Friday September 21st is the UN’s International Day of Peace. The first Peace Day was celebrated in 1982; this year marks the 30th anniversary. The theme for 2012 is ‘Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future’.
From the UN web site: There can be no sustainable future without a sustainable peace. Sustainable peace must be built on sustainable development.
The message from the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reads:
Armed conflicts attack the very pillars of sustainable development.
Natural resources must be used for the benefit of society, not to finance wars.
Children should be in school, not recruited into armies.
National budgets should focus on building human capacity, not deadly weapons.
On the International Day of Peace, I call on combatants around the world to find peaceful solutions to their conflicts.
Let us all work together for a safe, just and prosperous future for all.
People around the world mark the day in various ways; observing silence at noon around the world, lighting candles, wearing white. The organization Peace One Day is holding a celebration in London featuring Elton John – you can watch it live on their YouTube channel here. In honour of the International Day of Peace, I would like to go all white for this week’s travel theme. I’m posting it a little earlier than usual, so that we can get as many white posts as possible up by Friday. Tell your friends, get them to join in too. Here are a few white-themed photos I’ve taken on my travels.
Up first, a snowy white peacock I met in the grounds of St. John the Divine Cathedral in Manhattan.
The illuminated curve of Washington DC’s Martin Luther King Memorial:
A very fitting quote from Martin Luther King, illuminated in the dark.
Finally, my favourite white photo of all time. Taken in Central Park’s Strawberry Fields just after a snowstorm; the Imagine memorial to singer, songwriter and peace activist, John Lennon.
If you would like to join in this travel theme in honour of the International Day of Peace, here’s what to do:
Create your own post and call it Travel Theme: White. Put a link to this page in your post so others can find it. Don’t forget to subscribe to keep up to date on the latest weekly travel themes.
Peace.
Correction: International Day of Peace celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2011. Although it was first celebrated in 1982, it was established in 1981.
Where's my backpack? 
This is awesome! Thanks for the theme WHITE
Thanks, scrapydo, looking forward to seeing your white post. xxx Ailsa
🙂
Here is my link to WHITE http://scrapydo.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/travel-theme-white/
Great photos!
Thanks Gracie. xxx
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Hey, great shots from your backyard, Elissa, those lilies are beautiful, and the idea of your white granny undies hanging on the line made me laugh out loud! xxx Ailsa
Yes, the granny undies made me giggle too!
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Ailsa, I love your white photos, especially that snowy white peacock and the snowy “Imagine” memorial! Excellent theme for this week. Here’s mine, from Santorini, Greece: http://catbirdingreece.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Oh how lovely, Cathy, dazzling whites against the perfect blue of Santorini. Really beautiful photos. That snowy white peacock was quite a character, he was all about posing for his photo shoot. 🙂
It’s nice he was so accommodating! Thanks!
I love the pic with the quote! So true and so real. Goodness. Great work! 🙂
It really is a great quote, isn’t it? xxx
Wonderful whites, Ailsa. Love them all, but especially the John Lennon.
Thanks ad, I’m a huge John Lennon fan, I had to include it. xxx
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I can well understand why the Imagine Memorial is your favourite white photo – it´s mine too, though all your photos are outstanding this week, Ailsa. Very appropriate theme for the International Day of Peace 🙂
Thanks, Marianne, here’s hoping we get a lot of all white entries for Peace Day. xxx
and here is my peaceful contribution to this week´s theme. Hope you enjoy it, Ailsa 🙂
http://eastofmalaga.net/2012/09/21/the-buddhist-stupa-of-the-eastern-costa-del-sol-2/
Oh Marianne, this is just so perfect for this week’s theme, a white Stupa, a symbol of peace and unity. I had no idea there was one in the vicinity of Malaga. Great post, and wonderful photos, the one with the eyes is my favourite! xxx
These are from the wrong season, but they are white: http://windagainstcurrent.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Love the peacock!
