After a successful career as an actor and filmmaker, Jeremy founded the non-profit organization Peace One Day. Because of his efforts, in 2001 a UN General Assembly resolution was unanimously adopted establishing September 21 as an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. Today, billions of people have been exposed to the peace message, resulting in millions behaving more peacefully. Jeremy is also an author and has received significant recognition for his inspiring promotion of peace around the world, including the Africa Peace Award, the Lennon-Ono Grant for Peace, the Carnegie-Wateler Peace 'and': Prize, and the Geneva Cinema Vérité, and many other awards.


Jeremy-Gilley.jpg

Jeremy Gilley

<h4
 id="h-jeremy-gilley-is-a-british-director-and-actor-who-founded-the-non-profit-organization-peace-one-day-in-1999-peace-one-day-successfully-led-the-campaign-that-resulted-in-the-unanimous-adoption-by-the-united-nations-member-states-of-the-first-ever-annual-day-of-global-ceasefire-and-non-violence-with-a-fixed-calendar-date-september-21-the-un-international-day-of-peace-since-then-peace-one-day-has-been-working-to-raise-awareness-and-instigate-action-resulting-in-a-large-scale-decrease-of-violence-annually-on-peace-day"
>
 JEREMY GILLEY
 is a British director and actor, who founded the non-profit organization
 Peace One Day in 1999. Peace One Day successfully led the campaign that
 resulted in the unanimous adoption by the United Nations member states of
 the first-ever annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence, with a
 fixed calendar date – September 21 the UN International Day of Peace.
 Since then, Peace One Day has been working to raise awareness and
 instigate action, resulting in a large-scale decrease of violence annually
 on Peace Day.
</h4>

<h4
 id="h-jeremy-s-creativity-was-sparked-early-in-life-and-he-has-spent-over-twenty-years-serving-humanity-he-is-passionately-committed-to-peace-sustainability-equality-justice-diversity-inclusion-climate-action-and-the-mobilization-of-youth-he-is-the-producer-and-director-of-four-annual-global-digital-experiences-anti-racism-live-climate-action-live-peace-day-live-and-right-now-he-is-preparing-for-peace-one-day-s-newest-event-space-transformers-live-on-december-21-an-experience-for-young-changemakers-with-his-signature-enthusiasm-and-humor-he-shares-his-vision-for-this-event-with-judith-nelson-of-the-heartfulness-institute"
>
 Jeremy’s creativity was sparked early in life, and he has spent over twenty
 years serving humanity. He is passionately committed to peace,
 sustainability, equality, justice, diversity, inclusion, climate action and
 the mobilization of youth. He is the producer and director of four annual
 global digital experiences – Anti-Racism Live, Climate Action Live, Peace
 Day Live, and right now he is preparing for Peace One Day’s newest event,
 Space Transformers Live on December 21 an experience for young changemakers.
 With his signature enthusiasm and humor, he shares his vision for this event
 with
 JUDITH NELSON of the
 Heartfulness Institute.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Q: Hello Jeremy. How did Space Transformers come about?



 JG: Space
 Transformers came about because Peace One Day&nbsp;evolved from doing just one
 experience a year. That one experience is Peace Day, on September 21st
 unanimously adopted by every member state of the United Nations exactly 20
 years ago, and led by Sir Jeremy Greenstock, Chairman of Gatehouse Advisory
 Partners, Former Chairman of the UNA UK, and Special Advisor to the NGO
 Forward Thinking. We have been raising awareness to institutionalize it,
 because when a lot of people know about a day of peace their behavior changes
 and they are more peaceful.



 The marketing and the awareness manifest action, and action decreases
 violence. It’s seriously profound the impact that a day of peace has,
 especially if you are one of those women or children who had been bullied or
 abused. The positive impact of that day in our homes, communities, schools,
 and places of work is phenomenal, incredible. And it’s why I work immensely
 hard every day, because if you tell 10 people, or you tell 10,000 people a
 day, then a percentage of those people are going to behave very differently on
 the day of peace. Wow, amazing!



