Interns of the Vienna based UN organizations made a special contribution to the celebrations when organizing a football match with just one goal: Peace. The event was organized with the support of UNIS Vienna and the NGO "Peace One Day" with the motto "One Day One Goal".
To mark the International Day of Peace 2010, UNIS Vienna hosted a commemorative event jointly organized with the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna on 21 September in the Vienna International Centre (VIC).
The highlight of the event was a performance by the Vienna section of the World Peace Choir, which is comprised of 20 boys and girls from the primary school of the famous Vienna Boy's Choir ("Wiener Sängerknaben"). The songs performed matched the dedication of the 2010 International Day of Peace to young people and included "For the children" by Jay Althouse and "Heidenröslein" by Heinrich Werner, as well as "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen.
In his opening remarks Maher Nasser, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, welcomed the over 100 guests from the diplomatic community, the Confucius Institute - University of Vienna, families of the performing children, civil society representatives, media and staff and provided a historic overview of the International Day of Peace and why this year's observance is dedicated to young people. "This year's theme captures the link between youth, peace and development. Peace enables development which is crucial to provide the future to young people, especially those in countries emerging from conflict", he added. Mr. Nasser also made reference to this week's summit at the UN HQ in New York on the Millennium Development Goals and echoed Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's call for young and old people to join forces to find global solutions to global problems and to share plans and ideas to help in the fight for peace and prosperity for all.
Prof. Richard Trappl, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Vienna, spoke about the idea behind establishing the World Peace Choir which is focused on bringing young people of different cultures together through the global understanding and joy of music. "The choir unites 300 children from different countries and continents. They remind us we are all members of the family of nations with an obligation to preserve the living conditions on earth for future generations."
Dr. Klaus Renoldner, Chairperson of the NGO committee on Peace Vienna reminded everyone that peace is not just the absence of war, but a creative way of living together in respect of human rights. Eradication of hunger and poverty, as laid out in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that world leaders are currently discussing in New York, is at the basis of this vision.
The children of the Bertha von Suttner school in Vienna also sent colorful drawings depicting how they saw peace and these were on exhibit during the event in the Vienna International Centre (VIC).
The event was concluded at the Peace Bell near the Memorial Plaza at the VIC where children released white doves representing peace and took turns to ring the Peace Bell.
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