Congratulatory Messages to “The
Gandhi International Institute for Peace”
October 2, 2012
The United Nations International Day
of Non-Violence
It
gives me great pleasure to congratulate “The Gandhi International Institute for
Peace” for hosting the “7th Annual International Day of
Non-Violence” and the 143rd birthday celebration of Mahatma Gandhi. My
sincere thanks go to Dr. Raj Kumar and to the many peace makers and interfaith
leaders of Hawaii, for their undying commitment to the movement of non-violence
---- to create a world where peace is profoundly nurtured in the hearts and
actions of all humanity.
Mahatma Gandhi said: “Non-violence is not a garment to be
put on and off at will. Its seat is in the heart, and it must be an inseparable
part of our very being.” It seems therefore only fitting that persons deeply
ensconced with the Aloha Spirit, are championing the cause of non-violence
throughout the world.
Mahatma Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence has
increased in its significance in our world today, creating an overwhelming
necessity for us to embody his ideals and practices.
The greatest social responsibility for our world today, is
to secure peace --- where we live in a world that is free of poverty and
hunger, profound human rights violations, hatred and intolerance,
discrimination and exclusion. In this world, men, women and children alike,
live a life where their highest potentials are realized and their life is
steeped with value and meaning. It is then, that we will live in a “Culture of
Peace and Non-Violence”.
As we are awaiting the grandeur of this new world reality –
let each and every one of us, in our personal lives and in the world community,
work to create peace through non-violence. Gandhi showed us how one person can
change the world. So let us all be so committed to “be the change we want to
see”, and step into our role for changing the world through embodying the
Spirit of Aloha with Gandhi as our mentor. Then surely we can live in a world
of peace and non-violence.
Mahalo --- for your vision; for your tireless work in empowering
the world to secure the inherent right to peace and non-violence for all; and
for spreading the Aloha Spirit throughout the world.
Truly, this must have been the longing of the Mahatma.
Dr. Elaine Valdov
Former Chair: Executive Committee of NGOs Affiliated with
the United Nations DPI
Director: International Peace Ambassadors and International
Young Leaders Vision Summit
" Only by establishing the culture of peace, our world can
be truly non-violent and peaceful making it a better place to live. Violence
only begets more violence both locally and globally resulting in unnecessary,
widespread devastation to our planet and suffering to humanity. The culture of
peace shows us how to face our challenges and resolve our problems through
non-aggressive ways, through understanding and dialogue. We need to understand
also that non-violence can truly flourish when the world is free of poverty,
hunger, discrimination, exclusion, intolerance and hatred.
Today’s
humanity needs to absorb the reality of non-violence as Mahatma Gandhi has
said “Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is
mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of
man.” To pay respect to Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy of
non-violence, to spread the message of non-violence and to raise public
awareness around the world, in 2007 the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed
2 October, the Mahatma’s birthday, as the International Day of Non-violence.
In 2012,
on this day, let us again express our determination to internalize the culture
of peace and non-violence as part of our existence."
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury
Former Under-Secretary-General
and High Representative of the UN