One Day in Peace

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise this morning in solidarity with the world, and call on all other Members of the House to stand as well, and join over 100 nations, 25 United States governors, hundreds of mayors and over 1,000 organizations in nearly 140 countries in supporting One Day in Peace. The bill, House Concurrent Resolution 363, which I cosponsored with Representative Dennis Kucinich and many other Representatives, calls for January 1, in accordance with the United Nations General Assembly, to be a 24-hour period designated as One Day in Peace when the people of this Nation and the world act for the most part with unprecedented cooperation and good will. The Chairman and the Ranking Member of the House International Relations Committee have indicated that they will not oppose this resolution being brought to the floor now, and I urge all my fellow Congressmen to support this effort. Let us fulfill the dream by marking 01/01/01 as the first One Day in Peace worldwide. The bill urges people around the world to gather with family, friends, neighbors, and members of their community to pledge nonviolence in the new year and to share in a celebratory New Year meal. It also encourages Americans who are able to match their new year meal with a timely gift to the hungry at home or abroad. This Resolution is important because it acknowledges, the need to work for those goals that appeal to the greatest positive attributes of our humanity. My friends no better time exists to lift up a new standard of peace and goodwill in this world. Can you imagine, Mr. Speaker, if at the beginning of every year, all of America, and indeed all of the world proclaim aloud and at once, in unison and strength, that these are our goals: brotherhood, charity, understanding, and peace. Such a declaration has never before been made, but it can. I urge support of H. Con. Res. 363 and support its overwhelming passage.