Many of these global initiatives are focused around or involve key activities in observance of Peace Day, September 21.
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 hundreds of events in several countries culminating on September 21, the International Day of Peace. Supporters include Nobel Peace Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Honorary Co-Chairs Dr. Jane Goodall and Deepak Chopra. “WE” is “a Consciousness, a Campaign, and a Collaboration of people, organizations and social change movements from around the world.”
The Compassion Games
The Compassion Games, Sept. 11 – Sept. 21, are designed to make our communities safer, kinder, more just, and better places to live. No matter where you are you can perform a Random Act of Kindness, or become a Secret Agent of Compassion and receive a secret mission for each of the eleven days.
Culture of Peace Initiative
The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) was originated in 1983 as a program of Pathways To Peace and was granted UN Peace Messenger status in 1989. The CPI serves as a vehicle for bringing together previously unseen and unheard peace builders working along diverse paths toward peace. The CPI has recently redesigned their website, which is now the hub of information and resources for the International Day of Peace (also check out the “International Day of Peace FB Page).
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 one of the largest global synchronized dance events in the world.
ENO Programme
Environment Online (ENO) is a Finland based global virtual school and network for sustainable development. Since 2004, ENO Programme has arranged and encourages tree plantings to celebrate Peace Day.
The Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace
Is a worldwide community of individuals, organizations and campaigns dedicated to the peaceful resolution of conflict. This program supports national governments to significantly invest in the development of skills and infrastructure of peace.
Global Feast For Peace
An initiative of International Cities of Peace (ICP), Global Feast for Peace is an invitation for people to come together on Sept. 21 to share food together. Whether it’s a small family celebration or a large community gathering, the Global Feast is a simple and profound expression of peace that everyone, no matter how humble or blessed their circumstances, can connect with and enliven the global celebration.
Global Mala
The Global Mala is a Yoga for Peace Project designed 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.
Global Peace Film Festival
The Global Peace Film Festival, held in Orlando, FL, was established to utilize the power of the motion picture to further the goal of peace on earth. This Film Festival presents films from around the world and global discussions that highlight the power of this extraordinary medium as it relates to current peace issues.
International Cities of Peace
International Cities of Peace is a nonprofitassociation dedicated to connecting, promoting, and encouraging the global cities of peace movement. An Advisory Council of leaders from global Cities of Peace organizations is working to create an all-inclusive, non-polarizing network of world citizens working to bring peace to their communities. The vision of ICP is to foster peace as a consensus value in Cities of Peace around the world.
Institute for Economics and Peace/Vision of Humanity
The Institute for Economics and Peace is dedicated to promoting a better understanding of the social and economic factors that develop a more peaceful society. It achieves its goals by developing new conceptual frameworks to define peace, providing metrics for measuring peace and uncovering the relationship between peace, business and prosperity.
Nobel Women’s Initiative
The Nobel Women’s Initiative uses the prestige of the Nobel Peace Prize and courageous women Peace Laureates to increase the power and visibility of women’s groups working globally for peace, justice and equality. The Initiative is led by Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi, Rigoberta Menchú Tum, Leymah Gbowee, Tawakkol Karman and Mairead Maguire. The NWI advocates building long-term peace by supporting women who are engaged in nonviolence and other alternatives to ending war and militarism, and support the inclusion of women in peace negotiations and other peace building efforts. LEARN MORE
Pathways To Peace
Pathways To Peace (PTP) is an international peace building, educational and consulting organization. PTP was instrumental in the creation of the International Day of Peace in 1981 through a unanimous U.N. resolution. 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.
Peace Alliance
The Peace Alliance is a U.S. organzation that empowers civic engagement toward a culture of peace. Their focus is 5 Cornerstones of Peacebuilding: Empowering Community Peacebuilding; Teaching Peace in Schools,; Humanizing Justice Systems; Fostering International Peace; and Cultivating Personal Peace.
Peace Crane Project
The Peace Crane Project is designed to connect children around the world, through the arts. The Peace Crane Project produced a global peace song around the 2014 Peace Day theme “Right to Peace,” and has a peace crane exchange project for gross to share their cranes with others across the world.
PeaceJam
The mission of the PeaceJam Foundation is to create young leaders committed to positive change within themselves, their communities and the world through the inspiration of Nobel Peace Laureates who pass on the spirit, skills, and wisdom. PeaceJammers have created almost one million service projects designed to address problems in their own schools and communities. Learn more about their “One Billion Acts of Peace” Campaign HERE.
