I believe in the basic goodness of all people. I know that inside each one of my fellow human beings there exists an enormous capacity to love and do good for each other. I also know that that goodness can be snuffed out, and that the world can start to look like a dark place. It is up to each of us to create the world we were meant to live in, a decent and just place where all have the oppurtunity to live in peace. This peace can be obtained once every soul has been given a seat at the table, and fruits of this life are shared so that all are nourished and can thrive. Thank you, John Lennon, for living this every day of your life. Happy birthday to you and to all of mankind. Michael Moore, Flint, Michigan, USA, October 9, 2007
John & Yoko's 'Give Peace A Chance' said it all. It was the perfect statement. John was always ahead of his time, now is the time to give peace a chance. It's always time to give peace a chance.
Dear Friends
Thank you for adding your love and wisdom
to this very special day.
Together, we stand for peace for the world to see.
Happy Birthday, John! Happy Birthday, Sean! i ii iii
Since Casey was killed, I have also become a true campaigner for peace and justice like you and John: Not just an "absence of war," but searching for how humans can use our resources and wisdom for non-violent resolutions to conflict. In my quest for peace, I have used your example and the wisdom and love of John's life as a role model for my own activism. The song, Imagine, has become like an anthem, impetus, and marker for change to me. (Not to mention: Power to the People!)
read more here.
DENNIS KUCINICH (Dem)
I watched Dennis Kucinich's video and was choked up listening to his sincere and eloquent words.
I was so impressed by a professional politician being on the same page as us.
All my life, I have believed only in grassroots efforts. I still do. But, today, clearly, we are together. That is nice to know.
I have decided to put this on www.IMAGINEPEACE.com and share it with you, knowing that it will be taken in the right spirit. I thank Dennis and I congratulate Ohio citizens for having such a remarkable representative in the senate.
Sending my love to all of you. Yoko Ono Lennon
7th October 2007
I received the link to the Imagine Peace website while I was on a layover in the airport in Las Vegas, Nv. Still reeling from the reports of hundreds, if not thousands of Burmese monks and other humans being slaughtered for protesting against their oppressive government, it was hard for me to watch all the people sitting hypnotized at the slot machines, pulling the handles or pushing the buttons as if the world is not going to hell in George's hand basket.
read more here.
Synopsis: Two strangers, Patti Quigley and Susan Retik, formed a common bond in their grief when both lost their husbands on Sept. 11, 2001. This documentary chronicles what they did with that unimaginable loss, traveling to Afghanistan to meet women there also widowed by violence. Director Beth Murphy follows Quigley and Retik as they discover that although they are worlds apart, they share a kinship with their Middle Eastern counterparts.
More: Website. MySpace. Facebook, Netflix, buy DVD. Every DVD sold contributes $3 to the non=profit organization formed by the two widows, Beyond the 11th.
From Yoko:
My sisters of widowhood, each one of us has experienced a personal and devastating loss we can never share with anybody. But all of us share the hope for the future. By reaching out to each other, as you have been doing, we are creating a ring around the world of love and understanding. Thank you for your wisdom and courage. We are standing together. When we feel alone, let's remember that and the powerful ring we are creating. I love you!
Yoko Ono Lennon 2008
Wednesday 9 July 2008
ST. MARY"S SCHOOL, BATLEY, W. YORKSHIRE by Stephen Walker
I was asked by a teacher at my old school, St. Mary's in Batley, West Yorkshire, to talk to some of 9 year old children about the 1960's era. The teacher informed me that the history project they were studying was about the Beatles and especially John Lennon & Yoko Ono. The children were very interested in John & Yoko and the 60's era and were quite clued up. They sent in some questions to Yoko via the IMAGINE PEACE website, which she very kindly answered. More here.
Monday 7 July 2008
NY PEACE GRANNIES & DISTINGUISHED CITIZENS by Joan Wile (founder & author: Grandmothers vs the War)
For the second year, on July 4, 2008, we grannies, the great civil liberties attorney Norman Siegel, The Rev. Billy and members of his Church of the Stop Shopping Choir, State Senator Bill Perkins, and many others, convened in Strawberry Fields and read aloud the Declaration of Independence and parts of the Constitution.
