The word ”peace” has many meanings. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, it can mean, among other things, “a state or period of mutual concord between governments”, “a pact or agreement to end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity”, “freedom from disquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions” or “a state of tranquility or quiet in a place”.

Regardless of which meaning is given to it, the preservation of peace makes it possible to maintain a well-functioning community, pave the way for prosperity and bring hope to people.

Nobel Peace Prize

It is no wonder that many people from all eras have fought for world peace and made it their life mission. To honour their contribution to humanity, the Nobel Peace Prize was established in 1901 and has been awarded almost every year, except in 1917, 1944 and 1945, when there were world wars and no single, unanimous candidate.

Martin Luther King Jr. is surely one of the most famous recipients of this award, which was presented to him in 1964 for his non-violent advocacy for civil rights, particularly with regard to racial segregation.

Mother Teresa, another well-known figure, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 for her charitable work with the poor and for educating street children in Calcutta, India. As for Nelson Mandela, he was awarded the prize in 1993 for his work to end the apartheid regime and lay the foundations for democracy in South Africa.

More recently, in 2009, former U.S. President Barack Obama received this honour for his efforts in strengthening international diplomacy, while this prize was bestowed upon Malala Yousafzai for her fight against the repression of children and their right to education.

The symbols of peace

One of the most famous peace signs is probably the circle with a horizontal bar and an upside-down V-shape. It was originally created in 1958 by opponents of nuclear weapons, with the two arms corresponding to the letter N in the British semaphore code and the central bar to a D, for “nuclear disarmament”. The symbol was quickly adopted by the international community to embody peace, notably by the “peace and love” movement.

The white flag, which is particularly seen in cartoons featuring pirates, has been used as a symbol of peace or a request for peace talks for many years. Its use was confirmed in 1899 in the annex to the Hague Convention on the Laws and Customs of War, but its use is documented as early as 1625 in Grotius’ On The Law of War and Peace.

The dove holding an olive branch in its beak also embodies peace, and has done so since as far back as antiquity, since this symbolism is found in Greek mythology and the Bible. A dove or an olive branch is often found on urns and funeral monuments to indicate that we want the deceased to rest in peace.

As we can see, peace is of great importance in our lives and well-being. It is never taken for granted and should be cherished as a precious gift.