Live from the road huhti 10, 2026 | The Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run

Today we began the first steps of our 10,000 mile journey through all fifty states as well as celebrated all the Peace Runs taking place around the world this year.

Salil Wilson, Peace Run Executive Director, welcomed our distinguished guests who had joined with us to celebrate peace.

Paree’s Group from the Sri Chinmoy Centre performed arrangements of Sri Chinmoy songs.

Runners from our international team.

Our international team came up and introduced themselves in a parade of nations.

Brazil

Cape Verde

United Nations!

Peace Runner and United Nations staff member Kanala Bolvanska introduced our first guest speaker.

Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations of the United Nations, enthusiastically congratulated our choir as well as taking inspiration from our our efforts for peace in his work and United Nations initiatives. He went on to say he feels that we, along with the all the Missions to the united Nations, are part of the family of Peace Keeper and Peace Makers.

Peace Run documentarian Natabara Rollosson invited our guests from various Missions to join in sharing some reflections on Peace.

H.E. Mr. Peter Hulényi, Permanent Representative of Slovakia to United Nations in New York, is an avid runner. After our ceremony he ran 6 miles with us to Battery Park where we could catch a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty. Ambassador Hulényi mentioned that he usually runs to achieve peace within himself but today he was honoured to have the opportunity to run for peace.

Maher Nassar, Director of Outreach in the United Nations Department of Global Communications, shared that he had been in Palestine just a week ago, commenting "anything that supports peace is at the heart of the United Nations, e salute people who run for peace, who advocate for peace."

H.E. AvShalom Nghifitikeko, Deputy Permanent Representative, Namibia Mission to the United Nations in New York. Ambassador Nghifitikeko shared a little of the key role the UN played in helping Namibia becoming independent in 1990 and how grateful his nation is for that remarkable service the UN rendered to his young nation.

H.E. José Alberto Bríz Gutiérrez, Permanent Representative of Guatemala to United Nations in New York. Ambassador Bríz Gutiérrez shared the important role the United Nations played resolving internal conflict and how honored and grateful his country is to be able to contribute Peace Keeping Troops in service to the UN.

H.E. Ms. Bahia Tahzib-Lie, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the UN in New York. Ambassador Tahzib-Lie, took the opportunity to wish world peace for all the countries of the world, reflecting that peace begins with each one of us.

H.E. Mr. Andrés Montalvo Sosa, Permanent Representative of Ecuador to United Nations in New York, shared with us that he has run 16 marathons and encouraged us to continue to spread peace around the world.

H.E. Ms. Agnes Chimbiri-Molande, Permanent Representative of Malawi to United Nations in New York. Ambassador Chimbiri-Molande shared how she used to be a cross-country runner when she was younger. She encouraged us to embark on a cross-continent run throughout Africa.

Mr. Eldos Mathew Punnoose, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York. Mr. Punnoose said, "Peace is something that the entire humanity requires and that all of us yearn for and may the entire world become peaceful."

Ms. Alyson Calem-Sangiorgio, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Monaco to the United Nations in New York. Ms. Calem-Sangiorgio drew attention to Monaco being co-chair of the UN Group of Friends of Sport for Development and Peace.

Nilima Silver, General Secretary, Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations introduced our keynote speaker.

Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury– Former Under-Secretary General and High Representative of the United Nations, Former Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations, Founder of the Global Movement for The Culture of Peace (GMCoP)

Ambassador Chowdhury shared with us some insightful reflections saying,

"Here at the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run—we are reminded of something deeper peace is not failing, we are failing peace.

Peace is a daily choice, a personal responsibility, a collective commitment.

As the world was coming off the long-drawn and divisive Cold War when I had the privilege of successfully presenting to the General Assembly of the United Nations on 13 September 1999, the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace for the unanimous adoption by a global consensus after nine months of arduous negotiations — we believed very enthusiastically that the world was ready to turn a corner. To move away from the cult of war to the Culture of Peace and Non-Violence.

Today, after more than a quarter of a century we must acknowledge honestly we are moving backwards.

But this is not a moment for despair. It is a moment for awakening.

Let me share three simple truths. First—violence is not strength. It is the absence of imagination. Every bomb dropped is an admission that dialogue has failed.

True strength lies in restraint. in dialogue, in cooperation, in accommodation.

Second—peace cannot be outsourced. We often look to governments—and yes, they have responsibilities. But peace will not come unless it is owned by the people. By each one of us.

The Culture of Peace is not a slogan it is not a quick fix. It is a movement.

Third— hope is a decision. Cynicism is easy. Indifference is convenient. But hope requires courage. It is the decision to believe humanity can do better and then to act on that belief.

My dear friends, the Peace Run is not simply a relay of a torch. It is a relay of responsibility. Sri Chinmoy, the globally respected emissary of peace, my brother-friend reminded us that peace begins in the heart… and then flows outward—into action, into service, into the world.

Each runner carries more than a flame. They carry that truth. And today, that responsibility is passed on to all of us."

Ms. Ranjana Ghose, President, Sri Chinmoy Centre offered the closing remarks encouraging all of us to rekindle our inner flame of peace.

Carl Lewis, Nine-time Olympic Gold medalist, sent a message of encouragement saying in part, "Sri Chinmoy has been such an important part of my life and his Peace Run has been incredible for me. I've been to so many events around the world. The Peace Run is something we can all come together with. Congratulations and thanks to Sri Chinmoy for bringing this peace message to all of us around the world."

Harita Davies, Co-Director of Peace Run USA, introduced the team as they embarked on the 6 mile run to Battery Park where we could pay our respects to the Statue of Liberty.