As people read the various amendments, Siegel and Perkins commented where they felt a particular provision was being abused by the national government and, in some instances, local powers. Other members of the crowd also addressed contemporary issues that were subversive of the founding document.
Yoko Ono wrote a small poem which was read at our event.
More here.
Saturday 6 July 2008
MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH Leading women including Yoko Ono, Gwyneth Paltrow and Dame Judi Dench are urging the wives of world leaders to take action to stop mothers dying during childbirth
Dear G8 First Ladies (and First Man),
Every minute of every day a woman dies in pregnancy.
That’s half a million women dying each year;
over 80% of these days are avoidable.
This is inexcusable and it has to stop now.
Your partners can help do this.
We write to you, women to women (and, with respect, also to you Herr Sauer), on behalf of all women – please do what you can to put this issue at the top of the political agenda.
These shameful statistics have remained unchanged for 20 years. At this year’s G8 we insist on a breakthrough.
Please, do what you can to help make it happen.
On behalf of us all.
With urgent best wishes,
sign the petition HERE.
Thursday 3 July 2008
YOBIWORLD YOBI World is your place to discuss and help solve the challenges that face our planet. Your participation on YOBI World increases our collective global wisdom and helps to enhance our global humanitarian effort. For social networking with a conscience, join YOBIWORLD.
Friday 20 June 2008
PEACE CRANES by Judy Dunn Dear Yoko, I am writing you about a project I am doing with peace cranes to help raise awareness of the human cost of the Iraq war I am making a peace crane out of polymer clay to represent each soldier who was killed in the Iraq war, and then with the help of others, (lots of help!), I am making waxed paper cranes to represent the Iraqis who lost their lives. You can see more about the project on my blog and some pictures of the cranes on my website. More here.
Friday 13 June 2008
SPRINGFIELD'S PEACE CAMP BRINGS OUT BEST IN KIDS
By Darci Jordan, Springfield New Sun
IMAGINE PEACE is this year's camp theme. Children between 4 years old and those finishing sixth grade are enjoying creative activities such as learning to write 'peace' in Japanese and handling bullying behavior in a positive manner, with demonstrations by 'I Care Cat' and 'Bully Bear'. Approximately 167 people volunteered, including 40 teenagers, to make the camp a success. 'We so appreciate the volunteers,' said Keller. 'We couldn't do it with out them.' To get involved, contact the Springfield Peace Center at (937) 327-3977.
More here, here and here.
Wednesday 28 May 2008
AARON VOLDMAN - PEACE PIONEER Ben & Jerry's, the Vermont-based socially conscious ice-cream maker, announced today at its NY Shop that Aaron Voldman, Executive Director of the Student Peace Alliance (SPA) and Board Member of The Peace Alliance, is one of two nationwide winners of its "Peace Pioneer" contest. The ceremony was part of Ben & Jerry's joint effort with The Lennon Estate and Peace One Day, a nonprofit global peace organization, to encourage people to work for peace every day. More here.
Sunday 6th April 2008
KELLUM HALL 6-LOW LADIES
by Kelly Angelina
Dear Yoko,
My name is Kelly Angelina. I am a Resident Assistant for Kellum Hall at Florida State University. Each month I create a bulletin board for my hallway (the 6th floor). For March 2008, my residents and I created an Imagine Peace bulletin board which contained information on the Peace Tower as well as the 6th floor's very own Imagine Peace Tree. The ladies of Kellum Hall's 6th floor wrote their peace wishes on the leaves of the Peace Tree which will be sent to Iceland to be placed at the Peace Tower. We are very excited to send a part of ourselves from Tallahassee, FL all the way to Iceland. Thank you for the inspiration that has lead to our best bulletin board of the year!
Peace, Love, & Seminole Pride, Kellum Hall 6-Low Ladies.
