INSPIRATION #8 John & Yoko

When it comes to world class peace activism I can't think of a better example than John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Just turn your mind back to the late sixties when John and Yoko started using their position of being in the public eye to spread positive peace messages. 

Needless to say they attracted a mammoth sized media zest that has captivated generations. Perhaps mainly due to John's popularity from being a member of the Beatles. It is inspirational to this day and deeply touching the way they used their success to campaign for peace. 

Think only of their honeymoon Bed-Ins of 1969 singing "Give Peace A Chance" surrounded by the world press. Later that year the "WAR IS OVER" Christmas slogan campaigns appeared. And by the time we heard John Lennon's beautiful testament to world peace "Imagine" everyone was sold. 










I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Yoko Ono for Glass Magazine (the article is featured in the Promise issue out now) and it was like a dream come true. Her dedication to the cause of peace is simple but fierce. A true inspiration. 


She explained that when she witnessed the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki she was only a little girl. However the impact of that moment was all encompassing. It displayed human cruelty, so obscene, that peace became the only answer, the only truly important resolution for human survival. Something worth "fighting" for. Throughout her staggering life and artistic career Yoko Ono's motivation has remained the same; that of wanting to see the human race survive in good faith, as for the good of all living things on this planet. 

Her Imagine Peace Tower near Reykjavík, Iceland bears evidence of her simple philosophy. Ono created the tower in memory of John. It consists of a tower of light projected into the sky from a white stone monument where the words "Imagine Peace" are carved into it in 24 languages. Buried underneath the light tower are 500,000 written wishes that Ono has gathered from people across the globe over the past 20 years. With such a breathtaking beacon of hope shooting into the universe for peace, reminding us of humanity’s immense creative and magical potential, Yoko Ono at the age of 77 proves the optimist. And shows us that you have to keep fighting for what you believe in. 

Who knows what kind of work John would have been involved in today had he been around. Im positive he would have continued alongside Yoko spreading messages of peace, love and hope to the people. 

All there's left to say is: Thank you John for all you gave. Thank you Yoko for all you are giving. 

See more at Imagine Peace