UN Messengers of Peace reflect on their work.

• Position: Muhammad Ali, Jane Goodall and Anna Cataldi - Interview

The United Nations observes the International Day of Peace annually on 21 September at UN Headquarters in New York with the ringing of the Peace Bell, cast from coins collected by children from 60 countries and presented in 1954 to the world Organization by the UN Association of Japan. The fiftieth anniversary of the Peace Bell ceremony was attended by Messengers of Peace (pictured above, from left to right) Muhammad Ali--who was accompanied by his wife Yolanda--Jane Goodall and Anna Cataldi. Following the ceremony, Lisa Krutky and Horst Rutsch of the UN Chronicle spoke with the Messengers of Peace about their aspirations for peace and greater tolerance and understanding about the peoples of the world.

What are your impressions as Messengers of Peace of the fiftieth anniversary of the Peace Bell ceremony?

Ms. Cataldi: I suppose it is somewhat ironic, as today is also the opening of the General Assembly and on this day of peace, most of the debate will focus on war. In that sense, ringing the bell brought the impression of hope to my mind.

Ms. Goodall: For me, the bell symbolizes that ordinary people around the world want peace. Today, it seemed a little chilling to hear the bell ring out at such a dangerous time in the world when there is so much conflict. Today our organization has young people in probably seventy countries flying gigantic peace-dove puppets, and we hope to have several thousands of them. We are trying to keep alive the hope--hope for the future--and the ringing of the bell helps us understand that.

How do you see peace education in conveying a shift in thinking towards a culture of peace?

Ms. Goodall: After 9/11, we pulled together a group of all kinds of young people from disparate backgrounds, including Arabs and Muslims, and initiated the "Peace Initiatives", which are now spreading to our groups around the world. We are trying to help kids understand people of different cultures, religions and ethnic groups, particularly religion because it's so divisive.

Ms. Cataldi: I remember being in a refugee camp in the south of Sudan that has a peace and communications programme, which is really effective, because you are on the ground with the people who have been personally affected by war. And I remember I was very impressed by this programme and with the women and people. I just did a three-day conference on women and justice and it made me think of the United Nations. Take the crisis in Darfur right now. The UN feels...