Jude Law Ambassador of Peace One Day Joins Ben & Jerry's to Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Peace One Day

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Peace Day is Recognized Annually Around the World on September 21st to Increase Commitment to Peace and Global Ceasefire

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In 1999 British filmmaker Jeremy Gilley, founded the UK-based non-profit organization, Peace One Day. As a result of Peace One Day's efforts, September 21st - was unanimously adopted by member states of the United Nations as an annual day of global ceasefire and non-violence in 2001. Since then, Peace Day has grown in strength and participation every year. In 2008 there was a 70 per cent reduction in violent incidents in Afghanistan on Peace Day, according to the United Nations Department for Safety and Security. To mark the 10 year anniversary of Peace One Day and raise further awareness of and participation on Peace Day, today Jude Law, a Peace Day Ambassador, will join founder Jeremy Gilley for an event in New York City alongside Ahmad Fawzi of the United Nations.

The invite-only awareness raising event will be attended by additional VIP's including Ben & Jerry's co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and company CEO Walt Freese. Ben & Jerry's is a long-time supporter of peace initiatives and a corporate partner of Peace One Day. Additional support is provided by Paper Magazine as well as a musical performance by Bebel Gilberto, a Grammy-nominated Brazilian singer and supporter of peace.

Since the UN's unanimous adoption of the Peace Day resolution in 2001, activities organized in observance of Peace Day have enabled families to be reunited, mosquito nets and food aid to be delivered and children in 20 countries to be vaccinated saving millions of lives.

"We have accomplished a lot over the past ten years and are excited to celebrate this anniversary. We're also very much looking forward to continuing our efforts in the future - our goal is to reach 3 billion people with the message of Peace Day by 2012," said Jeremy Gilley, founder of Peace One Day. "I urge everyone to log their commitment for Peace Day at www.peaceoneday.org and spread the word. By working together there will be Peace One Day."

Ben & Jerry's Chief Executive Officer Walt Freese will also be on site to discuss the company's commitment to peace initiatives including the $300,000 investment in the 2009 Peace One Day's US Education Resources pilot program, as well as the ongoing support of the non-profit in 2010.

Peace One Day's Education Resource aims to empower young people to become the driving force behind the vision of a united and sustainable world. In 2009, Peace One Day Education produced a Schools Edition DVD of The Day After Peace film containing two classroom-ready cuts as well as the feature-length film with subtitles available in the six official languages of the United Nations. Teachers can now instantly view the free Peace One Day U.S.A. Education Resource, (developed for grades 6-12), containing nineteen active, student-centered lesson plans, from www.peaceoneday.org.

"Education is a key component to furthering peace efforts across the globe," said Walt Freese, CEO of Ben & Jerry's. "Through our partnership with Peace One Day we've seen firsthand how peace programs in schools can have a positive impact on young students and we're thrilled to be able to support their goal of providing free access to education materials for every school in the world."

For more information about Peace One Day and its Education Resources please visit www.peaceoneday.org or see them on Facebook at facebook.com/peaceoneday For information about Ben & Jerry's, please visit www.benjerry.com or visit us on facebook via facebook.com/benjerry. For more information about the event, please contact one of the following media contacts.
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bout Ben & Jerry's

Ben & Jerry's produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH on its labels. Ben and Jerry's products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry's, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Contributions made via the employee led Ben & Jerry's Foundation in 2008 totaled over $1.9 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry's philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities.

About Peace One Day

Jeremy Gilley is an actor turned filmmaker, who in the late 1990s became preoccupied with questions about the fundamental nature of humanity and the issue of peace. He decided to explore these through the medium of film, and specifically, to create a documentary following his campaign to establish an annual day of ceasefire and non-violence. In 1999, Jeremy founded Peace One Day, a non-profit organization, and in 2001 Peace One Day's efforts were rewarded when the member states of the United Nations unanimously adopted the first ever day of global ceasefire and non-violence on 21 September annually - Peace Day.

In 2007, over 100 million people (source UN) were active on Peace Day, in 192 countries. There were life-saving initiatives in 14 countries and over 80 activities in Afghanistan alone, where Peace One Day was instrumental in securing the conditions in which safe polio vaccinations could take place. 1.4 million children were vaccinated against polio for Peace Day 2007. One Peace Day 2008, a further 1.6 million children were vaccinated in Afghanistan.

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