Beautiful white flowers, Vlad. and I adore the Housman poem from your ‘Spring Blossoms’ post. I love the peacock too, he was spectacular (and he knew it!)
What a gorgeous peacock, a real look-at-me white! You’re such a great photographer, Ailsa. I found this one in my collection from a trip to Paris a couple of years ago: http://soundslikewish.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/ailsas-travel-photography-white/
Love your photo, Trish, and your story of two very patient men. 🙂 Ailsa
Thanks Ailsa.
Thanks Ailsa.
Wonderful white photos and brilliant to link it to World Peace Day!
Thanks Gilly, looking forward to seeing your post. xxx Ailsa
Okay I’m back with my post but i forgot to say how much I love the white peacock!
http://lucidgypsy.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Thanks Gilly, he was quite a showoff 🙂 I want to move in right now to that adorable cottage in Devon, it’s lovely, and wow, what a spectacular shot of the temple in Rajasthan. xxx
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I’ve recently starting following your blog. This is a wonderful theme and your photos are terrific. Here’s my response. http://artifactsandfictions.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-photo-challenge-white/
Hi Suzanne, you’ve created a gorgeous post. That prayer wall photo is fantastic, and as for Picasso’s Dove of Peace, what a perfect photo for the theme. Really lovely. xxx Ailsa
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Great theme, I just LOVE the color ones, they’re probably my favorite. For this one I did something different than normal; I chose all the pictures from a single road trip =)
http://therewildwest.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/travel-theme-white/
Ailsa, LOVE the peacock and the Imagine memorial (I’ve been there too, what an emotional place)
–Love and Liberation–
Jan @ TheRewildWest
You’re right, Jan, Strawberry Fields and the Imagine memorial are very touching. Love your post, the salt flats are amazing, and Ronnie Lee is just so cute! xxx
Thanks, Ails. Unfortunately I went to Strawberry Fields and the place where John was shot when I was 14 and had no real historical appreciation for the man and his legacy, and it didn’t mean much to me–just one of those kind of, “Oh, that’s sad…..now let’s go to the Statue of Liberty!” kind of things. I know if I went there now I would probably bawl my eyes out. In fact I still cry just about every time I listen to Imagine.
Thanks for your kind words! That trip was very special, I discovered a whole new side (literally, haha) of California that was like this obscure Narnian place that now is in my thoughts and my dreams all the time.
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Love the peacock, so beautiful. Another great theme on such an important day. Thank you.
http://laavventura.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Brilliant, Jennifer, I love that shot of you in your peace t-shirt and the photo of the Madonna di Trinita is delightful. Superb quotes, too, just such a lovely post! xxx Ailsa
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Aah, Wanderlust, that lotus is just so lovely, and what a great shot of Ratnamali Cetiya. Beautiful post. xxx
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A great idea Ailsa! Love the white peacock! Here’s my entry:
http://perceptionsofareluctanthomemaker.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Oh Deepa, a terrific post, beautiful photos and a great quote from the Dalai Lama, but oh, that panda stole my heart. Just wonderful! xxx Ailsa
Wow! Beautiful shots !
Thanks summerfield84! xxx
Hi, how about the following post for this theme.
http://ensummerfield84.wordpress.com/2011/10/09/the-swans-comfort-weekly-photo-challenge/
Swans really are beautiful, aren’t they? Beautiful images, summerfield84.
Yes,they are.
Thank you for your reply.
Beautiful photos, Ailsa! Congratulations! Here in Bolivia, besides celebrating the International day for Peace, its also a no-car day (in preparation for Saturday, the 22nd), so, everybody is trying to leave their cars at home and PEACEFULLY WALK TO WORK. My contribution for this week’s travel theme is a New Year’s celebration, by the beach, along the Brazilian coast… and the tradition says: “Wear White to Bring Us All Peace”. Have a great weekend!
http://wp.me/p1oMvI-28D
Ah, wonderful, 3rd Culture Children, I remember this post from the beginning of the year, what a great way to ring in 2012. I love the idea of no-car day too. xxx
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Love your peacock and the theme for this week. Here is my entry. Thank you for your wonderful influence in our lives. http://wp.me/p23TG1-1lg
BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!
