Peace One Day Background

In 1999, filmmaker Jeremy Gilley launched the non-profit organisation Peace One Day (POD) to document his journey to create the first ever annual day of ceasefire and non-violence. As a result of these efforts, the day was unanimously adopted in 2001 by United Nations member states, fixed as September 21 – Peace Day. With the day in place, POD’s objective is to institutionalise Peace Day, making it a day that is self-sustaining. By 2007, 100 million people were actively involved on the day (source UNDPI) in every country of the world.

Peace Day has also been proved as a window of opportunity for humanitarian organisations to focus their ongoing life-saving activities within a global context, most notably in Afghanistan, where 4.5 million children have been immunized against polio due to Peace Day agreements since 2007.

Global Truce 2012 Campaign

For Peace Day 2012, POD is calling for and working towards a Global Truce, what is hoped will be the largest reduction in global violence in recorded history, both domestically and internationally, and the biggest ever gathering of individuals in the name of peace.

Peace One Day will deliver “Global Truce 2012” by leveraging existing and new relationships to undertake an extensive diplomatic and grassroots campaign, concentrating particularly on the youth of the world.
Peace One Day works principally through education and music to help support its work.

Education

Peace One Day Education aims to advance active learning in the areas of conflict resolution, global citizenship, human rights and the link between sustainability and peace, using Peace Day 21 September as a focus. Our goal is to provide free resource materials to every school on earth, inspiring a generation to become the driving force behind the vision of a united and sustainable world.
There are currently over 11,500 educators registered and using Peace One Day education materials in 190 countries.

Music

Peace One Day’s internationally broadcast concerts in 2012, as part of the London 2012 Festival, will be key drivers towards civil society participation in the Global Truce 2012 campaign:

21 June 2012

Derry-Londonderry Northern Ireland, the opening event of the London 2012 Olympic Festival.

21 September 2012

(Peace Day 2012/the day of Global Truce), Wembley Arena, London.

Find out more on the official website