on
Friday, 21 September 2007
Vienna International Centre (VIC)
Memorial Plaza
To mark the International Day of Peace, UNIS Vienna organized a commemorative event in the Memorial Plaza of the Vienna International Centre. The event began with a dance performance of ca. 70 children from the VIC pre-school, aged 3-5 and representing around 50 different nations. The children performed a peace dance, featuring peace doves, balloons and a white scarf, to live accordion music by the pre-school's director Ms Sylvia Hartl. The older children had also written the word 'peace' in different languages on cards suspended from the balloons. The performance was a beautiful and very touching visual and symbolic spectacle. Blue and white balloons and children's voices filled the bright autumn day, sending their own message of peace. Each child received a balloon as a thank you.
Around 25 pupils (aged 16-17) of the Vienna Business School, Schoenborngasse, also participated and 16-year old Adriana T. read out a message which had been written by the class. In it, the pupils said: "Peace must be the result of diplomacy, negotiations and ... conventions -- not of war and fight. [...] Our vision of worldwide peace may still be utopian, but we will do our best to contribute to peace on our planet."
Following the recitals, 14-year old Katharina Z. who attends a high school in Vienna, read out the Secretary-General's message. Katharina impressed everyone with her clear and confident delivery.
Participants were then invited to observe a minute's silence, as per the Secretary-General's request. At the end of the ceremony, the Peace Bell was rung, first by Katharina Z., followed by the other children and eventually staff members and other participants.
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