October 24 is United Nations Day. In the Chinese capital, children from around the world began a series of activities calling for peace, CCTV reported Monday.
Different painting styles, different content, but the same expression -- the love for peace of children from over 51 countries and more than 600 nationalities.
At the Temple of Heaven -- where ancient Chinese emperors prayed for good harvests -- children hoped their prayers for peace would be realized. They expressed their hopes on this huge flag of around 100 square meters.
Middle school student Shan Yue said, "Children around the world convey their love for peace in pictures. We can learn from each other. And the most important thing is we can express our same wish together."
Polish student in Beijing Fangcaodi Primary School Emilia Lochauska said, "I hope my friends in the world could live under peace"
"It is estimated that two-thirds of the children in the world continue to live under the conditions of poverty, disease or abuse. Today, these children who are fortunate enough to live in comfort are calling for their peers to be given the right of a loving family and a caring society."
This huge flag symbolizing these children's aspiration for peace will be presented to representatives from the United Nations, who will then pass it on to Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Annan will be requested to convey the wishes of the world's children for peace to governments of various nations, urging them to contribute to the survival and the healthy growth of children around the world.
(CCTV.com October 26, 2004)
