Celebrating 2015 Int'l Day of Peace

STILL ON INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE

 

Hostility is unfriendly or aggressive behaviour/feelings towards people from other backgrounds. It can also be described as a strong opposition against an idea, a plan or a situation. In the same vein, conflict is a situation in which people, groups or countries are involved in a serious disagreement or argument which often results to violence; it can simply be defined as a state of complete confusion and disorder.

On the other hand, peace is a situation or a period of time in which there is no enmity, violence or war in a certain locality or country. More so, it is the state of being calm or quiet, or living in mutual friendship with others.

Hostility and conflict, or lack of peace, which has subjected mankind to a state of mockery, has indeed arrested the developmental thrives of most nations in the world thereby constituting a severe and uncontrollable poverty among the populace.

On its part, conflict which is as old as the world has succeeded in rendering the socio-economic growth of many countries incapacitated due to its cruel and dastardly nature. Conflict or crisis through the emergence of terrorist activities such as assassination, kidnapping, massacre, genocide and what have you, has not only brought endless anxiety to the people, but has contributed immensely to the degradation of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the affected countries. Above all, the dangers of war or the level of the post-traumatic stress disorder attributed to it cannot be overemphasized.

Statistics show that the root cause of several conflicts are directly related to valuable natural resources such as gold, diamond, oil and gas, diesel, coal, kerosene, timber, water and so on. Needless to say; addressing the ownership, control and management of natural resources or endowments is crucial to maintaining peace and security thereby sustaining an ideal development.

Surely, peace and security are essential foundations for social progress and sustainable development. Thus, we must quench the fire of extremism among us in order to tackle the root causes of conflict, because peace is definitely a long journey that we are bound to collectively embark on. Suffice to say that, we are expected to hold peace in our hearts and minds, and tenderly nurture it so it would grow and blossom.

Regarding the effect of peace to humanity, in 1981, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly through a resolution established the International Day of Peace. The Assembly mandated the UN Member States to observe September 21 of every year as Int’l Day of Peace. The first International Peace Day was celebrated on Tuesday September 21, 1982; the first commemoration was meant to coincide with the anniversary of the United Nations’ opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September.

In addition to the commemoration, in 2001, the UN General Assembly by unanimous votes adopted resolution which established 21^st September of every year as an annual day of non-violence and ceasefire. By this resolution, the United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and raising of public awareness on issues related to peace.

It is no longer news that, armed conflict causes untold grief and hardship to families, communities and the entire countries involved. Indeed, too many are suffering today at the brutal hands of war-mongers and terrorists. This is why, from the onset, we must learn to teach our children and wards the essence of tolerance and mutual respect. Let’s invest in the schools and teachers that will build a fair and inclusive world that embraces diversity; fight for peace at all cost, and defend it with all our might.

Therefore, from time to time, we are meant to sensitize our children, relatives, friends, colleagues, associates, and what have you, towards emulating the habit of the UN Messengers of Peace, or the likes of Princess Haya, Daniel Barenboim, Paulo Coelho, Michael Douglas, Jane Goodall, Edward Norton, Steve Wonder, Charlie Theron, Elie Wiesel, just to mention but a few, whom remain distinguished individuals carefully selected from the fields of art, literature, science, entertainment, sports and other fields of public life, who have agreed to help focus worldwide attention on the work of the United Nations as regards promotion of peace. These prominent personalities or icons volunteer their times, resources, energies, talents and passions to raise awareness of United Nations’ tireless efforts to improve the lives of billions of people worldwide.

The International Day of Peace offers people globally a shared date to think about how they can contribute towards ensuring that natural resources are managed in a mature and sustainable manner, thus reducing potential for disputes as well as paving ways for a sustainable future, which is no doubt the future we want.

Monday September 21, the world over commemorated the 2015 International Day of Peace. As Nigeria alongside the global community is still passing through the euphoria of the celebration, I’m using this avenue to call for a holistic condemnation of any form of hostility or conflict taking place around us especially the ongoing Boko Haram terrorism in order to sustain a formidable peace needed for both individual and national developments. Think about it!

