[caption id="attachment_434" align="alignleft" width="300"] Lego Peace Sign made from 10,000 Legos by Madeline, Linda and David. Now on display at the Dusty Attic in Port Jefferson, New York.[/caption]
Did you know that September 21 is the official United Nations International Day of Peace? Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. The General Assembly has declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples. We at Chocology have plans to pause on September 21 and reflect on ways that we can promote peace in our world.
To mark the 30th anniversary of the General Assembly Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace, the theme of this year’s International Day of Peace is the “Right of Peoples to Peace”. This anniversary offers a unique opportunity to reaffirm the United Nations commitment to the purposes and principles upon which the Organization was founded. The Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace recognizes that the promotion of peace is vital for the full enjoyment of all human rights.The International Day of Peace was established in 1981 by resolution 36/67 of the United Nations General Assembly to coincide with its opening session, which was held annually on the third Tuesday of September. The first Peace Day was observed in September 1982.In 2001, the General Assembly by unanimous vote adopted resolution 55/282, which established 21 September as an annual day of non-violence and cease-fire.The United Nations invites all nations and people to honour a cessation of hostilities during the Day, and to otherwise commemorate the Day through education and public awareness on issues related to peace.One way to promote world peace is to do what we love doing. When we do what we love, we feel more peaceful and tend to radiate equanimity to everyone around us. Since chocolate is our passion, we at Chocology feel that living our dream and sharing what we do with the world is one way that we can promote peace.
Since we care deeply about our customers and strive to deliver the best possible product, with customer service at the forefront of our mission, we hope that we inspire peaceful transactions and happy customers. In turn, we hope that when our customers receive our chocolates that they feel just a little more harmony in their hearts as well.
When we share our chocolate passions, whether that’s through education, blogging or selling our chocolates, we strive to transmit joy to those who follow us. Our goal is to not only sell chocolates but to educate and bring people together through an age-old delicacy that everyone loves.
We hope that you’ll take a moment on September 21 to reflect on how you can make the world just a little more peaceful. Perhaps you can share a chocolate with a stranger, smile at the overworked cashier at the grocery store or write an uplifting note to a friend. It’s the small things that make up a giant peaceful world. If we all do our part, International Day of Peace will be an every day event.
Share with us in the comments or on Facebook what you plan to do on International Peace Day. Even the smallest of actions make a difference and your comment just might inspire someone to join you in your peace affirming actions.
Next week, we'll share with you how we celebrated!
Happy International Day of Peace from Chocology!
Whew! After working round the clock in preparation for the Chocology Unlimited Launch and then celebrating all weekend afterwards with our supporters, we were exhausted. And what do we at Chocology do when we’re exhausted? Head to the kitchen, of course!
One of my Ecole Chocolate assignments is to create a unique chocolate recipe. So Madeline and I have been in the kitchen creating all sorts of concoctions; chocolate butterflies, transfer sheets, chocolate clay, fudge, and all sorts of other chocolate goodies.
With all of this cooking, shaping and molding of chocolate, I have come up with 6 Key Factors to consider when working with chocolate and I wanted to share that with you, our loyal readers.
6 Key Factors When Working with ChocolateKey 1:
Ingredients: Your final product is only as good as the ingredients that are in it. ALWAYS use the best ingredients available. When making chocolate treats, this means buying chocolate with higher cocoa butter content.
Key 2:Climate: 68 degrees is perfect for making and storing chocolate. If it’s too warm, your chocolate will melt. Needless to say Madeline and I have been living in a freezer since I’ve begun this class!
Key 3:Altitude: Luckily, sea level is the ideal altitude for chocolate making. Since we live in Port Jefferson, NY, we're good there!
Key 4: Moisture Level: This is a very, very important factor in chocolate making. It impacts tempering, which determines the shine and the shelf life of the final product. Keeping moisture levels down will yield a final product that you’re proud of!
Key 5: Cooking time: Cooking time will be determined by the climate (temperature in your kitchen), altitude and moisture level. Knowing these factors before you begin will assist you in knowing how long to cook your chocolate.
Key 6:Tender Loving Care Most importantly, the love and care that you put into your chocolate project will bring delight to others and a warm feeling in your heart.
So, next time you’re in the kitchen, attempting to make your Christmas chocolates, be sure to keep these factors in mind. Or better yet, head over to our website to experience delightful chocolates that have been lovingly prepared using the 6 Step Method above.