Children and ICAN Bury Guns on International Peace Day
ICAN Australia marked the International Day of Peace with a toy gun burial at a church in Melbourne, organised by Jessica Morrison, Australian director of ICAN.
"We need to recognise that all weapons — from nuclear bombs to small arms — contribute to global tensions. They make violent conflict possible. Peace Day is an opportunity for governments everywhere to take steps towards disarmament," she said.
ICAN's Tim Wright with children happy to bury their toy guns (photo: Adam Dempsey)
Every year on the 21st of September millions of people around the world hold events to celebrate the International Day of Peace - a United Nations-endorsed day for global ceasefire and non-violence.
This is not merely a symbolic day. It's an opportunity for governments and individuals alike to reflect on the threats and challenges we face, for direct actions for peace, "for letting aid workers access areas that are usually too dangerous to get to, and allowing refugees to reunite across borders,” added ICAN's Tim Wright.
Next Peace Day, why not take a stand against nuclear weapons? There are more than 26,000 in the arsenals of nine countries, with many kept on hair-trigger alert, posing a direct and constant threat to peace, human survival and our environment.
