Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world’s peoples.

To confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship.

Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.[FN – internationale venskabsdag]

Der findes mange internationale mærkedage. Og mange af dem forbigår jeg i tavshed, da deres indhold er – skal vi udtrykke det sådan – er at tvivlsomt og diskutabelt indhold. Men den relativt nye internationale venskabsdag – i dag – der blev indstiftet af FN i 2011, giver – for mig i hvert fald – god mening. Hvis vi vil forbedre vilkårene for menneskene på denne grønne planet, så skal og kan vi begynde med at styrke vores venskaber. Både de gamle venskaber, de nye, de forbigående og dem, de er der, fx vi internettet, men som vi måske ikke tænker over eller værdsætter. Gælder også venner af denne blog.