Sept. 21 - Dr. Jane
Goodall Hosts International Day of Peace Ceremony At National
September 11 Memorial, 21 September at 4:00 p.m. World Trade Center,
New York City.
JoAnne Spies Performing Survivor Tree, Original Song Written for Event
The International Peace Day
NGO Committee at the United Nations cordially invites you to participate
in a reflective ceremony at the National September 11 Memorial to
observe the annual UN International Day of Peace on September 21, 2012.
The International Day of Peace, which was established by a resolution of
the UN General Assembly, was first observed 30 years ago. Dr. Jane
Goodall, DBE, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of
Peace, will officiate the ceremony in recognition of her 10th year as a
United Nations Messenger of Peace, and her efforts to grow the
Institute’s global environmental and humanitarian youth program, Jane
Goodall’s Roots & Shoots. The ceremony will reflect the theme of
this year’s International Day of Peace,
Sustainable Peace for a Sustainable Future,
while honoring the victims of the World Trade Center attacks in New
York City on September 11, 2001. The event will be held near the
September 11 Memorial’s famous Survivor Tree.
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| JoAnne Spies and Jane Goodall Int'l Day of Peace Survivor Tree Ceremony |
Dear Friends,
It was an honor to
create a song for the Survivor Tree and sing it standing by the tree
alongside peace leader Dr. Jane Goodall and Michael Johnson. We were
surrounded in a semi-circle by a large group of people who sang along in
a heartfelt way.
There was a palpable sense of peace prevailing on earth at yesterday's ceremony. Dr. Goodall's presence radiates peace, and her Roots & Shoots organization actively works for peace around the world at a grassroots level.
It
was very moving to meet Richie Cabo, the man who helped nurture the tree back to
life. I thanked him for what he did and showed him the verse in my song
that he inspired.
* you tube about horticulturist who saved tree
info on Survivor Tree
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| Survivor Tree at Ground Zero |
Thank you to Michael Johnson of Pathways to Peace for inviting me to be a part of the ceremony.
The process of writing the song in a week was intense and rewarding. I played it for all the artists I work with in the CATA art cart program during the week and they helped shape the final words of the song with their enthusiasm and comments.
I envision singing this song in many places and hope it helps water the roots of peace.
I'm eager to record the song soon and make it available on this site.
It's called Survivor Tree and invites you to water the roots of peace.
May Peace Prevail On Earth.
Thanks to Kevin Furlong for his support with the day's event.
