Description

While there are thousands of organizations worldwide that observe the International Day of Peace every year, there are some that promote Peace Day among their members and encourage participation, to an extent that it results in large scale events and impact. These organizations usually post information and material on their websites, and present their own lists of Peace Day events online.

24-Hour World Peace Celebration & Global Telecast *
Every year since 2009, the United Nations' International Day of Peace is celebrated with a global telecast via the Internet, radio and television. The UN's annual commemoration of its central purpose - to end the scourge of war for future generations, highlight and honor the accomplishments of peace organizations and individuals around the world, and promote the Millennium Development Goals are featured in this annual broadcast. The broadcast features UN Ambassadors, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Message for the UN International Day of Peace, Peace music, inspirational videos, and interviews with peacebuilders.  You can watch this years broadcast on CPI TV.
http://cultureofpeace.org/cpitv

11 Days of Global Unity *
11 Days of Global Unity is an annual worldwide promotion of peace and sustainability facilitated by We, The World. There are more than 700 concerts, festivals, webcasts, and other events in over 60 countries culminating on September 21, International Day of Peace. Supporters include Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Honorary Co-Chairs Jane Goodall, Deepak Chopra, Irene Khan (Secretary General of Amnesty International), Marianne Williamson, John McConnell (the original Founder of Earth Day), Hazel Henderson, Ervin Laszlo, Jonathan Granoff, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Robert Thurman, Sally Fisher, Riane Eisler and Lynne Twist. To achieve a livable future for our world we will need a massive shift of both personal and societal priorities and resources. We, The World is building the critical mass of aware, informed and involved people to make this shift through many programs, such as: The World Peace Earth Day Celebration; The Global Water Awareness and Action Campaign; Pass It Forward: Students Mentoring Students, 10 Million Clicks for Peace, a fundraiser for refugees; Be the Change, a course in heart centered leadership; Greenworks, a series of green economy and workforce development forums; and Campaign 2020. We, The World maintains a Global Unity Calendar of Peacebuilding events year round and worldwide.
www.wetheworld.org/11days

Celebration Earth: Making The Jump from a Culture of War to a Culture of Peace *
Celebration Earth is a 6 month long festival for peace in Japan and other parts of Asia; it welcomes global cooperation and participation and seeks to practice the 'Peace Day, Every Day' spirit envisioned by the 'Culture of Peace' UN designated Peace Messenger Initiative and embodied by the 'International Day of Peace'. Through a joyful series of events, we wish to give the world a model of international peace and inner peace.
www.earthwalker.com

Cercle de Paix (Circle of Peace) *
Cercle de Paix is a non-profit organization, who's main mission, is to promote the International Day of Peace, Septembre 21st. As contact in Canada for this day, Circle of Peace engages civil society in the peaceful observance of the day, and helps to raise awareness to the stakes of non-violence. In doing so, it also helps develop a Culture of Peace as defined by UNESCO. Since it's creation, in July 2004, Circle of Peace, has also worked to convince all levels of government: the City of Montreal, and both the Quebec and Canadian governments, to officially adopt September 21, as the International Day of Peace. Circle of Peace also plans to initiate popular and cultural events to be held each year on or around Septembre 21st, to promote Peace. Peace has solid roots in Canada. The Great Peace Treaty of 1701, signed by chief Kondiaronk, and Louis De Callieres, is a great example of our own history. 305 years later, we can thank these visionaries, and others for leaving us with such a great treasure. Every year on the 21st of september, Circle of Peace hopes to gather artists, as well as organisations and citizens, that wish to participate and celebrate Peace.
cercledepaix.ca

Culture of Peace Initiative *
The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) was originated in 1983 as a program of Pathways To Peace; in 1989, the CPI was granted UN Peace Messenger status. The CPI serves as a vehicle for bringing together previously unseen and unheard Peacebuilders working along diverse paths toward peace. There are now thousands of organizations acting in concert to build a culture of peace worldwide. The annual highlight of this initiative is the global observance of the International Day of Peace on September 21. The International Day of Peace provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date. Many organizations conduct activities that educate, inform and inspire people about Peacebuilding practices that address concerns such as: disarmament, human rights, poverty, hunger, health care, education, the environment, humanitarian aid, cultural preservation and fair trade. The Culture of Peace and International Day of Peace websites are resources available to all people to facilitate this global observance. Please post your activities on the Global Events Calendar on the Culture of Peace website - they will automatically show up on the International Day of Peace website, and also become part of our annual report to the UN. Together, our efforts can have both global impact and historical significance - our children will grow up observing 'Peace Day' and incorporating it's meaning and potential into their lives.
www.cultureofpeace.org

