Listed below are responses we received to our question, “How will you make Peace with the Earth?”.  We must all learn to live - mindful of our relationship with all living beings on the Earth, the one home we have.    We must do more to honor the Earth.  As Chief Seattle said, what we do to the Earth, we do to ourselves.

We recycle and have a compost pile for our garden. We use less and less plastic. & the plastic we get from out shopping is reused before it is recycled. We buy less and less and live more simply. We will not put chemicals on our lawn. - Dana Meckstroth-Brown

Although we live in London we have created our nature garden with a pond, bird feeders/animal homes etc and planted nothing but wild flowers to encourage the cycle. My grandchildren love it as I try to pass on the message about protecting our Earth for the future generations…. My biggest concession? I gave up my car and now we only use public transport or our bikes! Earth day should not be just one day but EVERY DAY! - Nicky Harwood Ditto Dana

In addition to my own recycling and personal shrinking footprint, we have created a Green Committee at the school where I teach. Over this school year, we have raised awareness of the elementary students there. We will hold a campus clean up on Earth day, but recycle and conserve everyday! - Esta Levine

Now, if we could only get all the businesses to get pollution under control and to recycle, we might have this thing licked! We’ve been recycling for many years, but more action is needed. - Marie Zarankevich

We have a recycling effort through our church. We have a newspaper collection every week, from the congregation and from the church office. Even picking up from a nearby nursing home, we collect printer ink cartridges for recycling. At home I use green cleaning products and learning to use Insects to keep my gardens healthy. Every little bit helps, and no matter how much you do, you can always do more. Challenge yourself to find a new green way everyday! - Bette-Jo Fordham

When I walk my dog, I (sometimes) take a trash picker thing with me and a bag to pick up the litter.. its always full before I get home! - Eva Maria Caraher

It is important to have respect for and build peace with all parts of our environment - earth, water, air, plants, animals, people and systems. To be conscious of and present in our relations with all of these….. On Earth Day I will be at the UN attending planning meetings for Peace Day - Melvin Weiner

What will you do on Earth Day, April 22? This week, we’ll be posting on issues and actions related to the environment, on the International Day of Peace facebook page.

Share your commitments for our 1 planet. Tell us where you’re from - we’ll feature some of your comments on an Earth Day blog post on the International Day of Peace & Culture of Peace Initiative website! Check out Earth Day Network to get involved!

Dear Culture of Peace Initiative Participants (CPI),

We are at the 6 month countdown to Peace Day 2010!

Here is our idea to help you start thinking about Peace Day in your community! On the weekend of May 1-2, let’s begin by simply connecting with local neighbors and residents, to prepare for Peace Day on the week of September 21. Start meeting new people who are interested in Peace issues, by organizing a group meeting or event.  Ask friends or fellow co-workers to help.  Here are 9 ways to get the ball rolling:

1.  Have coffee… or tea.
2.  Host a film screening.
3.  Invite a guest speaker.
4.  Setup a volunteer event.
5.  Pass around a contact sheet for those interested in Peace Day, at events, crowds or classrooms.
6.  Invite local nonprofits who work on “Peace” issues in your community.
7.  Meet at a home, school, office, church, bookstore, bar, yoga studio or cafe!
8.  Call the event/meet-up “Peace in (your city/town)”.
9.  Organize a monthly “Peace” themed event.

Suggestion:  Create a new Facebook page to promote meeting(s) and the build-up to Peace Day 2010.  For example:  ”Peace Day in (city/town)“.  Share with us your page if you do!  We’ll link to your page, to help others find you!

CPI will continue to share ideas, updates and highlights of the build-up to Peace Day online and through our newsletters.  By the way, our Facebook page has nearly 19,000 participants! www.facebook.com/peaceday.

UN Observances and theme:  Representatives from organizations within CPI are working with the United Nations Deptartment of Public Information on this year’s theme for the International Day of Peace.  Human rights, environmental sustainability and the Millennium Development Goals are all being considered.  We will keep everyone informed when a theme is announced.

