Peace and development are tied together in much the same way as life is tied to the air we breathe. We need not contemplate any prospect of development when either our - or our neighbor's - environment is in disorder. And proximity, vis-à-vis how close one might be to a prevailing problem, does not in any way matter these days.

The effects of the consequences of a conflict can be felt as far as the influence of globalization can determine, yet the force of globalization is clearly inexorable. This makes it especially incumbent upon everyone to ensure the propagation, promotion and safeguarding of peace and tranquility; even if not for one's own sake, but for the sake of the future generation, to whom we owe it.

Commemoration of the International Day of Peace comes as the world is hopelessly and gradually submerged into uncertainty, thanks to the effects of the daily proliferation of civil strife, the root cause of which varies disproportionately; from tribal to religious, race and ethnic differences.

Today, international terrorism, amid the complexities of personal, national and intergovernmental divergences, remains the biggest treat to human civilization. As a result of naivety on the part of troublemakers, years of hard work are destroyed within seconds through aggressive acts by individuals who harbor certain grievances against other groups of people.

This we have seen in the continent of Africa for years, costing the lives of hundreds of thousands of people, pulling the continent back years away from the realities of our present civilization. What did we, as a people, gain from it? The situation surrounding world peace is so fragile that there is no reason to feel safe any more; not when world discourse is dominated by talks of nuclear weapons, weapons of mass destruction and all that belligerent tone.    

The question each of us ought to ask ourselves is: "What is my role in the promotion of world peace?"  Certainly every single individual has a role, a greater one indeed, to play in this regard.

But only if we recognize the sanctity of human existence, by giving due respect to humanity, acknowledging the insignificance of the racial, religious, and ethnic differences that divide us, could we realize the true beauty of peace and love.
This is supposed to be the message to all the citizens of the world; as mentioned above, it actually does not matter where in the world you might be.