Peace One Day

Berlin, 9 February

Jeremy receives the Most Inspirational Film Award for The Day After Peace at the Cinema For Peace festival, Berlin.

March

The North American premiere of The Day After Peace takes place at the Washington DC International Film Festival.

Jeremy meets with Senator John Kerry to discuss the possibility of creating a resolution to be put before Congress, with a view to institutionalising Peace Day throughout America.

April / May

Jeremy launches the 3rd Edition of the Peace One Day Citizenship Resource for Key Stages 3 & 4 in the UK and the first ever Peace One Day U.S.A. Education Resource for grades 6–12. Both resources are free and online, containing related video content, lesson plans and resource links. The resources are used in conjunction with Jeremy’s award-winning documentary The Day After Peace. School Edition DVDs of the film, with subtitles in the six official languages of the United Nations, are given free to all 6,000 UK secondary schools and 4,000 schools in the north east of the US, with nationwide roll-out planned for 2010. The Peace One Day U.S.A. Education Resource is launched in association with Scholastic and underwritten by long-time supporters Ben & Jerry’s; UK distribution support by DHL; Innovative technology donated by Yudu.

June

Peace One Day launches the new website in the six official languages of the United Nations with exciting new functionality that visualises all the people in the world who are committing to taking action on 21 September. It acts as an evolving peace portal with wide-ranging content from both Peace One Day and individuals around the world.

 

Ghana, January

Peace One Day launches One Day One Goal in conjunction with PUMA’s launch of the 100% African-sourced Peace One Day Football Collection, on the eve of The African Cup of Nations 2008. Peace One Day and PUMA jointly host a local children’s football match in Accra’s Kawakudi Park. This match initiates Peace One Day’s One Day One Goal initiative, which aims to manifest football matches all over the world on Peace Day, 21 September.

France, 19 May

The Day After Peace is screened during the 61st Cannes Film Festival, and presented by Nick Fraser, BBC Storyville Series Editor and a Q&A is held with director/producer/writer Jeremy Gilley and Peace One Day Ambassador Jude Law. The film is extremely well received with a standing ovation, and the evening ends with a reception hosted by PUMA.

London, May

Jeremy receives The Campaigner of the Year award, at the Britain’s Best awards 2008. Jude Law presents the award to Jeremy at the ceremony, which is broadcast throughout the UK on ITV1.

New York, May

Jeremy joins Ben & Jerry’s, and the Lennon Estate in New York City for the launch of the new Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, ‘Imagine Whirled Peace’. At the launch, a new relationship between Peace One Day and Ben & Jerry’s is announced.

London, July

The Day After Peace has its UK premiere at the Brit Docs.

Afghanistan, August

Jeremy heads to Afghanistan, again with Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law, in conjunction with UNICEF and UNAMA, to offer the film The Day After Peace free for television broadcasts. Meetings are held with President Hamid Karzai, United Nations agencies and civil society groups. A press conference is held with Jeremy Gilley and Jude Law, as a call to action for people within Afghanistan to observe Peace Day.

London, Peace Day 21 September

Peace One Day returns to London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall in London for another memorable night of celebrations. The actor Jude Law introduces a gala screening of Jeremy Gilley’s new film The Day After Peace. There are live performances by Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Annie Lennox and John Legend, with a surprise appearance from Lenny Kravitz. An international television and online broadcast of the 2008 concert is distributed and has been licensed in 58 countries.

 

Afghanistan, 10–20 July

Jeremy travels to Afghanistan with his film crew and the actor Jude Law to document preparations for life saving activities on 21 September 2007.

The mission travels to Jalalabad and Kabul. They meet with many representatives from the UN including Tom Koenigs, UN Special Representative to Afghanistan, Catherine Mbengue, UNICEF Representative to Afghanistan, Sir Sherard Cowper Coles, British Ambassador to Afghanistan, Mr. Atmar, the Afghan Minister of Education, Fatima Gailani, President of the Afghan Red Crescent Society, as well as school children and a US army reconstruction team.

See the film The Day After Peace for the full story of Afghanistan. You can buy the DVD from our Shop.

Democratic Republic of Congo, 28 July – 3 August

Jeremy and his film crew travel to the DRC. He meets with members of the UN, including UNICEF and MONUC (the largest peacekeeping force in the UN), DFID as well as with other agencies, parties and individuals. Discussions focus on the potential opportunities for Peace Day.

