The project Peace One Day
is the vision of English filmmaker Jeremy Gilley. He conceived the idea of declaring one day a year free of conflict and war; one day of a global truce regardless of all kinds on world conflict and volatile situations. By networking with students and peace activists from a grassroots political level, he persevered from 1999 until, working upward, spoke to Presidents, dignitaries, and leaders around the world. The final result was that on September 21, 2001, two countries and the United Nations passed a resolution to make September 21 the day of peace.
To raise public awareness of Peace One Day, celebrities and musicians gathered together for large concerts on both 2003 and 2004; and then again in 2007 a huge concert took place at the Royal Albert Hall. With the proceeds of the concerts, students were provided with packets of information, and a documentary film was made of the entire process.
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PEACE ONE DAY TICKETS
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Background
At the Womad music festival, Jeremy Gilley conceived of the idea for one day when all countries vowed not to wage war; a worldwide ceasefire, a non-violence day. In 1998, Jeremy began meeting with students, peace negotiators, NGOs, government representatives, heads of state, and United Nations officials. Those he contacted included:
His Holiness the Dalai Lama,
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, Secretary General of the
League of Arab States Amre Moussa, Peace Laureate and former
Israeli President Shimon Peres, former
Costa Rican President and
Nobel Peace Laureate-
Oscar Arias Sanchez,
Nelson Mandela and
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. He learned that a UN resolution would be the best way to establish such a day. He filmed all of his travels and meetings and compiled them to create a
documentary film entitled, "Peace One Day".
After years of persistence and hard work, Jeremy's dream came true. On 7 September 2001, the
United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution, sponsored by the
UK and
Costa Rica formally establishing an annual day of global ceasefire and
non-violence on the UN
International Day of Peace - Peace Day - fixed in the global calendar on 21 September.
[1]
Peace One Day Concerts
Since the release of his film, Jeremy and his team have worked to promote awareness of Peace Day. Peace One Day has received support from
Annie Lennox,
Angelina Jolie,
Dave Stewart,
Jimmy Cliff,
Faithless,
Neneh Cherry,
One Giant Leap,
Zero 7,
Badly Drawn Boy,
Joseph Fiennes,
Sir Richard Branson and the late
Mo Mowlam. This support contributed to the massive success of two concerts at
Brixton Academy in
London on Peace Day in 2002 and 2003.
In 2007, the Peace One Day team has organized a massive concert on Peace Day at the
Royal Albert Hall in
London headlining Annie Lennox with
Yusuf Islam,
Corinne Bailey Rae,
James Morrison,
Kate Nash, and
Marc Almond. The concert also included specially filmed pieces from
Jude Law,
David Beckham, and
Lord David Puttnam. Also included in Peace One Day's supporters are
Stella McCartney,
Marc Jacobs and
Toby Mott, who each created t-shirts sold on the Peace One Day website.
Education Initiatives
Peace One Day has spread awareness through the creation of the in May 2006. The second edition of the resource pack will incorporate 3 new lessons on sport, music and the environment, and is available through sponsorship from
Ecover free to all UK secondary schools beginning in August 2007.
Peace One Day Films
The first documentary
Peace One Day
(2004) shows the real-life results of Peace Day 21 September around the world, including life-saving initiatives by leading humanitarian organisations.
Jeremy Gilley has now completed a second feature documentary,
The Day After Peace
. The film includes footage of the visit to Afghanistan by Jeremy and
Jude Law. It was premiered at the
Cannes Film Festival on 19 May 2008 and was shown on September 21, 2008, at a Gala screening at the
Royal Albert Hall,
London.
[2] It was also shown on
20 September 2008 on
BBC Four as part of the
Storyville
strand and on
BBC Two on
27 September 2008.
[3]
References
- {{UN document |docid=A-RES-55-282 |type=Resolution |body=General Assembly |session=55 |resolution_number=282 |accessdate=2008-08-23|date=7 September 2001|title=International Day of Peace}}
- ''Peace One Day celebration'' Peace One Day, (official home page), accessed 31 May 2008.
- BBC Programmes - Storyville - The Day After Peace