When is International Day of Non-violence?
October 2nd is the International Day of Nonviolence.
What is International Day of Non-violence?
We humans, we can get pretty destructive when we want to. Just watch some Youtube videos of nuclear tests in the Pacific if you want a fresh reminder. But what is “stronger than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man?” Ghandi had an answer for that question: non-violence.
That’s right. International Day of Non-violence celebrates the power of non-violence to change societies and secure the civil rights of oppressed peoples.
People have become rather creative in their rejection of violence. Occupy Wall Street was a form of non-violent intervention. Strikes and boycotts fit another category called “noncooperation.” And then there are protests, like a classic march on the capitol, or like the petition to repeal the law that phased out incandescent light bulbs.
But let’s be clear: non-violence is not for cowards. Gandhi risked his life for peace, and he was assassinated for the cause of peace. So was Martin Luther King, Jr, who said the purpose of non-violence was to persuade opponents to accept the benefits of peace and cooperation. It may not be violent, but it’s still an effective resistance.
Fun facts about International Day of Non-violence
- International Day of Non-violence occurs on Gandhi’s birthday.
- Gandhi undertook several “fasts unto death,” prolonged hunger strikes that pressured British rule over India. He was a peacemaking rock star, so the British empire couldn’t let him die on their watch.
- Martin Luther King Jr. modeled his own style of social change after Gandhi’s techniques.
How to celebrate International Day of Non-violence:
Learn about non-violence. Read a biography of Mahatma Gandhi (or MLK, or Nelson Mandela) to study the philosophy of peaceful social change and techniques for fighting oppression without violence. Then attend a lecture or public discussion about non-violent resistance.
What’s the hashtag for International Day of Non-violence?
Spread the message of peace by using #InternationalDayofNonviolence on social media.