This morning saw the US Team finish their 10,000 mile four month 50 state relay at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza in Manhattan, New York.

US Team Captain, Atulya Lee Berube, lit the cauldron before observing 30 seconds of silence in recognition of a tradition set by the founder, Sri Chinmoy.

Executive Director, Salil Wilson from Australia, welcomed the guests from the diplomatic and United Nations community.

As well as representatives from many of the participating countries some of whose regional runs are still now in progress.

We then had a parade of nations -

Pranlobha Kalagian (pictured) represented Mongolia where she had joined the Asian Team as they made their way from Hiroshima, Japan, to finish in Moscow, Russia in September.

For start of the run in asia see: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/japan/news/2010/0424 (and beautiful utube video)

For start of run in Mongolia see: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/mongolia/news/2010/week01/0515

Children from the Family School, which is located literally right across from our ceremony site, came...

and joined in the celebration sharing their "World Harmony" pledge.

The New York City Housing Authority Youth Chorus performed.

Choir Director Larry Matthew's enthusiasm...

Ensures the chorus performs at the highest level.

Devashishu Torpy, our coordinator for the days events from the United Kingdom, spoke of the various runs taking place in the different regions. He noted the many different cultural, artistic, athletic and other events that are associated with the run fit perfectly with the special UN and UNESCO 2010 year. As an example he mentioned he had been fortunate this summer to be part of the Harmony Run team that visited Portugal and was moved by the various joyful expressions of harmony though drama, art, music etc. that he experienced there. For a day in Portugal see:  http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/portugal/news/2010/0617

We were delighted to have former US team member, Vilupti Christina Barrineau, present our dear friend Camille Zamora with our World Harmony Run Torch-Bearer award. Camille is a co-founder of Sing for Hope.

"What Sing for Hope does is wonderfully simple. It maintains a roster of compassionate, world-class artists who donate time and talent to the humanitarian causes that inspire them."
- Dr. Muhammad Yunus, 2006 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Sing for Hope Board Member.

Sing For Hope has performed at our ceremonies since 2008 and we are honored to have the opportunity to recognize the important and crucial work they do.

Camille commented, "I am astonished and incredibly moved, and really, I think, on behalf of my beautiful partner and fellow co-founding director of Sing for Hope, Monica Yunus: the two of us, two working sopranos out there in the trenches. We had a desire to basically create kind of a go-to resource for artists to do what you all with the World Harmony Run are also doing, which is doing what you do best in a way that hopefully makes an impact. And I think for us when we look around, and when I look around on a day like today at these incredible artists like Brian Neff and Amy Justman are able to share their gifts with an organisation like World Harmony Run, I know we must be doing something right."

The Sing for Hope team joins for a photo.

We were very grateful to have quite a number of representatives from the international community come and join with us today.

H.E. Mr. Charles Thembani Ntwaagae, Permanent Representative of of the Republic of Botswana to the United Nations, went on to say, "It is an honour and privilege for me to participate in this event here today, and I want to join in congratulating the organisers of this event for the good work and effort that they put into it. I come from a country which greatly values peace and harmony, and my participation in this event is just a demonstration of Botswana's commitment to peace and harmony. We believe with peace and harmony in the world, the world could be a better place for all of us. And with that, again I want to thank the organisers of this event very much and wish you the very best in your future endeavours." For a World Harmony day in Gaborone, Botswana schools in 2008 see: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/botswana/news/2008/1020

H.E. Mr. Gunnar Pálsson, Permanent Representative of Iceland to the United Nations, encouraged us saying, "I want to congratulate the organizers of this impressive event here today, and congratulate you also on a very successful Harmony Run. I simply wish to share everything that those who spoke before me have said, and best wishes to all of you in the future." For Iceland 2010 Run: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/iceland

H.E. Mr. Abdul Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations. "My country is for religious, cultural harmony. We cherish it. We have Minnath (an ancient man who spread his gospel of love throughout the region), we have Lalan Shah (the very popular musician-singer), and Hassan Raja (poet, musician-singer). Many luminaries spoke for universal harmony. Sri Chinmoy was born in Bangladesh! We uphold the torch that Bangladesh has been promoting for years.

"In the UN we have donated the most peacekeepers throughout the world - more than 90,000, both in troops as well as peacekeepers to help Keep peace. At the UN we also believe that peace has to be taken care of because intolerance, hatred and all these words come from a mindset. Therefore, Bangladesh, with friends, promoted and passed a resolution in 2000 known as Culture of Peace. This year will be the tenth year of Culture of Peace. The objective of Culture of Peace is to impact education, knowledge and training through our generations so that the sense of hatred and enmity towards others is eliminated.

"We believe in diversity of culture and languages, and therefore with the help of UNESCO and member countries, we have ‘International Mother Language Day' on 21 February, for which we try to cherish all the languages, all the cultures, so that we can live in harmony together."

H.E. Mr. Palitha Kohona, Permanent Representativeof Sri Lanka, "I congratulate the World Harmony Run organisers and those who participated. They are the real heroes."

Mr. Nikolai Ovsyanko, Counsellor for the Belarus Mission to the United Nations. "I am deeply honoured to participate in such a great event, and I believe that through harmony in sport, in poetry, literature and sometimes even in politics, we can find peace." For World Harmony Run in Belarus in 2009 : http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/belarus/news/2009

A Harmony Run team member from Moldova who had previously resided in NY as the wife of the former Ambassador to the UN, greeted and encouraged all the participants.  For World Harmony Run Moldova: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/moldova/news/2010

Ms. Rochelle Roca-Hachem, Programme Specialist for Culture, for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) New York Office.

The World Harmony Run has been proud and honored to support the United Nations and UNESCO designated year 2010 - International Year for the Rapprochment of Cultures. The above logo for the year displayed on the World Harmnoy Run banner has been carried by many participants in various countries to show this support.