Aww, thanks for your kind words, Francine, I love your entry, that snow-laden branch is glorious! xxx Ailsa
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Awww, that elephant looks so cute with your sunnies on. How much fun. Really enjoyed this post 🙂
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Lovely, timely, and important theme. Thank you.
http://ronmayhewphotography.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white-pray-for-peace/
Oh Ron, this took my breath away. I can’t look at it without getting emotional. I take my hat off to you, Ron, it’s wonderful.
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An inspired and much needed theme to focus on peace. 🙂
So true, c & c. Peace one day. xx
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A nice theme…In my post I start looking for peace for my soul…
http://ilargia64.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Beautiful photos, ilargia64, and beautiful writing too, I love the part about peace for your soul being nearer than you think. xxx
Thanks Ailsa…I admire you…Looking through every post and always having something nice to say….I am happy I have found your blog!!!
I’m happy you did too 🙂
Nice theme. I decided to go simple to try and honor the day. http://frontrangescribbles.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Inspired, frontrangescribbles, I absolutely love it! xxx Ailsa
Hi
This is a sad tale with a happy ending.
Barquillero, the horse in the picture, was raised as for shows. Sleek and elegant he was meant for the light weight of race course riders.
But his owner went broke and he was sold to a tourist company in Andalucía where he was put to carry heavy carriages filled with tourists. The new owner was beating Barquillero within inches of his life when a friend of my wife passed by. To cut a long story short, she took away his whip by force , they had a mighty row and she ended up spending a sizable amount of her life savings paying for Barquillero¨s freedom. (And no she is not rich)
Now Barquillero runs around with other horses on the field and is crowned with wildflowers.
English is my second language so please; excuse the mistakes and the surely odd grammar
imagenesencontradas.com/2012/09/21/barquillero-travel-theme-white/
Oh Arturo, what a beautiful story and such a beautiful horse. Barquillero is very lucky to have friends like you and your wife. xxx Ailsa
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I especially like the photo of the “Imagine” memorial.
From Peru, here is my offering…
http://sinpolaris.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Oops, looks like you’re losing the battle, sinpolaris, that is one unhappy wall! xxx
The stark beauty of white against black is lovely and arresting. The composition of the second picture is terrific! 🙂
Thanks Imelda. xxx
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Here is my contribution to your lovely theme. http://adinparadise.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/ailsas-travel-theme-white/
White lions and white tigers, oh my! Great photos, ad, but those wonderful animals steal the show, how gorgeous! xxx Ailsa
All the pictures are so appropriate for this great theme, Ailsa, but the imagine shot is just striking. Thank you for doing this.
Here is my contribution: http://tahira007.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Wonderful shot, Tahira, and your quotes are perfect for the theme too. So glad you joined in this week! xxx Ailsa
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Hi Alisa, all your photos are powerful, and a wonderful theme. My photos in white: http://canoecommunications.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Really lovely series of photos, c & c, those birds are stunning, where did you take that shot? Love the excerpt from John Lennon’s Imagine. xxx
I photographed the birds in a garden in Florida.
Your photos are gorgeous — especially the peacock’s tail in the banner photo! Mine will be up soon. Have had fun selecting white photos.
Thanks Anne, I’m glad you’re enjoying this week’s theme. xxx
Pingback: White: In honor of International Day of Peace « the thirdeyeworld
wonderful post! Here is mix:
http://thethirdeyeworld.com/2012/09/21/white-in-honor-of-international-day-of-peace/
Oh Nicole, you’ve posted the most perfect photo for this theme. Beautiful to look at and filled with symbolism. Love the Lennon quote too. xxx Ailsa
Thanks Ailsa! 🙂
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