Earthdance International *
Earthdance was conceived in 1996 as a vision to unite the whole world through the universal platform of dance and music. Celebrated each year on a weekend near the International Day of Peace, Earthdance has now become the largest global synchronized dance event in the world with over 300 events in 60 countries - some are stadium size and some are in smaller venues. Rising out of the global electronic music scene, Earthdance has now grown to include a diverse cross-section of musical genres including world music, jazz, conscious hip-hop, folk and reggae. For one night all around the globe, people join together to dance as one global community, with a common vision for peace and humanitarian aims. Proceeds from these events are donated to local programs in the areas of childrens' welfare, international relief, indigenous peoples, environmental sustainability, or organizations that help promote peace.
www.earthdance.org

ENO Programme *
Environment Online (ENO) is a global virtual school and network for sustainable development, based in Finland. Since 2004, ENO Programme has arranged tree plantings to celebrate Peace Day! There have been hundreds of participants in 124 countries. In 2008, over 300,000 trees were planted by 2000 schools! A special tree planting song and play have been created to celebrate the day. Their website includes photo galleries of past Peace Day tree plantings, instructions and a registration form for your school or group. A charity concert "Trees Rock For Peace" will be organized in Finland to provide tree seedlings to ENO schools in Africa!
www.enotreeday.net, www.enoprogramme.org

Friends of the United Nations (FOTUN) & Groups of Action toward Peace (GAP) *
Friends of the United Nations (FOTUN) works with educational institutions, corporations, the media, governments and non-governmental organizations to inform and educate people about United Nations efforts on behalf of peace, human rights and human health, children, the environment and sustainable development. Group of Actions toward Peace (GAP) is a project of Friends of the United Nations and is based on the formation of local independent groups that affiliate to the organization. GAPs work for the benefit in the living conditions of their communities and thus toward the achievement of a more peaceful relation with ourselves and with other human beings of the planet. GAPs are groups involving civilians of goodwill - all across the globe - that organize activities in their own areas and create observances of the International Day of Peace.
www.fotun.org , www.amigosdelaonu.org/GAPs.html

Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace *
The Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace is a worldwide community of individuals, organizations and campaigns, supporting their national governments to significantly invest in the development of skills and infrastructure dedicated to the peaceful resolution of conflict. In many cases these groups are lobbying for or working with their governments to create Depts. of Peace. Some of the proposed legislation includes language to officially recognize and observe the International Day of Peace. This year's Global Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace is in Costa Rica from Sept. 13 to Sept. 21st, and the closing ceremony will be on the International Day of Peace, and will be open to the public. Also, this is a precedent-setting event in the history of international peace, as it will be first time that this summit will be hosted by a national government. Let it be also noted that the Costa Rican government is one of the original sponsors of the UN resolution to create the International Day of Peace in 1981.
www.mfp-dop.org

The Peace Alliance
The Peace Alliance is the affiliate organization in the U.S.; they advocate for change from government in the field of peacebuilding. The creation of a Dept. of Peace came in 2nd (of over 7,000 ideas) on the Change.org National Ideas Challenge - after Barack Obama took office. There is currently a bill before the U.S. House of Representatives to establish a United States Department of Peace. There is also a Student Peace Alliance with over 150 active chapters in the U.S.
www.peacealliance.org

Global Mala *
The purpose of the Global Mala Yoga for Peace Project is to unite the global yoga community from every continent, school or approach to form a "mala around the earth" through collective practices, based upon the sacred cycle of 108, on Sept. 19 and 20, as the yoga world's offering to further the UN International Peace Day. Thousands of yoga teachers and practitioners participate in hundreds of events worldwide. The largest this year will be in Los Angeles with 1008 yogis. Each center offers their form of a Yoga Mala according to their yoga tradition and inspiration: 108 Sun Salutations, 108 rounds of mantra, 108 rounds of a kriya and 108 minutes of meditation, kirtan, movement meditation. These events also include live music, and fellowship with like-minded yogis interested in creating the peace they wish to experience in the world. The Global Mala Project belongs to the "Yoga Lokah" - the global yoga community. It is a seed of a world-wide experiment into the power of meditation in action.
www.globalmala.org

Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) *
Through its project People Building Peace, GPPAC highlights the contributions of civil society to preventing violent conflict, and the power and impact that “people power” brings to transform lives and communities in the shadow of violence. GPPAC uses the International Day of Peace as a rallying point to raise awareness about the value and necessity of conflict prevention and peacebuilding work. Recognizing that knowledge and support for these issues remains low among the general public and many policymakers, GPPAC has launched a campaign to highlight some of the successful civil society peacebuilding and conflict prevention stories. GPPAC encourages its over 1000 member organizations to observe Peace Day.
www.peoplebuildingpeace.org, www.gppac.net

Global Peace Film Festival
The Global Peace Film Festival was established to utilize the power of the motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth. Now in its 7th year, the Global Peace Film Festival showcases international films with subjects ranging from the human condition to sustainability and the environment. With a mission to expand the definition of peace beyond anti-war ideology, activism or specific causes, the Global Peace Film Festival events - and films - suggest a more personal message as reflected in the daily lives of individuals and communities the world over. Each year this multi-day festival takes place during the time period when the world observes the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21; this year's film festival runs September 22nd - 27th. The Global Peace Film Festival presents films from around the world and global discussions that highlight the power of this extraordinary medium as it relates to new peace issues. See films from around the world, attend educational panels, meet filmmakers and special guests and hear from activists about their work - and get involved!
www.peacefilmfest.org

IDP Vigil *
Over the years thousands of groups worldwide have participated in the IDP Vigil as a means of highlighting the important role of religious, spiritual and peace communities in the pursuit of community non-violence and world peace. All peoples and organizations are invited to commemorate the day in an appropriate manner. This global 24-hour spiritual observation for peace is meant to demonstrate the power of prayer and other spiritual practices in promoting peace and preventing violent conflict. These worldwide spiritual observances will also help raise public awareness of the International Day of Peace (IDP) and directly support the establishment of a global ceasefire. Please join with millions around the globe to observe the IDP by: committing to making a special effort to observe peace and non-violence in your personal life, observing a minute of silence at noon on September 21, and participating in the all-day vigil within your faith community or in an interfaith celebration.
www.idpvigil.com

London Week for Peace *
The London Week of Peace is a practical application of Peacebuilding and conflict resolution ideas on a city wide scale. It is an annual week of events, initiatives and actions organized by communities, individuals, businesses and public agencies to promote greater community cohesion, safety and peace across the city. The vision is to see all Londoners engaged in creating a more cohesive society and in celebrating their rich diversity, with the goal of promoting justice, equality and respect. The mission is to challenge all Londoners to make a positive change in their communities by celebrating its diversity of cultures, talents, and generations; collaborating with their fellow Londoners from all walks of life to raise awareness on community safety and to contribute to greater cohesion and understanding in our communities; and achieving reconciliation among all our communities, promoting justice, equality and respect, as well as helping to reduce crime and the fear of crime in our capital. It will take place from the 20th - 27th of September 2009.
www.weekofpeace.org.uk

Mayors for Peace *
Mayors for Peace is a UN affiliated NGO with Special Consultative Status. The organization has over 3,000 members in 134 countries. The Mayors for Peace, through close cooperation among the cities, strives to raise international public awareness regarding the need to abolish nuclear weapons and contributes to the realization of genuine and lasting world peace by working to eliminate starvation and poverty, assist refugees fleeing local conflict, support human rights, protect the environment, and solve the other problems that threaten peaceful coexistence within the human family. Mayors for Peace has programs and supports initiatives throughout the year that impact people in many aspects of their lives. Members issue proclamations, and / or preside over, encourage participation in, or contribute to observances occuring on or near the International Day of Peace, annually on Sept. 21.
www.mayorsforpeace.org

Odyssey Networks / "Million Minutes for Peace" Campaign / Hallmark Channel
Odyssey Networks, the nation's largest interfaith coalition of faith groups dedicated to building bridges of understanding through media, has created a multimedia campaign in support of the International Day of Peace, September 21. The centerpiece of the campaign - "A Million Minutes for Peace" - is an online invitation to pause for one minute at noon on September 21 and pray for peace. Odyssey intends to collect a million pledges and to present a list of the signatories to the UN. Please take a few minutes to take the pledge and inform people and organizations on your email list about the campaign. Odyssey Networks will support the prayer pledge campaign on the Internet and on national television via Hallmark Channel. Each week, beginning August 30 and continuing through September 20, "Odyssey Networks Presents" will feature a different one-hour documentary film about peace-building. The program airs on Sundays at 7 a.m. ET/PT. The documentaries will be accompanied by public service announcements about the peace-building work of the United Nations. Additional videos, many of them produced by the UN, will be available for viewing at Odyssey's Video Peace Festival, along with blogs, discussion forums and original webisodes. If your organization would like to be a partner in this campaign, which includes the presence of your logo on Odyssey's website, please contact Vivian Alonso ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).
www.odysseynetworks.org