 Then we realized that March 21 is the International Day for the Elimination of
 Racial Discrimination, another day unanimously adopted by every member state
 of the UN. So, we approached the Office of the United Nations High
 Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and we now have the good fortune and
 privilege (which I’m very humbled by) to be the producers of the content in
 association with them for this International Day for the Elimination of Racial
 Discrimination. It is a day where raising awareness of diversity, inclusion,
 equality, and justice, which are so immensely important to humanity’s
 survival, will bring behavioral change.&nbsp;



 Now, September 21 and March 21 are on the equinoxes, six months apart, so that
 left two very important dates in the calendar – June 21 and December 21 the
 solstices, marking the change and the end and the beginning of new seasons.
 Four incredible dates, and on many different levels very interesting moments
 of transformation into a new energy. So, I thought that we should do things on
 those two days as well.



 Given that we were covering diversity, inclusion, equality, and justice on
 March 21, and peace and sustainability on September 21 it was obvious that we
 needed to cover the climate issue, so we created a show on June 21 called
 Climate Action Live. Basically, if we don’t protect resources, one sure thing
 is going to happen before we heat up or can’t eat – we’re going to fight over
 what’s left. So, no climate action, no peace. To think that we’re going to be
 evolved and do it differently is a lovely thought, which I’ll get up every day
 and believe in, but history tells us that the way human DNA functions is
 manifested in what we see today.



 I’d like to think that we will evolve, that there will be a shift in the level
 of consciousness around the fundamental issues that humanity faces, and I want
 it to happen, but I’m not going to hang on to the idea that it’s going to
 happen. So, as a person who wants to generate content that is constructive and
 transformative, we are doing Climate Action Live.



 That leaves only one area in terms of humanity’s survival as far as I’m
 concerned, and that is the mobilization of youth, to inspire and hear their
 voices. And that’s where Space Transformers comes in. So, on December 21 at
 the end of the year, all the themes that we have discussed during the year in
 the other three events – diversity, inclusion, equality, justice, climate
 action, peace, and sustainability – will be put into an arena for the new
 generation, the very people who are going to save us (should we be saved).
 They are the people who are transforming the space around them, for sure.



 The phrase itself was something that I read in a letter from Valerie Keller,
 who works with Paul Polman at
 <a href="https://imagine.one/">Imagine</a>: Business as a force for good. I
 saw this phrase “Space Transformers” in the letter and thought it was such a
 beautiful phrase. I was really into the idea of “Let’s have a show called
 Space Transformers just for young people.”&nbsp;



 Q: How old do you have to be to be part of the event?



 JG: You have to
 be under the age of 30, so I can’t be involved [laughs]. Actually, that is a
 lovely thing, because as I’ve gotten older, and as Peace One Day has been on
 the road for the last 22 years, I’m trying more and more to pull myself out of
 what’s going on. I’m much more interested in generating content now for other
 people to be space transformers. I really want this next chapter of my life to
 be about raising the profile of others whose message is so key to humanity’s
 survival that I want to create amazing content about them.&nbsp;



 Q: What can young people expect on the day?



 JG: I’m really
 excited that we’ll see young people from every continent of the world. We’ve
 identified a young man and a young woman who are transforming space within
 each continent, and we’re giving them a voice to tell their stories. I’m going
 to make those films in the most beautiful way I can. As we hear the stories of
 those twelve or more Space Transformers, we will also hear from young actors
 who recreate the words of young people throughout history, and singers who
 perform and share their beautiful art. There will also be a series of panel
 discussions, and we will give Space Transformers Awards to a young woman and a
 young man somewhere in the world.



 It’s the first time we’ve ever attempted anything like this. We’ve never done
 a show that focuses purely on young people, and I’m genuinely massively
 excited about it. If people have got it right, then perhaps we have 250 years
 left here. Some would say, “Hey, what a crazy thought,” and I don’t really
 know, as I’m not a scientist but an ordinary geezer with no qualifications
 who’s just had an idea and gone on that journey forever. Do you know what I
 mean? I don’t want to get off that train, as Cat Stevens-Yusuf Islam said, the
 peace train.


