Jeremy Gilley with the Dalai Lama and with Kofi Annan

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Hi, my name is Jeremy Gilley. I'm a filmmaker and founder of Peace One Day. 2012 have been a benchmark year, 280 million people aware of Peace Day. 2% of the world's population. We can double that figure in 2013 by working together we can institutionalize Peace Day making it a day that is self sustaining, a day when children are not bullied, women are not hit and guns are not fired. Our theme for 2013 is "who would you make peace with?" So let's find out how this all began. The first film I made was a journey to establish a day of and nonviolence, a fixed calendar date 21 September. That documentary was called Peace One Day and it told the story of how and why 21st of September is the day of cease-fire and nonviolence. "It is so decided." It was an incredible journey, it was an amazing honor to be part of it and as a filmmaker it really excited and inspired that the form, the camera could really drive a process through. The second film I made documented the first ever lives being saved on the day and that took us into Afghanistan. Jude Law traveled with me and that was a great success. Everybody became involved in Afghanistan including the Taliban who agreed not to harm health workers on the day. As a consequence of that and because of everybody's hard work, particularly the United Nations 10,000 vaccinators were able to go into areas where they couldn't ordinarily go for fear of being kidnapped and killed and millions of children were vaccinated against polio. It was incredible and it demonstrated that the day, was far from symbolism, and that it could work in a place where many thought it was impossible. At that time the UN in Afghanistan put out a press release with a statement from the United Nations Department of safety and security announcing a 70% reduction of violence on Peace Day. It blew me away. "Most significantly the Taliban also agreed not to block access to health workers involved in the campaign." It made me think that if we can do it there, we can do it everywhere. "The cynic used to say the day existed but what what difference does a day make and what I saw in Afghanistan, the two times we went was well the difference is life or death. I spoke to so and so and others and that led to an idea which was to try to manifest not only the largest reduction of violence in recorded history i.e. in our homes, schools, local communities and between countries but also the greatest gathering of individuals standing together in the name of peace on one day. We called this the Global Truce Campaign. In order to make it work I knew we had to bring together a series of coalitions each with a lead partner and that's what we did. 2012 launched a student coalition partnering with the National Union of Students in the UK. A coalition of organizations committed to reducing domestic violence partnering with EDV Global Foundation. A coalition of Non-Governmental Associations partnering with Interpeace. The results were incredible. Thousands of organizations that were activated by the coalitions across the world. It was the greatest year for participation we've ever seen so who will you make peace with. It really is an opportunity for all of us to become involved with the peace process by working together and making peace with each other we will improve the quality of our lives. Peace Day is not just about a reduction of violence in areas of conflict but it's also about reducing violence in our homes, communities and schools. So who will you make peace with? Who will you bring together on Peace Day?

I first came across Prem Rawat because I was asked to speak at an event at the European Parliament. "I thank you for your wise words, I thank you to the European Parliament for inviting me here today." I saw him tell one of his stories and it was you know it was beautiful and it was profound and it was inspiring yeah and so I I clearly knew in that moment I was listening to a man who had you know an awful lot of wisdom on on the issues of peace and he clearly been thinking about it all his life. "It is incumbent upon us to use our resources, intelligence and the goodness of our hearts to bring forth peace on this planet Earth regardless of how impossible it may seem."

And then I found out obviously that he'd been uh he'd been speaking about it all his life and he'd been traveling the world and speaking to hundreds of thousands of people every year on the topic, virtually his entire life to inspiring and empowering people all over the world to think about peace and to act for peace in their own individual way and he's an incredible human being you know a very wise and courageous, powerful man.

"It is not the world that needs it, it is asked as individuals who need the peace." And you know given my own journey in relation to ??? Peace and then trying to prove that it can work and then now making it institutionalized and there were lots of the synergies for us to be able to potentially do some work together. "As a filmmaker I wanted to make a difference, I wanted to make a film about peace because I wanted to answer some of those fundamental question and then I realized there was no Day of Peace. Together we can create peace One Day. Please go to your friends, your colleagues, your families and let us unite on 21st September 2012 and send a message to the new generation that we can change and things can be different. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Thank you.

Well I jumped at the opportunity of being around one to one with him because I knew that this was an individual who has obviously been on a much longer journey than I've been on. "It's a really wonderful that Prem you know given that he is so you know obviously peace is his life and talking about it and inspiring it apparently all over the world for him to you know inform the global community at whatever level he can that there is a ??????? and there is an opportunity for them to unite with others around the world. "It's nice to meet you" and I had no idea it would be as entertaining as it was.

