[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 113 (Thursday, September 21, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Page S8959]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 138--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF CONGRESS THAT A DAY 
  OF PEACE AND SHARING SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH 
                                  YEAR

  Mr. WELLSTONE (for himself, Mr. Lieberman, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Moynihan, 
Mr. Reid, and Ms. Landrieu) submitted the following concurrent 
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 138

       Whereas human progress in the 21st century will depend upon 
     global understanding and cooperation in finding positive 
     solutions to hunger and violence;
       Whereas the turn of the millennium offers unparalleled 
     opportunity for humanity to examine its past, set goals for 
     the future, and establish new patterns of behavior;
       Whereas the people of the United States and the world 
     observed the day designated by the United Nations General 
     Assembly as ``One Day in Peace, January 1, 2000'' (General 
     Assembly Resolution 54/29);
       Whereas the example set on that day ought to be recognized 
     globally and repeated each year;
       Whereas the people of the United States seek to establish 
     better relations with one another and with the people of all 
     countries; and
       Whereas celebration by the breaking of bread together 
     traditionally has been the means by which individuals, 
     societies, and nations join together in peace: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) each year should begin with a day of peace and sharing 
     during which--
       (A) people around the world should gather with family, 
     friends, neighbors, their faith community, or people of 
     another culture to pledge nonviolence in the new year and to 
     share in a celebratory new year meal; and
       (B) Americans who are able should match or multiply the 
     cost of their new year meal with a timely gift to the hungry 
     at home or abroad in a tangible demonstration of a desire for 
     increased friendship and sharing among people around the 
     world; and
       (2) the President should issue a proclamation each year 
     calling on the people of the United States and interested 
     organizations to observe such a day with appropriate programs 
     and activities.

  Mr. WELLSTONE. Mr. President, I introduce today on behalf of myself 
and Senators Lieberman, Kennedy, Reid, Moynihan, Levin, and Landrieu, a 
resolution to designate January 1, 2001, and every following January 
1st, as a day of peace and reconciliation among all peoples of the 
world. The purpose of this resolution is to create a day of peaceful 
celebration across the world and in our backyards, as well as a day for 
sharing food with others whose lives we normally do not touch in a 
personal way.
  ``One Day in Peace,'' a pledge of no violence in our homes, 
neighborhoods, and battlefields, on January 1, 2000, was supported by 
over 100 nations, 25 U.S. governors, hundreds of mayors worldwide and 
over 1,000 organizations in nearly 140 countries, as well as the UN 
General Assembly. It worked and the new millennium was ushered in with 
a day of peace worldwide.
  At the same time, another event, The Millennium Meal Project, an 
international effort to use the tradition of breaking bread to promote 
peace and end hunger, was officially endorsed by the White House, 
members of both the House and Senate, the World Peace/Inner Peace 
Conference and the Jubillenium World Conference on Religion and Peace 
featuring 19 diverse faiths and went exceedingly well this past January 
1, 2000.
  Now these two initiatives have joined together in order to encourage 
people all over the world, through sharing of a special meal, to reach 
out to one another for ``One Day'' by creating an environment of peace 
and mutualism. Since the beginning of recorded history, breaking bread 
together has been seen as a tradition when people from opposing sides 
can sit down and learn about one another in a peaceful manner.
  Particularly we as Senators need to put aside our differences, on 
both sides of the aisle, to discover and celebrate our commonalities in 
order to prepare ourselves for working more harmoniously during the 
107th Congress to solve the critical problems of both violence and 
hunger in our nation and in our world. We know, all too well, that 
children around the world and at home are going to bed hungry, and that 
our children are often afraid to go to school.
  Let us make ``One Day'' a special time of reflection, to eliminate 
hunger and violence for children and families throughout the world, by 
sharing our prosperity and friendship with people from all backgrounds, 
beliefs and cultures. This day should be held high in importance to 
celebrate our diversities and differences, rather than emphasizing them 
as barriers between us.
  I hope this resolution will be adopted unanimously.

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