Editor and publisher of Nagaland Post, Geoffrey Yaden, Saturday asked the youth to practice and instill peace for a peaceful environment. He said this while speaking at the second day of the ongoing Northeast Youth Peace and Cultural festival organized in commemorating the international day of peace and 7th Peace Channel foundation day at Holy Cross Higher Secondary School, Dimapur, on the theme “Sustainable peace for a sustainable future”.

Yaden said every religion in the world talked about peace and tolerance and many people have said good things to strive for peaceful environment including individuals wanting to live in peace, but are ultimately not allowed or are drawn into various kinds of issues and violence.

He said that people undertake various forms of agitation so that their voice can be heard but attributed this factor to weakening the society, adding the recent incident in the state was proof enough that the state machinery has  broken down since the people have collectively failed to control.

He also said gradual decline in the word “authority” has ruined the society as one dislikes being controlled and that it has become a new culture.
He said young people often talk about their future, but felt if they did not respect the authority at home and lacks peace, then they would be unsuccessful in the long run, at the same time lamented that there were people who do not practice what they preach, for which he said young people today were quite confused as things were not going in the right direction.

Yaden further encouraged the youth to shoulder the responsibilities and value moral ethics only then they could appreciate and respect others for a congenial co-existent.

Earlier, the programme started with an invocation by Rev. A. Pfokrelo, pastor, MBC, 7th mile Dimapur, welcome address by Victor Yhome, animator, Kohima. Ikato and Kakhehe presented a special number, while Khasi and Nepali folk dances were presented by Trinity High School, Dimapur, and participants from Meghalaya.