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(TheMediaAmbassador)
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 
http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com 
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor          

Toward A Hazard-Free Atmosphere

TOWARD ACTUALIZING A HAZARD-FREE ATMOSPHERE

Both in the past and present, mankind have been bewildered by so many environmental hazards and challenges. Presently the worst of these challenges is mainly attributable to depletion of the Ozone Layer.

The Ozone Layer is a fragile shield of gases that protects the earth from the harmful ultraviolet radiation or rays of the sun thereby helping to preserve lives on the said planet.

A number of commonly used chemicals like halocarbons and/or organic compounds have been found to be extremely damaging to the Ozone layer. Halocarbons are chemicals in which one or more carbon atoms are linked to one or more halogen atoms such as fluorine, chlorine and bromine. The halocarbons containing bromine usually have much higher Ozone-Depleting Potential (ODP) than those that consist of chlorine.

The manmade chemicals that have provided most of the chlorine and bromine for Ozone depletion are methyl-bromide, methyl-chloroform, carbon-tetrachloride, and families of chemicals known as halons, chlorofluorocarbons and hydro-chlorofluorocarbons. In the same vein; the damaging impacts of organic compounds like carbon monoxide on the Ozone layer cannot be overemphasized.

The scientific confirmation of the depletion of the Ozone layer prompted the international community to establish a mechanism for cooperation to take drastic action to protect the Ozone layer. This was formalized in the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, which was adopted by twenty-eight (28) countries on 22^nd March 1985. In September 1987, this led to the drafting of the Treaty on The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, which was duly signed by all the United Nations Member States.

The fundamental aim of the Montreal Protocol is to protect the Ozone layer by taking severe measures to control total global production and consumption of substances that deplete it, with the ultimate target towards their elimination from the basis of developments in scientific knowledge and technological information.

In view of the steady progress made under the Montreal Protocol, in 2003, the former United Nations Secretary-General Mr. Kofi Annan stated, “Perhaps the single most successful international agreement till date has been the Montreal Protocol.” His views were shared widely among the international community.

In respect to the sustenance of the widely observed Montreal Protocol, on 19^th of December 1994, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly proclaimed September 16 of every year as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer. The UN annual International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer focuses on the importance of protecting human health and the environment in general.

The phase-out of controlled uses of Ozone depleting substances has not only helped to protect the Ozone layer, but has contributed immensely and significantly to global efforts of addressing climate change. This year’s commemoration of the Int’l Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer is calling for greater awareness regarding the Ozone Layer’s preservation in order to fully actualize the aim of this remarkable globally recognized crusade.

During the 2013 commemoration of the Day, which was marked with the theme “A healthy Atmosphere: the Future we want,” in his message to the world, the current UN Secretary-General Mr. Ban Ki-Moon commended all who had made the Montreal Protocol such an outstanding example of international cooperation. He went further to urge governments, industries, civil societies, and other partners to apply the same spirit to the other great environmental and developmental challenges of our time.

As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to celebrate the 2015 International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, we are expected to contribute our quota with a view to ensuring that we actualize an atmosphere or environment that is totally free from any harmful substance.

Nigeria as a country can encourage this annual event by implementing drastic and severe measures that would help to eradicate all the activities contrary to the preservation of the Ozone layer such as bush burning, inappropriate use of generators and other household mechanical devices, coupled with other industrial practices that exhibit Carbon-monoxide (smoke) as well as other substances that negatively affect the Ozone layer. A strict and formidable law, which ought to be enacted by the National Assembly, would help to rigorously address the aforementioned anomalies if duly implemented.

Most importantly, it is worth noting that all hands are equally expected to be on deck towards the actualization of a country/society completely free from any form of environmental hazard or degradation. Think about it!

 

 COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR

(TheMediaAmbassador)
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 
http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com  
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor 

  

 

2015 Int'l Day of Democracy

CLARION CALL FOR HOLISTIC ERADICATION OF CORRUPTION AS THE WORLD MARKS THE 2015 INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 15

Everyone detests with passion seeing his/her voice or speech swept under the carpet. In the same vein, it’s extremely painful and devastating for one to be deprived of his freedom of speech in any circumstance or arena he finds himself. And, this characteristic known as ‘Freedom of Speech’ remains the most distinct feature finds in democracy.

