September 21, 2013 International Day of Peace
The day was first celebrated in 1982, and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups, and peoples.
On this day the United Nations Peace Bell -- "Long live absolute world peace" inscribed on its side -- is rung at UN Headquarters to commemorate the event. The bell is cast from coins donated by children from all continents except Africa. It was a gift from the United Nations Associations of Japan as "a reminder of the human cost of war".
In 2013, for the first time, the Day was dedicated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations to peace education, the key preventive means to reduce war substantially.
