I first started visiting Calabria on a regular basis in the summer of 2003 … just five months after the US invaded Iraq. It was a time in America where people who publicly opposed the war were shamed, intimidated and shunned and I’m not the only person who bit my tongue when talk turned to the war.

But here in Calabria, it was different.

Peace flags pronouncing “PACE” hung from balconies and adorned doorways … they were even plastered on market handbags and t-shirts. And I wanted one.

photo credit: steve p2008

I searched desperately for one of those cheap purses I could proudly tote in the US, stating “pace” to non-Italian speakers while secretly denouncing the war.

But I was too late. The Calabrians beat me to them.

I think of this today, on Peace One Day, a day established 10 years ago by Jeremy Gilley to document his efforts to create a universal ceasefire and non-violence day. A day that was unanimously adopted by the UN in 2001, a day that is told through film, education, music and soccer.

And through us.

According to Jeremy

“We want to reach 3 billion people with the message of Peace Day by 2012, and we are working with governments, the UN system, non-governmental organisations, schools and corporations to achieve that; but ultimately it is your support that will help make it a reality. As Ahmad Fawzi (now Director of News Media at the UN) said at our launch in 1999, ‘It is the peoples of this world who can create peace.’”

And, I’m just doing my little part to help out.

To get more information about Peace One Day, visit the website,  purchase the Day After Peace DVD, donate money or pledge to take action.

You can even buy Peace One Day t-shirts, posters and books. I just don’t see one of those rainbow “Pace” purses. But who knows, maybe he’ll add it to his collection by 2010.

Happy Peace One Day!