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? 
Here is my entry: https://ohmsweetohmdotme.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Peace, out.
Oh Allan, stunning. The main photo, and your header too, they’re exquisite. xxx
Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this event. I am glad that you like the photos.
Allan
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Thanks Ailsa, for making this today’s theme. Here is my post http://angelinem.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/international-day-of-peace-travel-theme-white/
Wonderful photo, Angeline, and very fitting quote. I love it. xxx
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Reisted the snow pictures, sheep instead! http://annarashbrook.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-themewhite/
Oh Anna, they’re so cute, and I howled with laughter at the mint sauce caption. Brilliant. xxx
Greetings from La Paz, from another ‘travel theme blogger’! Let us all have a peaceful weekend!
http://wp.me/p1oMvI-28D
Wishing you a peaceful weekend too, 3rd Culture. Hope you’re settling into your new surroundings. xxx Ailsa
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Another awesome idea Ailsa, very nice your shots, my favorite is the Martin Luther King Memorial.
Here my white shots…
http://max510.com/2012/09/21/weekly-travel-theme-white/
These are fantastic, Max, that cloud does look like a plane, how cool, and that shot waiting for the sunset in Sardinia is spectacular. Really enjoyed your post! xxx Ailsa
Thank you Ailsa 😉
The waiting for the sunset is in Sicily 😉
Hi Ailsa, a classic image from me: http://ingriddendievel.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Lovely study in white at the Ostend pier, Ingrid. I love snow! xxx
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Great theme Ailsa – never seen a white peacock – beautiful. Here is my entry – I’ll leave my snowy whites for another day….
http://shaanthz.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
I’d never seen one until that day either, Shaanthz. He was very special indeed. 🙂 I love your whites, the flower on the car door is particularly lovely! xxx Ailsa
Another great idea and thanks for raising awareness.
Here’s my contribution: http://50yearproject.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
And great peacock!
Beautiful photos and narrative, TBM, I especially love the flower from Botswana. Glad you liked the peacock, I can’t take any credit for his splendour, he just oozed fabulousness. 😉
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Great post! Thank you!
Here is my take on it http://joycannis.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Thanks Joy, I loved your post, a wonderful quote from Mother Theresa and some great photos – the white picket fence and the three crosses were my favourites, really eye-catching. And what a sweet doggy! xxx
Thank you!
Thank you for the theme of the week 🙂
The fence is my favorite.
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Here is my White Travel Theme: http://wp.me/p1tzBV-1GD
Oh Anna, a fantastic series of whites, the clams and the viburnum are glorious, but that last shot, LOVE in the snow, just spectacular. Great capture! xxx Ailsa
That was one of the very first pictures I took with my DSLR, taken the day after I received it in 2009. Didn’t have a clue what I was doing and was terrified of anything other than “FULL AUTO”. Glad I got over that!
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I love the way Imagine is cleared from the snow! Here’s mine for this week. http://ayearinmyshoes.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Me too, Livvy, the sight of it stopped me in my tracks. Love the shot of Cashel in the snow, ahh, the joys of white balance. 🙂
The first thing that came to mind for this very special post was the white Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor. http://jennifercrites.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white-for-peace/
p.s. Your photos are wonderful, and I hope one day to see John Lennon’s Imagine memorial for myself.
Beautiful and very poignant post, Jennifer. That image of the Wall of Remembrance is particularly moving. xxx
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I love the picture in your banner. It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Plus, the other theme photos are equally magnificent. Well, here’s my hurried entry ONLY because I love white.
http://s1ngal.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
I’ll try to post another un-hurried post [as soon as I get peace-related white photos, I promise].
Yaay, lovely, s1ngal, what mountains are those peeping above the clouds?
My first contribution to this weeks theme White. Have some more white up my sleeve. 😉
http://pictureperfectmemoriesforlife.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Gorgeous, Coreen, that church organ is spectacular, I love the angle of your shot. xxx Ailsa
Thank you Ailsa, 🙂 I struggled to get the shot. Need to invest in a wide angle lens.