Wednesday 19th March 2008
IMAGINE PEACE at DC protests today....
by Nora Halpern, 19 March 2008
Dearest Yoko:
It has been a very inspiring day in DC...lots of protests and acts of civil disobedience...commemorating the 5th anniversary of the beginning of this dreadful war. The numbers have been smaller than the marches I've participated in in the past (but I think that is because it is a weekday) but not even a downpour of rain has diminished the crowds. It has been a very moving day...and you were here in both form and spirit. I hung an IMAGINE PEACE poster on the central meeting place for the event...and there were also a number of bed pieces which, no doubt, you and John inspired. Also GIVE PEACE A CHANCE seems to be the anthem of the day! Thought you would want to know that you were a powerful presence down here today!
lots of love and see you soon, Nora
Friday 14th March 2008
MY LAI PEACE PARK
by Janet Kinosian
Dear Yoko & Imagine Peace Community,
For much of the past 40 years, the violent events at My Lai have evoked horror, grief, anger and recrimination. On March 16, 2008 -- the 40th anniversary -- I send a different thought & wish.
The Madison Quakers have built the MY LAI PEACE PARK as a memorial to meditate and hope and wish for peace. A delegation of Hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombings in Japan, will unite with the survivors of the My Lai massacre on March 16 in a plea for the end of weapons of mass destruction and peace in the world. More here.
Saturday 8th March 2008
MESSAGE FROM ANNA FROM POLAND
Dear Yoko! We (the children and their parents, too) were very touched by your responses to my "letters". I wish to thank you for those words and assure you that you can always...count on me - I belong to that "army of dreamers..."
More here.
Tuesday 5th February 2008
POWER TO THE PEOPLE / GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
Video by former Senator Mike Gravel (Alaska), Democratic candidate for President.
In 1971, He waged a successful one-man filibuster for five months that forced the Nixon administration to cut a deal, effectively ending the draft in the United States.
He is perhaps best known for his release of the Pentagon Papers, the secret official study that revealed the lies and manipulations of successive U.S. administrations that misled the country into the Vietnam War.
More info at www.gravel2008.us.
Thursday 17th January 2008
WISH TREE: Baldwin-Wallace College, Berea, Ohio
by Shayna Bane and Hank Winters
To celebrate the life of John Lennon, we lit up a tree and filled it with wishes in the center of campus on Sunday, December 2nd 2008. We did so to make 'Imagine Peace: B-W' a weeklong celebration of John's life, leading up to December 8th, the 27th anniversary of his death.
The tree was so beautiful and we had been getting so many amazing wishes, that we decided since John's dreams live on, our tree a symbol, so too would the wish tree, and we kept tying on wishes until Winter Break.
More here.
Yoko Ono Facebook: 5,000 Friend limit! Recently Yoko's Facebook friends got to 5,000 and their software wouldn't let her accept any more friends. Facebook will not increase this limit for anyone, so we have set up an additional Yoko Ono Fan Page here that accepts unlimited friends. Write something on her wall here.
Monday 14th January 2008
IMAGINE by Detlef Gotzens Greetings from Canada to Yoko Ono,
I want to send you an Image of a window that I designed in Honor of your late Husband who had a profound influence in my Life as well as so many others of our Generation. I was born and raised in Cologne in Germany and trained as a stained glass artist, in 1985 I came to Canada and build my studio here in Quebec.
2004 I was asked to design 5 large windows for the Cultural Center in Huntingdon Quebec for a space that is dedicated to art expositions, small theater and musical events, I chose to design one window with the title "Imagine". More here.
Sunday 13th January 2008
GIVE PEACE A CHANCE
by Carey Perkins & the St. Charles Borromeo 8th Grade Class of 2008, Parma Ohio
For the 2007-2008 school year, we, the faculty, have really been trying to promote anti-bullying. Unfortunately, bullying just seems to be getting worse from year to year, even in a place where we are trying wholeheartedly to promote the teachings of Christ and those in the Bible. This fall, when I read about your wonderful Peace Tower in Iceland, I was reminded of all the tireless work you and John did in the late sixties and early seventies to promote that simple message of "Give Peace A Chance" and "Imagine Peace".
More here.
Wish Tree: Athens District High School by Katie Willyard and The World Issues Club
The week before Christmas, Athens District High School in Ontario, Canada made a wish tree in the front hall of the school. The students were excited about the tree and were eager to write wishes. The wish tree was just one project by the World Issues Club to promote issues and their resolution. We hope that people put thought into the wishes and thought in how they can make them come true.
