June 23, 2004
Dear Secretary-General Kofi Annan,

We write to tell you about the Pause for Peace initiative, a global grass roots campaign for peace and hope during this time of extreme violence and suffering in the world. We want to inform you that thousands of people have joined their voices in this important peace effort: between Easter and Pentecost more than 36,000 men, women and children have paused each day, knowing that peace begins at home and with themselves.

The objective of the Pause for Peace is to take a brief moment at 12 noon of each day to reflect and recommit ourselves by saying: I renew my commitment to peacemaking in the spirit of hope. By pausing at noon in each time zone, the initiative became a rolling peace prayer all around the world. Participants have included school children and teachers, as well as alumni, associates, friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers and colleagues, all of whom in turn spread the word to their friends, neighbors, relatives, co-workers and colleagues. The ripple effect has been enormous - for example, one person wrote to her local paper about the Pause for Peace which printed her letter; others had the call for peace printed in weekly newsletters and bulletins. In fact, there is no knowing how much more impact the action will in reality have had.

Although all these people committed themselves to peacemaking in a personal sense, the reason for such consistent pledge is clear: from Australia to Zimbabwe to Venezuela to England, people want peace not war, people want life, dignity of life, and well being, not death and despair due to violence, poverty, malnutrition and disease.

“We the peoples of the United Nations” urge you to do everything in your power as Secretary-General to convince the Security Council and General Assembly that the peoples of the world want peace and a life in dignity. We beg you to help us break the cycle of violence and poverty. We ask you for peacekeepers with mandates that allow them to keep the peace. We beg you for sustainable human development, which is key to overcoming chronic poverty. Situations in countries such as Haiti, Sudan and Iraq are an opportunity for the United Nations to engage in people-centered action so as to demonstrate to the world the organization’s effectiveness in bringing about peace and stability.

On many occasions you have expressed your concern for the safety and welfare of all people, and you have asked us, civil society, to play our part. On behalf of all 36,000+ participants, especially the youth, we thank you, Mr. Kofi Annan, for using your moral voice to urge and persuade government leaders to bring peace and security to our world and our lives.

Congregations of Saint Joseph, UN-NGO Office
Daughters of Wisdom
Dominican Leadership Conference
Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, UN-NGO Office
International Presentation Association Sisters of the Presentation
Sisters of Mercy, UN-NGO Office
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, UN-NGO Office
Society of the Sacred Heart, UN-NGO Office