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JG: Here we go. How are you? I spent 13 years on the road you know talking about peace and trying to create a day for peace which we did and the idea that if our world could unite separate from politics or religion and stand together as one umm then in that unity would perhaps come a little shift in our in our consciousness had the fundamental relationships that we have around peace and sustainability. You know the idea that we come together as one umm aah what do you think of that idea? What do you think of the idea of umm of us standing together in the name of peace on a global scale?

Rawat: Well I think it is incredibly admirable with anyone makes those attempts to bring that consciousness in people, think about peace, understand peace. Umm that is so important because it just doesn't happen every day you know. But how important is peace to a human being because I really feel that peace is fundamental, peace is fundamentally inside of every human being you know and we need to look at ourselves as the source of peace. Uh long time ago that's what Socrates said "Know thyself" I mean he could've said anything, he could have really, truly said anything "Go climb that mountain you know, remove that rock, uh dry up that ocean uh" but he said know thyself and people talk about this but they really sometimes don't understand what what does that mean. To look at yourself as the source of that peace, as the source of that clarity, as the source of that joy and so anybody who takes those steps, who helps people uh recognize the need for peace in their lives and the importance of peace in our society, that's an incredibly admirable thing to do and it's so, so important in our society.

JG: We're going around the world and we're talking about peace and we're trying to promote peace and we're trying to promote a day of peace and we know that it's not just about one day, we know it's months and months of work for people to lead up to that day so there thinking about it all the time in many ways. The day is just a realization of their kind of creativity and aspiration and desire uh to be involved. What happens when I get angry? I mean I got angry the other night about something that I didn't like and most of the time I'm at peace I mean what does that say about me if I lose my cool? I mean do you ever lose your cool?

Rawat: All that says about you is you're a human being (clears throat). You know uh ideally for a tree it has taken a lot of effort, it has made a lot a lotta effort to be clear and straight but then when the wind blows it is also learnt to rock back and forth because if it doesn't the branches will break and so to me there are all these attributes that ha we have I mean yes you get you get sad, you get happy, you get angry, that's not the issue, you know, the the anger isn't the issue, it's where are you coming from in your life. Are you actually anchored in peace? Is peace fundamentally there for you or not? Because if it isn't then when the storm of anger comes you'll get uprooted because you have no foundation but the foundation is what's important. Getting angry and then understanding something from it is not a problem, getting sad and then understanding something from it is not a problem because I think too many people think the idea of peace is to become a vegetable you know you sit on some mountain and and you are completely impervious to everything that happens around you well excuse me that's not gonna happen, you are a human being so all these textures exist in our life but what do we choose. We have to make the choice. Do we learn something from our anger or do we let the anger drive us? Do we understand why we were angry and then better prepare ourselves or we allow the storm of anger, sadness, desperation to just sweep us by and have the better of us.

JG: Certainly the beginning of my journey was because I was so angry about what was going on in the world. I didn't understand why I was humiliated at school, I didn't understand why you know the world was behaving that it was and it has as a consequence of me being angry about everything around me I wanted to go on a journey to create a Day of Peace where I knew I would fail because I didn't think it would succeed and then I could point my finger at how unwilling humanity is to come together even for a day but of course the opposite happened you know and of course it succeeded and I'm less angry and I'm more hopeful now than I've ever been and it's kinda kinda interesting isn't it how I see what you're saying you you in many ways you can turn your anger into an energy for good um as well as utilizing it for something that's destructive and you're saying that's okay which of course it is.

Rawat: And a lot of people get angry and they misdirect that energy and do very bad things. I mean look what what's happening in this world you know there are people who you take a baby and the baby wants to feel good you know the baby wants to feel just happy and so all of a sudden it finds itself in a situation that it's not happy with well it takes that anger and uses it to inform the mother "there's something wrong here, uh everything isn't right, I'm not happy, make it right" and the mother comes along and you know whatever it is you want food, your diaper's wet or whatever and then when that has been taken care of the baby goes quiet. Baby falls silent. Why can't we learn that basic thing from a baby that yes maybe there is something to be angry about like you did - hey this world is fighting with each other all the time and that makes me angry and so you took that anger and you diverted it positively and now you are seeing the whole another side that you didn't see before and that's wonderful you know.

