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On 24 October 1985, the United Nations proclaimed 1986 as an International Year of Peace. A resolution stated. the UNO "...Invites all States, all organizations within the United Nations system and interested non-governmental organizations to exert all possible efforts for the preparation and observance of the International Year of Peace, and to respond generously with contributions to attain the objectives of the Year? The UNO and member states were encouraged "to promote the ideals of peace and give evidence of their commitment to peace in all viable ways."
 
The Year of Peace effort was almost immediately caught up in international political turmoil associated with the Cold War (1946-1991), with member states reacting to the effort based upon their affiliation with super-powers (U.S.A. and U.S.S.R.), as well as regional conflicts in the Middle East or Africa. for example. The United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). sponsored gatherings focusing on disarmament which "...would make it possible to redistribute vast material and intellectual resources for social and economic development and help to prepare the ground for equitable political and economic relations between the countries of the world." Other activities involved artistic works and cultural exchange through international travel. 
Peace-related events during the year (and mostly unrelated to the UN resolution) included a meeting by US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to discuss limitations on missiles at Reykjavik, Iceland. 1986 was also the year of the "Hands Across America" charity campaign. and the first "Goodwill Games" held in Moscow. In contrast, U.S. bombing of Libya due to state sponsorship of terrorism, escalation of Northern Ireland violence, airline hijackings in Karachi, Pakistan and over Greece occurred in 1986. Natural or other crises such as the worst-ever nuclear disaster at Chernobyl, Soviet Union, the destruction of Space Shuttle Challenger by explosion. volcanic eruptions in San Salvador, and Mad Cow Disease represented some adverse events.
 
One international aspect of the 1986 Peace Year was issuance of stamps world-wide on the theme of peace. The United Nations issued a Year of Peace logo featuring hands supposing an laurel crown and a dove. The concept is somewhat similar to the United Nations emblem. Stamps followed no common design, however. Variations on the UN logo were incorporated into stamps issued in the world- generic Year of wide omnibus issue. Pace logo.
 
 Vatican City issued a set of five stamps to commemorate the 1986 International Peace Year, Scott 768-772. The stamps included four designs based upon Old and New Testament passages and one design featuring Pope John Paul II releasing a dove. The stamps were designed by Luca Vangelli, printed in sheets of 40. perforated 14 x 14. in vertical format, each measuring 25 x 40mm. The Italian State Printing Works (IPZS) printed 650,000 sets. Neither the United States nor Great Britain issued International Peace Year stamps. but many other countries did so. Italy issued two stamps promoting peace through air travel, but with no peace logo proposed by the UNO. Vatican City, UNO, and selected stamps issued which incorporated doves into the design accompany this article.
 
This article originally appeared in Vatican Notes (Volume 66, Issue 377, Third Quarter 2018, Pages 24-26). It has been lightly edited to include the images of the stamps issued in 1986. Click on the article link in the references below to access not only the original article but images of international stamps not included in the article above.
 
Reference: 
<li>James C. Hamilton, Vatican Notes, Volume 66, Issue 377, Third Quarter 2018, Pages 24-26, <a href='https://www.vaticanstamps.org/vaticannotes/idisplay.php?p=66-377-24-25&r=4'>The 1986 International Peace Year Onnibus Issue</a>

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