Working for peace

"Seek Peace and Pursue It" - Psalms 34:14

New years are reasons for changes. A new period is begun. Resolutions are made to make things better. There is always something new to start a good year.

After the damages wrought by two world wars, nations got together and formed the international organization called the United Nations to maintain world peace and security. Sixty-four years ago, on 1 January 1942, representatives of 26 Allied nations fighting against the Axis Powers (Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy and the Empire of Japan), met in Washington, D.C. to pledge their support for the Atlantic Charter by signing the "Declaration by United Nations". This document contained the first official use of the term "United Nations", which was suggested by President Roosevelt. Four years after, in January 1946, the UN General Assembly adopted its first resolution. Its main focus: peaceful uses of atomic energy and the elimination of atomic and other weapons of mass destruction.

On New Year’s Day this 2007, South Korean diplomat Ban Ki-Moon became the United Nation’s eighth Secretary General. In a speech after taking his oath of office, Ban said he will work to build "a more peaceful, more prosperous and more just world for succeeding generations". The 62-year old career diplomat has promised to make peace with North Korea a top priority. The biggest hurdle for Ban may be the fact that he is from a divided nation. How he will lead the other nations to deal effectively with North Korea’s threat is a big challenge for a person whose communication manner is perceived to be modest and quiet. North Korea’s totalitarian leader, Kim Jong Il, promptly responded with a New Year’s message that calls for a stronger defense, celebrating, at the same time, its nuclear capability. This action defies a standing Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty that was adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1996, then touted to be a turning point in the history of efforts towards nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Efforts to attain world peace prove man’s desire for quality in life to ensure his survival. The problem is that continuing human efforts to maintain peace and security in the world is marred by man’s equally inherent desire and ambition for power and dominance. Good tidings that set off the New Year was ruined by a mysterious wave of bombings in Thailand. God knows what retaliation actions from all camps will ensue. Saddam Hussein’s execution on New Year’s Eve as a penalty for his crimes to his countrymen was yet another reason for dispute and political division.

If only every individual will realize that every action he does, whether good or bad, will surely affect the people around him. English poet John Donne expressed this thought when he said "Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved with Mankind". We are united as mankind and we share the same fate for we all live in one world. An international organization like the United Nations cannot do the work alone. We must all do our share for peace. Let us start with ourselves. Let us continue to seek peace and live at peace with all men as much as is possible.