The ceremony of ‘the Blue Star of Life’
In commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Foundation of the United Nations

 1　　In commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Foundation of The United Nations, a ceremony was held on 25th October 2010 from 10:30, in the lobby of the Council of Chamber (which is now the meeting room of the Conference on Disarmament), in the Palais des Nations. 8 students from the People's Republic of China, Japan, Mongolia, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea and the United States of America, put pebbles, brought from their respective countries into the blue porcelain globe shaped vase named “The Blue Star of Life”, wishing world peace and environment protection.

　　　Mr. Sergei Ordzhonikidze, the Director-General of The United Nations Office in Geneva, Ambassador Shinichi Kitajima, Permanent Representative of Japan, Ambassador Betty E. King, Permanent Representarive of the United States of America, Ambassador Luvsantseren Orgil, Permanent Representative of Mongolia, Ambassador Evan P. Garcia, Permanent Representative of the Philippines and the other representatives were present at the ceremony.

2　　In his speech, Ambassador Kitajima mentioned that “It is a very important opportunity that these youth have gathered here from various parts of the world as global citizens to seriously examine issues that affect the entire world. Also I believe that the expansion of these kinds of programs around the world would help more people to seriously think about world peace and environment conservation.”

3　　In 1995, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Foundation of the United Nations “The Blue Star of Life” vase was donated and pebbles from 54 states (collected by Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers members in the field) were put into the globe shaped vase. Since then, every five years, this ceremony was held at the Palais des Nations to place pebbles collected from their countries as a way of testimonial of prayer for peace and the protection of the environment.

For more details・・・http://www.bluestar-un.com/e-site

Ambassador Shinichi Kitajima, Permanent Representative of Japan		Ceremony of 'placing pebbles into the globe' by youth representatives