September 21st is International Peace Day. The United Nations created the day, also known as World Peace Day, in an international declaration in 1982, and it has been celebrated around the world now for over thirty years. The 21st of September is a day devoted entirely to world peace. Nonviolence and a general ceasefire is celebrated and expected not just among nations, but among people in general.
The United Nations General Assembly originally chose the day to coincide with its opening session. September 21st is meant to be celebrated through the education of peace-related issues. The idea is that education and public awareness on issues of peace may bring everyone closer to the idealized goal of world peace.
At the UN Headquarters in New York City, the United Nations Peace Bell is rung to celebrate the day. The Peace Bell itself was a gift from the UN Association of Japan as “a reminder of the human cost of war,” and it’s made of coins donated by children around the world.
Every year a different theme is chosen. This year’s commemoration theme is: “’Partnerships for Peace – Dignity for All‘ which aims to highlight the importance of all segments of society to work together to strive for peace.”
The United Nations itself would not be plausible without partnership. In moving forward, achieving the Organization’s future goals would also not be possible without the much-needed support of other organizations.
So, on September 21st, “The United Nations invites all nations and people to honor a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.”
Even Burger King is joining the cause this year by proposing a ceasefire with their largest competitor, McDonald’s. They publicly proposed that the two fast food chains come together and make a “McWhopper” hybrid burger to be sold only on September 21st at a pop-up McWhopper location, working with Peace One Day to raise awareness for International Peace Day. They even created a website to propose their Partnership for Peace idea: McWhopper.com.
Having not heard an affirmative “yes” from McDonald’s — and at the interest of other food chains, like Denny’s — Burger King has opened up the idea to all of those who are interested, citing peace as all-inclusive. The new burger will be called the Peace Day Burger — available only on September 21st — and it will include a signature key ingredient from each participant.
Although fast food restaurants are not exactly warring nations, this proposal has exactly the right idea of International Peace Day. It is a day to put aside all differences and to come together. The day is meant to promote education and awareness of peace, and with Burger King’s media campaign set to beast mode, awareness of World Peace Day should reach new heights this year. It doesn’t even matter what the burger tastes like. When the purpose is to promote partnership, education, and awareness, it is sure to be a winner.
It will be lovely this year to see the #peacedayburger come to life and to see all of the awareness that it brings to people who would be otherwise left in the dark. As the Burger King video proposal below suggests, “Awareness creates action, and action saves lives.” Let us never forget September 21st as International Peace Day, and let us celebrate accordingly by the promotion of education and awareness.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e01a4-ClcTs