Every year on 21 September, the world pauses, or at least pretends to pause, for the International Day of Peace. It’s a day where we’re supposed to hold hands, sing Kumbaya, and imagine a world where everyone gets along.
Sounds lovely, doesn’t it? Except, if you’ve watched the current news, you might have noticed that peace is a bit like that one friend who promises to show up to your party but cancels at the last moment.
Still, the United Nations, eternally optimistic, established this day in 1981 to remind us that peace is worth chasing, even if it feels like trying to herd cats during a thunderstorm. So let’s unpack this noble and slightly idealistic occasion with a sprinkle of humour and some great music.
Johann Sebastian Bach: “Dona nobis pacem” (Grant us peace), Mass in B minor
Fixing the World
The International Day of Peace was born out of a United Nations General Assembly resolution, because if there is one thing the UN loves, it’s a good resolution. Back in 1981, they decided the world needed a dedicated day to focus on peace.
They had probably noticed that humans have a knack for starting wars over things like borders, oil, or who gets the last slice of pizza. The original idea was to have a global ceasefire, a 24-hour timeout where everyone puts down their weapons and maybe has a cup of tea instead.
By 2001, the UN refined the concept and fixed the date to 21 September. It was to encourage everyone, from governments, organisations, and even that grumpy neighbour who yells at kids for stepping on his lawn, to reflect on peace.
Augusta Read Thomas: Plea for Peace
New Theme, Same Arguments
The theme for the day changes annually, like a trendy Spotify playlist. In 2025, for example, the theme is “Cultivating a Culture of Peace,” which sounds like something you’d find in a self-help book next to “Manifest Your Inner Zen.”
The UN picks these themes to inspire action, whether it’s promoting human rights, reducing inequality, or just convincing people to stop arguing on the internet for five minutes. Spoiler alert here as the internet part never works.
A single day dedicated to peace is a nice gesture, but things are a tad more complicated. Still, the International day of Peace isn’t about magically solving everything. It’s about planting seeds, raising awareness, and maybe guilting a few political knuckleheads into at least pretending they care.
Antonio Vivaldi: Nulla in mundo pax sincera (In this world there is no honest peace)
Herding Cats in a Thunderstorm
Don’t get me wrong, the idea of a “day of peace” is adorable, like a puppy trying to solve quantum physics. We live in a world where people fight over parking spots, politicians bicker like toddlers over a toy, and nations spend billions on weapons and killing millions while claiming to be on the right side of history.
The cultivating peace slogan for 2025 almost makes for watery eyes. And yet, there have been moments where ceasefires have worked, at least partially. In some conflict zones, humanitarian groups use the day to deliver aid or vaccinate kids, proving that even a flawed idea can have a sliver of real-world impact.
Climate change is fuelling resource conflicts, inequality is sparking protests, and misinformation is spreading faster than gossip at a family reunion. The International Day of Peace feels like throwing a party where half the guests are arguing before they even arrive. But maybe that’s the point. Peace isn’t a destination, it’s a process.
Alxis Ffrench: Peace
Big Dreams and Small Steps
The International Day of Peace is a call to action. It means tackling big issues like poverty, discrimination, and climate change. But it also means small things, like listening to someone you disagree with. It will likely inspire some and annoy others.
Will we ever find a world where everyone gets along? Doubtful. Humans are too stubborn, too messy, too human. But that doesn’t mean it’s pointless. Every small step toward peace is a win.
In 2025, with righteous simpletons committing unspeakable atrocities every day, maybe the best we can do is keep the conversation going. The International Day of Peace isn’t going to fix the world, but it’s a reminder that we can at least try not to break it any further. And in a world that sometimes feels like it’s held together by rubber bands and hope, that’s not nothing.
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