'A Handshake for Peace, A Hug for Life' campaign goes live

A campaign to have people worldwide shaking hands throughout the day of 21 December 2012, and to give each other a hug at midnight, New Year's Day 2013, all in the name of peace and life, is officially under way.

The campaign, founded by Digital Journalist Vlad Bourceanu and with its home page at ahandshakeforpeace.com officially launched yesterday online through a Facebook Event page everyone is kindly asked to join if they wish to. The hope, according to Mr. Bourceanu, is that people will shake hands throughout the day of 21 December 2012, and then hug each other at midnight on New Year's Day 2013, for peace and for life. "I chose 21 December 2012 for the handshake day because it seemed so appropriate" - said Mr. Bourceanu. "Here is a day which is symbolic of religious holidays for the religious ones, of winter solstice and holidays for the non-religious, and, of course, of mysticism for the mystics. It seemed the ideal day to choose for such an initiative". What about the choice of date for the hugs for life? "Ah, that was the obvious choice", smiles Mr. Bourceanu. "If we can't hug someone for New Year's Day, when can we?" A Handshake for Peace can be found (as mentioned) on Facebook (as a public event everyone is kindly asked to join if they want to), and also on Twitter @thehandofpeace