Media contact: Judy Ball (513) 241-5615 Ext. 121

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2004

Millennium Peace Pledges:
1.5 Million Hours Pledged—7.1 Million to Go

Cincinnati, December 1—The "1,000 Years of Peace" project, launched in late 1999, has gained just over 1,630,000 hours of peacemaking activities pledged by thousands of people of goodwill from around the globe. The project began as a joint effort co-sponsored by St. Anthony Messenger Press, a ministry of the Franciscan Friars of St. John the Baptist Province of Cincinnati, and the Catholic Sisters of Sisters United News, Greater Cincinnati Region. Goal of the project is to achieve 1,000 years of peacemaking activities—equaling exactly 8,766,000 hours.

"To be honest, we had originally seen this as a one-year effort," said Judy Ball of St. Anthony Messenger Press. "Now we realize it may take 10 years or more, but we are thrilled that so many people have responded to the call to be peacemakers. We are committed to the project and will continue to invite people to build peace hour-by-hour, day-by-day, in their homes and neighborhoods and at work. If it takes five or 10 years more, so be it. We think 8.5 millions hours are attainable—and they are surely worth the effort."

Throughout the years youngsters have promised to share their crayons; teens, to be kind to siblings and to reach out to unpopular students at school; adults, to forgive those who have hurt them and to teach their children alternatives to violence; the elderly, to pray for peace and for people around the world who are suffering. Following are sample pledges:

I pledge to rescue starving and stray animals and respect all of God's creation.
I will control my anger, acting more tolerant and forgiving.
I will compliment at least one person every day in the year 2000.
Though I am not a Catholic or a Christian, I think this is a wonderful project. I pledge to spend an hour each week listening to a lonely friend and to talk with friends about how we can eliminate religious strife.
I will allow my wounds to help me see the wounds of others.
I am elderly, but I can and will pray for peace.
I will hold my tongue at least once a day.
I will promote racial tolerance in others and in myself.

Pledges can be received electronically at PledgePeace.org.

According to Ms. Ball, this is an ideal time to re-issue the invitation to people who want to make the world a better place. "As the year 2005 approaches and people are putting together their New Year's resolutions, we urge men and women of all faiths—as well as people of no faith—to join this effort. Peacemaking is not just for world leaders. It is for all of us."

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Media contact: Judy Ball (513) 241-5615 Ext. 121

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