English filmmaker Jeremy Gilley was the first to image
the project Peace One Day. 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.
Celebrities and musicians gathered together
for large concerts on both 2003 and 2004 to raise public awareness of Peace
One Day; 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.
The Backdrop of Peace One Day
Jeremy Gilley conceived of the idea
at the Womad music festival 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".
Jeremy Gilley
Gilley's dream came true after years
of persistence and hard work. 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.
Concerts of Peace One Day
Gilley and his team have worked to promote
awareness of Peace Day since the release of his film. 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.
The Peace One Day team has organized
a massive concert on Peace Day in 2007, 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
The Peace One Day has spread awareness
through the creation of the Peace One Day Citizenship Resource Pack 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
In 2004, the first documentary Peace
One Day 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.
Jude Law (right), with Jeremy
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. 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.
