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? 
Lovely shots, Ailsa and and worthy post – here’s my contribution. http://lynneayersbeyondthebrush.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/international-day-of-peace/
Pingback: Travel Theme: White | breathofgreenair
Here is my entry:
http://davidrwetzelphotography.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/travel-theme-white/
Pingback: TRAVEL THEME: WHITE « mywordwall
Hi Ailsa. 🙂
Here’s my entry: http://mywordwall.wordpress.com/2012/09/24/travel-theme-white/
Great theme!
Pingback: Travel Theme: A Dusting of WHITE | Serendipity 13
Pingback: Travel theme: white (2) | eljaygee
Pingback: Travel Theme: White | Etol Thoughts
Here’s my entry for this week. Didn’t have any picture of peace white. In Brazil it’s an habit to dress in white at New Year’s eve to bring peace in the year that is starting. But It’s been a while since I last spend New Year’s Eve down there, so no pictures of a bunch of prople in white to ask for peace. Too bad, as such a picture would fit perfectly into the theme. Oh well… At least I posted real travel pictures ;o)
Pingback: travel theme: white « bob's wife
great photos, vividly beautiful 🙂
here is my take on the challenge, thanks: http://alwaysbobswife.wordpress.com/2012/09/26/travel-theme-white/
Pingback: Travel Theme: White Cattleya Orchid | Ron Mayhew Photography
I tried several times to comment on your solitary post but there were some glitches. I just want to let you know that I love your post of the banyan tree, and the interpretation. I have similar interests as yours. i also like your white post. I took a similar pix in Beijing too some years ago.
If you are interested seeing my two solitary posts, here ‘s my blog.
http://speakingabouttravel2.wordpress.com/
hi ailsa, here’s my entry for the weekly travel theme: white..
thanks for the inspiration.
Ooh, white parasols in Shangri-la, how wonderful, starlight
thank you 🙂
Hi! White is harder than other colors…some of these are inching off towards white, and some are disappearing into the light…thank you for the challenges – so much fun –
http://bluebrightly.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/weekly-travel-theme-white/
Stunning images, bluebrightly, that third one of PS1 is extraordinary. xx
Josh here from the Blinkpack blog. Thanks so much for stopping by. Your blog is really clever, and I enjoyed your color themes very much. Happy trails!
Happy trails right back, Josh, looking forward to sharing travel tales!
Pingback: Travel Theme: White « Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches
Lovely shot of the lighthouse, and such a wonderful quote! xxx
How stunning is that White Peacock Ailsa! Am just back from a trip, and now, complete with working ‘fullstop’ I can post my take on your White Travel -Theme here’s hoping I can do the link 🙂 Thank you
http://poppytump.wordpress.com/2012/09/28/travel-theme-white/
Squee, such a cutie!
Gosh, how can I have missed this? Silly me…..
You have gorgeous themes, and it is my pleasure to follow!
Thanks again for reminding me 🙂
Yaay, thanks LightHouseBlues. 🙂
Pingback: Travel Theme: White | Regina Savy
Famous white! http://reginasavy.wordpress.com/2012/09/30/travel-theme-white/
Beautiful, Regina! xxx
The banner is awesome.
Thanks YellowCable, he just oozed awesomeness, so I can’t take much credit! 😉
Ailsa,
Love your travel themed photos. Beautiful photography!
Thanks so much, Mary, glad you enjoyed them. xxx Ailsa
Beautiful whites! Especially the peacock in the cover photo, WOW! Thank you for the Like, you have a wonderful blog.
Yaay, thanks so much, gleaningthenuggets, really enjoyed your post, glad we found each other in the blogosphere! xxx
Your theme categories in posts work very well. I like how you string the prose along with the theme too. Hope to stay in contact! Thanks for checking out Grand Adventures!
Thanks, northerneaglet, I enjoyed your site, hope you join in the travel theme one of these weeks! 🙂 Ailsa
Really interesting choice of photos, Ailsa! Beautiful post.
I had never seen a white peacock before – Interesting photos. Thanks for visiting my blog too.
Thanks for this post,your pictures are lovely.
Hey, love your photos. I’ll try to get some ‘whites’ but can’t promise.
What a beautiful header photo. Thank you for the like of my Weekly Photo Challenge post representing “Big”
Pingback: Imagine all the people living life in peace « FrontRangeScribbles