The O2

Peace One Day ambassador Jude Law and POD founder Jeremy Gilley today announced that they are producing a star-studded concert at The O2 arena to mark Peace Day on 21 September 2011.

Artists to announce so far are Eliza Doolittle, Youssou NDour, AfroReggae, Flawless and The English National Ballet, with contributions from Jude Law, Jeremy Gilley and other key speakers.

"I've seen how Peace Day saves lives," says actor, Peace One Day ambassador and one of the producers of The O2 show Jude Law, who travelled to Afghanistan with Gilley in 2007 and 2008. "POD is inviting all sectors of society to observe a Global Truce on Peace Day 21st September 2012. It's up to all of us to get involved."

Jeremy Gilley said, "As part of our objective to institutionalise Peace Day 21st September, POD is calling for a Global Truce on Peace Day 2012. We have a clear strategy and we hope this will be the largest reduction in global violence in recorded history. This day is as much about non-violence in our schools, our homes, workplace and local communities as it is about ceasefire on the international stage. Everyone has a role to play. The O2 arena show on Peace Day 2011 launches the 365-day countdown to the Global Truce on Peace Day 2012. "I'm so grateful to all the artists for giving their time to help POD take this message to the people of the world."

Eliza Doolittle said, "When I heard about Peace One Day, what they have achieved and what they are now going for, a Global Truce on Peace Day 2012, I had to become involved. You can too. Come to The O2 arena on 21st September this year and go to www.peaceoneday.org to find out more. POD is a ground breaking initiative and I'm proud to be a part of it."

The Peace One Day 2011 Celebration at The O2 arena is the biggest event yet for Peace One Day founder Jeremy Gilley, whose efforts resulted in the unanimous adoption by UN member states in 2001 of the first ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence, now fixed in the global calendar on 21 September - Peace Day. The flagship O2 arena show, which will be filmed in HD and broadcast internationally, is the first in a trilogy of Peace One Day concerts produced in conjunction with the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad. The second show in Derry-Londonderry on 21st June 2012 is the opening event of the London 2012 Festival and marks the 3-month countdown to the Global Truce on Peace Day 21 September 2012, the date of the final show in the trilogy.

Since the unanimous adoption of the Peace Day resolution in 2001, activities on 21st September have enabled families to be reunited, mosquito nets and food aid to be delivered and children vaccinated all over the world, as this ceasefire and non-violence day is creating a window of opportunity for humanitarian efforts. In 2007, Gilley and POD ambassador Jude travelled to Afghanistan to spearhead an initiative that has resulted in the vaccination against polio of 4.5 million children following Peace Day agreements by all parties in the region in 2007/8/9. This work forms the culmination of Gilley's feature documentary The Day After Peace.

Jeremy's next feature documentary (produced by Gilley and Jude Law) will culminate with the Global Truce on Peace Day 2012, against the backdrop of London 2012 activities.

Others who have supported Peace One Day include Annie Lennox, Kofi Annan, Ban Ki-moon, Angelina Jolie, Lenny Kravitz, Kasabian, Bryan Adams, Peter Gabriel, Yusuf (formerly Cat Stevens), Patti Smith, Charlie Winston, Youssou NDour, Jonny Lee Miller, Joseph Fiennes, Kate Nash, Corinne Bailey Rae, Dave Stewart, Jimmy Cliff, Faithless, James Morrison, -M-, Yodelice, Vanessa Paradis, Ayo, and millions of people across the world. The Peace One Day 2011 O2 Arena show is a Peace One Day Production in conjunction with the London 2012 Cultural Olympiad.