NEW YORK, September 10, 2018 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Peace has never been more important than right now. With escalating tensions around the world, the largest refugee crisis in the history of humanity, and cataclysmic changes in climate, people everywhere are yearning for peace. The United Nations has declared each September 21 as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and people. On Peace Day, hundreds of thousands of viewers in 132 countries will make the choice for peace by participating in Unity Foundation's 10th Annual Peace Day Global Broadcast. The broadcast streams from the United Nations website for the International Day of Peace, or directly from PeaceChannel.com, a non-profit organization. Peace Channel is the only network to operate 24/7, streaming music, news and views on peace, prosperity and protecting the planet. The Peace Day Global Broadcast starts on September 20, 2018 and continues for 72 hours.
"The Peace Day Global Broadcast has good news for everyone around the globe tired of waking up to bad news," said co-founder Bill McCarthy. "Viewers will be empowered by news about how individuals and communities throughout the world are solving humanity's greatest challenges through innovation and cooperation. We'll be encouraged by messages from global leaders in peace, prosperity and sustainability. We'll be entertained by uplifting performances from some of the world's most popular artists, including the international musicians of Playing for Change. Last year, we had nearly three quarters of a million views in 132 countries, and this year we're expecting over a million."
Featured newsmakers include:
- Antonio Guterres, United Nations Secretary General
- Michael Douglas, UN Messenger of Peace
- Shakira, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Pharrell Williams, UN Ambassador for the International Day of Happiness
- Katy Perry, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- Leonardo DiCaprio, UN Messenger of Peace
- Prem Rawat, Global Peace Ambassador
A highlight of the Peace Day Global Broadcast will be live coverage of a ceremony lighting the World Peace Flame in Ashland, Oregon. The flame will be traveling from its home in Wales, where it was formed from seven sacred flames from five continents in 1999. The flame reminds us of the sacred flame that burns within each human being. The Culture of Peace Initiative (CPI) and Pathways To Peace (PTP) support the lighting ceremony. The Ashland Culture of Peace Commission is organizing the event.
Now in its tenth year, the Peace Day Global Broadcast promotes the vitally important work of the United Nations, its humanitarian agencies, and organizations working for peace, the environment, human rights, and social and economic justice. The broadcast spotlights the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals agreed upon by all United Nations Member States to promote a more peaceful world. It is the first broadcast produced specifically for distribution on the United Nations website for the International Day of Peace.
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"The Right to Peace' is this year's UN Peace Day theme," said Dr. Darlene Shelton, Peace Channel founder and the show's director. "For all people everywhere, peace is a fundamental human right and a fundamental human need –like air, food and water. As a director, a psychologist, and a person of color, I want our broadcast to demonstrate that peace is a basic right for all people and all cultures."
The Peace Day Global Broadcast is the brainchild of human rights activist Bill McCarthy, founder and president of the Unity Foundation. Last year, President Barack Obama recognized him for lifetime achievement in global unity. He was just honored as Peacebuilder Extraordinaire by the Culture of Peace Initiative "Peace is a choice and it starts with each of us," McCarthy explained. "A decade ago, Unity Foundation launched the Peace Day Global Broadcast to invite people to choose peace in their lives," explains Bill McCarthy, founder and president of Unity Foundation and co-founder of the Peace Day Global Broadcast with Unity Foundation vice-president Laurien Towers. "Since then, we've been honored by participation from world leaders and international celebrities. Our audience has grown each year."
Peace Channel executive producer and co-founder, lawyer David Weinberg, has spent much of his career promoting peace and social justice. "We invite everyone to make a choice for peace by enjoying our broadcast," he says. "Please help us get the word out. Feel free to post your own peace message videos to our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/peace.channel.us/ and on Twitter at Peace Channel @peacechannel_1 , #peaceday, #peacechannel.
About Unity Foundation
Unity Foundation is a not-for-profit organization with a 42-year history of promoting peace, cooperation and unity throughout the world through music and media events. Unity Foundation President Bill McCarthy and Vice President Laurien Towers are the founders and executive producers of the annual Peace Day Global Broadcast. In 1975, inspired by a Jefferson Starship lyric, aspiring rock singer Bill McCarthy launched Unity Foundation (unityfoundation.org) with a benefit concert headlined by Jefferson Starship and the Grateful Dead that united 45 disparate community organizations. Contributions to Unity Foundation are tax deductible through the fiscal sponsorship of the Peace Development Fund.
About Peace Channel
Peace Channel is the only not-for-profit 24 hour network streaming music, news and views about peace, prosperity and protecting the planet. In 2014, media psychologist Dr. Darlene Shelton and peace advocate David Weinberg launched PeaceChannel.com as a digital platform streaming the best of humanity. Buoyed by the success of the Peace Day Global Broadcast, PeaceChannel.com now hosts four more international day events: International Women's Day Webcast on March 8, Earth Day Global Broadcast (with the Earth Day Network) on April 22, World Refugee Day Webcast (with USA for UNHCR) on June 22, and Human Rights Day Webcast on December 10th.
SOURCE Unity Foundation
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