That peacock is gorgeous Ailsa…and i love ‘Imagine’
Here’s mine for this week: http://jobryantnz.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/travel-theme-white/
Hysterical, Jo, I haven’t read the book yet and I’m pretty sure, after reading your post, I’m not going to bother. The wee doggie, on the other hand, is adorable! 🙂
Great theme! Beautiful images. Love the shot of the Martin Luther King Memorial, powerful message! Here is my entry:http://shareandconnect.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Yes, Amy, the MLK Memorial was a very moving place indeed. Loved your post, with the terrific Gandhi quote, and that top photo in particular looks like a haven of solitude. Gorgeous.
Brilliant theme and images again Ailsa! Imagine is particularly evocative and beautiful!
Here is my entry: http://theurgetowander.com/2012/09/22/travel-theme-white/
I’m having a moment of Zen having just looked at your photo, Madhu, it’s perfect. And the quote, where is it from? It’s wonderful. xxx Ailsa
Thanks for this theme, Ailsa.
http://imissmetoo.me/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Simple, beautiful and very evocative, Pat, lovely post. xxx
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A lovely collection of photographs and a wonderful theme. I absolutely LOVE the snow covered Imagine memorial. I have reprised some of my Canadian snow pics. Your post also inspired me to discuss the role of education in the creation of a peaceful world. Thanks, Ailsa. Peace be with you and your readers.
Here’s my contribution
http://cinova.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/travel-theme-white/
Wonderful, thought-provoking post about the role of education, cinova, and your Banff Snow Angel is glorious. I really enjoyed this post. xxx
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Great theme with lovely contributions. Mine could be taken anywhere – so it’s to do with travel (or not):
http://happyfulworld.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/travel-theme-white/
So evocative, stefanini – the photo and the words. I love your comment about wisdom not rage. Lovely. xxx
Great photos this week Ailsa. Visiting all the monuments in Washington DC was a very profound moment for me, thanks for bringing back nice memories. Here’s my contribution: http://sasieology.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
Oh Sas, what a glorious post – the photo is lovely, but your words make the spirit soar. I love the line ‘respect for the mountain and planet Earth’. Beautiful.
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Here you go. First pass at peace. Love the peacock!
http://quotidianhudsonriver.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white-peace-9-21-12/
Squee, I love this, Robert – oh, and I’m definitely a glass half full person, peace is breaking through, no doubt about it! Where was this taken? It almost looks like a subway station.
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Peace… http://firstandfabulous.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/travel-theme-white/
🙂
Ooh, you cannot beat the romance of a good snowscape. Lovely shot. xxx Ailsa
Here are two from our contributors. Not totally travelly, but work well for the white theme, especially the 2nd! Both can represent trying to find peace on a personal level.
White background and mask:
http://brokenlightcollective.wordpress.com/2012/09/21/solitary/
Haunting woman in all white in an abandoned building:
http://brokenlightcollective.wordpress.com/2012/09/20/intrusion-contemplation-escape/
Both beautiful shots, Broken Light, in very different ways. I love them. Peace. xxx
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Oh, what a wonderful and heartfelt theme, Ailsa! Thank you for putting it up this week. Love all your photos, especially the tribute to John Lennon. I’m a fan of The Beatles. Please check out my photo entries this week:
http://gatheringbooks.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/photo-journaltravel-theme-white/
I didn’t realize ’til now that we both started our post with a bird picture. How awesome is that! =)
Hurray for bird photos 🙂 Lovely series of white shots, the beluga is adorable and I love the spiral staircase shot. xxx Ailsa
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This is our first time participating in your Travel Themes. Thank you for doing this. I do love looking at everyone’s photography!
http://adventuresweseek.com/2012/09/22/travel-theme-white/
Hurrah, welcome to the weekly travel theme, Adventures, there have been some stunningly beautiful entries so far this week. Such a great way to see the world through other people’s eyes. Love your photo of the littlest tour guide, he’s adorable. xxx
Thank you so much!! Can’t wait for next weeks theme
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Happy weekend @Ailsa, Nice theme this week. I have some pictures for this. Here’s mine http://campanulladellaanna.wordpress.com/2012/09/22/travel-theme-white/ 😛
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Your head photo is breathtaking beautiful, white peacock with all his feather out – stunning. .. and I like the last one, If I have to pick I would go for the last one because it’s raw and soft in its beauty.