INTERNATIONALLY
- In Afghanistan, The U.N. reported that guns fell silent across the country and government officials reported no violence on September 21st allowing 1.8 million vaccinations, food, and water were able to get into villages that would not have been able to be reached because of violent conflict, crediting the International Day of Peace and ceasefire pledges that were made by US, NATO, Afghan, and Taliban.
- Peace Day Celebrations took place in 192 countries.
- The International organization introduced “The Day After Peace Documentary” featuring Angelina Jolie and Jude Law.
- There were musical performances from Annie Lennox, Peter Gabriel, Bryan Adams, Lenny Kravitz and John Legend with guest speakers included UNICEF goodwill ambassador Martin Bell OBE; actor, Emilia Fox; Tottenham and England football star, David Bentley; and BBC Sports Presenter, Gabby Logan
- Through the “One Day One Goal” campaign, soccer matches were played to celebrate cooperation, unity, and the power of sport to bring people together. With the support of PUMA, over 400 matches in 180 countries were played in the name of peace
LOCALLY
- The city of Charleston celebrated the day with the rest of the world for the first time at Britlebank Park!
- Entertainment included Plane Jane, Holy Trinity Family Band, Poor Man’s Gram, Moody Black, DJ Pericles, Lowcountry Flute Circle, CSU Gospel Choir, and Delia Chariker.
- 11 key community and religious speakers from 7 different religions spoke on peace.
- 20 local food and merchant vendors.
- Non-profits working toward environmental sustainability, non-violence, cultural identity and other peace-building objectives were represented and promoted at the festival
- Kid’s global village where children could play through peace-building activities
“A DAY FOR EVERYONE TO UNITE”
2nd Annual Charleston Peace Day Celebration To Be Held On September 20th 2009 At Brittlebank Park.
Charleston Peace One Day will hold the 2nd Annual Charleston Peace Day Celebration Festival at Brittlebank Park on September 20th, 2009 from 1-6pm. The festival will unite Charleston’s many cultures with the rest of the world in celebrating the United Nation’s International Day of Peace and Ceasefire in a community celebration that is inclusive of education, art, music, sport, and other peace-building initiatives.
Last year, Charleston joined the world for the 1st time in recognizing the International Day of Peace and Ceasefire, which was successful in creating ceasefires in Afghanistan that resulted in 1.8 million vaccinations and food and water drops to reach areas of conflict that would not have been possible without the participation of so many people on that day. Since then, Charleston Peace One Day has taken these international initiatives and worked with other non-profits in the area to localize efforts to build culture of peace through education and community programs. Now we want to come together on September 20th to celebrate the efforts of the Charleston community in building a culture of peace, intercultural cooperation, and non-violence in the Lowcountry.
The goal of the festival is to bring together all of Charleston’s cultures in order to celebrate intercultural cooperation, and will have activities for everyone to participate in. Components of the festival include the following: 2 stages featuring 6 bands, poets, and key-community and a diversity of religious leaders speaking on peace. Local non-profits will be set-up for people to get information about where they can get involved in the community year round. There will be local food and craft vendors, an Art Show put on by local artist and curator Tina Christophillis, Kids Global Village sponsored by Montessori Schools giving children the opportunity to learn through peace-building activities, Soccer tournaments and Socci games sponsored by Suarez Soccer School, Jeff Fitzharris’ unique 3D “Charleston Peace One Day” painting converted in to posters and t-shirts for sale. The festival will be powered by solar energy and have compost and recycling bins in order to promote environmental sustainability. Apartnership with Charleston’s WALK GALLERY, a community effort between artists and property owners for art filled windows in Charleston, providing an art installment for September and October around the theme of the International Day of Peace. Charleston’s efforts toward creating a culture of peace will be documented on that day and sent in to the International organization to show what Charleston is doing to help set an example for the rest of the world.
