Dear editor:

Some long-term Niagara-on-the-Lake residents may remember the annual International Day of Peace (Sept. 21) being marked locally with a minute of silence at noon followed by the ringing of all our church bells. That was mainly due to the urging of the late Joan Moore.

This year is the 25th anniversary of the United Nation’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace.

Clearly, a lot of work needs to be done and in our town, no bells will be rung.

Everyone knows there’s a land war raging once again in Europe, and innocent lives are being lost there and in terrible violence in the Middle East and in Africa.

Perhaps it’s not too much for all of us to observe a minute’s silence on the 21st — just to think about what we might do to ease the world’s pain ourselves, or perhaps to say a silent prayer for peace.

We in the Baha’i community of Niagara-on-the-Lake remember Joan Moore with love and gratitude, and also — on Sept. 21 — remember an essential teaching of our faith, that “The earth is one country, and mankind its citizens.”

Hugh Church
NOTL