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 So, that’s the zone I’m in. If we have a limited time left, if we’re not
 extremely careful it will be because of some major decisions that will happen
 in the next decade. Why would we think that we are more evolved to make big
 decisions in these ten years than the leaders who were talking about the same
 crucial problems thirty years ago? I’ll hang on to the hope that they can do
 it, but if they can’t, we’ll hear Greta say, “All I’m hearing from leaders is
 blah, blah, blah.” What an amazing thing she did! That speech, that young
 person! It’s her perception of what is happening. I saw her say, “You talk
 about all these things, blah, blah, blah, but you’ve completely let us down.”
 She also said, “Are you going to change? It’s just words, blah, blah, blah.”
 There was something about the way she delivered that speech that made me go
 “wow!” And the truth is that we really are at an absolutely critical, crucial
 moment. If in the next few years, we don’t do something fundamentally
 different, the suffering that’s going to come our way will be terrible,
 irrespective of whether we survive it or not. And that’s the sad reality. It’s
 just what is. I’ve traveled for 22 years in 133 countries, and I’ve seen the
 results of human behavior. I wish I hadn’t seen it. It’s a very, very serious
 time, so I’m really into what Space Transformers can do.&nbsp;



 Q: Many young people feel like they aren’t being heard, so your initiatives
 are certainly providing them with an opportunity to be heard.&nbsp;



 JG: I think
 that’s why I’d like Space Transformers to be a success. I’d like there to be
 good numbers and I’d like the experience to work. If there is an annual
 experience at the end of every year, an experience that culminates from
 thinking through the seasons and reflecting on the year as we prepare for the
 next season, it is a very exciting thought. I’d like all those experiences to
 grow, because narrative is everything; storytelling is everything; informing,
 inspiring, and engaging is everything; it’s the best thing we can do.



 Q: What can the younger generations teach the older generations?



 JG: I think Greta
 Thunberg summed it up quite nicely with the words, “Blah, blah, blah,” didn’t
 she. What a legend, what a woman! My goodness. That’s what the young people
 are teaching the older generation. And let’s hope the older generation makes
 some very crucial decisions at this point. That’s very, very important.&nbsp;



 We do see some great changes. There are extremely constructive, positive
 things&nbsp;going on, and things are transforming. The question is whether
 they can transform fast enough. The academics tell us that the window of
 opportunity is now. That’s the conundrum, that’s the issue. Can they do it
 fast enough? Have they got the courage? Can they look beyond their own
 borders?&nbsp;



 Q: How can people sign up, and will there be any activities leading up to
 the event?



 JG: Four to six
 weeks before December 21 we’ll announce who’s going to be there. We hope that
 many young people will tune in to watch the show live at
 <a href="http://www.peaceoneday.org">www.peaceoneday.org</a> or @PeaceOneDay
 on Twitter. I hope that we will all watch it together.



 It’s a moment to hear and reflect, and be inspired to act, leading to
 engagement. I think the action is going to be people tuning in and listening
 to young people’s voices, so that everyone can support them, and be inspired
 by them, and then go on their own journey. It’s a really beautiful and
 creative thing to give them a voice and showcase these films for their social
 media. I really love the idea of being a broadcaster of great people’s
 thoughts and stories. How beautiful, what an honor.&nbsp;


To be continued.

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<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 If there is an annual experience at the end of every year, an experience that culminates from thinking through the seasons and reflecting on the year as we prepare for the next season, it is a very exciting thought. I’d like all those experiences to grow, because narrative is everything; storytelling is everything; informing, inspiring, and engaging is everything; it’s the best thing we can do.
</h4>

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Space Transformers Live, December 21

<h4
 id="h-jeremy-gilley-is-a-british-director-and-actor-who-founded-the-non-profit-organization-peace-one-day-in-1999-jeremy-s-creativity-was-sparked-early-in-life-and-he-has-spent-over-twenty-years-passionately-committed-to-peace-sustainability-equality-justice-diversity-inclusion-climate-action-and-the-mobilization-of-youth-he-is-the-producer-and-director-of-four-annual-global-digital-experiences-anti-racism-live-climate-action-live-peace-day-live-and-space-transformers-live-an-experience-for-young-changemakers-with-his-signature-enthusiasm-and-humor-in-part-2-of-this-interview-shares-his-vision-for-enabling-young-people-with-judith-nelson-of-the-heartfulness-institute">
 JEREMY GILLEY
 is a British director and actor who founded the non-profit organization
 Peace One Day in 1999. Jeremy’s creativity was sparked early in life, and he
 has spent over twenty years passionately committed to peace, sustainability,
 equality, justice, diversity, inclusion, climate action, and the
 mobilization of youth. He is the producer and director of four annual global
 digital experiences – Anti-Racism Live, Climate Action Live, Peace Day Live,
 and Space Transformers Live, an experience for young changemakers. With his
 signature enthusiasm and humor, in part 2 of this interview, shares his
 vision for enabling young people with
 JUDITH NELSON
 of the Heartfulness Institute.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Q: Jeremy, you’ve mentioned that you’re keen to help and
 empower young
 people in light of the problems we currently face. Do you think that young
 people today face more challenges than previous generations and perhaps need
 more support? If so, what kind of support?



