The Battery Tour’s involvement in the Pause the World for Peace event is highly intentional. On a mission to break barriers and build bridges, AY Young was appointed by the United Nations as Global Youth Leader for the Sustainable Development Goals in 2020, Generation 17 Youth Ambassador, and SDG Champion. AY has performed over 800 concerts powered entirely by the Battery Tour’s renewable energy. “We are all outlets for change,” says the artist. And driving positive change is a major theme between Pause the World for Peace event collaborators.  

 

Michel Pascal will lead a dance meditation and musical performance, seamlessly combining the serenity of meditation, and the joy of dance, promising a unique and transformative experience. Pascal, co-founder of OMMM which is a movement to create a positive impact on individuals and communities worldwide through the practice of meditation, music and multimedia content. Pascal, A.K.A "The Medicine Voice," has been performing at Carnegie Hall since 2016, while working closely with marginalized communities, including prisoners and veterans. The concert will also feature a bilingual meditation guided by Juliana Klinkert, an esteemed meditation teacher known for her work at Amity Foundation and in Hispanic communities.

 

Young and Pascal, along with the generations they represent, continue a wave of peace work built on the foundations of champions of peace like David Gershon (led 1986 Earth Run Torch of Peace), Ben Bowler (founder of UNITY Earth bringing cease-fires for peace), his eminence Shyalpa Rinpoche (currently building Universal Peace Sanctuary at UNESCO World Heritage Site for Peace), and Jonathan Granoff (World Academy of Art & Science Fellow and UN Ambassador to the Nobel Peace Laureates). They, like others both in New York and nationally, including Michael Fitzpatrick (25 year cellist to the Dalai Lama), Rick Ulfic & Andrew Kaen (established 11 Days of Global Unity), Reverend Susana Bastarrica & James Cannings (founded Vigil for International Day of Peace), Reverend Deborah Muldow & Fumi Johns (of May Peace Prevail on Earth with 250,000 Peace Poles worldwide), and Peter Rogina (PeaceLights) have dedicated their lives to empowering communities, fostering cooperation, and addressing global challenges with transformative social innovations. Seeds that were planted decades ago are breaking ground as a new surge of activism takes shape in a post-pandemic society ready for collaborative action. 

 

The Pause the World for Peace event includes a special segment entitled “Peace in Action” with renowned representatives sharing the latest in major global issues, including domestic violence, school safety, human rights, human security, animal rights, climate action, and ending violence in health, politics, and religion, regardless of gender, race, or disability, promoting practical paths to a thriving life for all. A special military and police tribute for fallen heroes will be featured.  

 

The Pause the World for Peace event, set in the Duffy Square section of Times Square, NY, is hosted by the Good News Corporation, whose founder Reverend Paul Sladkus has coordinated global Pause the World for Peace broadcasts in Central Park for 21 years, and continues to be a leader in rallying movements for peace in action. Sladkus, who is an ordained all faith minister, implores, “193 countries in the UN unanimously agreed to a CEASE FIRE EVERYWHERE, ACTS OF PEACE & LOVE, and WE CAN DO IT. Let’s listen to Ringo Starr at 12:00pm Noon ET as he requests a Worldwide Moment of Silence for PEACE, from Times Square, virtually on September 21, 2023, and then keep that moment going for peace to last FOREVER.”

 

The event will run until 5:00PM EDT and will air to the world via UNIFY (received 2 billion views with the UN for Peace Day in 2017), who will broadcast the program to their combined partner audience of millions worldwide. McKinsey Co. stated that there are 1.6 billion people worldwide already aware of the International Day of Peace. Pause the World  for Peace aims to amplify the urgent need for collective action and global cooperation. Together, we stand in solidarity to promote peace, human security, and climate action for a better and brighter future for all.

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Marking their 10th Anniversary, UNIFY hosted their first globally synchronized meditation flash mob for International Day of Peace in 2012 and has done 100+ Campaigns for Peace and Impact Since. This grass-roots organization brings together individuals, organizations, and communities for globally synchronized events through its people-powered social networks. Similar to massive global productions like Live-Aid but unique in that they utilize interactive social media streaming technology combined with their enormous network of engaged individuals. Throughout the year they host initiatives, live streams, and globally synchronized events to highlight causes like International Women’s Day, World Water Day, Earth Day, Yoga Day, and others. Events for The International Day of Peace begin on September 10th, Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day, and stretch through the end of Peace Week September 24th. We also extend peace actions on the map throughout the year and mass actions and challenges through Mental Health Day October 10.