 January/February 2001 (XXXIX 1) |
The George W. Nebinger Elementary School Choir of Philadelphia, under the leadership of Director Ron Coles and Principal John Krause, so moved the audience and speakers at the 2000 United Nations Day Celebration in Philadelphia that Theresa Fitzgibbon, PYM representative to the U.N., invited the choir to repeat its program at United Nations headquarters in New York.
On November 16, International Day Of Tolerance, the choir opened the celebration to launch The International Decade For A Culture Of Peace And Nonviolence For The Children Of The World (2001-2010).
To make this endeavor possible, Trenton Meeting (NJ) was joined by Abington Meeting (PA), individuals from Mount Holly (NJ), Camden (DE), Chestnut Hill (PA) and Merion (PA) Meetings, the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia, and several friends of the project. Assisting Theresa to host the children were clerks and members of PYM's United Nations Working Group and Abolish Nuclear Weapons Working Group: Ruth Johnson, Charley Peterson, Kathy Spallone, Susan Campbell, and Joseph Pitonyak. These working groups had co-sponsored the United Nations Day event in Philadelphia with the United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia.
The 23-member chorus of children sang beautiful messages of peace, freedom, and love at the United Nations. Among its songs were "My Country Tis of Thee"; "What a Beautiful World" with soloist Shanet Banks; "What the World Needs Now" with soloist Kirsten Cain; "Let Peace Begin With Me", and "Ain't Goin' To Study War No More", which induced the audience to join in with clapping hands to keep the beat, enhancing the festive spirit of the occasion. The performance set the celebratory tone of the day, one of animation and joy.
Nane Annan, wife of U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and opening speaker for the day, was visibly touched and enchanted by the children. Alfitah Hamad, director of the New York UNESCO Office, expressed his enjoyment of the optimistic thrust of the program as an interlude to his often weighty duties. Cora Weiss, President of the Hague Appeal for Peace, invited the three groups of performing children present to become "Musicians Without Borders" in parallel to Doctors Without Borders whose work embodies a message of Human Rights and mutual care throughout the world.
The Nebinger School children, four parents, one grandmother, and teachers Sharon Banks, Tamara Gerber, Pamela Shuman, and Ron Coles took advantage of varied opportunities at the United Nations. They observed various displays, such as the encased moon rock, gift to the U.N. from the United States following the first moon landing, and an animated countdown depicting the approaching world wide eradication of polio, made possible by the concerted action and coordination of the U.N., international bodies, and nongovernmental organizations.
The Nebinger School entourage completed its visit with a U.N. tour and individual interviews about memorable impressions of the day. Most children were struck by an introduction to antipersonnel landmines and the horrific dangers they pose to other children. All agreed that such fatal menaces should not exist. Likewise, the young visitors spoke in hushed words their regret for the suffering that children had experienced from nuclear weapons and radiation.
Also very impressive to them was the problem of children with access to guns which injure thousands of young in the U.S. and other countries. One young lady with great conviction explained, "It isn't right to let kids have guns in their hands, and I don't like that parents let that happen. It's very disrespectful. Kids are supposed to be in school and learning. There ought to be a room there where they can go and learn how to sit down and how to talk about problems to solve them. Violence is not the way. It's disrespectful." Many other children, as well, were concerned about children and guns.
One young man said that the U.N. is the place where people can come to meetings and argue about wars to stop them. Another, when asked what was most memorable to him about the day, said, "Peace. No fighting. No wars. This place is all about peace."
The children also noticed beautiful works of art, gifts of the nations, which lift up the spirit of staff and visitors to the U.N.: a large, colorful model dragon boat complete with dozens of people rowing it; an intricately carved Chinese landscape sculpture; and a vibrant depiction of images the peoples of the world formed from minute tiles, entitled "The Golden Rule."
Before the children's activities, Susan Campbell briefed the visitors to convey to them that the U.N. is a home to them, just as it is to all the children, parents, and grandparents of the more than 187 countries of the world. At the United Nations all are equal and respected, and that helps us to think of our responsibility to treat others in that same way. At the U.N. we come together to learn to solve problems peacefully and help one another.
In Theresa Fitzgibbon's capacity as Executive Committee member of the Non-governmental Organizations' Peace Caucus, she helped plan the celebration in cooperation with UNESCO; 2001, a People's Conference on Peace; and Creating Peace Through The Arts. All who were privileged to participate in this day are grateful to Theresa for her role in making it possible and to the Nebinger Elementary School for its leadership in preparing us for the hopeful new decade!
Susan Campbell
Merion Meeting (PA)
PYM United Nations Working Group
Abolish Nuclear Weapons Working Group
Last modified: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at 08:18 AM