 JG: Yes, young
 people today definitely face more challenges than we faced. I have a
 ten-year-old daughter and she just spent two years in a house. That’s
 different. Now we’re queuing for fuel and people are panicking. If I were a
 young person seeing the way we’re running out of resources, we’re heating up,
 the icecaps are melting, and there’s disease, I’d be looking around going,
 “What a very strange place I live in.”



 I want to make it not so frightening. We can inform, inspire, and engage.
 Content and storytelling throughout history is crucial to change. Everything
 that’s on the periphery, on the edges, eventually becomes mainstream; and it
 becomes mainstream because people on the edges shout about it. I want to be a
 part of that edge, to help it move into the center.



 When I went on my journey around the world, the first people I spoke to were
 young. I went into schools talking about this stuff. I’ve been on the road
 speaking to hundreds of thousands of young people, so I probably hold one of
 the largest archives of young people’s thoughts in the world. I’ve been
 immensely committed to this and I like the idea that we provide educational
 materials for them to be the driving force behind the vision of a united and
 sustainable world. Peace One Day has provided those materials for twenty-two
 years; and I think we’ve really got to equip young people with the necessary
 information and tools to take on the great challenges around diversity,
 inclusion, equality, justice, climate action, and peace. We’ve had hundreds of
 thousands of young people using those tools – I think there are 33,000
 teachers currently using them, they are in schools all over the place. I’d
 really like to provide tools, inspire, and inform. That’s it.&nbsp;



 Q: What kind of qualities do you think young people need in
 today’s
 world?



 JG: I think they
 need a lot of courage. There was a good interview with Steve Jobs where he was
 asked, “Why did you make it when others didn’t?” He said, “One word –
 passion.” Just look at those who excel. It’s because they fell in love with
 something, and the passion drove them through. Steve Jobs is right. It’s all
 about finding your passion.&nbsp;



 I think the quality of “looking at failure as success” is also pretty
 important. The idea of celebrating falling down, of knowing that you learn
 most about yourself when you fall down, is something that we can appreciate
 more. When it gets dark it gets interesting. When it gets dark, if you can
 find the light it’s a really great thing, because it makes you who you are. In
 every moment of now, I’m only here because of the darkness, not the light.
 Success is okay, and everybody saying “yes” is okay, but when it’s really dark
 and you’re getting “no,” that’s when it’s most interesting.&nbsp;



 I think you need a lot of courage, determination, tenacity, and passion.
 You’ve got to be respectful, you’ve got to be loving, you’ve got to be
 peaceful, you’ve got to be willing to reconcile your differences, to forgive.
 I’m not sure intelligence really comes into it [laughs]. No, intelligence
 does come into it, but qualifications don’t. If you’ve got the love,
 the passion, and the drive, then come and sail with me. I don’t need to know
 that you went on some course to know how to sail. Let’s get on a boat and
 let’s get it moving.&nbsp;



 Q: What about awareness? Do you think awareness comes into
 this as
 well?



 JG: Yes, I think
 you’ve got to be aware of where the holes are. You’ve got to know where the
 cliff edge is, otherwise you’re going to walk over it because you don’t know.
 That’s a waste. Know where the edge is.&nbsp;


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<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 I think the quality of “looking at failure as success”
 is also pretty
 important. The idea of celebrating falling down, of knowing that you
 learn most about yourself when you fall down, is something that we can
 appreciate more. When it gets dark it gets interesting. When it gets
 dark, if you can find the light it’s a really great thing,
 because it makes you who you are. In every moment of now, I’m
 only here because of the darkness, not the light. Success is okay,
 and everybody saying “yes” is okay, but when it’s really dark
 and you’re getting “no,” that’s when it’s most interesting.
</h4>

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 </figure>
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<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Q: Do you have any sense of how we can help young people deal
 with the fear
 many of them are feeling?&nbsp;



 JG: I think we
 can give constructive programming and narrative to the world. Currently we
 have the concept of “If it bleeds, it leads” when you turn on the news. The
 number one story is really horrible. They love it. But look at what we’ve
 manifested – look at the weapons, look at the starving people, look at the
 poverty, look at the way we’ve treated this place with a total lack of care
 and love of Nature. It’s disgusting.&nbsp;Let’s try to inform, inspire, and
 engage young people. Let’s put very constructive well-thought-through
 information that really empowers them rather than disempowers and frightens
 them. Because that’s what the media on the whole do.



