“Peace One Day” Founder Talks about Annual Day of Global Nonviolence

July 22, 2009

Jeremy Gilley (r), founder of Peace One Day, excited students in Religion and Popular Culture class with tales of his global peace initiative

Jeremy Gilley, founder of the non-profit “Peace One Day,” a movement started in 1999 to establish an annual day of peace, came to Exeter recently to discuss his project and lead open discussions with students. His message was simple: I’ve set up a day of peace on September 21. I want your help in making this day a success around the world.

Gilley, a filmmaker, also showed students a powerful 9-minute film, which summarizes his project. (See it yourself at http://www.peaceoneday.org/). During his visit to campus, Gilley hosted an evening screening of the film, met with students in history and religion classes, and had dinner with members of Exeter Social Service Organization’s global justice clubs.

Gilley talks with students in Richard Schubart's
Law and American Society classPeace One Day’s mission achieved global success when, in September 2001, the member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted September 21 as Peace Day, an annual day of global ceasefire and nonviolence.

Since that time, Gilley has worked with aid and health workers to enter war-torn areas around the world to supply food, medical treatment and vaccinations to local populations on Peace Day. Gilley referred several times to his visit to Afghanistan, where his meeting with the Taliban led to a cessation in fighting for a day, allowing teams to travel the countryside to support local populations, he explained.

Gilley's campaign has taken him to 54 countries in 10 years, he said. He estimates that he has spoken to 33,000 people across the world, and that more than 100 countries currently celebrate Peace Day. Gilley's Exeter visit was part of a Northeast tour of selected U.S. schools to deliver a free educational curriculum on nonviolence developed for grades 6-12.

Anna Richardson '98, a media consultant representing Peace One Day, accompanied Gilley on his visit.

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