According to BBC English Dictionary, democracy is ‘a system of government or organization in which the citizens or members choose leaders or make other important decisions by voting.’ The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary defines it as ‘a fair and equal treatment of everyone in an organization or any group of persons, and their right to take part in making decisions’.

In Political Science, democracy is referred to as ‘the government of the people, by the people, and for the people.’ Furthermore, democracy could be described as the slogan or anthem of a certain organization that is being cited or sung, and understood by the entire members of the organization or union.

Frankly, democracy of any country is the prerogative of the people that make-up the country; therefore ought to be duly sustained because it’s no doubt a welcome development. This implies that any democratic state is expected to be fiercely safeguarded at all cost owing to the fact that any practice that gives peace to those concerned requires adequate sustenance.

It is appalling that in most developing nations such as Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Rwanda, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Kenya, and what have you, democracy has suffered from enormous maltreatment due to corruption. Without mincing words, corruption has remained a blood-sucking cankerworm in the democratic dispensation of numerous countries in the world to include the aforementioned ones.

Corruption has indeed hampered the socio-economic and political growth of several nations thereby constituting nuisance to the available human and natural resources of the nations in question. Surely, the various lingering uncalled, bilious and questionable attitudes such as personal aggrandizement, nepotism, election rigging, abuse of human rights and rule of law, misappropriation of public funds as well as impunity of most public/political office holders in a country like Nigeria is solely attributed to corruption. In a nutshell, unequivocally, corruption has obviously rendered so many countries incapacitated, all in the name of ‘democracy’.

Democracy is a universal value based on the freely expressed will of people to determine their own political, economic, social and cultural systems, and their full participation in all aspects of their lives. On the contrary, Nigeria as a country has failed to uphold this philosophy. This is why the youth are no longer the major dominance of the country’s political arena as it was during the postcolonial era.

In spite of Nigeria’s bureaucratic nature, the youth cannot boast of at least twenty percent (20%) participation in her political strive. Rather, the old men who started the game have vowed to die in service thereby endangering thorough participation of the youth that are regarded as the most productive class, which is purely contrary to the mandate of the United Nations. These and many more factors presently found in the seemingly democratic setting of many nations in the world are products of corruption.

Tuesday September 15, the world over commemorated the 2015 International Day of Democracy. The Day, which is annually celebrated, was adopted on November 8, 2007 by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. In its resolution in 2007, the General Assembly, which believes that human rights and the rule of law are best protected in democratic societies, encouraged governments to strengthen national programmes devoted to the promotion and consolidation of democracy and also decided that 15^th of September of each year should be observed as the International Day of Democracy.

The International Day of Democracy was first celebrated in the year 2008. The UN General Assembly recognized that the year 2008 marked the 20^th anniversary of the first International Conference of New or Restored Democracies, which gave people a chance to focus on promoting and consolidating democracy worldwide. The event which featured various activities was used to raise public awareness about democracy.

As Nigeria joins the global community to commemorate the International Day of Democracy, we are expected to join hands in the ongoing crusade that is targeted towards eradication of corruption, which has eaten deep in our democratic bone marrow, as being led by President Mohammadu Buhari. Similarly, there’s also an urgent need for us to ensure that our young ones are given the opportunity to effectively participate in the country’s democratic dispensation. Thus, we ought to endeavour to highlight the challenges and opportunities of young people engaging in democratic processes.

Survey indicates that people between the ages of 18 and 30 constitute a fifth of the world’s population; yet, several studies show declining faith among the said set of people in politics, with decreasing levels of participation in elections, political parties and socio-cultural organizations across the globe. This apathy applies to both established and emerging democratic states.

To this end, I’m candidly calling on the civil society and all concerned institutions cum individuals for total eradication of corruption in our democratic system through sensitization of the youth as well as promotion of freedom of speech among the electorates; so that, the citizenry of the contemporary Nigerian society shall live to benefit the real dividend of democracy. Don’t forget; for the fight against corruption to be holistic, all hands must be on deck as long as it lasts. Think about it!  

 

COMR FRED DOC NWAOZOR
(The Media Ambassador)
Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research
& Career Development - Owerri

_____________________________________

frednwaozor@gmail.com

+2348028608056 
http://frednwaozor.blogspot.com
Twitter: @fdnnwaozor