17-12-2001

Dear Miss Williams,

In response to the call made by the Nobel Peace Prizewinners to make a difference on the CNN program "In Pursuit of Peace". We would like to share a great idea that can help to shift the collective consciousness of the international community of nations and possibly become a significant step to restoring peace.

We have already suggested to the Nobel Foundation that we could actually rename "World Harmony Day" to "The Nobel World Peace Silence". It is the Nobel centenary and for a man who did so much to strive for peace, naming this international action after him would be a very fitting testament to his achievement. The exercise would be significantly strengthened if it were backed by the 24 Nobel peace laureates - an exercise that dove-tales perfectly with the cause propounded Mr. Colin Archer, Secretary-General of the International Peace Bureau.

Dynamic civilizations rise and grow because they can continually adapt to the ever-changing tide of situations the world presents. Strategies and ideas are therefore the engines of civilizations. Humankind now possesses more communications power than ever to generate and convey new ideas and yet we choose to stagnate in the same mindless, violent strategies that we have employed since we first evolved.

Now, more than ever, humankind needs new ideas and strategies to save itself from itself. Fear breeds stagnation and love creates growth.

The implementation of "World Harmony Day" is by no means an end all solution to the escalating violence but rather an uplifting start as the world unites with one collective voice with an action that needs no words to make its point. It will be a voice so loud that world governing bodies will have to listen. As Mr. Kofi Annan said,"To save one life was to save humanity Itself".

When CNN's Anchorman Mr. Jonathan Mann interviewed Mr. Kofi Annan in the programme "Prize for Peace", he mentioned that when Mr. Kofi Annan is upset, he becomes even more silent than he already is. Therefore, we can emulate this cool level-headedness as a silent power connecting with the world. This worldwide silence can be the catalyst for a redirection of the world's 'future history' and a concerted reconsideration of the age-old manner in which we resolve conflicts: Violence.

Whether we choose love over fear depends on our joint efforts to make "World Harmony Day" a reality. All it needs is your belief and support that it CAN happen and World Harmony Day will undoubtedly hatch a renewed sense of hope to a world that has had its confidence shaken to the very core.

Yours truly
Sunflower Chong