude the ceremony, a message from General Assembly President, Jorge Illueca, was read, a portion of which follows:
“I assure you of my wholehearted support in this effort to renew our dedication to the spirit of the Charter, and I would urge that we avail ourselves of every opportunity of this kind, both as individuals and as representatives of our respective countries, to re-dedicate ourselves to the ideals which we are striving to realize in our devotion to 'the principles and purposes of the United Nations.
“Peace is not a passive state; it is not merely the absence of conflict. It is the effective expression by all nations of a determination to create and continuously support a world of progress and development, governed by justice and understanding.
“We see the United Nations as a church of mankind, dedicated to worshipping the aspirations of men, women and children of all races, nationalities and political and religious beliefs for a better life ...”
Caption:
Left: Some 275 UN staff and delegates from 80 countries in the Peace Walk.
Right: Mr. W. Almoslechner, Austria, receives a copy of the Charter of the United Nations from Ambassador Jacobs, Antigua and Barbuda.
Published in the Secretariat News, United Nations Headquarters, New York, 16 August 1984