PRESS RELEASE - AUGUST 2019 – Truro, Cornwall
UN International Day of Peace, 21st September
World Peace Day Events, 20th, 21st and 22nd September 2019
Events are being held over three days in Truro to help raise awareness for the United Nations International Day of Peace, 21st September, and to support the global choral project for peace, “One Day One Choir”. www.onedayonechoir.org The venues include Lemon Quay, County Hall, Truro Methodist Church, Truro Cathedral and Truro Quaker Meeting House. Please see the poster for dates, times and venues.
This is now the fourth year that people have come together in Truro to sing for peace. In previous years these events have been live on BBC Spotlight and also mentioned on BBC Radio 3’s programme “The Choir”, and BBC Radio Cornwall. Many other choirs from schools, churches and communities across Cornwall are being invited to take part in their own way and wherever they are, and to join with others around the world singing for peace.
As in the previous three years, many choirs, groups, organizations and individuals are involved in Truro, and all are welcome to any of the events. There are no admission charges, but donations are welcome on Saturday during the day for the UK Charity Children of Peace. www.childrenofpeace.org.uk
In addition to singing, people are also invited to come and speak about peace.
Cornish Choirs involved over the three days include The Cornwall County Choirs (Cornwall Boys, Cornwall Girls and Cornwall County Youth Choir), The Cornwall County Primary Schools Group, The Perraners, The Parkinson’s Trembellows, Stagecoach, The Red River Singers, The Riverside Singers, Raise the ‘Ruth, St Ives Community Choir, Re:Choired, Lost in Song, Perran-ar-Worthall Community Choir, and Sing Choir Truro/Falmouth.
The events in Truro are very kindly supported by Truro City Council, Cornwall County Council, Truro Methodist Church, Truro Cathedral, Truro Diocese, Cornwall Quakers, Cornwall Faith Forum, UNA Cornwall Group, Truro Farmers Market and many choirs, groups, organizations and people.
The events are very varied and for example include a session on Friday afternoon (15.00 – 17.00) at the Truro Methodist Church which brings together a number of different groups that use singing therapeutically for people with a variety of illnesses such as Parkinson’s, Alzheimers, COPD, etc. It’s wonderful to see the very positive effect that singing can bring. Following a 10.30 Meeting for Worship at Truro Quaker Meeting House, there will be a talk given at 12.00 by Dr Lynne Jones OBE, entitled “Climate Catastrophe and Conflict: What can we do?” – she says that it will be a personal talk that looks at the connections between the major problems of our time, the effects upon our own lives and what we can do about it right now. The talk will be followed by a bring and share lunch, preferably vegetarian.
“The Good Afternoon Choirs” from Bath and Bristol, led by their MD Grenville Jones, are performing twice in Truro, once in Truro Cathedral, and then in the Truro Methodist Church where they will be sharing their performance with the “Sing Choir” from Truro/Falmouth. They will be collecting for Cornwall Hospice Care and are also dedicating part of their programme to World Peace Day and “One Day One Choir”.
The Looe Live! Music Festival, which runs from the 20th till the 22nd September, is also partnering with events in Truro and issued this statement:
“With just a month to go to this year’s Looe Live! there is a growing sense of excitement as people get ready to enjoy the headline acts, events and activities which will be taking place on the two stages and other venues during the three day festival. As well as Level 42, The Shires, Fisherman’s Friends, Newton Faulkner and Trevor Nelson, there will be classical music, a choir zone and comedy stages, with local acts performing in pubs, restaurants and bars. Add street performers, craft and music workshops, magicians, and some incredible food and drink, it’s easy to see why people will be flocking to the Looe for the 20th, 21st and 22nd September. The festival is also very proud to support “One Day One Choir” and World Peace Day which are taking place at the same time”.
The UN established the 21st September as the International Day of Peace in 1981, and declared it as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations. In 2015 UN Member States adopted the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and Goal 13 is Climate Action. The theme for World Peace Day 2019 is “Climate Action for Peace” and the aim is to draw attention to the importance of combating climate change as a way to protect and promote peace throughout the world. The UN calls upon all to take action to tackle climate change. Every human is part of the solution.
“It is possible to achieve our goals, but we need decisions, political will and transformational policies to allow us to still live in peace with our climate” Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 15 May 2019
For further information, and how to get involved and take part, please contact:
paul.haines10@gmail.com 01872 864373 07855 495881
