[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF A RESOLUTION URGING OBSERVANCE OF GLOBAL FAMILY DAY

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                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2003

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased today to introduce the Global 
Family Day Resolution.
  For several years leading up to the turn of the new millennium, a 
small group of children and mothers patiently petitioned the Congress 
and the United Nations, asking that a special day of peace and sharing 
be established and celebrated on January 1, 2000--a day without 
violence, a day when citizens and nations would lay down their arms and 
extend their hands in friendship and caring for all the peoples of the 
earth. This would be a day when all people regardless of race, culture, 
religion or economic status might celebrate life on earth together.
  ``One Day in Peace January 1, 2000'' as designated by the United 
Nations General Assembly, and supported by a thousand organizations, a 
hundred governments, and twenty-five U.S. governors, did indeed become 
a day of peace, a twenty-four hour period in which violence was rare 
and kindness and cooperation commonplace.
  Despite the very real dangers of riot, terrorism, out-of-control 
celebrants, and panic over expected failure of computer systems 
worldwide, through cooperation and responsible actions by nearly every 
nation and literally billions of individuals, the first day of the 
2000's also became the world's first deliberate day of peace.
  Noting that rare accomplishment, in 2000, the 106th Congress 
unanimously recommended that every year begin with a day of peace and 
sharing, and asked that the President annually lead in promoting its 
observance.
  Late in 2001, the United Nations General Assembly also recommended 
that all member nations and all the peoples of the world join in its 
commemoration.
  Following the tragedy of 9/11, Congressional leaders joined me in 
requesting that the President issue his annual proclamation early that 
year, in order that Americans and others around the world could 
prepare, with food drives and pledges of nonviolence, for a celebration 
intended to help reduce both hate and hunger, locally and globally. 
However, citing the ongoing conflict in Afghanistan at the time, the 
White House declined.
  At this time of intense international tensions, a time when 
Americans' true motives are misunderstood around the world and 
escalating conflicts threaten, we again implore the President to take a 
leadership position in the promulgation of One Day in Peace, now to be 
known as Global Family Day.
  For as long as half of our human family must live on less than two 
dollars a day, as long as innocent civilians are dying in Iraq and 
disease devastates Africa, as long as children are starving in North 
Korea or go hungry in American schools, we know there is room for 
improvement in our global family values. And that is what Global Family 
Day was created to do.
  I ask all members to join me in supporting this cause.

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