NEWS RELEASE – for immediate release
September 9, 2020

Contact: Catherine Tarleton CatherineTarleton@gmail.com, 808-339-8903

RING YOUR BELL FOR PEACE DAY

HONOLULU, Hawaii – In celebration of Peace Day, Monday, September 21, the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai‘i invites the world to join in a mass ringing of bells — virtually and in real life. Anyone with a bell and a cellphone or other device can be part of the global event.

A brief program of music and reflection begins at 11:4511:40 a.m. (HST), led by Bishop Eric Matsumoto, followed by one minute of silence, to honor all those who have sacrificed for the achievement of peace. At 12:01, bells will ring out for five minutes, from temples, churches, schools, community organizations, homes, and favorite places across the islands and the planet.

Bell-ringers will play simultaneously via Zoom, and the program will also be live-streamed on Facebook. Young people are particularly encouraged to participate. Advance registration is requested online at hongwanjihawaii.com/peaceday2020/, or by contacting event organizer Rene Mansho, renemansho@hawaii.rr.com, 808-291-6151.

“September 21 has been the International Day of Peace since it was established by the United Nations in 1981,” says Mansho. “It is also Peace Day in the Hawai‘i State, thanks to members of the Hawai‘i Federation of Junior Young Buddhist Associations, who presented a resolution to the Hawai‘i Legislature in 2007.”

Mansho said the group is reaching out to worldwide peace organizations, military service branches, activists, and communities everywhere. “This is a wonderful opportunity to bring people together, no matter where they are and what their beliefs and politics are,” she says.

Co-sponsors of Ring Your Bell for Peace Day are the United Nations Association Chapters of Hawaii-Honolulu and University of Hawai’i-Manoa, and KTUH radio. Detailed information, setup instructions and registration forms available at hongwanjihawaii.com/peaceday2020/.