Czech Republic young people give joyful expression to their wish for world peace and Harmony. The United Nations and the UN Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) are supporting the International Year of Youth and its theme of dialogue and mutual understanding, being celebrated through August of 2011.The slogan is “Our Year” “Our Voice”. In these clips you hear the voice of some European young people. We see many different Czech ways to express harmony: by sharing and passing the torch; making a wish or prayer for peace, by singing , and by some very beautiful synchronized gymnastics, marching and twirling (starts at 4:42). There is a playful spirit of games: guessing countries of international runners, shouting in mother language “harmony begins with me” ; running to the different continents and having a stamp to prove it. Adding to the shared experience, it increases potential of remembering this day and its theme. Planting trees in different locations involves the community in the long-term view of building peace and harmony and brings attention to the goals of the International Year of forests proclaimed by the UN General Assembly for 2011.
The World Harmony Run is a global torch relay, founded by Sri Chinmoy in 1987. It seeks to strengthen international friendship and understanding. As a symbol of harmony, runners carry a flaming torch, passing it from hand to hand traveling through over 100 nations around the globe. Sri Chinmoy (1931-2007), composed the theme song which ends “We are the Oneness and Fullness of Tomorrow’s Sun”. More news on http://www.worldharmonyrun.org.