Peace Day 21 September

“Over 100 million people, in over a hundred countries are marking the day, today [21 September 2007] in many different ways,” says Ahmad Fawzi, Director of United Nations News and Media Division, speaking at Peace One Day’s Royal Albert Hall event.

Peace Day activities around the world include vaccination campaigns, peace walks, peace related discussions and debates, poetry readings, peace prayer ceremonies, art exhibitions and memorial services. Schools hold assemblies, watch the Peace One Day film and sing the Song for Peace, football matches are held to promote peace and interaction, and much more.

In Afghanistan, The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), with the Ministry of Public Health, provide children with the monovalent P3 polio vaccine in southern Afghanistan and selected areas in eastern Afghanistan, with discussions led by the Governor of Kandahar, as a result of which 1.4 million children are vaccinated. UNICEF and youth volunteers from the Afghan Red Crescent Society organise a Peace Walk through the streets of Herat, followed by a youth debate on what needs to be done in Afghanistan for peace to work. There are arms handover ceremonies, prayers for peace in mosques, schools painted white and education activities. A large tract of land, cleared of mines and ready for cultivation, is handed over to the local community.

Star Syringe provide safe immunisation camps in 20 locations, up from ten in 2006, from India to Ethiopia to Indonesia, vaccinating children in rural and hard to reach areas, against measles, diphtheria, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and whooping cough. In St Francis Hospital, Uganda Star Syringe immunise close to 1,000 children for the BCG TB vaccine. In Iraq, Civil Dialogue plant olive trees and hold a memorial service for all the Iraqi youth who have lost their lives due to conflict. In Thailand, Jungceylon, Phuket, children create a 10 metre giant peace wall to inspire peace.

In the DRC, UNICEF lead an integrated immunisation campaign; vitamin A, de-worming and mosquito net distribution benefit over 600,000 children in the conflict affected South Kivu province. Other agencies are involved including DFID, PSI and USAID, Government of Japan, UN Foundation, WHO, AXxes, MOH + Drive Against Malaria.

See Jeremy’s film The Day After Peace for the full impact of individuals’ courageous and inspirational activity. You can buy the DVD from our Shop.

London, Peace Day 21 September

Peace One Day celebrates Peace Day at the Royal Albert Hall with an audience of 5,000. Performing live are Annie Lennox, Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens), Corinne Bailey Rae, James Morrison, Marc Almond and Kate Nash. Also on stage are Jude Law, His Royal Highness Prince Azim of Brunei, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield (of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream), author Gregory David Roberts, Olympic athlete Linford Christie and Director of United Nations News and Media Division Ahmad Fawzi. Her Majesty Queen Rania of Jordan, David Beckham, the Spice Girls and others also all participate, via video statements.

UK, October

Following the success of the first edition, the Peace One Day Citizenship Resource Pack 2nd Edition is published and reaches 92% of UK secondary schools. The 2nd edition includes new lessons supported by the David Beckham Academy, Adventure Ecology and Youth Music. Thanks to the generous support of Ecover, the new resource pack is made available free to every secondary school in the UK.

 

London,  8 May

Launch of the Peace One Day Citizenship Resource Pack at BAFTA. Artist Sam Taylor-Wood and international best-selling author Gregory David Roberts help Peace One Day Founder, Jeremy Gilley to launch the pack for schools in the UK.

UK, Peace Day 21 September

Peace Day 2006 sees the first life-saving initiatives specific to Peace Day. The World Food Programme deliver 30 tonnes of food into southern Sudan. The International Rescue Committee in the Democratic Republic of the Congo reunite Adeline, a child soldier, with her family in the village of Basoko and Star Syringe Ltd carry out a safe immunisations programme in 9 countries around the world via the K1 syringe.

The specially commissioned song “No Wars Will Stop Us Singing” is sung by around 2.2 million young people in some 6,000 schools across the UK. ‘Song for Peace’ is a collaboration between Peace One Day, NASUWT (the largest union representing teachers and head teachers in the UK) and Youth Music (a UK-wide music charity set up to provide music making opportunities for under 18s). Flagship ‘Song for Peace’ events are held at the Café Royal in London (where radio presenter and platinum-selling recording artist Aled Jones and the prolific award-winning composer Debbie Wiseman, MBE are joined by The City of Birmingham Young Voices Choir); Cardiff at City Hall (sung in Welsh); in Belfast at the Stormont Parliament Building; and in Edinburgh at the Scottish Parliament.