Peace Day Global Broadcast:  The Unity Foundation is seeking submissions for the 2nd annual Peace Day Global Broadcast, subtitled: Building Peace Through Sustainability.  This year’s focus will be on the Millennium Development Goals.  To learn more go to www.peaceday.tv.

The Music4Peace Initiative and Tour aims to educate, empower, and improve the world, by striving to eradicate hunger and violence while providing clean water.  The first events announced for the 2010 tour include: a Hip Hop Summit in South Africa during the FIFA World Cup in June, and the Gandhi Tour in Brazil on the International Day of Peace, Sept. 21st.  Music4Peace has also announced the launch of a Film 4 Peace Contest.  Visit www.music4peacetour.com for more details.

You are a pathway to Peace,
Your dedicated Team at CPI

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Gandhi

The tour is a “global Initiative created with the intent to arise social change by uniting people through the universal language of music.” See Music4Peace Lounge flyer.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Juliette Harris

310-577-1122

THE GANDHI LEGACY IS ALIVE AND PERPETUATING WITH RUSSELL SIMMONS, DR. BEN CHAVIS, SMI/SWAGGMEDIA.COM AND MUSIC 4 PEACE AS THEY ANNOUNCE ALIGNMENT WITH SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT FOR THE WORLD CUP, AND TOURING INDIA AND BRAZIL

Music4Peace Tour is Comprised of Four Nonprofits; Music 4 Peace, Hip Hop Summit/Action Network, Gandhi Tour & Tribes of the World

(Los Angeles, CA) Wednesday, January 27, 2010 – “The way to create change is to empower,” stated civil rights leader Dr. Ben Chavis, at the launch of the Music 4 Peace Initiative and Tour (www.music4peacetour.com <http://www.music4peacetour.com> <http://www.music4peacetour.com/> ) which held a press conference at the Miners Building on Main Street at the Sundance Film Festival. The purpose of the press conference was to introduce the Music 4 Peace Initiative and Tour, introduce its collaborative partners, the goals of the Tour and the first tour stops in 2010.

The Music 4 Peace Initiative and Tour is a collaborative initiative that aims to educate, empower, and improve the world beginning with the universal language of music. The collaborating charities include: Hip Hop Summit/Action Network, Tribes of the Worlds, Music4Peace Foundation and The Gandhi Tour. These non profits have banded together to promote a global message of peace and harmony utilizing music, artists and global resources to inspire humans across the globe to mobilize for change. Music and humanitarian charities across the globe will be 2010 campaign recipients.

Russell Simmons commented, “Hip-Hop music artists are leaders in the youth movement.  We’re excited about the potential these diverse organizations have in coming together to harness music as a transformative and unifying power to promote peace throughout the world.”

Music 4 Peace has adopted the mantra of “Peace, Water and Wisdom” and strive to eradicate world hunger and violence while providing clean water and teaching empowerment.

The first events announced for the 2010 tour include:

A Hip Hop Summit in South Africa with the World Cup and FIFA in June

A Hip Hop Summit in India in November

Gandhi Tour International day of peace in Brazil

SMI/SwaggMedia has partnered with The Music 4 Peace Tour and Initiative to co-produce the tour and as a media partner presenting the messages to the world while connecting viewers and inspiring them to donate or contribute to those in need.  Professional basketball player David West, co- founder of SwaggMedia also sent a video message supporting his participation with the World 4 Peace Tour.

Press conference participants included: Dr. Arun Gandhi, (via telephone due to a health issue) Entrepreneur, social activist, and UN Goodwill Ambassador Russell Simmons, legendary civil rights leader Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr., SMI/SwaggMedia CEO Craig Nobles, Music 4 Peace co founder and founder of The Gandhi Tour, Tobias Huber, Tribes of The World founder Wayne Warwick Williams, Goodwill Ambassador to the United States Baroness Kimberly Moore, and a video message from The Dalai Lama. Internationally celebrated artist LEBO joined the Music 4 Peace Conference to share his blend of visual storytelling and global consciousness through his live performance painting. He painted an original painting entitled “Peace 4 Play” and donated it to the tour to raise awareness and funds.