For example in Budapest, Hungary (shown above during an all day event on 14 May 2010)  http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/hungary/news/2010/0514

Shown above the same month in Greece. For more examples from around the world see: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/unesco_year/iyrc_examples)  For more explanation about the logo for year 2010 and languages displayed: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/unesco_year/iyrc_logo  

Some of the runners enjoying the proceedings.

Ms. Roca-Hachem commented,

"I'm here to talk about what UNESCO does, but also in association with the World Harmony Run. There are two important initiatives that are taking place this year.

"One, is the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures. UNESCO is the lead agency, and it has been endorsed by the United Nations. The bringing together of people, looking at our diversity and building mutual understanding and mutual respect.

"Second, it is the last year of an International UN Decade for the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. Now, UNESCO's constitution says, "Since wars begin in the minds of men and women, it is in the minds of men and women that the defenses of peace must be constructed." 

"How can we build that peace in minds? When we started our activities today we had a moment of silence for peace. UNESCO does it through educational programmes: education for human rights, education for tolerance; we look at cultural heritage and we need to preserve and promote it, because we want to honour and respect cultural diversity. We have our parents and our young people here today; we have teachers; we have governments; we have agencies. We all go about this building of peace in different ways."

"What the World Harmony Run is doing is embodying this rapprochement, this bringing people together, in a very concrete way, which I really celebrate. As we go around the world with the Run, as we pass the torch, as we really encourage young people to be involved in this, we are creating that contact, that communication, that respect for one another, and that effort to build peace in the minds, to build peace in the hearts, to look at our diversity and understand that this is something that is good, it's an asset, it's a building tool, it's what's great about our communities, our countries and our world. So I applaud again the World Harmony Run."

"This year also, on the 12th August, we launched the International Year of Youth at the UN. To the young people out there, I wish to give you some encouragement and motivation. The theme of this year, as adopted by the UN, is dialogue and mutual understanding."

"What the World Harmony Run is doing is really in harmony with what the United Nations is doing as a mandate: we are building peace, from all of our different standpoints, with all the different stakeholders. And so, working together, I am sure that in the future,and particularly with that strong motivation of youth, because they're so energetic, they have so many ideas, and they are our partners in this-we can accomplish what we set out to do, and accomplish what we were all thinking in that silence, building peace."

Sing for Hope donor artist Amy Justman, accompanied by Brian Neff,

Joined with NYCHA Youth Chorus to offer a beautiful performace of "Somewhere."

The audience enjoys the festive mood.

Amy Justman really gives it all.

Prapti Jensen, Canadian coordinator, spoke about the run and offered an inspiring thought from the founder. During the past decades of the runs existence, the Canadian and American teams have often shared experiences, cooperated together and participated in World Harmony events in their neighbor's countries. See also the report and photos of the Canadian event at Parliament Hill and other locations this year: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/canada/news/2010/0525

Patrizsha Sherlock led the choir in the final performance of the day - The World Harmony Run theme song. 

During the final chorus we all joined in... 

For words, music and arrangements of the World Harmnoy Run theme song from different countries see http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/song 

The Hungarian team join with Mr. Ferenc Tari, 2nd Secretary of the Hungarian Permanent Mission to the United Nations. For a recent overview of the Hungarian Harmony Run see a video slide show at: http://vimeo.com/13281820

Mr. Nikolai Ovsyanko, Counsellor of the Permanent Mission of Belarus to the United Nations, joins with two of his compatriots who were here for the World Harmony Run.

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Towards the begining of the Programme, Mr. Petrika Pjorgji, Deputy Perm. Representative to the United Nations from, Albania congratulated the participants. While coming to the programme (it looked to be a very wet event, since it had been raining) an expression came to him: "It is not about waiting for the storm to pass, but rather, to learn to dance in the rain." Mr Pjorgi concluded with encouragement for all who have participated in this Run and are striving to reach peace and harmony in the world. For World harmnoy run in Albania: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/albania/news/2010 

The Harmony Run organizers are grateful to all who came in spite of the threat of rain to welcome the runners. We are also reminded of all those around the world who have braved all sorts of weather to make the Harmony Run possible. From the desert high heat to cold snow and wind in the mountains; from days of extreme dryness to constant downpours the torch is carried and passed hand to hand and heart to heart because of a ahared inspiration and longing for a more harmonious world.

Enthusiastic participants and observers, with the many different flags in evidence created a vivid picture of our shared aspiration for a harmonious and dynamically peaceful world. 

Other participants from the diplomatic community included:

• Mr. Francisco Vaz Patto, Charge d'Affaires and Mr. Joao Vaco Palma Fialho, Counsellor from Protugal;
• Mr. Neven Mikec, Charge d'Affaires from Croatia. For world harmony run in Croatia: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/croatia
• Mr. Jon Erlingur Jónasson, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative from Iceland

 

Salil offers Larry a flower in thanks for his much valued support and participation.

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2010 International World Harmony Run continues...

Follow the ongoing historic run from Japan, through Korea, China, Mongola etc and joining with the European Run and many national regional runs in Russia, for the finish in Moscow at end of September: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/russia/news/2010

Follow the New Zealand and Australia consecutive run. The Australasian leg of World Harmony Run begins on 13 October in Christchurch New Zealand and finishes with a closing ceremony in Canberra Australia on November 20th. See itinary: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/nz/itinerary_2010

From the end of October into November 2010 you will be able to follow the Southern Arfrica run here: http://www.worldharmonyrun.org/sa

See a short video showing a song performed by The New York City Housing Authority Youth Chorus in NY on 12 April 2010 as part of the World Harmony Run opening ceremony.  http://vimeo.com/10957410

– Salil and others

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