More than a decade ago, on 27 April 2011 to be precise, the UN declared July 30 as the official International Friendship Day; better known as World Friendship Day. The idea of such a day was first brought up by Dr. Ramon Artemio Bracho in 1958 in Paraguay while having dinner with his friends, which resulted in, World Friendship Crusade, that promotes and encourages friendships across the world irrespective of race, colour, religion, nationality and ethnicity.

The day is celebrated to mark the importance of friendship in promoting peace in all cultures and nations across the globe.

Our petition #ChooseNonviolentDefence is in tune with the celebrations on this day; we go a step further and ask humankind to embrace the idea of the one-ness of the human race – and as an important corollary to friendship – take a pledge to outlaw war that allows Governments to use their populace as cannon fodder.  Whether a Pakistani woman or an Indian woman loses her husband in war; and a Pakistani or Indian child loses his father, the resultant pain in both cases is the same! 

Dear Signatories, on this International Friendship Day, we request you to pledge yourselves once again to friendship and reconciliation, by sharing our petition and Call for Action #’s.

Sharing some thoughts on the value of friendship:

“Friendship is the only cure for hatred. The only guarantee of Peace.” Gautam Buddha

“Peace and Friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.”  Thomas Jefferson

“A friend is like the blood that rushes to the wound without waiting to be called!                                                                                              Anonymous