London, Autumn

Editing begins on The Day After Peace documentary, again produced in association with the BBC and Passion Pictures.

New York,  6 November

Only Make Believe holds its 6th Gala hosted by Kathie Lee Gifford. Jeremy Gilley is awarded the James Hammerstein Award for his humanitarian work and dedication to children in need. For more information on Only Make Believe, please visit: www.onlymakebelieve.org

New York, 20 September
 
Ziegfeld Gala Screening with Angelina Jolie and Jonny Lee Miller, Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix and Larry Aidem, President and CEO, Sundance Channel. Angelina and Jonny help Jeremy to announce commitments from all around the world for Peace Day 2006.

New York , Peace Day 21 September
 
UN Peace Bell Ceremony headed by Kofi Annan.

Edinburgh, 21 August
 
World Premiere of ‘Peace One Day’ at the Edinburgh Film Festival.

‘Peace One Day’ is screened at various international film festivals including: Adelaide (Australia), Bath (UK), Boston (MA, USA), Cairns (Australia), Chicago (IL, USA), Copenhagen (Denmark), Durban (SA), Glastonbury (UK), Herefordshire (UK), Israel (British Council - see below), Keswick (UK), Leipzig (Germany), Leith (Scotland, UK), Madrid (Spain), Maine (ME, USA), Milano (Italy), Newport Beach (CA, USA), Oslo (Norway), Saratoga Springs (NY, USA), Stuttgart (Germany), Tapiola (Finland), Tiburon (CA, USA) and Vermont (VT, USA).

New York, Peace Day 21 September
 
North American Premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre, Manhattan, introduced by Sir Kieran Prendergast, (then) Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, Nick Fraser, Storyville Series Editor, BBC.

London, 2003–04
 
Jeremy spends the year editing ‘Peace One Day’.

London, Peace Day 21 September

Peace One Day returns to the Brixton Academy to celebrate Peace Day. The evening is hosted by Richard Blackwood and features live performances from Badly Drawn Boy, Dave Stewart and friends, Faithless, Lamb, Tom McRae, 1 Giant Leap, Badmarsh and Shri, Jambience and Chicken Shed Theatre Company, with DJ sets from Nitin Sawhney, Norman Jay, Sancho Panza and Bran Van 3000. Speakers include Joseph Fiennes and Mo Mowlam and video messages from Pavarotti, Muhammad Ali, His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan are screened.

Cairo , March
 
A meeting is held with Amre Moussa, Secretary General of the League of Arab States, who expresses his support and commits to calling for a meeting of the representatives of all member states to observe the Day, and prepare for a wide campaign throughout the Arab world.

London, 21 March
 
A press conference is held at BAFTA, London. Speeches are made by: Jeremy Gilley (Founder, Peace One Day), Ahmad Fawzi (Director, UN Information Centre UK & Ireland - With a message from UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan), Olara Otunnu (Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict), Guy Tousignant (Secretary General of CARE International), Honourable Ousman Badjie (Secretary of State for Interior and Religious Affairs, Republic of The Gambia) Trevor Beattie (Chairman and Creative Director of Advertising Agency TBWA, London). In addition a filmed statement is shown from Mr. Amre Moussa (Secretary General of the League of Arab States).

London, 12 June
 
The latest 8-minute Peace One Day film is shown at BAFTA, introduced by Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin Group, the artist Sam Taylor Wood and Peace One Day founder, Jeremy Gilley.

Cairo, August
 
At the invitation of the Secretary General of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, Jeremy Gilley makes a presentation to representatives of all Arab League member states. An 8-minute Peace One Day film is shown and Jeremy brings UN GA Resolution 55/282 to the attention of those present, inviting their respective countries to observe the 21st September as a day of global ceasefire and non-violence.

