As URI Cooperation Circles make plans for observing the IDP this year, we will post them here.  We have previews of big plans at the UN in New York, and from our partners around the world in Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mexico, Pakistan, Peru, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, USA. 

URI at the United Nations.
The URI is very active in the plans for observing the International Day of Peace at United Nations Headquarters.  Along with Pathways To Peace and the World Peace Prayer Society, The URI works with the Department of Public Information to organize the annual student observation. Over 400 youth will meet Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Mrs. Nane Annan and the Messengers of Peace -- Elie Wiesel, Jane Goodall, Michael Douglas, Muhammad Ali, Anna Cataldi and Wynton Marsalis.  Youth from 4 Peacekeeping Missions will join the event via a video conference to share their stories.  A special presentation is being arranged by Monica Willard and Deborah Moldow to thank Mrs. Annan for her dedication to the youth of the world and to the IDP program since it began in 1997.  The program will close with a music and the World Peace Flag Ceremony, sending our loving thoughts and prayers to each country. 

Additionally, there will be a High Level Conference on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace organized by the Tripartite Forum, an open-ended consultative partnership of Governments, United Nations system organizations and civil society.  The URI is a founding member of the Forum and serves on the conference planning team. 

This year's conference theme is Interfaith Dialogue and Cooperation for Peace: Contributing to Peacebuilding and Development.  The conference will include Secretary-General Kofi Annan;  Ms. Haya Rashid Al Khalifa, President of the 61st General Assembly; President Abdolaye Wade of Senegal; Dr. Alberto Romulo, Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Philippines; President of ECOSOC; the Chair of the new Peace Building Commission.  The conference is designed to provide an Interactive Tripartite Dialogue that develops the theme.  

San Francisco, CA, USA.   
To honor this day of focused intention on creating peace, in partnership with millions of other people around the world,the Global Support Staff of URI are inviting friends and neighbors to join in a noontime observation on September 21. We will create a space of prayer and promise by sharing prayers & blessings, symbols & poems, songs & images, ceremonial Moshi Rice and other food offerings.