Better World Campaign Launches 2010 Thank a Peacekeeper Campaign

In recognition of the more than 100,000 UN peacekeepers working in 17 hotspots around the globe, the Better World Campaign launched today the "Thank a Peacekeeper" campaign.  Marking the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29, the campaign will pay tribute to the men and women from 160 countries who serve as UN peacekeepers.

"UN peacekeeping represents the second largest troop deployment in the world, and their work directly benefits the foreign policy and security goals of the United States.  From Haiti to Afghanistan, Sudan to the Democratic Republic of Congo, UN peacekeeping draws upon the economic and human resources of UN member states to share the burden of supporting international peace.  It is important that we recognize the work of UN peacekeepers and thank them for their service,” said Peter Yeo, Executive Director of the Better World Campaign.

BWC will collect messages of thanks from people all around the world from now until the International Day of Peace on September 21.  Working together with the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, BWC will deliver the messages to UN peacekeepers working tirelessly in pursuit of sustainable peace.  In addition, BWC released a “Thank a Peacekeeper” Campaign video honoring the work of UN peacekeepers. The video and action can be viewed at UnitedInPeacekeeping.org.

“UN peacekeepers were critical to the rescue and recovery efforts in the immediate aftermath of the recent earthquake in Haiti.  And they will continue to work alongside the Haitian people to build back a better, stronger, Haiti.  What people should also know is that over 10,000 UN peacekeepers have been tirelessly working to train Haitian police, decrease gang activity, and provide humanitarian relief, since 2004. The work of the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti is just one example of how UN peacekeeping has become an integral part of establishing peace and security in some of the most challenging places around the world,” Yeo continued.