Peace Day Highlight is Worldwide Minute of Silence at Noon

Millions of people around the world will be observing the International Day of Peace today with a variety of activities, including a minute of silence at noon in each time zone, according to the International Day of Peace organization.

Created by the United Nations in 1981 as a way to "create practical acts of peace on a shared date," the International Day of Peace is celebrated in numerous ways by different people, groups and countries around the world. From 2001 through 2010, it is will also highlight the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World. Among the events taking place today as part of the Peace Vigil 2007:

* Worldwide gatherings to plant hand-made "pinwheels for peace" featuring students' artwork and thoughts on "war and peace/tolerance/living in harmony with others."

* A day of music, inspirational speakers, arts and crafts, Roots & Shoots displays and a parade of giant peace doves attended by primatologist and English U.N. Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, sponsored by Roots & Shoots (The Jane Goodall Institute's global youth network working to "promote care and concern for animals, the environment and the human community"), to be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Griffith Park in Los Angeles, U.S.;

* Seminars, workshops and street peace rallies organized by the African Foundation for Peace and Love Initiatives in Nigeria;

* A cultural show, rural olympics, rural food festival and the launch of a 25-million tree-planting initiative sponsored by the Isha Foundation in Chennai, India;

* An hour-long concert at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand;

* An art exhibition featuring one-world art, peace art and art for sustainability, presented by the Association for Arts, Health and the Environment in Heidelberg, Germany;

* A peace day celebration honoring life and the victims of bombing in Alkarada, organized by the Iraqi Civil Dialogue Youth Group in Baghdad, Iraq;

* A Fall Equinox celebration of peace with vegetarian potluck, songs and story-telling organized by Spirit of the Earth, The Living Centre in London, Ontario, Canada;