history

HISTORY
UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY has a 24 year history, in which artists, performers, speakers, and interfaith leaders have come together to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima (August 5th in the USA and August 6th in Japan ). The goal is to connect with people around the world to transform the remembrance of horror into a rededication of life. In 1984, the first UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY was organized by Art For The People, a wonderful event in the Rambles of Central Park, NYC, starting with a sunrise Crystal Meditation. Throughout the day, artists, singers, dancers and poets shared messages of peace. Gong Master, Don Conreaux, shared a peace greeting and rang a gong. At 7:15 PM, the exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing, a candle lighting ceremony took place. This was followed by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) singing to end a magical day. Over the years, artists and performers participated in creating UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY at different locations around NYC, including the Bandshell in Central Park, Battery Park and Union Square Park. Highlights of past events include many beautiful performances and ceremonies. Some artists who participated have included Pete Seeger, Ritchie Havens, Odetta, John Hall, David Amram and Chief Jake Swamp of the Mohawk Nation, who planted a Tree for Peace. In 1986, the Mayor of Vancouver dedicated August 5th as UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY. In 1987, there was a computer hook-up allowing people to share their visions of peace. Also the Mayor of Hiroshima made a dedication for peace by an amplified telephone at the exact moment of the bombing. In 2005, UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. The original founder/members of Art For The People reunited and partnered with the New York Buddhist Church and The Riverside Church to create an event in NYC. It started at the New York Buddhist Church with performances, a ceremony led by Rev.TK <http://rev.tk/> Nakagaki and a candle light at the exact moment of the bombing. Under a sober rainy sky, Rev. TK led a very moving Silent Peace Walk while stopping and ringing his gong along his way to The Riverside Church. At The Riverside Church, there were performances, and an interfaith service led by Rev TK and Rev. Jim Fitzgerald. Some of the highlights of the evening were Tomiko West (survivor of the Hiroshima bombing), Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) with his daughter Bethany and the legendary Pete Seeger. The event was broadcast live on WBAI Pacifica radio. In 2006, we again partnered with the New York Buddhist Church and The Riverside Church to create a day-long event. The event started at Riverside Park with Peter Yarrow and performers from the US and Japan, including Josh White Jr. and Shinji Harada. This was followed by a service and candle lighting ceremony at the New York Buddhist Church and a silent Peace Walk to The Riverside Church. At the church, there was an interfaith service, followed by speakers and performers, including Koji Kobayashi (Hiroshima survivor), Josh White Jr., John Hall, Bunken Nagano and Tashi Wangdi reading a message from the honorable Dalai Lama. Universal Peace Day in 2007 will begin with a concert at the Bandshell in Central Park from 12 to 5 PM, followed by a candle lighting ceremony at the exact moment of the bombing at the New York Buddhist Church, a Silent Peace Walk and a concert and interdenominational service at The Riverside Church. (schedule TBA). We are also coordinating A Peal for Peace Bell Project, in which church bells around the world will ring at the exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing. This year, we are proud recipients of a Sharing Fund grant from The Riverside Church. go to top exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing: 7:15pm, August 5th in NYC 8:15am, August 6th in Japan Background of Organizers* Universal Peace Initiative, formerly Art For the People was founded by SuZen. SuZen is an interdisciplinary artist, whose talents include photography, computer graphics, installations and fashion designing. She has exhibited her work internationally in museums and galleries. SuZen is also an educator and coordinator of public events as well as recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. The latter funded her mural that was permanently painted on a wall at 42nd Street across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC. Barry Gruber became co-director of Universal Peace Initiative in 2005. Barry is a singer/songwriter and producer, whose company, Band Together Records records music by artists who sing songs of peace, including Peace Troubadour James Twyman and PF Sloan. Barry is currently working on a documentary on PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). Reverand T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, Sensei, is the head resident of New York Buddhist Church (I¡°(B Jodoshinshu (Shin Buddhist) Temple. He was the former president of the Buddhist Council of New York. He was ordained in 1980, and came to USA in 1985. Carol Nixon, director of the Mission and Social Justice Commission of The Riverside Church. go to top

HISTORY

UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY has a 24 year history, in which artists, performers, speakers, and interfaith leaders have come together to commemorate the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima (August 5th in the USA and August 6th in Japan ). The goal is to connect with people around the world to transform the remembrance of horror into a rededication of life.