JG: It's a fight isn't it a little bit I mean like peace I feel like you know sometimes I feel like I have to fight for peace and I wonder what you think of that I mean like a like a sailor, like a captain of a little boat in a big sea with a big wind and a small crew it's a there's no time to be pleasant. Yeah you pull down that sail quickly otherwise we're gonna go down and sometimes like running Peace One Day you know doing this work you you it's so rapid yeah cause there's no time that sometimes I feel like gosh you know it's like you just you fight you tryin' to kinda guess you know other peoples you know gotta get a good result and sometimes other peoples maybe external don't want that result for whatever reason it might be and you're kind of trying to manipulate your way a situation which ultimately saw the guns stop in Afghanistan I mean you know and I know that that three-year journey to make it happen in Afghanistan where everybody including the Taliban stopped fighting, where millions of children that was not yes yes yes yes yes. It wasn't, was it? It was a process of trying to work and fight I mean is that, is that all right? Is it is peace a fight sometimes?

Rawat: Well

JG: To create it?

Rawat: Of course it can be but let's just look at the basics of it. In my opinion and I've thought about this a lot, almost 40 years ha ha of trying to talk to people and what I understand is one simple thing that if you're trying to create manifestations of peace without peace it's going to be problematic. If peace is at the core then the manifestations of peace will be automatic, they will happen but if the peace is missing in a very fundamental place and you're just trying to create the manifestations ,it's going to be very very difficult and that's why I try to take my message of peace, that peace is inside of you. I mean I call it my message it's really not my message, many people have said this, peace is inside of you, search yourself, see, seek within you and find that peace because unless that happens trying to just create different things that reflect peace, it's gonna be hard. Peace has to be in a fundamental level and then you don't have to worry about the manifestations, the manifestations will be there.

JG: Mmm I speak to people you know most days, and uh young people particularly um the education materials we have now are in the six official languages used in 197 countries uh um you know it's it's the most important thing to me inspiring and empowering young people to be the driving force behind the vision of a united and sustainable world and you know giving them the tools to do such a thing I mean giving them tools to become peacemakers. When I'm talking with young people they see the movies, they see the journeys that we've been on and everything they say to me "Why did you never give up?" and when because when I was in New York when 9/11 happened "Why when 9/11 happened didn't you stop? You know Um. What keeps you going? What?" There's this sense that like peace is impossible. Do you think that one of the problems humanity has at this present time is that sense that people need, people don't believe they can change the world and that they need to understand that actually you know if when you become involved yourself and if we all did that on a global scale we could lit change it tomorrow. Is that one of the problems? Is it people's lack of belief that they can change the world?

Rawat: Of course. Yeah, because you know the the the responsibility of the change for changing the world does not lie with them it lies with some other entity whether it is the governments whether it is the angels that'll drop from heaven.

JG: They think that, they think that

Rawat: They think that, yes, they don't include themselves in the equation that yes they can make a difference but it is true that they can make a difference and just knowing that can have a huge impact that yes you are a very critical part of that machinery that will make peace happen on this earth, that you are not separate from it, you're not just a recipient of a you know a news that "Oh yeah, today there is peace in this world, thank you very much." No, you are a part of making it happen and it doesn't matter who you are, it doesn't matter who you are you know and we put so much emphasis on our youth which is so important because they are our future but I want to also see empowerment of the people who are not children. Maybe they are great great grandfathers, maybe they have only got three more days to be on this earth but for them to realize as well that they are a part of that process of making peace happen. I wanna include everyone, I wanna include youth, I wanna include those people who will teach the youth, very important, because if they are out of touch with themselves what are they gonna be teaching the youth? I wanna include the youth, I wanna include the people who are going to be teaching the youth, I wanna include business people, I wanna include governments, I wanna include the poor people, I wanna include the rich people, I wanna include the people who think they should not be included, I wanna include everybody you know I wanna even include those people who we have said oh you have done something wrong let's lock you behind four walls because they gonna be coming out for those four walls too and then what? You know I want to include everybody. This is good news and I wanna say it again and again and again like you need to, I need to, everybody needs to, everybody needs to remember again and again and again and again "Peace is Possible."

JG: Peace is possible. Yes it is.

Rawat: And maybe one day it'll stick (they laugh).