 You can test it easily. When you say to a big media company, “It’s the day for
 the elimination of racial discrimination, it’s voted by every country as a day
 of diversity, inclusion, equality, and justice, will you cover this story?”
 they say, “No.” “It’s a day of peace voted by every country of the world, it’s
 a day of ceasefire and non-violence, and if more people who find out about it
 they will actually end up changing their behavior, will you cover it?” they
 say, “No.”&nbsp;



 So, there lies the essence of what’s going on. But will you choose to be
 disempowered by the fact that the media don’t want to cover constructive days
 that can have an impact on their own children? You have to think, “That’s the
 way the world is, selling arms, looting fossil fuels, treating animals badly –
 things that our very nature and our very existence depend on.” To think that
 certain sectors would behave any differently is a bit silly, really. This is
 how we are; this is what we are. And we must deal with it. It’s tough.



 Actually, I don’t think humans really want to accept it. We want to think
 we’re something different; otherwise, how do we function? How do you talk to a
 young person about why nuclear weapons exist? How do you explain why they
 dropped a bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki? How do you explain it? It’s
 disgusting. Tough stuff this.&nbsp;



 Q: You really put your heart into this work, and when you put
 your heart
 into something, it’s incredible what can be achieved.



 JG: Yes, it is
 quite amazing when you see beautiful things happening, when people are very
 determined, climbing the mountain. Especially if you love the mountain so much
 that you’re just never going to stop climbing, irrespective of whether you get
 to the top or not. That’s amazing, being in the grip rather than the view;
 every grip is exciting. And the falls are amazing, like “I now know that I
 can’t operate in that way. I have to find another way. Okay, let’s go a bit
 higher tomorrow.”&nbsp;Then your wisdom comes. You can see a mountain and can
 almost see the right route,&nbsp;because you’ve climbed so many and fallen so
 many times that you get better at spotting the route, even from the ground.



 I quite like the journey, and life, and how it teaches you certain things that
 make it a little more interesting. And what makes the difference between
 somebody who gives up and somebody who doesn’t? As Steve Jobs said, it’s
 passion.&nbsp;



 Look at what Ury and Fisher said in the book Getting to Yes: Don’t
 worry about the yes, look at the no, and when you get a no, turn it into a
 yes. And love the no. That’s very cool.&nbsp;They spoke about BATNA (Best
 Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement). Go into every meeting thinking that
 you’re going to get a no, so what’s the alternative? As soon as a no comes,
 what are you going to ask for? Have it ready. These are not my thoughts; they
 are Ury and Fisher’s thoughts. They are legends.


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<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 It is quite amazing when you see beautiful things happening,
 when
 people are very determined, climbing the mountain. Especially if you
 love the mountain so much that you’re just never going to stop
 climbing, irrespective of whether you get to the top or not.
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 </figure>
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 In the early days, I’d almost tempt a no, because&nbsp;having said no once,
 they would feel a bit difficult about saying no twice, so I would aim to get a
 yes for the second request! [laughs] Everything’s a negotiation, isn’t it? And
 it’s fun! That sounds manipulative, but I don’t think Ury and Fisher were
 suggesting manipulation. They were simply saying: If you’re going to do
 something good, get it done! Don’t worry about whatever comes your way. That’s
 just how it is. And what makes the difference between somebody who gives up
 and somebody who doesn’t? Again, passion.&nbsp;



 Q: Is there any message you would like to give young
 people?



 JG: I hope that
 what I’ve said during our conversation will be positive to young people. The
 future is clearly in their hands. They are charged with an incredible job and
 obviously we wish them well on that journey. And if we can be there to assist
 in any way, inform them, inspire them, and engage them, then that’s what we’re
 going to do. We will do that every single day.



