Report of International Peace day Seminar

Date: September 21, 2007

Venue: District Council Hall, Sheikhupura, Pakistan

Topic: Challenges to Global Peace

Mutual Advancement and Reconciliation in Society (MARS) celebrated international peace day on 21 Sep, 2007 at District Council Hall Sheikhupura Pakistan. 265 participants participated from the different professions of the society, teachers, Advocates, political leaders, community leaders and NGOs. The purpose of the seminar was to celebrate the International Day of Peace along-with the whole world and to raise awareness among the people about the basic root causes of the intolerance, impatience, lack of human values and causes that affected the universal brotherhood at society level as well at global level. Mr. Kamran, MC of the program said that, man has become enemy of his fellow beings; this is all due to social injustice. Mother Teresa has well said “Peace starts with a smile” but this is the tragedy of the present time that there is not inner satisfaction and due to this peace, harmony, smiles, tolerance, acceptance, love and brotherhood is vanishing away speedily.

Let us all be the ambassadors of peace, tolerance, harmony, acceptance and brotherhood to reshape the universe in its true sense. Peace is possible; when there is peace in each of us. Let us all unite ourselves in hand in hand for the solidarity of peace. Seminar started with the peace prayer by Professor Anjum James Paul Director of SHADOW.

Peace Prayer

O Lord open my eyes that I may see needs of others

Open my heart so that they need not to be without succor

Let me not be afraid to be the friend of the weak because of the anger of the strong

Not afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich

Show me where love and hope and faith are needed

And use me to bring them to those places

And so open my eyes and my ears so that I may in the coming day

Be able to do some work of peace worthy

Mr. Kamran, Program Manager, MARS welcomed all the distinguished guests and participants and invited all the honorable guests upon the stage whereby they were warmly welcomed and garlanded.

Mr. Shaukat Ali was the first speaker of the ceremony, he said that no religion teaches terrorism and violence and even it doesn’t come from religions it basic roots are exploitation at every level. He said that when people become a victim of exploitation they react as revenge takers. Therefore if we want peace in our society as well in the world, we have to stop violation against human beings at all levels.

Mr. Mushtaq Jamal Pasha Advocate, apposed the feudal lords and lands lords he said that these Earth Lords vex the poor and marginalized people. Today it is said that the world is under civilizations’ wars but I want to bring in to your knowledge that it is not a war of civilizations, it is a war of resources. Powerful wants to control the resources of the third world countries as in our society land lords and feudal lords try to take all the things in their control so that they can make the slave to the marginalized communities so that they just lead their lives according to their Lords.

Mr. Anjum James Paul, director SHADOW Organization and Mr. Peter Jacob, the Executive Secretary of NCJP Pakistan said that violence is a matter of injustice and violation of human rights. There is need to give rights to the general public and security to defend their rights if we want real peace in our society. For the promotion of peace culture we have to condemn all the non-human activities that disturb the general public, we have to stop and condemn social injustice and violation of human rights.

Mian Jaleel Sharakpuri the District Nazim said that Islam is a religion of peace and love, Prophet Muhammad “Peace be upon Him” explained the rules of war, He said that during war there should be care of women, children and sick people.

He is said that it is a best opportunity to share our views with the US President George W. Bush through his representative Mr. Bryan David Hunt Principal Officer American Consulate, Lahore. There has been problem between the Pakistan and US relations, when ever US demanded to support, we extended our four hands but we have lamentation with our friend country US whenever we needed that US support us it heaved its hands back and left us alone. I also want to bring in to the notice of the US government that if Pakistan did not support US in Afghanistan against terrorism war, US could not fight this war against Talibans in spite of all modern technologies. America should be thankful to Pakistan for all its efforts and support against terrorism war. He also said that if US government consumed all this money for the development of the third world countries many people could have quenched their hunger and thirst. They could be prosperous; we request to the US government, that it should play a vital role in peace building in the world through supporting small countries in development sectors.

The Distinguished Chief Guest Mr. Bryan David Hunt, Principal Officer, US Consulate Lahore, said in his speech that I am grateful to MARS Organization and all the speakers for sharing their point of views; most of the critical points for today’s event have been highlighted by the speakers, which I think are very important if we want to achieve the brotherhood of nations which we all desire.

20th century was the century which was dominated by the nations states, one in which the definition of peace was relatively very simple. The absence of war, the absence of conflict was recognized by the governments; during that period the United Nations Organizations and other international organizations such as ICJ by the international mediation worked for peace.

We are living in a situation whereby the world is confronted by the terrorist groups and other organizations which is disrupting the peace of the world among communities, among nations and among societies. If we are to get peace then each individual and groups of individuals to join and support the organizations which are working for peace building.

In my view, there are many points to be struggled that we are engaged in fighting against such terrorist organizations. Certain points which the honorable District Nazim has raised in his speech about the need to seek international peace and justice and to resolve the long standing issue. It is imperative upon all of us particularly upon the actors in these disputes to work for peaceful resolution of these issues so that we can move forward.

My view, however, about the 21st century is that if we look forward to progress we must place a premium upon our social and economical development for all communities so that we can look forward to a situation in which the progress by the Terrorists Organizations and by other violence actors is exceptionally difficult. It is my experience that lack of education, poverty, and lack of resources are the primary motivators that lead individuals to work tightly to continue to place premium upon social and economical development programs on broader demand of the organizations on community based conflict resolution; to look forward to finding a place in the global community where Terrorists Organizations results to applicable violence are extremely marginalized. Its my belief that no person desires to enter into conflict, no persons desires to give up his or her life for someone else’s dream of power.

The challenge for all of us to move forward together at community level, at national level and at international level is to keep the concept a social and economical development through a broader participation.

With these words I want to thank the MARS Organization for their work here today for bringing us together and giving us time to plan the strategy for pace. I congratulate all the people who have come here to enlightening the view and their participation on this great event. I look forward to continue to be able to engage with all of you for peace.

At the end of the program, Mr. Rockas Adeel, the director of Mutual Advancement and Reconciliation in Society (MARS) expressed his thanks to the honorable guests and the participants by saying “Distinguished chief guest, Mr. Bryan David Hunt, Principal Officer, USA Consulate, Lahore

Distinguished guest of honor, Mr. Mian Muhammad Jaleel Sharakpuri, District Nazim, Sheikhupura

Rev. Fr. Samson Dilawar, ladies and gentlemen, there are no words left for me to express after the speeches of the speakers and views of our honorable guests. I can only say let us promote peace, harmony, tolerance and universal brotherhood through our actions because only by these actions there can be the eradication of the challenges to the global peace.

I once again thank on behalf of MARS to our chief guest, guest of honor, speakers, our donors and all of you.

Participants in the Hall

Mr. Bryan D. Hunt with MARS members