World Peace and Understanding Day – History, Theme, Contributions
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World Peace and Understanding Day [23rd February]
On February 23, 1905, Chicago attorney Paul Harris and a few others (Gustave Loehr, Hiram Shorey, and Silvester Schiele) met in Gustave Loehr’s office in Chicago’s Unity Building’s room 711 to form the first Rotary Club.
The Rotary Club’s birthday is February 23rd, which is also World Peace and Understanding Day.
History of the World Peace and Understanding Day
In a downtown office building in Chicago, Illinois, four men assembled for a meeting. In the year 1922, this meeting became an official organisation, and it was given the name Rotary International or Rotary Club. Because their meeting places would “Rotate,” they chose to name their club Rotary.
From humble origins, the initial Rotary club in Chicago grew swiftly. In the year 1910, the National Association of Rotary Clubs in America was founded. The Rotary Club of Winnipeg, Canada, was founded in 1910, and by 1922, Rotary clubs could be found on six continents.
The United Nations Charter was drafted with the help of 49 Rotarians, such as the importance of the Rotary Club. Paul Harris and other Rotarians advocated for the United Nations as a possible alternative to war. In 1949, Harris quoted – It is true that the road to war is a well-paved highway, but the road to peace is still a wilderness.
International Peace and Understanding Daycommemorate the creation of one of the world’s largest charity organisations more than a century later.
Key Contributions of the Rotary Club
In 1969, when Rotary International President James L. Bomar Jr. announced the Philippine poliomyelitis vaccine campaign, Rotary International was thrust into the spotlight.
Rotary International’s PolioPlus initiative was founded in 1985 to immunise all of the world’s children against polio. Rotary had donated more than 900 million dollars to the cause as of 2011, resulting in the vaccination of approximately two billion children around the world.
Since the project began in 1985, Rotarians have donated over US$850 million and hundreds of thousands of volunteer hours, resulting in the vaccination of over two billion children around the world. The World Health Organisation (WHO) enacted a resolution in 1988, inspired by Rotary’s pledge, to eradicate polio by the year 2000.
Significance of the World Peace and Understanding Day
The World Peace and Understanding Day focus on a few specific themes to give it universal importance, such as basic education, literacy, and equality, economic and community development, disease prevention, and so on.
World Peace and Understanding Day are celebrated to honour the formation and the contribution of the Rotary Club over the years.
International Peace and Understanding Day are celebrated to honour the founder of the Rotary Club, Paul Harris, and the huge contributions provided by the organisation for various causes.
Q. When is World Peace and Understanding Day celebrated?
February 23rd, which is the official birthday of the Rotary Club, and World Peace and Understanding Day is celebrated to honour the great contributions made by the organisation.
Q. What is the main aim of World Peace and Understanding Day?
World Peace and Understanding Day is a significant occasion to commemorate to promote a sense of unity and recognise the importance of peaceful life. The day is observed to restore unity in a fractured society and to maintain a peaceful dignity among groups.
Q. What kind of activities takes place to celebrate World Peace and Understanding Day?
On this day, a variety of activities are planned, ranging from arranging international speakers to inviting young exchange students, and international scholars, programs with former Group Study Exchange members, international discussion, inviting local community leaders, and so on, to raise awareness about important issues this kind of activities take place to celebrate World Peace and Understanding Day.