 People can find more information at
 <a href="https://peaceoneday.org/Main/">peaceoneday.org</a>. They can meditate
 and do all sorts of things to equip themselves for the challenges they’re
 going to face. It has been lovely to connect with Heartfulness for
 <a href="https://heartfulness.org/en/international-day-of-peace/">Peace Day</a>
 and Space Transformers Live, and I’m really grateful.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

Empowering young people

<h4
 id="h-jeremy-gilley-is-the-founder-of-peace-one-day-because-of-his-efforts-september-21-is-an-annual-day-of-global-ceasefire-and-non-violence-22-years-on-jeremy-is-even-more-passionate-about-bringing-peace-to-the-world-despite-the-current-uncertainty-and-unrest-here-he-speaks-to-elizabeth-denley-about-taking-peace-one-day-to-the-next-level">
 JEREMY GILLEY is
 the founder of Peace One Day. Because of his efforts, September 21 is
 an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence. 22 years on,
 Jeremy is even more passionate about bringing peace to the world,
 despite the current uncertainty and unrest. Here he speaks to
 ELIZABETH DENLEY
 about taking Peace One Day to the next level.
</h4>

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Q: Hi Jeremy, it’s good to connect again. Peace One Day has
 built so
 much awareness over the past two decades about peace and the need for
 ceasefires. So what next? Where are we heading with all this?



 JG: Well,
 there are two things. First, where are we heading as a global community,
 and second, what kind of impact are the Peace One Day campaigns having?


<h4>
 Our Global Situation
</h4>


 JG:
 Where we’re heading as a global community is obviously of serious
 concern. It’s extremely worrying, frightening, and tragic. There are
 really no words to describe the way we are operating at this particular
 point.



 We admitted a while ago, as people like Paul Polman and Mary Robinson
 said, that this decade is incredibly crucial. We needed to make the
 right decisions in relation to humanity’s survival, and now everything
 we’re doing is the opposite of what we should be doing. We’re seeing an
 increase in violence between countries and in our communities. The way
 in which we’re treating resources… I’m upset and angry about the whole
 thing.



 When you look at the evolution of humans, should I be that surprised? We
 can have an intellectual conversation about how everything’s got to
 change, but the truth is, can we actually change the DNA of a human
 being to be capable of protecting anything beyond itself? I think
 history probably proves the answer to that question.



 If we look at some of our great achievements, there’s some beautiful
 architecture (dependent on the resources that we used to build it),
 amazing music, beautiful art, and amazing poetry, etc. There are also
 some very complex weapons. There are examples of heinous destruction.
 That is what we are. Look at the evolution of the human species in
 relation to destroying each other, and destroying what gives us life.
 That is the result.



 So, we can have a nice conversation about beautiful things and
 spirituality, but it’s really niche when I look at what we’ve done, who
 we truly are, the manifestation of our actions. Do we have the ability
 to do something different? Have we only just realized that we
 have to behave differently? Of course not. We’ve known for ages that we
 needed to behave differently. And have we been capable of behaving
 differently? The answer is no.



 That’s the reality. Will there be a shift in consciousness? Unlikely.
 What will life be like beyond 250 years, if indeed it exists?
 Unpleasant, to say the least. Many would say we’re in the final chapter.
 We were told by the great contemporary thinkers of our time that this is
 the decade for fundamental change and we have failed!


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<div class="block-image">
 <figure>
 <img width="700" height="467" alt="inform-inspire-engage2" class="lazyload has-img-center"
 src="https://cdn-prod-static.heartfulness.org/inform_inspire_engage2_700x467_3ca632ab78.jpg?updated_at=2023-04-12T07:21:36.830Z" />
 </figure>
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<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 And we haven’t even talked about the 4 billion people who are really
 hungry, and about the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. “Sorry, I want
 to feed my kids. You want to talk about 17 goals with me?” That’s where
 we are, that’s who we are, and who we are is what we’ve manifested.



 So what’s the point of getting up? Well, there is a point. I’ve got a
 little girl, and I need to take care of her, and I need to do everything
 I can to protect her future as best I can, so that’s exactly what I’m
 going to do. And then my daughter will have children, and my daughter’s
 children are really going to be in the heart of the fire.



 Therefore, I’m going to get up and dig deep every day. And I’m going to
 work my absolute socks off, to do three things that are crucial to
 humanity’s survival. It’s not just me, there are thousands of people
 doing it. We need to create narratives that are constructive, with just
 three words: inform, inspire, engage. Not inform and freak
 someone out! There’s no point in pretending this whole thing is okay,
 but that doesn’t make any difference to the way I’m going to operate on
 a daily basis. In fact, it fuels my desire to work even harder.