With Love and Hopes of Peace,
Katie Willyard and the World Issues Club
Tuesday 8th January 2008
Shizuoka Address: An International call for Peace
by Jerry Yellin
I was a fighter pilot flying P-51's from Iwo Jima over Japan from April, 1945 until the war ended on August 14, 1945.
In 1988 my youngest son, Robert married the daughter of a Japanese veteran of the Imperial Air Force at the Mishima Tiesha in Japan. Today we have 3 grandchildren living in Numazu, Japan.
On June 14, 2008, I will make the following address in Shizuoka, Japan. The content tells the story. It is my desire and Dr. Sugano's desire to make this event an International call for Peace.
Tuesday 25th December 2007
The John Lennon Wall in Prague
by Karel Macac & family
My dear Yoko and friends.
8th December evening I spent with my familly by the wall of John Lennon in Prague. It was nice evening. We were thinking of John, sitting, singing songs of John and The Beatles and making meditations... Everywhere many of lighting candles. It was very impressing evening...
Peace and love, Karel Macac & family
More here.
Monday 24th December 2007
Tamera Peace Research Center, Portugal
by Leila Dregger Dear Yoko, Thank you for your personal reply! And thank you for putting the message about our GRACE pilgrimage on your website. It is impressive to look through your work – and through the inspiring messages that you and John Lennon created. War is over – if you want it.
If you can imagine a world of peace, then it can be true.
For me your lines are absolutely true and today, these can even be explained in scientific terms. These lines could also be the motto for the Peace Research Center of Tamera.Today Tamera is a training and experimental site for the construction of Peace Villages around the world.Morehere.
Monday 14th December 2007
Happy Xmas, War Is Over by Lora Kucher,
Art-center Pushkinskaya 10,St. Petersburg, Russia On December, 8th artists of our Art-center gathered in the Nonconformist Arts Museum for being together with you.
At 11.15 pm (local time) we started to light candles in memory of John Lennon and those who has passed away. We lighted 250 candles in the Museum. Everyone has lost some relations and close friends. We live in Russia and all know what War means. Our fathers and grandfathers were soldiers. We have much pain about Afghanistan and Chechnya. We know, it is never late to stop the war! Morehere.
Wednesday 12th December 2007
YOUR LETTERS & MESSAGES From 8 December 2007 I deeply appreciate all of your messages of care and love to me on that painful day. There were many; all of them were very thoughtful and kind, clearly trying to help me feel better, even though you were going through your own pain too. Thank you so much. I feel strongly that we are family.
Yoko Ono Lennon
12 December 2007
More here
Tuesday 11th December 2007
GRACE Pilgrimage by Leila Dregger
We walked with 168 people by foot through the desert from Eilat to Jerusalem, adults and children, people from Israel, Palestine and many countries, for four weeks. We walked through Israel and the Westbank. We slept in the sand, and we were hosted in Kibbuzim, settlements, Bedouin villages, army camps, and Palestinian refugee camps. We spoke with everybody. What we found were people, humans, children. Not enemies. More here.
Tuesday 11th December 2007
IMAGINE: Big Soul Project by John R. Redmond
Imagine. It was magical! On the evening of Saturday, December 8, 2007, on the 27th anniversary of John Lennon's passing, Big Soul Project, Ottawa's gospel and groove choir & band performed 'Imagine' during its annual holiday concert to an audience of about 900. More here.
Sunday 9th December 2007
Strawberry Fields - Dec 8th 2007 by Arlene Rosenblum and Bob Nemser We spent today, December 8, 2007, at Strawberry Fields in New York City commemorating the 27th anniversary of the passing of John Lennon. We make it a point to pay tribute to John on December 8th every year. When we arrived, the first person we ran into was Sid Bernstein, the promoter who brought The Beatles to America. He, too, was spending the day remembering John. More here.
Cindy Sheehan opens SF campaign headquarters Many friends and supporters met Cindy and her surviving children Andy & Carly (pictured) (Cindys son, Casey, was killed in Iraq) at 1260 Mission Street in San Francisco. There, Cindy addressed the issues that spurred her to directly challenge California District 8 Congressional incumbent Nancy Pelosi, considered by many as the third most powerful person in America today behind George W. Bush and Richard Cheney. More here.
