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MAYOR RECEIVES 'TORCH-BEARER AWARD' FROM WORLD HARMONY RUN   (Wed., Dec. 28, 2011)—Mayor Peter Carlisle today received the Torch-Bearer Award from organizers of the World Harmony Run, the world's largest and longest relay torch run for peace. The award recognizes and honors people who have inspired their communities through their own lives and deeds.   In a ceremony today in Honolulu's Mission Memorial Auditorium, organizers presented the award and announced that the run will cover more than 100 nations in 2012 as runners visit schools, community groups, running clubs, and local and national government organizations.    The run includes millions of children who pass a flaming Peace Torch from hand to hand to express their aspirations for a better world. Runners today lit torches from the world's seven continents to signify the run's international launch. The Peace Torch will visit more than 100 nations on all continents, and the official opening ceremony will be held at United Nations headquarters in New York on April 11, 2012.   Carlisle said he is honored that the World Harmony Run organization chose Honolulu to launch the international run in 2012.   "I applaud them for carrying the message of peace throughout the world, and thank them for bringing it to our home," he said.   Past recipients of the Torch-Bearer Award have included Dr. Davidson Hepburn, President of the 35th General Conference of UNESCO; President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk; American tennis champion Billie Jean King; Japanese Sumo Yokozuna Hakuhô Shô, and many others.   For more information about the World Harmony Run, go to www.worldharmonyrun.org.   -30-   Media contact: Jim Fulton, Mayor's Office, 768-6928.