JG: And it does stick and that's the point that's you're making. I mean that's why we're inspired and empowered and gunning it every day and working hard isn't it and indeed many many others all over the world. It is possible. It does work. Forgiveness happens. People can stop even when you say they can't, they can

Rawat: Yes of course

JG: We have to believe and uh um you know and it is, it is absolutely possible. I wanna see I mean I really want to see it happen in our lifetimes I mean I you know I mean of course who knows it's a process it's a journey so we're so we're completely in agreement and people who are watching you are in agreement too that actually the greatest challenge that we all have is for us all to just embrace the idea that we can change this world as individuals and if we stand together as one and do that then bingo all of us whether you're a great granddad or a you know a young person in primary school. We've all gotta, we've all gotta become a part of this. We all got to accept that actually peace is possible, that we can change this world, we can lift the level of consciousness around the fundamental issues we face you know quickly. You know I've been pretty much every conflict zone in the world and I mean 107 countries in the last few years like you but frankly wherever I've gone, whether it was Afghanistan or Sudan or Somalia I never saw anyone fighting. I just saw beautiful people, like really passionate and courageous and hopeful. Pretty much everywhere you go its peace. I mean you know of course I understand that there are people suffering unnecessarily and unfairly and it's tragic and I wish it wasn't going on but actually the greatest war that humanity faces is with a fist, it's not with a gun. The greatest violence that's gonna happen today is in is in a domestic situation.

Rawat: Yeah you were saying you know you've been to so many conflict zones and when he was saying that I was thinking you know where the biggest conflict zone is? Right here (puts fingers to temples). This is where the conflicts start. This is the big conflict and every single human being on the face of this earth potentially carries the conflict zone on top, on top and also carries a place of peace within the heart of every single human being. Choose. Choose you know and people like you who are going out and giving people an option, choose the peace.

JG: Yeah, yeah I know that's excite I mean it's a very exciting, that's where I think quite interestingly the the education of youth umm around the issues of peace and instilling in them that sense of actually you are the peacemaker and it's about what's going on for you and that you having resolution amongst your friends and your family improves the quality of your lives and therefore if that's happening within a community it's improving the community which of course is changing the world.

Rawat: And this is what I see is about people getting excited about peace, people understanding that peace will bring unparalleled prosperity, that we can move altogether, that these are not impossible dreams these are very, very possible dreams. If we can make things so miserable for people than we can make things very beautiful for people because it is just the flip side of it. You know and it's yes yes we all should be very excited about it and everyone included, everyone included.

JG: Yeah if each and every one of us realizes that we are the peacemakers of this world that the problem isn't over there, the problem is right here and if we resolve it within ourselves and around us each and every one of us we will change the world forever, yeah. It's incredible to meet you I really incredible and uh like I'd heard you speak and I've and I've known about you but what I just what I just blows me away and re I find it like you know when I think about it like a Jedi Knight, those guys in Star Wars you know who have their light sabres. I just think it's mind blowing that your so in touch with what peace is all about and that you fly all over the world in the most incredible planes complex instruments all for you know spreading the word of peace I mean you've got to be the greatest peace warrior on this planet it's it really is been a massive honor to meet you and I'm really grateful for what you've shared with me and I'm sure the people who watch these this program will feel the same.

Rawat: It's been a pleasure Jeremy meeting you, talking to you and I truly hope that I'm not the only warrior, that every human being on the face of this earth is the warrior for peace.

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JG: After being with him I just felt like totally energized I just felt like you know I'd been in the company of you know I kind of a great a great peacemaker you know I I'd been in the company of a man who had devoted his entire life to empowering people a man of peace. You know it's it's it's a privilege to meet people like that obviously it's an honor. It's uh it's an incredible thing and I feel very, very lucky. It's just gonna blow people away. It's gonna that's like a Jedi do you know he's a true Jedi, isn't he? It was a really interesting, kinda exciting fun, inspired you know moment in my life. It was it was cool.

Rawat: Well, it was a pleasure

JG: Thank you so much, a massive honour.

It's hard to believe that anyone could be this stupid and uninsightful as Gilley. Maybe Rawat is donating money for Gilley's NGO, Peace One Day. or Gilley relies on volunteer premies to have his NGO funvtion. Maybe he's just a really simple good hearted guy? He has obviously not researched Rawat's career and he is incredibly impressionable. Unbelieveable. Rawat has spent millions of dollars (if not hundreds of millions) on propagating himself through videos but he has "blown" very few minds and this video, though it is an important part of Rawat's quest for public respect, will blow only a very few.

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^* Rawat already was one degree of separation from the Dalai Lama via his eldest brother the Indian Parliamentarian, God Man and recipient of their father and mother's legacy. This is a relationship Prem Rawat prefers not to think about let alone mention in public.