It all began when I was listening to Dr. Goodall give a talk in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. She was speaking about the United Nations World Peace Day on September 21st. She had never heard of it until United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan made her a UN Messenger of Peace. She realized that for September 21st to become a known holiday, we would need to come up with a giant global celebration.

For the last four years Dr. Goodall has rallied people all over the world to build giant peace dove puppets with twenty foot wing spans and parade them on World Peace Day. This past year over 3500 peace doves flew in over 35 countries. They are made of old bed sheets and chicken wire, materials largely available even in the poorest countries.

I was really impressed when Dr. Goodall said “One day, there will be so many people marching all over the world with peace dove puppets that you’ll be able to see them from outerspace via satelite.” Wow. The largest celebration in human history. Puppets, drums, singing, food, music, dancing. When do we start? Every September 21st.

Later that evening I told Dr. Goodall how cool an idea I thought it was and she asked me if I would write a song about it.

When Dr. Goodall heard “Circle the World,” she invited me to sing it during her lecture at the Paramount Theatre in Seattle. The next day we decided to put together a CD, a mix of my songs and her stories.

I love the idea that year by year, more and more people around the world will carry peace dove puppets in a celebration of peace. First thousands, then tens of thousands, then hundreds of thousands, then millions. World peace is an idealistic concept. But when you think about it, we have to acheive it. Our survival depends upon it. I believe that while things will most likely get worse for a while, at some point we will turn. At some point we will evolve into a culture that lives simply, a culture that respects all peoples and creatures of the Earth. It may be a long time from now. Maybe 20 years. Maybe 53 years. Maybe 341 years. But some day our children or our children’s children will get their act together and say “enough”.

And, what a wonderful thing to do every year . . . Pull out the peace dove puppets, stored next to the other holiday decorations, and go out and celebrate our dream of peace with our families and neighbors and all the world.

As I write this message, a coyote walks through my front yard. Haven’t seen one in a year. A good sign.

For instructions on how to construct a peace dove go to Dr. Jane Goodall’s webpage:

http://www.rootsandshoots.org/peace-day/index.asp