 I think we’ve got to look back at history, whether it’s the slave trade,
 women having the vote, or the incredible LGBT+ community, and the
 amazing breakthroughs that we see in all sorts of diverse, inclusive,
 just, and equal ways. They were people on the periphery who were
 shouting and screaming, being creative and constructive, and informing,
 inspiring and engaging, and who eventually made the status quo. Well,
 guess what? Individuals on the outskirts who are marginalized, who
 aren’t the mainstream, will be the status quo! And that’s a beautiful,
 exciting, inspiring point; that’s how history unfolds.



 And technology and science are going to be fundamental to our human
 fight for survival. We can make a difference – all of us trying to make
 a contribution, individually, collectively, doing extraordinary things –
 and science and technology will kick in as well. It’s a fascinating
 situation!


<h4>
 The Impact of Peace One Day
</h4>


 JG: And
 the impact of Peace One Day? Well, it’s 22 years, 138 countries. The
 International Day of Peace is September 21, a day of ceasefire, of
 nonviolence, unanimously adopted by every government in the world. It
 has also been passed through the US Congress as the Day of Peace. That
 was a lot of hard work by Kofi Annan and the incredible men and women of
 the United Nations, and others, including corporations, actors and
 singers, and civil society. The day is manifested; that’s my starting
 point.



 We saw what happened in Afghanistan with a ceasefire – children were
 vaccinated and there was a 70% reduction in violence, so we saw
 improvement in the most complex place in the world. A cynic would say
 that one day of peace is only symbolic and meaning less, but they’re
 wrong; this mountain is climbable. You can only say it’s not climbable
 if you have a fear of climbing it yourself. Two billion people are aware
 and more people are thinking about peace than on any other day of the
 year – that is a great thing. As a consequence of that collective
 thought there is a behavioral change. September 21 is the most peaceful
 day of the year, so we know the impact is there.



 We’re moving into the next chapter, becoming like a “Netflix for Good.”
 We do 4 shows a year–for the elimination of racial discrimination, for
 climate action, the world’s Day of Peace, and Space Transformers. That’s
 a lot of inspiring and engaging narrative. Next year, we will do 12
 shows, the 4 big ones and one every other month – 90 minutes specials
 around issues like poverty, terrorism, education, marking key dates in
 every month. As a consequence, you’ll see content creation quadrupling,
 amplifying, and that means more engagement and more narrative created by
 us to inform, inspire, and engage globally.


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 <img width="700" height="467" alt="inform-inspire-engage3" class="lazyload has-img-center"
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 </figure>
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<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 Over the next five years or so, I would like to see POD become a
 destination, where you go to see programming around peace,
 sustainability, climate justice, equality, diversity, collaboration,
 cooperation, innovation, spirituality, etc. I’m very excited about the
 future. We’re fired up.



 We’re surviving, and it’s the yin and the yang, isn’t it, the dark and
 the light. I know darkness. Having known darkness is what allows me to
 see the light, find the light. So, it’s the first part of the answer to
 your question about really examining what we’ve actually manifested,
 what our evolution is manifesting. Darkness is actually what creates and
 ignites a passion and a desire to do something constructive.



 Q: And whenever evolution happens, it comes in quantum leaps.
 So,
 there’s always the possibility, that something’s going to leap out of
 the stratosphere and go somewhere else. And we never know when that’s
 going to happen. If we don’t do anything, it’s not going to happen. If
 we do something, it may or may not happen, but there’s a chance it
 will.



 So, what’s happening on September 21?



 JG: We are
 creating an experience on September 21.People can get information by
 watching any of the social media channels, including Peace One Day,
 Jeremy Gilley, and International Day of Peace. We’re going live from
 London and New York this year on World Peace Day. We will have
 contributions from unbelievable individuals from the world of music and
 performance art, thought leaders, panel discussions, interviews, and
 we’ll broadcast live to various locations around the world.



 We’ll be telling the stories of remarkable women and men who are working
 daily to save humanity. And I hope that informs and inspires and engages
 others to do the same. If you don’t know about Peace Day, and you come
 across that work, it will hopefully inform, inspire, and engage you to
 action. If you know it’s going to be Peace Day, I hope you reconcile
 your differences, pull your family together in a moment of unity, and
 with that unity comes hope and strength. By working together, we can
 have peace one day, in our families, in our communities, in our places
 of work, in our places of worship, and in our schools and universities.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 If you know it’s going to be Peace Day, I hope you
 reconcile
 your differences, pull your family together in a moment of
 unity, and with that unity comes hope and strength.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 If we want to live in a peaceful world, and we know the day of peace is
 September 21,but we don’t do anything ourselves, then don’t question
 government leaders. That’s the whole point, isn’t it? If we want to live
 in a more peaceful and sustainable world that protects our children’s
 children, we are all going to have to play along.