Pathways To Peace (PTP) *
Pathways To Peace (PTP) is an international peacebuilding, educational and consulting organization. PTP was involved in the creation of the International Day of Peace in 1981 and has nurtured it from a single observance of a few hundred people in 1982 to what it has become today. PTP serves as the International Secretariat for the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI), a UN Peace Messenger Initiative involving thousands of organizations worldwide. PTP works with the UN and numerous other organizations to promote the International Day of Peace, and reports annually on Peace Day activities through the annual CPI Reports. PTP recently enlisted calendar publishers all over the world to print the International Day of Peace in their calendars on Sept. 21 - starting in 2009 and annually thereafter. Pathways To Peace is an official Peace Messenger of the United Nations; has Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and Department of Public Information; and works with several UN agencies. Over the years PTP has helped many organizations become involved with the annual observance of the International Day of Peace.
www.pathwaystopeace.org , www.cultureofpeace.org

Paz con Todo
Paz con Todo collects commitments from Venezuelan citizens who are willing to do something about peace. They also have inspired organizations to celebrate Peace day, such as the Venezuelan Football Federation, who committed to promote Peace Day in 1st division football matches by wearing a white stripe on their uniforms.
www.pazcontodo.com

Peace In Our Lifetime
Peace in Our Lifetime, in partnership with PeaceJam, YMCA Peace Pre-school, WICO International, and M.A.D.E is organizing a "Global United Party for Peace" on Peace Day, a free online broadcast of musical events around the world. It will be dedicated to all of the people who are bringing peace to the world every day. They are also offering free Peace voice certificates which acknowledges your stand for peace and that your voice and work counts! Thousands have already signed up!
www.peaceinourlifetime.org

Peace One Day (POD) *
Peace One Day is credited with getting two amendments added in 2001 to the original resolution creating the International Day of Peace in 1981 - a call for a global ceasefire and a fixed calendar date of Sept. 21. Peace One Day continues to focus on raising awareness of the International Day of Peace through various creative initiatives. They have produced an award-winning documentary, "The Day After Peace", which documents their journey and gives examples of how humanitarian aide can be provided during ceasefires. They also have developed educational resources for schools, exploring issues such as conflict resolution, inter-cultural cooperation, the United Nations, and non-violence in relation to the environment.
www.peaceoneday.org

Peace Pals International
Peace Pals International is a Youth Program of The World Peace Prayer Society, which promotes the message May Peace Prevail On Earth as a simple, universal expression to unite the hearts of all people in our common desire and  hope for peace on earth. Every year Peace Pals International holds The Annual Peace Pals International Art and Exhibition Awards, which features the art work of children around the globe. All children from the age of 5 through 16 are invited to participate. Every year on the International Day of Peace, we announce the years winners.
www.wppspeacepals.org

Pinwheels for Peace *
With over 2,500 schools and youth organizations participating all over the world, this program involves thousands of young people - and leaves a lasting impression. Students will create pinwheels of all shapes and sizes - as part of the creation process, the students will write their thoughts about "war and peace / tolerance/ living in harmony with others" on one side. The writing can be poetry, prose, haiku, or essay-style - whatever writing form is appropriate as the children express themselves. On the other side, the students will draw, paint, collage, etc. to visually express their feelings. They will assemble these pinwheels and on September 21 everyone will "plant" their pinwheels outside as a public statement and art exhibit/installation. The spinning of the pinwheels in the wind will spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country and the world. These exhibits have been known to last for days or even weeks, and to garner media attention about the International Day of Peace from local newspapers, which gives these young people a sense of pride - and hope.
www.pinwheelsforpeace.com

Roots & Shoots *
Roots & Shoots, a program of the Jane Goodall Institute, is about making positive change happen - for communities, for animals and for the environment. With tens of thousands of young people in almost 100 countries, the Roots & Shoots network branches out across the globe, connecting youth of all ages who share a common desire to help make the world a better place. There are many year round programs such as Trees For Tomorrow, The Reusable Bag Campaign, Book Clubs, Service Challenges and Youth Leadership Councils. Each year, in support of the International Day of Peace, Roots & Shoots members and friends come together to promote peace. All over the world, young people craft giant peace dove puppets from recycled materials and fly the doves in their communities. From the high peaks of Mount Kilimanjaro to the low plains of Kansas, peace doves fly, held high by hopeful hands.
www.rootsandshoots.org