Peace On Earth Film Festival
Based in Chicago, IL, Peace on Earth Film Festival is a non-profit festival established to celebrate and encourage the work of independent filmmakers from around the globe on the themes of peace, nonviolence, social justice and an eco-balanced world.
Peace One Day
Founded by Jeremy Gilley, Peace One Day added two amendments to the original resolution creating September 21st as the fixed calendar date to celebrate the International Day of Peace. Peace One Day focuses on raising the profile of Peace Day through various initiatives such as film, highlighting and helping facilitate humanitarian action, sports, music concerts and free peace education resources.
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. Each year, children from around the World are invited to submit their artwork to The annual Annual Peace Pals International Arts Exhibition and Awards. Artwork includes “May Peace Prevail On Earth and thematically related to the global theme set each year by the United Nations. Visit their Facebook Page.
Peace Parade International
Peace Parade International (PPI) is a program in the United Kingdom established in 2006 to promote the International Day of Peace. PPI’s mission is to give all people the opportunity to work together to create more peaceful communities through the PPI’s motto; we are human first.
Peace Pole Project
A Peace Pole is an internationally recognized symbol of the hopes and dreams of the entire human family, standing vigil in silent prayer for peace on earth. Each Peace Pole bears the message May Peace Prevail on Earth in different languages on each of its four or six sides. There tens of thousands of Peace Poles in nearly every country in the world dedicated as monuments to peace.
Pinwheels for Peace
Pinwheels for Peace is a project dedicated to spread peace activism through creating simple and beautiful pinwheels. Created by in 2005 by art teachers Ann Ayers and Ellen McMillan, Pinwheels for Peace has established an outlet for students to express their feelings about war and peace by making pinwheels, a childhood symbol of joy and peace.
Playing for Change Day
On Sept. 19, 2015, Musicians and Music Lovers worldwide will gather on stages, street corners and schools for a global day go action to bring music into the lives of children and promote positive social change.
Push 4 Peace
Push 4 Peace is a global call to action that will initiate on June 13, 2012 when Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon announces the 100 day countdown to the International Day of Peace. Push4Peace, a community of groups and individuals who are calling for ninety days of global action for peace beginning on the International Day of Peace, will join with the UN IDP committee, Summer of Peace, PeaceJam, the Culture of Peace Initiative, and many other groups and individuals to create a momentum of action around the world.
Roots & Shoots
Roots & Shoots, a program from the Jane Goodall Institute, is a youth and environment organization. Involving tens of thousands of young people in over 100 countries, the mission of Roots and Shoots is to foster respect and compassion for all living things, to promote understanding of all cultures and beliefs and to inspire each individual to take action to make the world a better place for people, animals and the environment. Dr. Jane was named a U.N. Messenger of Peace due to Roots and Shoots, and Dr. Jane/Roots and shoots encourage people all over the world to make and fly Peace Doves on Peace Day.
Summer of Peace
The goal of the Summer of Peace is to activate the largest global commitment to peace in one season in the history of humankind, culminating on Peace Day, September 21. The Summer of Peace is produced by The Shift Network in partnership with Pathways to Peace, Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI), The Peace Alliance and others.
United Religions Initiative
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. The work of URI is accomplished by network of nearly 400 interfaith Cooperation Circles across the world.
U.S. Institute of Peace (USIP) – Global Peacebuilding Center
USIP is the independent, nonpartisan conflict management center created by Congress in 1984 to prevent, mitigate and resolve international conflict without resorting to violence.
Vision of Humanity
Vision of Humanity, the sister site of Institute for Economics and Peace, is a strong proponent of the need to further study, advocate and act on peace. It groups together a number of interrelated initiatives focused on global peace. It brings a strategic approach to raising the world’s attention and awareness around the importance of peace to humanity’s survival in the 21st century.
World Peace Prayer Society
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 the WPPS is simple: 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. May Peace Prevail On Earth is an all inclusive message and prayer. It is a meeting place of the heart bringing together people of all faiths, backgrounds and culture to embrace the Oneness of our planetary family. World Peace Prayer and Flag Ceremonies have been presented on every continent and in every major city throughout the world.
Zouk International
Zouk International organized a Zouk Flashmob for Peace Day 2013 and will do so again for 2014. Their mission includes promoting Brazilian Zouk as the Dance of Love in the whole world and to grow the Worldwide Zouk Community to develop zouk in quality and quantity and to increase the popularity and number of dancers.