ENTERTAINMENT INFORMATION
“ONE”
Concept/Theme/Idea behind the "ONE" Dance by Annie Lewis: Well, I have just finished traveling around the world, in a condensed period of time and am on sensory overload - seeing all different cultures dealing with many different issues and ways of life. You often compare things to what you know – which would be the United States in my case. I have never understood humanity or compassion before, like I do now. At the center of us all we want love and compassion. Whether you are a high paid CEO or an Indian orphan – you just want love and happiness in your life. Somehow traveling along somewhere I realized that we are all one – we are just separated by cultural differences. The African born into the townships or the child who lost their parents to AIDS did not ask to be born into that life. If you take away all of the things we have in America – you will notice we all come from one place. We are all human. Americans consume like some kind of circus to possibly mask their troubles while people in Vietnam and India do not have the ability to do that. Is that such a bad thing? I think not. Indians, Africans, Vietnamese people all understand life and enjoy each day which is mind boggling considering some of their circumstances. They live with themselves and not in a consumer, technologically savvy world. The whole point is that whether you were born in a third world country or America – we all are the same. I would like to do a piece inspired by my travels that changed my life. It will be a piece that unveils the typical American, like myself, that was caught up in circus, but now has a much deeper understanding - after much exploration and undressing -that all humans are connected and one. My journey consisted of 11 very different countries with many language and cultural barriers – but by the end that no longer mattered – we all belong to each other. This ideology allows you to have a much greater understanding, patience, and compassion for one another whether you’re five or five hundred thousand miles apart. I believe dance in a universal language and a great way to express yourself when words cannot describe the transformation you have gone through.
On Saturday, May 16th, Community members and the Charleston Peace One Day board gathered to see Jeff Fitzharris reveal the painting he created for Charleston Peace One Day. Everyone that attended was amazed by the painting’s unique 3D style and vibrant colors depicting iconic Charleston landmarks. The painting will be converted into a poster and sold to raise money for Charleston Peace One Day, a non-profit organization working to create intercultural cooperation and non-violence in the Lowcountry.
Jeff Fitzharris recently moved his work to Charleston from California, where he created work for famous names like Sylvester Stallone and Sidney Poitier. When he moved to Charleston, he quickly identified with the Charleston Peace One Day’s mission and wanted to put his talents toward enhancing the Charleston community and working with Charleston Peace One Day.
The unique posters will be sold to promote the 2nd Annual Charleston Peace Day Festival on September 20th, 2009. The festival recognizes the United Nations International Day of Peace that is celebrated all over the world. The money raised from the poster will go toward community projects and education programs that teach conflict resolution and peace building initiatives to children all over the Charleston area.
When asked about his paintings at the unveiling, Jeff commented, “To give one's heart is to give all. In my opinion, Charleston is the crown jewel of our whole country because after traveling and creating art all over the country for the last 11 years, I have finally been given the opportunity to give my work up to something bigger, something that will effect the community that I live in positively and help Charleston create a culture that will set an example for the rest of the world.”
We want to thank Jeff for his work! If you are interested in pre-ordering a poster please contact us!
Peace Begins With Me
1:00 See My Love
(ages 3 and up)
• Purple Tent
1:00 Peace Co-operative Activity (ages 6 – 12)
• Blue Tent
1:30 Yoga for Children
With Jennifer Marvel
• Purple Tent
2:00 Black Elks Medicine Wheel – Vision of Peace
(ages 3 and up)
• Purple Tent
2:30 Yoga for Children
• Purple Tent
3:00 The Peace Rose
Conflict resolution for the
Young child
Make a Peace Rose (ages 3-7)
• Purple Tent
3:00 Peace Co-operative Activity (ages 6-12)
• Blue Tent
3:30 Peace Posters
3:30 Peace Flags (ages 6-12)
• Blue Tent
4:00 Stand/ Walk/ Sit for Peace
Take Part In Building A Labyrinth
Ongoing Art Activities
Mission Statement
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