Give Peace A Chance

Namaskar!


“All we are saying is give peace a chance”, sings John Lennon. And I say, “Yes, it is certainly the right thing to do in the present situation of the world.

On the 1st of November, I attended the 4th World Peace Tour meeting organized by Universal Peace Federation in Iso Omena, Espoo, Finland as an invited guest and representative from Ananda Marga and Sunrise Playschool

It feels good to meet all the people who care for the peace and harmony of our beloved planet inspite of its crises and problems. These people come from different walks of life, sacrificing their time and energy to preach the message of peace throughout the globe.

One of main organizers of the Universal Peace Federation in Finland who was teacher in our playschool in Espoo, wrote me, “I know personally, through working in your playschool a few years ago, that you educate for peace and exemplify the ideal of living for the sake of others. Your work promotes universal moral values and I am sure that you believe in interreligious cooperation. These are indispensable for creating the culture of peace.”

There were about 20 people who attended that meeting from different countries and, in the other part of Helsinki, a similar meeting, also organized by the same organization, was also simultaneously happening. After the speech of the American Ambassador for Peace, I was given a certificate of New Ambassador for Peace together with an Iraqi Lady. After that, all the participants had a sharing of what they are presently doing in the own field of work for promoting world peace.


For those who do not know this organization, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) was founded in America in 2004 with the sincere intention of helping good people to find a way to work together to ’do something.’ Since that time, over 100,000 ‘Ambassadors for Peace’ around the world have signed up to the set of common, peace-seeking ideals promoted by UPF. These Ambassadors for Peace are social leaders from all walks of life – political or religious leaders, diplomats, people working in NGO’s, professors, business leaders and more. They all seek to promote the ideals that a peaceful world can only come about when (a) Individuals strive for moral integrity and a caring heart; (b) Families consistently seek the goal of true, rich, up-lifting love; and (c) Religions and people of good conscience build supportive networks and work together on peace-strengthening initiatives. UPF, therefore, stands as the first serious attempt by mankind to build a world coalition of social leaders around core religious values – beyond faith, political views or race – a coalition that is desperately needed if we are to solve the growing pressing problems that face the human family.