World Peace and Understanding Day is observed on February 23 every year. It is to promote harmony and goodwill among individuals from different religions, cultures and nations.
Peace is very much needed in today’s world. Does peace exist in Palestine where 30 thousand Palestinians are done to death by the Israeli army under the argument of ‘self defence’ and 2 million made homeless and chased out from their homes as invaders?
Does peace exist when farmers, who produce food for our sustenance, are crying for at least a minimum support price?
Does peace exist in countries where politicians whip up feelings of hatred towards religions of minority or ethnic communities? Does peace exist in families when, through a government’s inaction, wild animals destroy homes, kill human beings and devastate farmlands?
Does peace exist when inter-tribal groups are fighting to capture power and, in the process, conduct ethnic cleansing and mass murder?
The UN which is supposed to be the world organ for promoting peace in the world is handicapped. It is being imprisoned by the Veto-wielding big five countries who, as landlords of the world, are holding the world to ransom.
The USA’ s condemnable act of vetoing even the Security Council resolutions, which called for a ceasefire in Palestine, goes against all principles of humanity? It shows how a single powerful nation can make the world dance at its fingertips?
America has to sell its weapons to Israel to keep the cauldron of war and terror boiling.
We wish peace. We pray for peace. We also need to act for peace by condemning acts of terror, war and fascist fundamentalism.