Saturday 8th December 2007
What is Peace? by Cindy Sheehan John's widow, Yoko Ono Lennon, has been very tireless in striving for world peace and in continuing her husband's legacy. I know that my work for peace began when I wanted to make meaning out of my son's senseless and violent death at the hands of the war pigs.
We cannot let their deaths be in vain!
It was in the season of peace that John Lennon was killed, when instead of a frenzy of shopping and an orgy of eating, we should all be reflecting on elevating the situation of our less fortunate brothers and sisters to bring peace to our part of the world that will have a ripple effect that spreads worldwide.
At the request of Yoko, let's make today a day of reflecting on true peace. Take a few moments at 11:15 EST and remember John and what he gave the world and what his legacy should be. Morehere
Mary Reynolds Newsletter by Lydia Janik
Greetings, my name is Lydia Janik from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, Canada.
I received this newsletter from Mary Reynolds and would like to share it with everyone else so that PEACE & LOVE will fill our hearts and lives throughout the world. More here.
Wednesday 5th December 2007
IMAGINE PEACE 5 concert at the Casbah by Christopher Clause
Hello friends at www.imaginepeace.com!
I am hosting our fifth concert celebrating the music of John Lennon at the Casbah in Hamilton Ontario featuring some of the best local musicians of our city: Bob Bryden, Christopher Clause, The Dell'Untos, Mickey DeSadist, The Jamiesons, Aalia Kesari, Kim and Frank Koren, Rob and Zander Lamothe, Kenny MacInnis, Steve McRae and the Philistines, The Mississippi Kings, Steve Parton, Alfie Smith, Fred D Smith and the Heartbroken Souls, The Squids, Ginger St. James, Mike Trebilcock, and more!
All of the monies raised go towards CHALLENGE 2007, which helps the homeless and those in need in our city.
If you could mention the show on the site that would be wonderful! Yoko has sent a special 9 word message to share with the crowd, and I am thrilled about it!!!
The show is at a venue called THE CASBAH - 306 King Street West in Hamilton. Doors open at 9pm for 9.30pm start.
For more information go to www.footrecords.ca Thanks!
Tuesday 4th December 2007
IMAGINE PEACE by Carolina Berdini
Hi Yoko!
My name's Carolina Berdini and I'm a teacher of English from Argentina. I work at an institute where children and people from all ages learn English. Among all the different courses I have, there's one which has been really special to me this year. They are between 11 and 13 years old and I have taught them about John Lennon, his message of peace and the Vietnam War.
It's been an amazing experience!!! They've learnt a lot about history, but above all, they've learnt a lot about love and peace. besides, they fell in love with the song "Imagine". For the family's day, I invited the parents to one of the classes, and my students taught them the song and different things about John's life.
I almost cried when I saw my students with their family singing Imagine all together. It's been really inspiring for me and my students! They've learnt more than words and content, they've learnt values!
John and his message are still alive in our hearts!
Love and Peace from Argentina!
Sunday 25th November 2007
Big Soul Project
by Heather Inrig Gulyas from Ottawa, Canada
Hello. I'm in 'Big Soul Project' a non-auditioned non-professional community choir here in Canada's Capital City.
On Dec 8th we are singing at Dominion Chalmers United Church at 7:30. It is a beautiful church in the round with wonderful acoustics - and one of our members John, will be singing Imagine (he sounds so much like John) and leading Imagine Peace.
more info here
Wednesday 21st November 2007
Peace tree at Minnesauke Elementary School by Terry Holtzman Hello. My daughters, Julia (8 years old) and Emily (11 years old), were at the Imagine Peace Tower Dedication on October 9th as guests of Yoko.
They were so touched by the ceremony that they decided to place a Peace Tree in the foyer of their Elementary School., Minnesauke, in Setauket, New York.
More here.
Sunday 11th November 2007
Oklahoma City Wish Tree by Reatha Compton
This past weekend I participated in a Peace Festival in Oklahoma City (21st annual), sponsored by the Peace Education Institute. I was in charge of the children's activity room and we made a Wish Tree for the children to hang wishes on, along with other activities, such as making peace flags, peace mandelas and a peace collage. Around 50 children participated.
Peace and Love to you!
