I have just been watching a truly excellent film by a chap called Jeremy Gilley. He decided to make a movie about getting the UN to sanction a global peace day. Or, as it was hopefully to work out, a "Global Cease fire day" unde the banner of "Peace one Day".

It transpires that there was a global peace day which fell on the first sitting day of the UN General Assembly (second Tuesday in September). The original peace day resolution was sponsored by Costa Rica. Mr Gilley's quest then comes to getting the Global Ceasefire day fixed in the calendar (i.e. not a varying day). He travels the world gaining support. Costa Rica were initially bullish but drop out, the UK offered to co-sponsor, then takes it up as a proposal and get Costa Rica back on board. The resolution is passed. A global peace (and hopefully cease fire) date is passed as a UN resolution.

On the day of the last "variable" date of the peace day, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan is due to ring a peace bell and proclaim, from the UN headquarters in New York to the world, the new fixed "World Ceasefire day" of 21st September.

The morning of the ceremony was 11th September 2001. The resolution to move the date had been passed four days earlier.

I can't help but believe that the man that wanted to spark a Jihad, Bin Laden, knew that this was "the day of peace" and was adding to the symbolism.

http://www.peaceoneday.org/page/homeindex

21st September will hopefully catch on.