London, Peace Day 21 September
 
Peace One Day celebrates 21st September 2002 at Brixton Academy, London, UK, with an evening of live music, multimedia and speech, attended by over 4000 people. The evening is hosted by award-winning comedian Omid Djalili and features live performances from Jimmy Cliff & Dave Stewart, Faithless, Starsailor, Neneh Cherry, Zero 7, 1 Giant Leap,Jambience and Rhianna. There are also special appearances by Sean Pertwee, Jonny Lee Miller, Sir Richard Branson, Trevor Beattie (chairman and creative director of advertising agency TBWA London), Jeremy Gilley Founder, Peace One Day and Annie Lennox who reads a special message from His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Ahmad Fawzi, Director of the UN Information Centre, UK and Ireland introduces a video of the Peace Day message from UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan. There is the 1st public reading of the newly created World Peace Prayer, prepared with broad interfaith consultation by the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP), and representatives from the Brahma Kumaris bless Peace Day and hold 3 minutes of silence. The evening is closed with a DJ set from UNKLE.

New York, February
 
Peace One Day met with United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan at UN Headquarters. He expressed his support for the creation of a United Nations global ceasefire/non-violence day and suggested practical steps that could be taken once achieved.

London, April

Peace One Day meets the (now former) UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, John Battle. As a key minister in the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Mr Battle speaks about the UK's support for the Day and says the UK government would consider whether to become a sponsor at the next General Assembly.

Geneva, May
 
Peace One Day meets with Mary Robinson, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. She offers her support for the initiative and speaks about the practical opportunities a Peace Day could hold.

New York, August

A meeting is held with the Executive Director of UNICEF, Carol Bellamy, who expresses her support for the Day.

New York, September

A new resolution (55/282), co-sponsored by the UK and Costa Rican governments, is unanimously adopted in the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York establishing the United Nations International Day of Peace as an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence with a fixed calendar date - 21st September.

New York, November
 
Meetings are held with Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Sir Kieran Prendergast, Interim Head of UN Department of Public Information Shashi Tharoor and Executive Director of UNICEF Carol Bellamy. Discussions focus on the forthcoming day of global ceasefire and non-violence and its practical observance.

Geneva, December
 
A meeting is held with Director General of The International Committee for the Red Cross, Paul Grossrieder. The ICRC commit to promoting awareness of the day of global ceasefire and non-violence, both within the organization and outside.

Brussels, December
 
A meeting is held with the Secretary-General of CARE International, Guy Tousignant. Discussions focus on CARE’s practical involvement in the lead up to the first ever UN ceasefire/non-violence Day.

Africa, January
 
Peace One Day undertakes field missions in Burundi and Somalia to learn about the practical implications of day of peace. In Tanzania Peace One Day attends the Arusha Peace Talks, chaired by Nelson Mandela. Presidents, high-level UN staff, top governmental and non-governmental officials give their support to the creation of a United Nations global ceasefire day, including OAU (now former) Secretary-General Dr. Salim Ahmed Salim.

Indian Sub-Continent, May

Nobel Peace Laureate His Holiness the Dalai Lama invites the Peace One Day team to meet with him in India. There he offers profound guidance and expresses his support for the initiative. Peace One Day meets with representatives in India and Sri Lanka at UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNHCR, and various UN Information Centres, all of who support the creation of the Day.

Middle East, July

Nobel Peace Laureate Shimon Peres offers his support, as does Terje Rod-Larsen, the key negotiator in the Middle East Peace Process and Hisham Abd El Raziq, Minister of Detainee's Affairs - Palestinian National Authority. Representatives at UNRWA, UNESCO, and various non-governmental peace organisations all offer their support. A special peace forum is orchestrated by Peace One Day at the village of Neve Shalom / Wahat al-Salam, attended by Israeli and Palestinian youths and by representatives of NGOs and the UN.

Australia, September

Jeremy Gilley officiates a Minute of Silence and speaks at the International Olympic Committee Symposium on Peace, held during the Sydney Olympic Games. Former Prime Minister of Australia The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Fraser offers his support, as do representatives at UNICEF, UNHCR, and numerous NGOs.

London, September

Peace One Day is officially launched at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. Ahmad Fawzi, Director of the UN Information Centre and Mark Rylance, Artistic Director of Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, make speeches. The event is attended mostly by Jeremy’s friends and is largely ignored by the press.

Costa Rica, October

Peace One Day successfully gains support from Nobel Peace Laureate and former President Dr. Oscar Arias, former President Don Rodrigo Carazo Odio, Maurice Strong, Rector of the University for Peace in Costa Rica, Senior Advisor to the UN Secretary-General and Chairman of the Earth Council and Dr. Robert Muller, former assistant to the UN Secretary-General and Chancellor Emeritus at the University for Peace in Costa Rica.

UK Schools Tour, November

Peace One Day visited schools in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.