Music4Peace also announced the launch of the Film 4 Peace Contest to raise funds for the Millennium Development Goals, The Hip Hop Summit and aid to Haiti. The winning filmmaker will be awarded a trip for two to South Africa in June 2010 to attend The Music 4 Peace Tour “Hip-Hop Summit South Africa’s” inaugural concert event and two tickets to the United State’s opening match against England at the World Cup! Visit www.music4peacetour.com <http://www.music4peacetour.com> <http://www.music4peacetour.com> for more details.

-End-

For photography, product samples and talent information please contact “it” girl public relations on (310) 577 1122 Juliette Harris: Juliette@itgirlpublicrelations.com or Annie@itgirlpublicrelations.com.

A UN 5th World Conference on Women (5WCW) would be the most influential and far-reaching women’s conference ever held.  Jean Shinoda Bolen will head the Pathways To Peace delegation.

Video:  Message from Jean Shinoda Bolen on 5th World Conference on Women

We, the undersigned, call on the UN, 192 member-states & affiliated NGOs to support a 5th World Conference on Women. Sign the Petition to support this Conference!

The 4th conference was held in Beijing in 1995, drew over 40,000 participants, and led to the Beijing Platform for Action, which if implemented would have created a world where women’s rights and human rights were one in the same. The empowerment of women changes priorities: safety for women and children, nutrition, health and education, and concern for the environment are women’s concerns.

With the creation of a UN women’s super agency equivalent to UNICEF for children, authorized by the UN General Assembly in September 2009, it is possible that this new entity could organize a 5th world conference on women in 2015 (instead of a Beijing +20 review). The effect could be synergistic in advancing a women’s agenda. Because this would not be an official UN conference of governments — but rather a UN -sponsored conference of non-governmental organizations in civil society — it could not re-open the many excellent official documents already produced by the UN, but would focus on turning them into reality in the lives of women and girls globally.

The 21st century is an era of communication: networking via emails, cellphones and websites, information through youtube and live-stream coverage, simultaneous regional conferences via satellite broadcasting could reach people all over the world. The event would raise consciousness about unconscionable conditions as well as solutions that could focus on the work of NGOs. It would encourage the formation of women’s circles and mobilize a new wave of women’s movement activism. It would inform the world that the Beijing Platform for Action and UN Security Council Resolutions #1325 and its amendments on Women, Peace, & Security–if implemented, would bring about gender equality, end violence toward women and lead to peaceful solutions to conflicts.

A UN 5th women’s conference and the events preceding and following it would create a critical mass, a tipping point of aware and involved women and men.

Information on website: www.5wcw.org.
and in Urgent Message From Mother: Gather the Women, Save the World. www.jeanbolen.com

Signatories: (http://www.5wcw.org/who.html)
Isabel Allende, author, activist
Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD, author Urgent Message From Mother, Jungian analyst,
Marilyn Fowler, founder US Women-Connect, Women’s Intercultural Network
Carol Hansen Grey, author, activist
Dr. Patricia Licuanan, President Miriam College, Philippines, Chair of prepatory meetings for Beijing conference
Susan Collin Marks, Search for Common Ground, Leadership Wisdom Initiative.
Patricia Smith Melton, founder PeaceXPeace
Joyce Oneko, founder Mama na Dada-Africa
Elly Pradervand, founder Women’s World Summit Foundation, Geneva
Zainab Salbi, president Women for Women International
Leticia Shahani, Secretary-General 3rd UN World Conference on Women (Nairobi)
Gloria Steinem, founder Ms. Magazine, author, activist
Alice Walker, author, activist
Rosemary Williams, founder Women’s Perspective
Lea Wyler, co-founder ROKPA International