Tuesday 30th October 2007
TULIPS ON TROOST by Kathy Joyce Planting thousands of tulips, planning the George Garden, and IMAGINING PEACE in Kansas. Tulips on Troost just started their annual planting.
Wednesday 24th October 2007
Beth M Davis Two days after the dedication of your beautiful Imagine Peace Tower, I shared it with my high school class of students with disabilities who observe or experience some form of violence almost daily... more here
Kathy Joyce Hi , THANK YOU YOKO!!! I was moved to do something for this celebration so I spent three days working on this Glass Globe. I also made lots of Imagine Peace Buttons which I will distribute at a party for John in Boston this coming Saturday. I wish that YOKO could feel exactly how much exhuberent positive energy she gives to us !! Thank You LOVE YOU~~~
Tuesday 16th October 2007
Jennifer Turunen, Lopez Island, Washington Last Spring I had just finished watching The US vs John Lennon. I was moved by John & Yoko's unselfish desire to heal the planet by getting the message of peace out there. I felt compelled to do something in my community to spread peace consciousness. These signs were made by a local signmaker. They face the main road & are seen by many people every day.
Tuesday 16th October 2007
Ashley from Belleville, Michigan I love seeing everyone making wish trees and spreading the message of peace.
Thanks Yoko for keeping the message alive!
I collected wishes from my friends, family, and other people from my school and made a wish tree.
I had a lot of fun doing it!
We miss you John <3
Peace and Love, Ashley
(My parents Karen and Bob, and my dog Star.)
Belleville Michigan sends it love
Friday 12th October 2007
A LIGHT FOR LOVE Dear Yoko,
A light for Love is so needed in these days of dim....
thank you and John for your endless inspiration.
I am Donna Christensen and I believe : Love Is The Answer.
On October 9th, I had my friend take my photo in front of
my little Snappies country store in Lassellsville, New York.
My heart and spirit were a Light for Love on that day.
God Bless Us All.
Friday 12th October 2007
PUSHKINSKAYA-10 Greetings from Russia!!!
St. Petersburg loves you!
Thank you very much.
We love you and join you.
With a Great Love,
Lora Kucher
and the all Team of the Art Center "Pushkinskaya-10"
Thursday 11th October 2007
PEACE DOESN'T HURT AND TREE CAN GROW As long we give peace a chance there is a hope.
I've made an imagine peace wish tree with "my children" at school. They are 8 years old and the tree is small... But their wishes are "great". And it's possible- because "PEACE DOESN'T HURT"- they said... more here
Thursday 11th October 2007
IMAGINE PEACE Brattleboro Vermont During the silent vigil, during the unveiling,I had a beautiful image of soldiers around the world awakening to the possibility of peace, I had a vision of them laying down their weapons and seeing, and understanding each other.
I did reach out and touch you all, I felt your touch and it brought me to tears. The power of love and peace will overcome hatred....imagine! more here.
Thursday 11th October 2007
IMAGINA PAZ cake Feliz Cumpleanos Querido John
Por la paz en este dia.
Con amor,
Ma Isabel y Santiago
more here
Thursday 11th October 2007
CLUB ARCTIC, ST PETERSBURG I live in St.Petersburg, Russia.Yesterday on October, 9 in music club Arctic it was a great party in honor of John Lennon's Birthday. There was a great amount of music groups who played Beatles' music in different styles.
more here
Monday 8th October 2007
IMAGINE PEACE Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. My name is Luciana Trouche and I'm an English teacher, from Niterói in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I've heard about Imagine Peace on Thursday and immediately (on Friday) I took the idea for two of my classes. My students loved the idea of sending love and peaceful wishes all around the globe!
Monday 8th October 2007
IMAGINE PEACE in Bethseda, Maryland. Today our class of seventh graders (ages 12-13) at the Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Church in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, learned about John Lennon and Yoko Ono as artists and peace activitists. We listened and read the words to the song "Imagine" as an international peace anthem, and talked about the dedication of the Imagine Peace Tower.
Send us your photos! to stories [at] IMAGINEPEACE.com Send in photos of IMAGINE PEACE in your area.
Tell us about your IMAGINE PEACE events.
Email: stories [at] IMAGINEPEACE.com
