TOMORROW, January 25, is the ‘World’s Greatest Smile’ Day.
The World’s Greatest Smile is a movement that was initiated by Meike Duch and Andreas Lietzow from Hamburg, Germany in 2005. In the first year, 18 209 people from 109 countries worldwide participated, among them the author of the Harry Potter books, JK Rowling.In 2006 the smile grew around the world, with 114 283 people from 131 countries participating, among them the Nobel Peace Price Laureate the Dalai Lama.The World’s Greatest Smile was inspired by US President George Bush’s idea of an “axis of evil” and the organisers wanted to point out that there is a great global axis built by humans who believe that intelligent and friendly communication will bring more peace and many more advantages for the world’s population, thus the opposite to the axis of evil – the axis of friendliness – was started.”Smiling is healthy, makes one happy, improves one’s image and is an intelligent way of communicating,” says Meike Duch.”With this action we want to start an axis of friendliness which is done by people, irrespective of their colour, gender, nationality, age or religion, who believe that through a smile and friendly communication peace can prevail in the world,” adds Andreas Lietzow.Through participation in the World’s Greatest Smile people demonstrate their desire for a peaceful future for themselves and the next generations and participants include politicians, actors, singers, sport personalities and clubs, schoolchildren, and ordinary citizens of many countries in the world.Among the countries in Africa participating in this event are Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.Namibia only joined this year, but the other countries have been participating from the start.To participate, people have to go the website at www.worlds-greatest-smile.com and register themselves, their group or organisation.”Everybody can take part.And each registration helps to advance to a more peaceful future,” say Meike Duch and Andreas Lietzow.In the first year, 18 209 people from 109 countries worldwide participated, among them the author of the Harry Potter books, JK Rowling.In 2006 the smile grew around the world, with 114 283 people from 131 countries participating, among them the Nobel Peace Price Laureate the Dalai Lama. The World’s Greatest Smile was inspired by US President George Bush’s idea of an “axis of evil” and the organisers wanted to point out that there is a great global axis built by humans who believe that intelligent and friendly communication will bring more peace and many more advantages for the world’s population, thus the opposite to the axis of evil – the axis of friendliness – was started.”Smiling is healthy, makes one happy, improves one’s image and is an intelligent way of communicating,” says Meike Duch.”With this action we want to start an axis of friendliness which is done by people, irrespective of their colour, gender, nationality, age or religion, who believe that through a smile and friendly communication peace can prevail in the world,” adds Andreas Lietzow.Through participation in the World’s Greatest Smile people demonstrate their desire for a peaceful future for themselves and the next generations and participants include politicians, actors, singers, sport personalities and clubs, schoolchildren, and ordinary citizens of many countries in the world.Among the countries in Africa participating in this event are Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.Namibia only joined this year, but the other countries have been participating from the start.To participate, people have to go the website at www.worlds-greatest-smile.com and register themselves, their group or organisation.”Everybody can take part.And each registration helps to advance to a more peaceful future,” say Meike Duch and Andreas Lietzow.
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