This article first appeared in our Organic September 2024 issue of My Green Pod Magazine. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
On 21 September 193 different countries will come together to honour the UN International Day of Peace.
In the run-up to Climate Week NYC (22-29 September), the day also marks the 22nd annual Celebration for People Living in Peace & Climate Week in Times Square, Manhattan – an event that will be broadcast live to the world.
A new artwork, the Peace Friendship Tree, by the American Oriental Arts Foundation, will stand tall in Times Square; the 26.3ft wide, 10ft high and 14ft deep artwork is made from 29,275 steel pieces, forged over five years by 271 craftsmen from the USA and China.
International models will surround the Peace Tree, which symbolises common elements in different cultures around the world: life, the protection of the living world and the endless cycle of life.
This year’s programme of events will be kicked off when, at midday on 21 September, UN Peace Messenger Ringo Starr will virtually request a minute’s silence for world peace.
For the Moment of Silence for Peace, Ringo will ask everyone to create a minute of silence; to cease fire and conduct acts of peace in honour of the UN International Day of Peace, established in 1984.
193 UN countries unanimously agreed to name 21 September the International Day of Peace. McKinsey Co. states that there are 1.6 billion people worldwide who are aware of peace – though Peace Day and Climate Week represent plants and animals as well as humans.
Following the minute’s silence, Good News Corporation and OMMM will present their 22nd annual concert at Father Duffy Park in Times Square, New York.
The five-hour live solar broadcast, in partnership with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, will welcome over 380,000 people and feature virtual messages from UN Peace Messengers including Dr Jane Goodall, Michael Douglas, Leonardo DiCaprio, Stevie Wonder and UNICEF Ambassador Shakira.
The day will also include inspiring musical performances by artists such as Snatam Kaur, Mandy Mayhem, Lama Tashi Norbu, AY Young and others, plus speeches from influential voices from across the peace and sustainability movement.
PART 1
11.30: The festivities will begin with a drum circle followed by the ringing of the Peace Bell via FOWPAL (Federation of World Peace and Love).
12.00: For the Opening Ceremony, UN Peace Ambassador Ringo Starr will virtually request a global moment – a minute of silence – on the large LED screen, and broadcast all over the world. Reverend Paul Sladkus, All Faiths & Spirituality commissioner Jeff Dannhauser and the Administration of Children’s Services will join the meditation with interfaith prayers. Mark Levine will welcome the audience and introduce a virtual peace message from Michael Douglas. SohoJohnny will speak on peace; seven-year-old singer/songwriter Lake Anthony will invite Randy Edelman, composer of over 100 award-winning movies and songs, to perform Song of Peace.
12:15: A powerful meditation will be led by master meditators, global spiritual leaders and OMMM Ambassadors Yogini Jaima and Yogi Cam. There will be a ceremonial drum circle and a symbolic sand mandala will be created.
PART 2
13:35: Climate Week NYC will be kicked off by AY Young, the only American and Young UN 17 Sustainable Goals Leader. Anushuka Sen will debut her new song, Graduation (Goal 4). Grammy award-winning Ken Lewis will join the stage; Ken has 114 platinum and gold albums and singles, 79 billboard number ones and 38 billion streams.
PART 3
14:35: The Woodstock Forever: Peace, Love & HOPE movie trailer will be played to introduce this Woodstock Forever 55th Anniversary segment, with Grammy-winning rising star JillyYeah. It will be followed by a virtual message from Leonardo DiCaprio.
15.00: Seven-year-old singer/songwriter Lake Anthony will sing Put a Little Love in Your Heart. Joining the stage are Artie Kornfield, creator of Woodstock 69; Heidi Little; Hawaiian Lyon Rowland and the all-star Reggae Souljah Band; Earthman Lanny; Shree Chandra; African Legend Solo Beats (featuring Christine Marie); Al Smith/Rick Ulfick/Juma Sultan and the American Relics and Peace Parrots. Shakira will perform Imagine virtually.
PART 4
15:45: The Devine Feminine segment, hosted by Lorraine Silvetz. 93-year-old entertainer Sylvia Silver finally sings on Broadway. Gao Wei Wei and Jeannie Yi introduce the Peace Friendship Tree featuring The American Arts Foundation. 15-year-old Celine Rong performs on the Chinese Pipa and International Models. Performances by Quinn Lemley, Irene Michaels, Indiggo Twins and Katya Grineva.
16:40: Georgia Fumanti, world-renowned crossover singer, closes the broadcast.
16.48: In the closing segment, join the whole cast for another moment of silence, which will be followed by a virtual message from Stevie Wonder.
Solar broadcast partners
EXTREME HANGOUT
Inspired by a love of adventure sports, the natural world and a passion to protect the planet, Extreme Hangout was established as a community climate action platform in 2021. Its collective mission is to give young changemakers a voice, popularise the climate movement and inspire environmental action.HUMANITY’S TEAM
Humanity’s Team is a non-profit dedicated to awakening humanity to the truth that we are all one: connected with the divine and each other.Its mission is to establish a global culture of conscious living, where everyone lives in harmony, by 2040.
Humanity’s Team aims to achieve this using the world’s largest transformational education platform, Steam +, alongside global events, live broadcasts and collaborations.
Humanity’s Team produces an annual conference in October called the Global
Oneness Summit, where people join together to spread the message of oneness. The co-founder of Humanity’s Team, Steve Farrell, is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur and author who had his own awakening before starting Humanity’s Team over 20 years ago with author Neale Donald Walsch.WORLD UPSHIFT
World Upshift believes that true transformation begins in the heart. Guided by the power of love, the organisation unites to inspire intuitive, compassionate and self-aware living. The mission is to foster a global movement dedicated to raising awareness about humanity’s most pressing challenges and to cultivate innovative solutions through collaboration and dialogue.World Upshift is inspired by the vision of thought leaders such as Ervin Laszlo, Wangari Maathai, Master Sha and Deepak Chopra. It partners with thought leaders, political and cultural figures, academics and NGOs to create spaces for critical thinking and consensus-building.
Through symposiums, workshops, public meetings and publications, World Upshift encourages a spirit of inquiry and active participation in the search for wiser and more sustainable ways of living. The view is that every action, no matter how small, contributes to a legacy of cooperation, awareness and love-driven change.
ANANDA WORLDWIDE
This spiritual community, inspired by the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, was founded by his direct disciple Swami Kriyananda in 1968. The mission is to help individuals realise the joy of their own higher self through yoga, meditation and spiritual living.As a Church of All Religions, Ananda embraces the universal truths that underlie all faiths. Through residential communities, Ananda Worldwide provides supportive spaces for spiritual growth, meditation and joyful service.
Its teaching centres offer classes on yoga philosophy and meditation, all designed to guide seekers on their journey towards Kriya initiation.
Ananda honours the light that shines from every faith; everyindividual is encouraged to explore their unique path at their own pace.
By embodying the principles of unity, service and inner transformation, it aims to share the experience of divine joy and peace with the world.
Tammy Scarlett asks: is world peace a pipe dream or a real emerging possibility?
Madeleine Mosse, CEO at Plan for Peace, explores how peacebuilding tools help us tackle the most pressing issue of our times.
Inspirational leader Tammy Scarlett explains the benefits of showing up in community with an intention of coherence.
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