 So, to those who know about September 21, I hope you have a beautiful
 day. You don’t need to organize the biggest event that’s ever happened,
 you just need to reach out to your family, your friends, your loved
 ones, and your work colleagues, or just strengthen those relationships
 and the sense of commitment that, “Let’s do some real good here. ”Follow
 us on social media and tell us what you’re doing. For those who don’t
 know, I hope you watch the show and find out more.



 Q: Thank you. That’s inspiring. Are you still as visionary and
 inspired as you were 22 years ago?



 JG: I think
 I’m probably scarred. I’ve got a lot of wounds, but those wounds are
 interesting. And some of the darkness that I’ve experienced is like a
 climber who falls down halfway, after taking three years to get to that
 point, and now they’ve got to go another couple of years. You can look
 at it two ways: I’ve fallen down and I’m never going to make it; or I’ve
 fallen down and hurt myself, but I’ve got to get up and work another
 couple of years to get to the top of that mountain.



 To those who helped manifest darkness in the world, instead of wanting
 revenge, be grateful to them and thank them for the experience they’ve
 given you. It’s making you who you are, and there’s a lot in that. If
 you can look at life that way, it’s liberating. It actually does fuel
 passion. Turn around what’s dark, what brings you down, and say, life is
 a series of chapters, life is things that you just have to learn and
 tools to equip yourself with. It’s that mental approach where you see
 the glass half full rather than the glass half empty.


<hr class="vertical-space1" />

<hr />

<h4 class="has-text-align-center">
 To those who helped manifest darkness in the world,
 instead of wanting revenge, be grateful to them and thank
 them for the experience they’ve given you. It’s making you
 who you are, and there’s a lot in that. If you can look at
 life that way, it’s liberating.
</h4>

<hr />

<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 How am I feeling? Pretty scarred but passionate, probably more
 passionate. I’ve got more energy now, after 22 years on the road, than I
 had at the beginning. I have equipped myself with skills that I never
 had before. That gives me the ability to think really big, paint any
 picture, dream of anything, just go for it. That’s really exciting!



 Also, people take you more seriously the older you get. Years ago, I
 remember looking at big producers like Kevin Wall, and now I think to
 myself, “Wow, you’ve done a lot of producing, Jeremy. ”I’m not
 suggesting I’m anywhere near Kevin, but life is quite beautiful in that
 way. It enriches you and rewards you, and the rewards come as a
 consequence of your ability to know and see things as achievable. I feel
 great, I feel ready, I feel energized, I’m up for another five years of
 really interesting work.



 Q: Peace be with you, it’s fantastic talking to you.



 JG: I love
 speaking with you and am always really grateful for all the amazing work
 that you are all doing, it’s incredible. We’ve just got to keep going.



 Q: At Heartfulness, we’re doing a lot of environmental work
 now, with
 forest planting of rare and endangered species – across India,
 millions of trees. And water projects with governments to re-irrigate.
 I agree with you, the SDGs aren’t going to happen unless we make them
 happen.


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 <img width="700" height="467" alt="inform-inspire-engage4" class="lazyload has-img-center"
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 </figure>
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<hr class="vertical-space1" />


 JG: The
 SDGs are wonderful signposts, wonderful pieces of art. They have a very
 important role to remind us of the mountains we need to continuously
 climb. The key with having a finite period of time is that we can
 perceive it as a failure when we don’t achieve them within the15-year
 window. But the truth is, they’ve already been a success in relation to
 those who have seen them, which of course, is limited. I’ve drawn a lot
 from them personally. I love thinking about them. Those who have the
 privilege to be able to look at them and talk about them, which is very
 few, have a crucial role. If you can look at them, you can probably eat.
 So, good on the teams that have been working tirelessly, like the SDG
 Action Campaign. Brilliant, brilliant work.



 Q: Well, thank you so much, and all the best for September
 21.



 JG: Have a
 wonderful Peace Day. It’s lovely to see you.



 Q: You too. All the best.

Jeremy Gilley

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