In 1984, the first UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY was organized by Art For The People, a wonderful event in the Rambles of Central Park, NYC, starting with a sunrise Crystal Meditation. Throughout the day, artists, singers, dancers and poets shared messages of peace. Gong Master, Don Conreaux, shared a peace greeting and rang a gong. At 7:15 PM, the exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing, a candle lighting ceremony took place. This was followed by Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) singing to end a magical day.

Over the years, artists and performers participated in creating UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY at different locations around NYC, including the Bandshell in Central Park, Battery Park and Union Square Park. Highlights of past events include many beautiful performances and ceremonies. Some artists who participated have included Pete Seeger, Ritchie Havens, Odetta, John Hall, David Amram and Chief Jake Swamp of the Mohawk Nation, who planted a Tree for Peace. In 1986, the Mayor of Vancouver dedicated August 5th as UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY. In 1987, there was a computer hook-up allowing people to share their visions of peace. Also the Mayor of Hiroshima made a dedication for peace by an amplified telephone at the exact moment of the bombing.

In 2005, UNIVERSAL PEACE DAY commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing. The original founder/members of Art For The People reunited and partnered with the New York Buddhist Church and The Riverside Church to create an event in NYC. It started at the New York Buddhist Church with performances, a ceremony led by Rev.TK <http://rev.tk/> Nakagaki and a candle light at the exact moment of the bombing. Under a sober rainy sky, Rev. TK led a very moving Silent Peace Walk while stopping and ringing his gong along his way to The Riverside Church. At The Riverside Church, there were performances, and an interfaith service led by Rev TK and Rev. Jim Fitzgerald. Some of the highlights of the evening were Tomiko West (survivor of the Hiroshima bombing), Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul and Mary) with his daughter Bethany and the legendary Pete Seeger. The event was broadcast live on WBAI Pacifica radio.

In 2006, we again partnered with the New York Buddhist Church and The Riverside Church to create a day-long event. The event started at Riverside Park with Peter Yarrow and performers from the US and Japan, including Josh White Jr. and Shinji Harada. This was followed by a service and candle lighting ceremony at the New York Buddhist Church and a silent Peace Walk to The Riverside Church. At the church, there was an interfaith service, followed by speakers and performers, including Koji Kobayashi (Hiroshima survivor), Josh White Jr., John Hall, Bunken Nagano and Tashi Wangdi reading a message from the honorable Dalai Lama.

Universal Peace Day in 2007 will begin with a concert at the Bandshell in Central Park from 12 to 5 PM, followed by a candle lighting ceremony at the exact moment of the bombing at the New York Buddhist Church, a Silent Peace Walk and a concert and interdenominational service at The Riverside Church. (schedule TBA). We are also coordinating A Peal for Peace Bell Project, in which church bells around the world will ring at the exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing. This year, we are proud recipients of a Sharing Fund grant from The Riverside Church.

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*exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing:
7:15pm, August 5th in NYC
8:15am, August 6th in Japan

Background of Organizers

Universal Peace Initiative, formerly Art For the People was founded by SuZen.

SuZen is an interdisciplinary artist, whose talents include photography, computer graphics, installations and fashion designing. She has exhibited her work internationally in museums and galleries. SuZen is also an educator and coordinator of public events as well as recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the New York State Council on the Arts. The latter funded her mural that was permanently painted on a wall at 42nd Street across from the Port Authority Bus Terminal in NYC.

Barry Gruber became co-director of Universal Peace Initiative in 2005. Barry is a singer/songwriter and producer, whose company, Band Together Records records music by artists who sing songs of peace, including Peace Troubadour James Twyman and PF Sloan. Barry is currently working on a documentary on PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder).

Reverand T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, Sensei, is the head resident of New York Buddhist Church (I¡°(B Jodoshinshu (Shin Buddhist) Temple. He was the former president of the Buddhist Council of New York. He was ordained in 1980, and came to USA in 1985.

Carol Nixon, director of the Mission and Social Justice Commission of The Riverside Church.

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