What would the world be like if for just one day we had a complete ceasefire and no violence? A day of peace. At first thought, it sounds downright impossible. But this is the vision of British filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, who directed a film called Peace One Day to record his journey to establish an annual global day of peace.
I learned from this documentary that in 1981 the United Nations established the UN International Day of Peace, which originally fell on the third Tuesday of September. Jeremy’s vision includes not only having this day commemorated by the UN on a fixed calendar date, but that it be a day of action, where people unite globally to hold their governments accountable with a day of ceasefire and nonviolence. A day of peace not only sends a clear message to the world that peace is possible, but more important in the short-term, it allows access to sensitive war-torn areas for delivery of humanitarian and medical aid.
Over a three-year period, Jeremy tirelessly met with different heads of state, Nobel Peace Laureates, and UN ambassadors to initiate changes to the UN International Day of Peace. The UN ratified a change in early September, 2001, to make September 21st the permanent calendar date for the International Day of Peace. On September 11, 2001, moments before the UN was going to announce the new date, the World Trade Center was attacked. Undaunted and even more committed, Jeremy continued to spread his message to the world. On September 21, 2002, the first year that the new International Day of Peace was observed, 98 countries celebrated. In 2006, 200 countries participated and it was the first year that life-saving initiatives were enacted, including delivery of food and immunizations to those in need.
The film gave me hope that Jeremy’s full vision may one day come true. And it ignited within me a desire to help. The best way that I knew how was to tell as many people as I could about this film through The Polishing Stone. I know that Jeremy’s vision and dedication mirrors this magazine’s message that we can initiate positive changes one step at a time. My wish is not only that you will you be inspired to watch the movie, but that you will join the hundreds and thousands of others around the world in celebrating peace on September 21, this year and every year.
I know that each word of hope, love and peace does make a difference. A group of us will be coming together this year to commemorate the day, and we invite you to start a gathering in your neighborhood so that together we combine our voices in saying "yes" to Peace One Day.
Peace One Day:
www.peaceoneday.org
UN International Day of Peace:
www.internationaldayofpeace.org