Service For Peace (SFP) *
Service For Peace is an independent nonprofit organization providing service and learning opportunities through community projects which promote transformational and sustainable personal and community development around the world. They bring together people and partners of diverse faiths, ethnicities, nationalities, generations, and cultures to address profound social needs by discovering commonality and genuine appreciation for differences, all through service. SFP believes that peace begins with the inner peace fostered by service to others and that active cooperation provides the foundation and the real hope for peace. SFP has programs in many countries throughout the world, and through SFP the International Day of Peace has been observed in places as diverse as Ghana, Bulgaria, Thailand, Ukraine, Japan, Ivory Coast and Israel.
www.serviceforpeace.org

ThinkPEACE Network *
The ThinkPEACE Network promotes International Day of Peace by organizing “Stand-up for International Peace” at comedy clubs worldwide. The three goals of the ThinkPEACE Network are:

    To promote International Day of Peace.
    To promote the idea that teaching young people about peace is more important than teaching them about wars, generals and conquerors.
    To promote the idea that world peace is possible.

www.thinkpeace.net

United Nations (UN) *
The United Nations established the International Day of Peace in 1981, as an annual observance of global non-violence and ceasefire. The resolution, which was unanimously approved, includes these words: "The International Day of Peace shall be devoted to commemorating and strengthening the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples." In 2001, the UN adopted a resolution that set September 21 as the fixed date for the International Day of Peace. Each year there are celebrations of the International Day of Peace at UN headquarters in New York, where the Secretary-General rings the Peace Bell and leads a minute of silence at noon; this ceremony also includes presentations from many cultures and age groups as well as various UN Messengers of Peace. The International Day of Peace is also observed at UN agencies worldwide. One activity in which all people can participate is the UN request for a minute of silence at noon in all time zones - this has now been observed consistently for 27 years. In addition, UN agencies such as UNICEF have been able to arrange ceasefires on the International Day of Peace, during which humanitarian organizations such as CARE and Doctors Without Borders are able to provide food, medicines and other aid to civilian populations affected by conflicts.
www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2011

United Religions Initiative (URI) *
In the face of global division and violence, the United Religions Initiative (URI) strives to end religiously motivated violence and build cultures of peace, justice and healing. URI’s work is accomplished by a global network of nearly 400 interfaith Cooperation Circles (CCs) or multi-faith grassroots coalitions made up of at least seven people from three or more faith traditions. URI’s Cooperation Circles, in 66 countries, work daily in their communities to address issues including religiously motivated violence, poverty, environmental degradation, HIV/AIDS, and religious persecution. URI has actively participated in Peace Day observations since 2000, with diverse events set up by their CC’s. They urge all religions and faith-based organizations to issue their own proclamations endorsing International Day of Peace.
www.uri.org

United We Change *
United We Change is, a Youthchoir from Heilbronn Germany composing of singers /songwriters. United We Change has been promoting peace by encouraging schools and communities to form multicultural choirs and bands. The newest project is "Choirs for UNICEF", the theme of which will be the UNICEF Hymn and "The Beauty of Our World". These peace songs are being spread around the world through the radiowaves.
www.unitedwechange.com 

World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS) *
The World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS) is a non-sectarian, non-political organization associated with the Department of Public Information at the United Nations. The mission of WPPS is to spread the Universal Peace Message and Prayer, May Peace Prevail on Earth, far and wide to embrace the lands and people of this Earth. WPPS is not a religious or a church organization. Over half a century has passed since the introduction of the Universal Message and Prayer, May Peace Prevail On Earth. The vision of the founder Masahisa Goi has been embraced by people the world over. Over 100,000 Peace Poles have been dedicated by friends and supporters in over 190 countries around the world. The World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremonies have been presented on every continent and in every major city throughout the world. Most importantly, the peace Prayer, May Peace Prevail On Earth lives and resonates in the hearts of our global community. The World Peace Prayer Society has been promoting the International Day of Peace at the United Nations and with the United Nations since 1996. WPPS saw Peace Day as a perfect opportunity for people of all nations and religions to join in the common prayer, "May Peace Prevail on Earth." Each year, WPPS submits a compilation of Peace Day activities, organized by its members, to the UN.
www.worldpeace.org

( *= Participant of the Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI))