UPF Denmark celebrated the UN International Day of Peace with a well-attended and inspiring event on Sunday, November 17, 2024 at Christiansborg Palace, the Danish Parliament. The day's theme, “Creating a Culture of Peace,” aligned perfectly with UPF's mission: promoting peace through dialogue and action. The audience comprised 150 leaders, Ambassadors for Peace, and interested attendees.
Opening Speeches
Hon. Kim Aas, a Member of Parliament and celebration host, opened the event by reflecting on his recent trip to Taiwan. He shared impressions of the Taiwanese people’s longing for peace amidst constant fear of conflict. He described their desire for peace and commitment to democratic values: "War and peace begin in the mind. It is therefore crucial to cultivate a culture of peace that can prevent conflicts and build understanding and dialogue across differences—not just in times of crisis but as a fundamental part of our culture."
Karsten Nielsen, Denmark’s UPF’s Secretary-General, marked this year as the 10th anniversary of UPF’s first UN Day of Peace celebration at the Danish Parliament. In his welcome remarks, he emphasized the importance of commemorating this day: "This is a day when we remind ourselves and each other that peace is not a given; it is something we must actively work for—through small and significant actions."
He urged participants to take responsibility as Ambassadors for Peace: "Everyone can be an Ambassador for Peace. It only requires us to act from the heart and conscience and to inspire others through our example."
Zoraiz Khushdil, UPF Ambassador for Peace and event’s moderator highlighted the importance of engaging youth in peacebuilding, reminding everyone that: “Peace is not just the responsibility of leaders; it is everyone’s responsibility.”
Inspiring Presentations and Stories
Mads Nygaard, author and radio host, shared the story of Ibraheem, a young Syrian man who arrived in Hirtshals, causing unrest by sleeping on local fishing boats. At first, fishermen Leif and Jimmy were frustrated and contacted the police. However, once they spoke to Ibraheem, they discovered that this 23-year-old, trained engineer dreamed of traveling to Iceland. Rather than rejecting him, they welcomed him into their community by giving him a “Hirtshals suit,” a symbol of local belonging. Today, Ibraheem has found a temporary home aboard the fishing boat Mågen.
Mads Nygaard works to bridge the gap between asylum seekers and local communities through storytelling and concrete initiatives. He has raised funds to reunite unaccompanied minor asylum seekers with their families and published a book sharing their stories. Stories like Ibraheem’s demonstrate how small acts and dialogue can create understanding and hope—an approach Mads calls “Peacebuilding á la Hirtshals”: small, local actions that can have a significant global impact.
Cecilie Gredal, business advisor, spoke on “Peace in the World Begins Within Us.” She emphasized that peace starts with cultivating inner peace and reminded us that outstanding achievements always start small. Quoting Thich Nhat Hanh, “There is no way to peace, peace is the way,” she underlined that peace requires courage, authenticity, and the ability to act from the inside out.
She encouraged reflection on what moves our hearts and what brings meaning, joy, and love to our lives. To inspire this self-awareness, she shared Marianne Williamson’s famous quote: “We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us,” challenging us to embrace our strengths and shine brightly. She explained that we inspire others to do the same by letting go of fear and allowing our light to shine. Her message was clear: inner peace and the courage to be ourselves create a foundation for greater peace and connection.
Zainab Nasrati, medical student, author, and columnist for Altinget, spoke on the theme “My Heart’s Cause is the Children of the World.” She used the metaphor of a child to represent the peace we must nurture in the world, making it more relatable and tangible. With a powerful illustration of a mother and her child on the wall, she explained that this is the most universal and fundamental part of human life—the beginning of life and love.
Zainab encouraged participants to “Upgrade your efforts for peace as if it were for your children and push others to do the same.” To cultivate peace, she explained, we must tie it to something we love and make it a part of our reality. She emphasized: “There is only one world, and it is the same peace we need if there is to be peace on Earth.” She reminded us how interconnected we all are, sharing the same essential elements, which makes the message of peace universal and relevant for everyone.
Karsten Nielsen, from UPF, spoke on “Cultivating a Culture of Peace from the Heart” and highlighted three key points for peace. He said: “The first step toward peace is recognizing our shared humanity. We can begin to bridge differences when we see each other as brothers and sisters in one global family.” He then stressed the importance of using the family as a model for peace: “A family is bound by love and care. When conflicts arise, parents help their children find solutions, show respect, and make space for one another. These principles can be applied to conflicts between nations, cultures, and religions.” Finally, he emphasized the need to foster a “culture of the heart,” where the focus is on living for others and creating genuine care through action: “Perhaps I can be a peacemaker in my local community, strengthen relationships within my family, or support larger global peace initiatives.”
The Peace Ceremony
Thorkil Christensen from UPF introduced the Peace Ceremony with reflections on parents' unconditional love and the fundamental right of children to be loved. He noted that conflicts and wars often arise when love is limited to one's own children or groups instead of extending to all humanity. He encouraged cultivating a heart that can nurture a future culture of peace.
The ceremony continued with seven representatives from Christianity, Islam, and Buddhism, who gathered in silence and prayer. Symbolically, each of them poured water into a shared bowl, accompanied by Schumann’s musical piece Einsame Blumen.
Musical Contributions
Composer Morten Jessen and violinist Natalia Gordeyeva performed the complete musical work Kyiv with two movements before the break and two after. The piece is inspired by the resilience of the Ukrainian people and is based on a sermon by Ukrainian priest Viktor Marynchak, who spoke of strength, hope, and faith in the future during the siege of Kharkiv. Morten Jessen, founder of the Nordic Church Ensemble, created the work as a call for unity and peace, with Kyiv serving as a symbol of overcoming even the greatest challenges.
The Ukrainian star violinist Natalia Gordeyeva, who has performed internationally since childhood, discovered Kyiv on YouTube after fleeing to Denmark during the invasion. Deeply moved by the music, it reconnected her to her homeland. She reached out to Morten Jessen to express her gratitude, leading to a collaboration with concerts in both Denmark and Ukraine. Natalia is also recognized for her work uplifting Ukraine’s cultural life through her music academy in Kyiv.
Before the final movements, Morten shared a touching experience from summer concerts in Ukraine, where the piece was performed with the Philharmonic orchestras of Kyiv and Lviv and for soldiers. The music inspired hope in them: “It was extraordinary when hope emerged from within themselves as they overcame something seemingly insurmountable and became inspired by a selection that helped them feel that hope.” He encouraged the audience to carry this faith forward and work for true peace, even when the task seems impossible.
Several participants were moved to tears during the performance.
Conclusion
The program concluded with all participants singing together, accompanied by Morten and Natalia, the Danish evening hymn “Fred hviler over land og by” (Peace Rests Over Land and Town), written by B.S. Ingemann in 1831. The lyrics paint a poetic image of evening and night, where silence and peace descend over nature and humanity.
The atmosphere was warm and inclusive. Many participants expressed gratitude for being part of the celebration. UPF received numerous positive responses, including suggestions for new partnerships and peace initiatives.