Programme to commemorate U.N. Charter Day, 1981 Jun 26

UN CHARTER DAY COMMEMORATED

On 26 June 1981 delegates and staff joined in a commemorative ceremony held by the meditation group at U.N. Headquarters in honour of U.N. Charter Day.

Shraddha

Guest speakers were:

H.E. Mr. David-son L. Hepburn, Permanent Representative of the Bahamas to the United Nations, and
Mr. Fred Lebow, President of the New York Road Runners Club and Founder of the International Running Center.

Excerpts from the programme follow.

Shraddha

H.E. Mr. Davidson L. Hepburn, Permanent Representative of The Bahamas to the United Nations:

After listening to the beautiful songs performed today and to the poems that were recited, one tends to get a sense of peace, a sense of calm, that I think is necessary for us these days. Thirty-six years ago when the Charter was signed in California, there were only fifty-one members of the United Nations, and now there are one hundred fifty-four members. This certainly shows that a number of changes have taken place in our world, some because of the problems and crises that we have had. Over the years many countries have begun to look towards the United Nations as the answer to many of their prayers. In some instances this relationship may not be so apparent, but I feel if we did not have the United Nations, we certainly would be in worse shape than we are to day. I am very thankful that we have the United Nations and we have groups such as yours to bring forward higher and deeper values.

I know that you are deeply concerned with what is happening in our world, and that is why you are here today. I am also very much concerned, and sometimes I tend to lose hope that we’re going to make any head way in achieving peace in our life time. But sometimes I have the feeling that maybe somewhere we will find a method by which we can do this.

Shraddha

The Unit ed Nations Charter was designed to help us achieve these goals. Now some nations are saying, “Look, this does not apply to me. This is something that was written thirty-six years ago, but things have changed; therefore, I don’t feel that it is necessary for me to abide by this.” Consequently, the Sixth Committee is reviewing the Charter to see if it should be changed in some way. I agree that some changes ought to be made, but we must be careful not to take out the vital essence an d substance of the Charter. Otherwise we will be doing ourselves a great disservice.

Shraddha

Mr. Fred Lebow, President of the New York Road Runners Club and Founder of the International Running Center:

I am very happy be with you today on this significant occasion. For a number of years now you have made quite a contribution not only to the sport of running but also to calmness and a unique desire for peacefulness in this rushed world.

I have never thanked you formally, but I personally am very grateful to Sri Chinmoy and the group for what you have done for running-for our group, the New York Road Runners Club ; for the New York City Marathon; for running in this country and around the world. We owe you our special thanks for what you do in the New York City Marathon, where you come out to help in droves, and in the 100-mile race, where you spend almost 24 hours helping us at Flushing Meadow Park in Queens.

Shraddha

Whenever we need help, you are always there. As a matter of fact, my first contact with Sri Chinmoy was right in this building. In 1977 we ha d a reception here w here Ambassadors welcomed about a hundred foreign world-class runners who had come to run the New York City Marathon. The meditation group choir sang and Sri Chinmoy led a meditation. Of course, now it would be difficult to hold a reception like this because from 100, the foreign contingent has grown to about 2,000. Still, there is a definite contact between running, the United Nations and Sri Chinmoy, and I think it is a very happy and fruitful co-existence. I am looking forward to its becoming even more so. Thank you again, and I was very inspired by the songs, poems and meditation. It was good for me; I’m sure it was good for all of us.

PDF format of report in periodic Bulletin : “Meditation at the United Nations” Jun 1981

bu-scpmaun-1981-06-27-vol-09-n-06-jun-ocr-opt.pdf

See Page-images 17 to 20

Gallery 2 below is jpg format